Whom Shall I Teach? The Religiously Confused

I. Introduction: The gospel message was meant to be preached by Christians throughout the world. We are to preach in the assemblies, such as this, but especially in our personal relationships. We show a godly life and then point to the Christ who has saved us. In the New Testament we can read about Christians who took the gospel message to those who were religious, but wrong.

II. Nicodemus, John 3:1-10

A. Nicodemus

B. He was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He recognized Jesus’ miracles as a sign that God was with Him.

C. His approach

D. Nicodemus came by night to see Jesus. He desired to know more about Jesus but did so secretly. Later we realize that he still was not open about any relationship with or belief in Jesus, John 7:50.

E. Jesus’ response

F. Jesus did not rebuke him and tell him to come openly by day. Jesus did not reject him because of his status with the Jews.

G. Jesus passed by the introductory statement of Nicodemus and came to the important issue: entrance into the kingdom of God.

H. Jesus’ answer perplexed Nicodemus. Jesus explained that entrance into the kingdom required a new birth. Entrance into the Old Testament kingdom was by birth, Jews were physically born into the earthly kingdom of God.

I. However, the new kingdom, a spiritual kingdom, required a new birth—a spiritual birth.

J. Born of water indicates baptism. Romans 6:4 – Raised to a newness of life. Ephesians 5:25 – This is commanded by the word of God. Nicodemus was still confused and Jesus continued to explain His purpose and the kingdom of God.

K. Nicodemus had to overcome his prejudices about the kingdom of God, the plan of God, and even his position as a Jewish leader.

L. 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 Romans 10:1-3 Jesus did not tell him, “At least you are religious and you do serve God so you’ll be o.k.” He told him to change. We don’t know the response of Nicodemus. He apparently is not an open follower (John 7:50) but when Jesus died, he did openly come with Joseph of Arimathea to take care of Jesus’ body, John 19:39.

M. Lessons for us

N. Some will be experts in their religious beliefs but miss some fundamental truths that give way to great errors.

O. The Jews, because of their misunderstanding of the Old Law teaching of the Messiah, would reject and kill Jesus. The men on the road to Emmaus were sad and confused about Jesus but it was based on ignorance (Luke 24:13f). When they learned the truth they rejoiced and served God. There are people in the religious world today who claim to be serving God but, like these Jews, misinterpret the scriptures and follow errors based on false premises. We must teach the way of God clearly through the scriptures and make sure that what we teach is consistent through the word of God.

P. We must be patient and understanding with those who have an incorrect understanding of the scriptures.

Q. Jesus shows great patience with Nicodemus who should have known what Jesus was saying. Though he often had problems with the Pharisees, Jesus taught this Pharisee. He taught him as an individual. We can often be prejudiced about what a person believes and thinks based on their religious association; and we can be wrong. Jesus didn’t deal with Pharisaical issues, he taught Nicodemus.

R. The response of the individual will likely not be immediate.

S. It seems that Nicodemus didn’t really become a disciple—if he ever did—until after Jesus died. Those who are religiously confused often have much to tear down and rebuild; a process that can be frightening and difficult, particularly if one has spent their life with a particular religious group. However, when one does see the truth and is willing to accept the word of God, regardless of the consequences, that person can quickly build up a proper understanding of the gospel.

III. Apollos, Acts 18:24-28.

A. In Ephesus, Aquila and Pricilla heard a man, named Apollos, speaking boldly in the synagogue about the Lord, but only knew John’s baptism.

B. Apollos

C. Apollos is described as an eloquent man, a good public speaker. He was a man mighty in the scriptures; he had good knowledge. He was fervent in spirit; he had a strong love for God and truth. Yet, Apollos was wrong.

D. Aquila and Pricilla’s approach

E. Aquila and Pricilla knew the truth and took him aside privately to explain the way more accurately.

F. They did not stand up in the assembly and call him on the carpet for what he taught. They did not label him a false teacher and make personal attacks. They took him aside and addressed his false teaching. Apollos then began to teach the complete truth in Corinth.

G. Lessons for us

H. Sometimes people are mostly right but are still missing some basic fundamental truths.

I. Apollos was much closer than Nicodemus to the truth but needed to know more about Jesus in order to be right. He would not be able to teach anyone the right way unless he were corrected (see Acts 19:17) He was good and knowledgeable, but he was wrong. Aquila and Pricilla didn’t say, “At least he is religious and is doing more things right than wrong; he should be o.k.”

J. They were not intimidated by his eloquence or knowledge of the scriptures but realized that he did not have the complete truth.

K. Sometimes we become intimidated by someone who is teaching falsely but has strong scriptural knowledge. Instead, we should realize that this person might more readily see the truth when the scriptures are connected correctly (think of the men on the road to Emmaus).

L. There is a time for public rebuke and time for private correction.

M. Jesus sometimes publicly rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for their errors. In most cases, the response should be private.

N. 2 Timothy 2:23-26

O. Don’t get involved in foolish disputes. Correct in humility with a desire to save the soul, not win an argument. The false teacher is “captive by the devil” and only the truth will release him.

IV. Areopagus, Acts 17:16-34 (explain story then read 22-33).

A. Audience

B. The Athenians had a thirst for knowledge, 17:18-21. Religiously, they were completely wrong. Paul did not give up and say, “They are so warped in their thinking there is no hope of teaching them.” They didn’t even know God! They were idolatrous.

C. Paul’s approach

D. Paul did not quote one scripture in his sermon. Paul did quote some of their own philosophers and poets. Some rejected his message, some wanted to hear more about the message later, and some believed.

E. Lessons for us

F. When approaching the religiously ignorant, we must begin where the person is and reason from what he does know.

G. It is useless to quote scripture to an atheist, he does not believe that the Bible is the word of God.

H. It is of little value to quote the Bible to a Mormon, a Jehovah’s Witness, a Muslim or a Catholic:

I. The Mormons believe that the word has been corrupted and so must also read the Book of Mormon. The Jehovahs’ Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible that has errors and conflicts with the Bible. The Muslim believes that the Bible has been corrupted and that the Koran is the perfected revelation of God. The Catholics (for the most part) believe that the priests must interpret the Bible and that church authority is the highest. We must teach the truth from the place where the person is at the time and lead him to the word of God as authority. Paul even used their recognized authority to teach about Jesus.

J. Paul gave them credit for being religious, but then taught them the truth.

K. Some people come out with insults and deride the beliefs of the person whom they are trying to teach. This group needs the most patience of all; they have built on a completely wrong foundation and must learn the basic truth first.

L. We must be courageous and teach the truth to those who might mock us.

M. The Areopagus was an imposing structure devoted to idolatry. Paul stood his ground an taught about the true God.

V. Final notes

A. We must not prejudge whether a religious person will accept or reject the truth.

B. Our job is not to judge, but to teach. We may come to a point where we are “casting our pearls before swine” but must use judgment to make sure we are not giving up too early.

C. In order to teach one who is religiously wrong, we must be assured of what is right according the scriptures.

D. If we say, “The Bible says somewhere…” or “My church believes…” you are saying nothing different from any religious group. We must give scripture for what we believe and show where it is in harmony with other scriptures.

E. Perhaps this is the reason that we are reluctant to confront one who believes something different: we are unsure of how to show from the scriptures what is true.

F. There is only one remedy for that, study! We will be assured of what we believe and be able to answer others. Even the Devil knew scripture, we must know the truth!

G. We must meet the person where he is and address his error in meekness and humility, not arrogantly and condescendingly.