1. Superheroes of the word
Holding The Standard Of Sound Words

2. “It doesn’t matter who we are. What matters is our plan.”
What Is Our Plan?
“It doesn’t matter who we are. What matters is our plan.”
Bane

3. Why Is there Such Confusion?
“But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.” --Jude 17-19

4. What We Need Is A Standard
Last week we determined that the Bible is the standard upon which we Christians must stand.
That makes Christianity an OBJECTIVE religion. Based upon revelation.
It is NEVER a subjective religion – based on what I feel!

5. Superheroes live by a Pattern
Following Our Heart is not acceptable.
Acts 26:9-10 – “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.”

6. Following People is Not Enough
Matthew 15:9 – “But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”
Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

7. What’s NOT to be blamed? Confusion exists. Where does it come from?
To answer, first let’s look at where it DOES NOT come from.

8. Not God’s Fault
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is inspired by God…so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
John 16:13 – “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

9. Not Because The Bible Is faulty
John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in truth; Your word is truth.”
Mark 3:24-25 – “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

10. Not Because Christ IS Confused
“Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? – 1 Cor. 1:13
Romans 3:4 – “…let God be found true, though every man be found a liar….”

11. Not Because The Bible Is confusing
2 Peter 3:16 – “…as also in all [Paul’s] letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

12. But Division Happens Because…
There is a lack of knowledge
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….” – Hosea 4:6
Matthew 22:29 – “But Jesus answered…’You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.’”

13. People Want Their Own Way
2 Timothy 4:2-4 – “…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season….For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”

14. We Must Follow The Bible Pattern
Philippians 3:17 – “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Romans 6:17 -- But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,

15. TUPOS: A Pattern For Christianity
TUPOS – a pattern, example, imprint, scar, shape, model….
Such as:
John 20:25 – “…“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

16. We Must Defend The Pattern
Philippians 3:17 – “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:9 – “…in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

17. Are You A Defender of the Truth?
2 Timothy 2:15 – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
The word of God is EVERYTHING to us: instruction, guidance, correction….