Peddling The Word of God

Thank you for listening to this message from the ministry of Morse Corner Church in Leverett, Massachusetts.

Morse Corner is a non -denominational church that is committed to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of

Jesus Christ.

Our church was founded in 1896 by two students of the famous evangelist D .L.

Moody.

We seek to encourage and edify the body of Christ through the proclamation of God's word through the ministries of

the local church.

If you'd like more information, visit our website morsecornerchurch .com.

We hope you enjoy the message.

What does it mean to peddle the word of God?

Well, the Greek word is kappalouo and it basically refers to one who is in business.

Like you are in retail trying to sell something in order to make money.

So that's what they were doing.

They were selling, peddling the word of God.

So, in order to peddle the word of God, there's a little problem with doing that.

Unbelievers aren't interested.

Right?

How do you peddle the word of God?

What does the scripture say?

To the Greeks, the gospel is what?

Foolishness.

To the Jews, it's what?

A stumbling block.

So, how are you going to market or peddle the word of God to people who think it's either

foolish or a stumbling block?

Well, it's very simple.

You need to change it.

You need to alter the message.

You need to put a spin on it.

You need to twist it, as I like to say.

2 Corinthians 2, look at it, verses 16 and 17.

To the one, we are the aroma of death leading to death.

And to the other, the aroma of life leading to life.

And who is sufficient for these things?

And the answer is nobody.

Which is why we just preach the truth, speak the truth in love, and let the Holy Spirit of

God work.

So, it's all about the word and the spirit.

And leave it up to God.

It's not about me.

It's not about the messenger.

It's not about the evangelist.

It's the word of God and the spirit of God that does the work.

And Paul says, for we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God.

But as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in

Christ.

So, I had, well, let me say this.

There is a way.

There is a way to make the word of God and the gospel palatable.

We've discussed the two extremes.

Legalism.

And that appeals to some people.

Right?

I need to do this.

I need to do that.

You know, people who are, who look very good on the surface.

And like, they're self -righteous, really, is legalism.

It appeals to people.

On the other side is license.

It appeals to the other crowd.

So, the false teachers were either legalists or they practice license.

Here's the thing about really good false teachers.

Like, they're good at what they do.

They can speak out of both sides of their mouth.

You ever seen these preachers?

You know, no matter if they're going from one setting to another, they can just speak out of both

sides.

And there are three main things to look for.

Paul doesn't really explain to us, in this passage, exactly what they were doing.

But knowing what I know and what I've seen and what I've read in scripture, I think there are three

things.

Primarily, three things to look for about those who peddle the word of God.

And the time remaining, I'd like to look at these three things.

Number one.

Those who peddle the word of God, oftentimes, they will take the focus

off Christ.

Take the focus off the Lord and put it on you.

You know, it's all about you.

That's number one.

The other way they do it, number two, they leave out divine wrath, judgment.

They just don't talk about those things.

And then, number three, they have to downplay the authority of the Bible.

And that's what they do.

And of course, there's many other things.

Repentance is left out.

And there's many other things we could talk about.

But the first thing, false teachers, often they do not focus on the Lord.

They want to put the focus on you.

What's the issue with that?

You say, what's wrong with that?

Well, hopefully you know what's wrong with that.

Christianity, oh, this is so obvious.

Christianity is about Christ.

Not you.

Now, to be fair, the Bible is a story.

It is all about Christ.

But it's the reconciliation of man to God.

So, you are part of it.

We're part of it.

But really, it's about Christ.

Can we say amen to that?

Okay.

I had a coworker years ago.

He told me about his grandmother who attended church.

And she attended this church that just got a new pastor.

And she told him, he told me.

She said, I don't like that new pastor.

He's too biblical.

And he's always talking about Jesus.

You know, when I heard this like 10, 15 years ago, a long time ago.

When I first heard that, I thought, what?

A Christian minister talking about Christ.

Yeah, go figure.

But now I get it.

I totally understand.

Just to use an illustration, okay.

And this is very common.

This is how I'm going to illustrate the point.

The way that Christianity has changed in our lifetime.

Just compare the old hymns of the faith to the modern praise music.

And listen, if you like some of the modern praise music, I'm not against you.

Okay.

Don't take this the wrong way.

But this really illustrates the point.

The hymns are largely theological.

They speak of God.

They lift up the name of Jesus.

The modern praise songs, many of them, most of them, it seems, puts the focus

on you.

Puts the focus on the individual.

I'm probably going to get myself into some trouble with this one.

Go for it.

All right.

You heard it from Dennis.

So if you like this song, you know, don't get mad at me.

There's a really popular praise song out there, and it's played in churches.

And I admit, it's kind of catchy.

It's well done.

Here are the lyrics.

Who am I that the highest king would welcome me?

I was lost, but he brought me in.

Oh, his love for me.

Oh, his love for me.

Who the son sets free.

Oh, is free indeed.

I'm a child of God.

Yes, I am.

I'm a child of God.

Yes, I am.

Yes, I am.

Now, again, if you like that song, I'm not against you.

Don't get upset with me.

I'm just pointing out that the word I or me is in every line of the song.

And when you mix that with preaching about how you can have your best life

now, or everything you do can be purpose -driven, the focus, you cannot deny

that in modern, mainstream, evangelical Christianity, the spotlight has been taken off the

Lord and put on the sinner.

Some people may think that's a good tactic to reach people and all the rest, but you can't deny that that's going on.

So the sinner, it would seem to me, is exalted instead of the Savior.

So here's the point.

If you want to peddle the word of God, if you want it to sell, flattery

is a very common sales technique.

Studies have shown that even when customers know the flattery is insincere, they

still tend to fall for it.

Why?

Because it appeals to our flesh.

In Romans 16, verses 17 and 18, Paul says, Mark those who cause

divisions for those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus

Christ, but their own belly by smooth words.

OK, listen to this.

And by smooth words and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts

of the simple.

Second, Peter chapter two, verse three, he says about false teachers by covetousness.

They will exploit you with deceptive words.

And Paul in writing to Titus and Titus chapter one, verse 11, he says that they teach

things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake.

That is for the sake of dishonest gain.

So what is this?

A prosperity message focusing on financial gain,

flattering speech, covetousness.

This is the primary way people are peddling the word of God in the modern church.

So that's number one.

Number two, divine wrath judgment is left out.

Listen, the Bible is very clear.

All have sinned and have come short of the glory of God.

That there is none righteous.

No, not one.

There is none who does good.

And there is no one who searches after God.

Psalm 14, Romans chapter three.

That's what the Bible teaches.

So instead, the false teacher says, no, no, no.

You're a good person.

You are a good person.

So do good, be good, and God will receive you.

That is a palatable message.

You know why?

Because it's what people already believe.

In their natural sinful condition, that's what people already think.

People, what do they do?

They judge themselves.

And we've done this.

If you're honest, you've done this.

People judge themselves by themselves.

They compare themselves with others, and there's always someone worse.

So we become the standard, and I'm the standard.

So I'm good, and it's just other people that need to straighten themselves out.

And this is what most people think.

I'm a good person.

Of course God will receive me.

What's the underlying assumption?

That man is basically good.

It denies the biblical teaching of total depravity.

That man is lost, and without God's grace, he is totally unable to remedy his

lost condition.

Sinful man who is filled with pride would never admit that.

That's what keeps them away from Christ.

The underlying assumption is that man is basically good, and that God lets in

pretty much everybody.

Because after all, God is a God of love.

Not a God of judgment.

He's not a God of wrath.

Never mind that the scripture says he drowned the whole world in a flood.

But you know that's what people teach.

So here's the point to remember.

The false teachers, they want your money.

They want people's money.

They're not going to risk it by telling someone that they might be on the road to

hell.

So they will say whatever they have to say, do whatever they have to do.

And now number three.

Number three, the bark of a false teacher.

The authority of the Bible is downplayed.

And it has to be, because if you continually put the spotlight on the scriptures, people will figure out that you're not

telling them the truth.

Hebrews 4 verse 12 says this,.

For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two -edged

sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of

joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is why sound churches preach through the Bible chapter by

chapter, verse by verse.

We don't jump around.

We don't skip certain chapters and avoid certain topics.

The false teacher will do that.

They have to do that.

And some false teachers never even open a Bible.

It's all either politics, philosophy, self -help, anything but sound

doctrine.

But here's the thing.

If you simply open the Bible and read it, just read the words.

You don't have to preach.

You don't have to do anything.

If you just simply open the Bible and just read the words on the page.

You know what?

It's powerful.

It's powerful because it's alive.

The word of God is living.

The word of God is spirit.

It gives life.

And it's going to come off one of two ways.

To those who are being saved, it's like a sweet -smelling aroma.

A wonderful fragrance.

But to those who are perishing, it is like the stench of death.

So which one are you?

Are you smelling a sweet perfume right now?

Or the stench of death?

Are you giving off?

This is the question for you later today in this week.

Are you giving off a sweet -smelling fragrance?

Or are you giving off, metaphorically speaking, a foul odor?

So as we leave this place this morning, let's remember our words, our lifestyle, the way we

live from day to day.

You're giving off a fragrance.

Whether you know it or not, whether you're conscious of it or not, you are giving off an aroma.

Thanks for listening.

I'm Pastor Michael Grant from Morris Cornick Church.

If you'd like to listen to the complete message, or if you'd like more information about the ministry, visit our website,

morriscornickchurch .com.

And we'd love to have you join us some Sunday morning here in Leverett.

Until next time, may the grace of God be with you.