Jude 5b   Bad Things 4 Bad Believers – Pt B Why do they Stop Believing? 

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5  I want to remind you..that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe

I. OT believers failed to believe God as He revealed Himself (infinitely good, powerful, wise, and loving) nor to transform their values

1Cor 10:6 these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not desire/lust after evil things Ps-s/P/P as they also lusted

A. Satan seduces us to doubt, disbelief and disobedience by lies and deception so we join him in his rebellion and destruction.

Satan started by casting doubt on God's word (Gen 3) and hasn't changed his tactics. He blinds us to Truth, and hardens us so we don't hear.  He snatches Truth out of our minds (seed-sower Lk 8) and tempts us with scripture lies and deceptions (Lk 4; 1Jn 2:16)

Satan (when bound in pit – all good; when loosed, hell breaks loose like in Garden) 2Cor 11:13 false...deceitful transform into apostles of Christ

B. The enslaved can be delivered out of Egypt, but it's hard to  get Egyptian desires out of the enslaved so they can be truly free, independent of temporal circumstances. If we're fixed on the promises and prize, temporal pain is  just a momentary light affliction   2Cor 4-5

Truth sets free Jn 8:32 but most “teachers”/hearers don't know God, His character/person purposes and promises +/- 

Worldling values are based on our experiences rather than God's perspective. ie wanting fleshpots/garlic of Egypt, make us miss the Promised Land

False expectation of ease are promised for converts, yet refining trials are promised to disciples (Lk 9 deny;1Pt 1, Ps 11 for greater reward

II. NT believers fail to believe God as He revealed Himself (infinitely good, powerful, wise, loving) nor transform their values/lives

Why stop believing? Not taught Truth thus no faith, (can't please God), shaky shallow faith - no Word of God studied and engrafted). 

Demonic doubts/deceptions (Judas, Thomas). Fear of loss or missing out (Israel and Peter)  Mt 16:24-25 desire to save=lose; lose=save

Tradition is not Truth, nor are our old values/desires (Put off-Put on). They're corrupt/defiled and need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, otherwise we will lust after desire evil things that are not God's best nor His will, and lose out on His +promises

Eph 4:22 put off,..old man..corrupt acc to the deceitful lusts 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind 24 put on the new man true righteousness and holiness.

A, No Growth/teaching/training with respect to their salvation (vs worm, you can't do anything) 1Pt 2:2 crave Word and grow

No Discipleship (Assurance, QT, BS, Prayer, Lordship, HS, Biblical fellowship/one another/edification, Evangelism, etc)

No basic Apologetics: 7QUESTIONS DTB, How do you know what's true?; Is there a Supernatural Being Who can Walk & Talk;

Scriptures Reliable?; Other Religions?; Science (LAWS of thermodynamics Conservation of matter/energy – Entropy; 

Creation vs Evolution: flood, fossils no gay gene) etc. Sociology basis – gays die younger than smokers (Cameron: 7 vs 24 yrs), 2 parent male head family= kids healthier wealthier wiser. All Truth is God's Truth (even in Psychology and other religions)

Understanding God's will,  promises, commands must precede belief;  faith comes by hearing and then believing that God works all things together

B. 2016 Pew: “Nones” no longer believed it was true: views “evolved”; crisis of faith (didn't get what they wanted); evolution; irrationality-intellectual skepticism; lack of any scientific or specific evidence of a Creator; comparative religions/creation myths; dislike authority, or structure or political/social stance; change or dislike of pastor, people, music, etc,; irrelevant; not worth the time. people didn't act like they believe  in God (grumble no blessing)    Majority reject between age 10 and 18 (mean 13 RmCath).  AnswersinGenesis.org coldcasechristianity.com/writings/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity/ 

BC: Christianity is not a Church full of unsanctified hypocrites (and immature carnal worldlings) who model unChristlikeness, and selfcenteredness

C. Einstein – Although he did not believe in a personal God, he indicated that he would never seek to combat such belief because "such a belief seems to me preferable to the lack of any transcendental outlook."[30] Cosmic Religion recognized: "miraculous order which manifests itself in all of nature as well as in the world of ideas," devoid of a personal God who rewards and punishes individuals based on their behavior. It rejected a conflict between science and religion, and held that cosmic religion was necessary for science.[40] "science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."[41][42] "God is a mystery. But a comprehensible mystery. I have nothing but awe when I observe the laws of nature. There are not laws without a lawgiver, but how does this lawgiver look? Certainly not like a man magnified. “everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_and_philosophical_views_of_Albert_Einstein 

III. The Need to abidingly believe  Jn 15 We need to be transformed=Change of perspective from human to God's and guidance Rm 12

1Tim 4:6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and train/exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.11 These things command and teach. 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why do you believe as you do? Are they Concepts, Conclusions, or Convictions? What evidence or proof do you have? 1Pt 3:15 hope 

2. Do you love God with all your mind? Does the Light of Truth shine thru your words and works/life? Attractive? R u the Prob or Solution?

3. How much effort have you put into understanding and learning to respond to objections folks have to Biblical Christianity?

4. Can you guide someone thru the 7QUESTIONS and 7PASSAGES?  More t\than a Carpenter? (Evidence-Verdict)  I'm Glad You Asked?