WHAT IS YOUR RELIGIOUS
STANDARD?
1
1 Peter 1:23
1 PETER 1:23-25
“23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but
of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth
and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of
man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth,
and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is
preached unto you.”
2
INTRODUCTION
There
is One religious standard!
 God’s
Word - the Bible!
Ephesians 4:1-6

3
EPHESIANS 4:1-6

“1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness
and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There
is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are
called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord,
one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father
of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
you all.”
4

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”


“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my
word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”


John 5:24
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed. 32 And ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free.”


John 17:17
John 8:31-32
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have
spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

John 12:48
5
WHAT IS YOUR RELIGIOUS
STANDARD?
6
IS IT THE WORLD?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.”


Romans 12:1-2
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of
God.”

James 4:4
7
A lady was moving to a place where no congregation of the
Lord’s church existed. She went to Brother J.D. Tant to get
his advice on what she should do. She said she had about
decided to unite with some other group until a church of
Christ was established there.
Brother Tant had learned that her husband intended to
precede her in the move, so he suggested that he take
another wife, until the time of the arrival of his wife, and
then he could return to her. The lady was insulted and
horrified at the suggestion of infidelity and any
unfaithfulness, but her concern for and connection with the
church was obviously superficial – certainly not
characterized by such depth of conviction.
She could move in and live with nearly anybody, at least as
far as the church was concerned. She had forgotten that the
church is the bride of Christ, who is the bridegroom. Are you
faithful to the “husband” in this spiritual relationship?
8
(Ephesians 5:22-23; Romans 7:4)
IS IT HUMAN CREEDS?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts”


Isa. 55:8-9
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but
their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do
worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men”

Matthew 15:8-9
9
IS IT YOUR THOUGHTS?

“8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


Isa. 55:8-9
“18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the
apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them
money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on
whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,
because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot
in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of
God. 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray
God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be
forgiven thee.”

Acts 8:18-22
10
IS IT YOUR THOUGHTS?

“9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10
Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the
saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority
from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I
gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in
every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and
being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them
even unto strange cities.”


Acts 26:9-11
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
11

2 Corinthians 10:5
IS IT “I DON’T SEE WHY NOT”?

?
“1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife,
sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also
being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the
apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled
thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the
price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?
and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast
thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto
men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell
down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them
that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him
up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the
space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was
done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether
ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together
to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which
have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee
out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded
up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, 12
and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.”

Acts 5:1-10
IS IT “IT FEELS RIGHT TO ME”?

ME
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Proverbs 14:12
13
IS IT “I’M SINCERE”?

“6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing
floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God,
and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And
the anger of the LORD was kindled against
Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error;
and there he died by the ark of God.”

2 Samuel 6: 6-7; cf. Exodus 25:9-16
14
IS IT “GOD DO NOT SAY NOT TO”?

“1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron,
took either of them his censer, and put fire
therein, and put incense thereon, and offered
strange fire before the LORD, which he
commanded them not. 2 And there went out
fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and
they died before the LORD.”

Leviticus 10:1-2
15
IS IT “THE PREACHER SAID”?

“6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from
him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another;
but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach
any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed.”

Galatians 1:6-9
16
IS TRADITION OR PRACTICE?

“1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were
of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the
tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands
when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto
them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God
by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour
thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or
mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever
shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by
whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me.”


Matthew 15:1-5
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and
vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments
of the world, and not after Christ.”

Colossians 2:8
17
IS TRADITION OR PRACTICE?

“And profited in the Jews’ religion above many
my equals in mine own nation, being more
exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my
fathers.”


Galatians 1:14
“He that loveth father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

Matthew 10:37
18
IS IT YOUR CONSCIENCE?

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council,
said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good
conscience before God until this day.”


Acts 23:1
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always
a conscience void of offence toward God, and
toward men.”

Acts 24:16
19
IS IT YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE?

“1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the
earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto
me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those
things hath mine hand made, and all those things have
been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to
him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at
my word. 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he
that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he
that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he
that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they
have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in
their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions,
and will bring their fears upon them; because when I
called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear:
but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which
I delighted not.”
20

Isaiah 66:1-4
TEST YOUR STANDARD WITH
GOD’S STANDARD!
21
TEST YOUR STANDARD WITH GOD’S WORD

The Plan of Salvation


Church Membership


Matthew 7:12; Philippians 1:27
Attire


2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 7:21-23
Conduct


John 4:23-24; Acts 2:42
Works


Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47
Worship


Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-37
1 Timothy 2:9-10; Galatians 5:19-20; Proverbs 7:10-12
Family Responsibility

Ephesians 6:1-4; 1 Timothy 5:8, 14
22
FINAL QUESTION!
Is Your Standard God’s Word?
23