• “YOU NEED TO BE TAUGHT AGAIN…”
• "ONE UNTAUGHT GENERATION - AND WE'RE IN TROUBLE!"
• Hebrews 5:12-14
• ...For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come
to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs
to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.
• INTRODUCTION
• Our title points out a problem that has always been among God's people...
• forgetting or never knowing what's important!
• Absolutely and literally one cannot be a Christian without first being
taught certain fundamentals of the gospel... But…
• These people may have been calling themselves Christians for years but
are relatively untaught saints, knowing little or nothing beyond first principles...
• THE "UNTAUGHT" SAINT PRESENTS A PROBLEM TO PLAIN TEACHING...
• IT IS DIFFICULT TO GO BEYOND FIRST PRINCIPLES WITH THOSE WHO HAVE REMAINED
AT THAT POINT...
• This was the problem the writer of Hebrews faced in dealing with the sublime
theme of the priesthood of Christ...
• Hebrews 5:9 ...And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest "according
to the order of Melchizedek," 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to
explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
• The "untaught" are often lazy spiritually...
• They want only to "skim the surface" in Bible study because
it is easier...
• ALSO IT MAY BE THAT THE "UNTAUGHT" DO NOT WANT TO BE DISTURBED
BY PLAIN TEACHING THAT CONFLICTS WITH THEIR OWN IDEAS AND MANNER OF LIFE...
• This was the attitude of the Jews with Jesus and with Stephen
• Matthew 13:15 ...For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their
ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see
with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their
hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
• Acts 7:57 ...Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears,
and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned
him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named
Saul.
• A big problem is the fact that many who obey the gospel do not make the
changes necessary to become a true child of God.
• And they often criticize those who want them to reach a higher understanding
of the scriptures...
• 1 Corinthians 3:1 ...And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual
people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not
with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you
are still not able;
• Some of the "untaught" today become belligerent and try everything
short of murder to stop the plain teaching from the pulpit...
• If they fail in this, they seek another congregation where the preacher
"scratches their ears"...
• 2 Timothy 4:3 ...For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away
from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
• SUCH "UNTAUGHT" DO GREAT HARM TO THE TRUTH BY APOLOGIZING WHEN
IT IS TAUGHT TO THOSE WHO NEED TO HEAR IT...
• They claim concern for the feelings of those because they might be offended...
• Such may be non-Christians or maybe wayward Saints...
• The truth is that their concern for these souls isn't what it ought to
be...
• The Truth is still the Truth, even though it may hurt to hear it!
• Real friends are those that have concern and compassion of these souls;
don't hide it, camouflage it, or apologize it!
• Proverbs 27:6 ...Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of
an enemy are deceitful.
• Peter and Paul were real friends to those in their audience...
• Acts 2:36 ..."Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly
that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and
the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
• Galatians 4:16 ...Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you
the truth?
• THE "UNTAUGHT" CANNOT REALLY TEACH OTHERS!
• THE "UNTAUGHT" ALWAYS HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO LEARN MORE
THAN FIRST PRINCIPLES...
• As such, they should have been able to be teachers but have actually gone
backwards, illustrating the principle of loss through disuse (atrophy) that was
taught by the Lord Himself!
• Matthew 25:29 ...'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he
will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be
taken away.
• Most of the "untaught" have had every conceivable advantage
and opportunity to go beyond first principles...
• But, by trying to stay "static“ (keeping everything status
quo), they have atrophied and cannot even effectively teach first principles!
• The very nature of Christianity demands that all saints be able to teach
the Truth to those that need to hear it!
• Acts 8:4 ...Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching
the word.
• 1 Corinthians 9:16 ...For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast
of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
• 2 Timothy 2:2 ...And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
• AND WE CANNOT TEACH THAT WHICH WE HAVE NOT LEARNED!
• Some are ambitious to be teachers, but they do not have the knowledge
they need...
• 1 Timothy 1:5 ...Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure
heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having
strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law,
understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
• These "untaught" are not willing to prepare themselves to teach...
• 2 Timothy 2:15 ...Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
• Moreover, we must govern our own lives with what we ourselves have learned...
• 1 Timothy 4:16 ...Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue
in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
• THIS MEANS THAT THE "UNTAUGHT" ARE LACKING IN MORAL JUDGMENT!
• NOTICE WHAT THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SAYS IN THE TEXT...
• Hebrews 5:12 ...For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and
you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only
of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
• The "untaught" are unskilled in the word of righteousness (i.e.,
without experience)...
• As such, they are unable to discern between good and evil...
• Hebrews 5:14 ...But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that
is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil.
• Thus, they become easy prey for every false teacher...
• 2 Timothy 4:3 ...For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers of their own accord;
• THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DISCERNING BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS NECESSARY FOR
EVERY CHRISTIAN!
• Like I said before, one reason that we lose many souls is because it was
never impressed upon them that change in their life is necessary.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ...Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain
from every form of evil.
• Philippians 1:9 ...And this I pray, that your love may abound still more
and more in knowledge and all discernment,
• Every day the child of God is being confronted to make the choice between
the two...
• We dare not leave such a decision to guesswork on what the Scriptures
say...
• WE CANNOT PROPERLY DISCERN WITHOUT A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE...
• The more we learn of God's will and the more use we make of it, the better
able we will be to discern between good and evil!
• CONCLUSION:
• What is the answer to this age-old problem of the "untaught"
among the church?
• Answer: Teaching, Teaching, and more TEACHING!!!
• But that will not take care of the problem.
• Nothing can take the place of individual study, investigation, and application!
• IF I AM AMONG THE "UNTAUGHT" IT IS MY FAULT...NO ONE ELSE'S!
• We are willing to help you learn, if you choose to do so, otherwise do
not be surprised on judgment day that you did not do what God expected of you.
By Carey Scott from material by Ron Lehde
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