Welcome to the InTouch podcast with Charles Stanley for Monday, July 6th. People often insist there's no such thing as absolute truth. Today, we'll see the danger in that kind of thinking as we begin a series titled, Know What You Believe. Does it really matter what you believe as long as you believe something? I mean, as long as you have something to believe in, does it really make any difference what that is?
Well, some people would say yes, and some people would say no. It doesn't make any difference as long as you believe in something. Does what you believe make any difference?
Well, let's see what God says in this word. And I want you to turn, if you will, to 1 Peter chapter 3. And the title of this message is simply that. What you believe, does it matter? 1 Peter chapter 3.
Peter's writing to believers who are scattered all over the world of his day. Who are undergoing persecution, people who are ostracizing them and harassing them, physically abusing them, criticizing them, and it's because of their belief, what they believe in primarily.
So he says to them in 1 Peter chapter 3, beginning in verse 13. He says, And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you have blessed. and do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled. But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense.
To everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. And keep a good conscience, so that in the thing in which you're slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
Now I want you to notice this 15th verse for a moment. When he says, sanctify Christ in your heart, what he means is simply this: make the Lord Jesus Christ Lord of your life. Make him Lord of your life. Then he says, always, not sometimes, always being ready to make a defense. To everyone who asks you to give an account, or reason for the hope That is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
Does it make a difference what you believe? Yes, it does.
Now, think about this from two lights. Number one, just plain old human reasoning says it does make a difference what I believe. Why? Because every single facet of your life and mind is affected by what we believe. For example, Your attitude towards yourself.
is highly influenced by what you believe about your personhood. What do you believe about your abilities and your capacities and whether you're worth something or not? What you, for example, your attitude about other people. What do you believe about other people? Do you believe that they're worthy of being loved, that they're to be used?
Do you believe that they're just the physical beings like animals? Or do you believe they're the creations of God? It's going to affect how you treat them. what you believe, for example, about your attitude towards your vocation. Do you believe that your vocation is what God would have you to do?
Is this the will of God for your life, or is this just another job just to make a living? It has to do, for example, and affects your sense of excellence in life and how you carry out your responsibilities and duties. Do you believe that it's the will of God for you? Do you believe that it's best for you and everybody concerned that you put in a good day's labor? That you give your best in whatever you do.
It may not be as good as someone else's, but it's your very best. Do you believe that's important? What you and I, our attitude, what we believe makes all the difference in the world, what I believe about God. Certainly is going to affect every single aspect of my life.
So when somebody says, well, look, As long as you believe something, isn't that all that matters? No, it's not. And so the question is: does it matter what you and I believe? Plain old human reasoning says, yes. Anything that affects my decisions in life and affects every facet of my life certainly is important.
It does matter what you believe. But not only just plain human reasoning, but also, for example, the warnings of the scripture concerning false doctrine and error. And I want you to turn to several of these and let's just look at them for a moment because. When you and I think about it, if I'm believing error, If I'm believing false doctrine, then it's certainly going to affect my life.
So let's look at several passages of Scripture. Turn, if you will, first of all, turn to 2 Peter 2 for a moment. 2 Peter chapter 2. And if you'll notice in this first verse, listen to a warning. Here's several warnings that God gives us in the Word.
If what we believe didn't make any difference, these warnings wouldn't be here. 2 Peter chapter 2, verse 1. Peter says, but false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves, and many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of the truth will be maligned. And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words their judgment from long ago. Is not idle and their destruction is not asleep.
Here is a warning that we have to watch out for false doctrine and for error. Turn if you will back over to 2 Timothy for a moment. Back toward Hebrews in 2 Timothy. And look, if you will, a passage here. I want you to notice Paul is challenging Timothy here in verse 2 of this fourth chapter to preach the word, be ready in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, and with great patience and instruction.
Then he says, Another warning, listen to this. He says, Timothy. The time will come when When they or people will not endure sound doctrine, they don't want to hear it. but wanting to have their ears tickled. they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.
And they will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist. He says, fulfill your ministry. He says there's going to come a time when people do not even want to know the truth. They don't want to hear the truth.
And what they're going to do is they're going to find some people who will teach them exactly what they want to know. Turn to John chapter 8 for a moment. John chapter 8. And if you will look at the 24th verse. And listen to what he says in this 24th verse.
Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, and they're doubting who he is, and arguing with him, and so forth, and denying who he is. And so he says in verse 24. He said I said therefore to you that you shall die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am He, who I say I am, he says you shall die in your sins. Does it make any difference what you believe? Jesus says, Yes, it does.
If you don't believe that He is who He says He is, He says a person will die in their sins. And the Bible says, The wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is upon unto man once to die, and after this, the judgment. If a person dies in their sins, that means they die without Christ and are absolutely, hopelessly, and helplessly lost. Does it make any difference what you believe?
Yes, it does.
Warning after warning in the scripture concerning not believing the truth, but believing false doctrine. And it's interesting that Paul warns again, and Peter warns here, both of them warn again and again and again about listening to things that are not true and listening to those who are teaching things that are not true.
So the question comes: well, does it make a difference? Yes, it does.
It matters greatly what you and I believe. Which simply leads me to say, secondly, this: not only It does matter, but you and I should develop a belief system. That we can live by and that we can die by.
Now, listen to what he says again in 1 Peter, again, as we notice in this third chapter. In the 15th verse, he says, Sanctify Christ, that has set Christ apart as Lord in your life. Always being ready. To make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, he says, Do it now with gentleness and reverence, not haughtily, not pridefully, not crudely, not in some ugly fashion, he says, but with reverence and gentleness.
Now, I want you to look at that verse for a moment. He says that you and I should have a belief And a Belief system that is such that notice what he says now. That we would be ready, that is to be prepared. to make a defense, ready to defend, I believe, to everyone. Not some people, not once in a while, but always ready to make a defense to everyone, he says, who asks us to give an account, to give a reason for our hope.
That is, you think about this. When you and I say that we've been saved, and if somebody said to you, Well, do you know that you're going to heaven when you die? Yes, I do.
Well, tell me why you believe that. What is your reasoning for that? How can you be so sure that you're going to heaven when you die? Do you believe that your body is going to be resurrected one of these days? Yes, I do.
Why do you believe that?
Well, here's the reason I believe that.
Well, what's the proof of that? How can you be so sure of that?
Well, do you believe that just your sins have been forgiven? Yes, I do.
Well, how are you sure? You see, people have a right to ask you and me, who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, who claim to be Christians, they have a right to ask us: what do you believe? Why do you believe it? And what is your reasoning for believing this? Why would you, how can you say that you're staking your whole eternal future on something that you read in the Bible?
That is, why would you believe such? They have a reason to ask us. You mean you tithe your income? Yes.
Well, explain to me how is it that you can take nine-tenths, and you mean to tell me that nine-tenths will go further than ten-tenths because you gave a tenth to God.
Well, where do you get that from, and why do you believe that? And what's the basis of that? People who are unbelievers have a right. To ask you and me what we believe and why we believe it, and we have the responsibility of giving them a reason why. And this is why he says: watch these words now.
He says, set apart Christ as Lord in your life, always, not sometimes, being ready, prepared to make a defense.
Now there are a lot of people, for example, who say, well, I'm not sure I could do that. I don't know. What do you mean by a belief system? Here's what I mean by a belief system. I mean by belief system, that is, in thinking in terms of our whole idea of beliefs and what we believe.
I'm talking about a, listen, a set of beliefs. that you have based on the word of God. which govern and direct your life. A belief system is a set of beliefs that you have based on the Word of God. By which your life is governed and directed.
That is, there are some things that must be determining factors in your life. For example, we say the ultimate word of authority is the Bible, the Word of God. In your life and my life, there are some foundational truths that govern how we operate. They govern our whole lifestyle, as we said a few moments ago, every aspect of our life.
Well, if I should ask you today, what is your belief system made of? That is, What are the things that you believe that you stake your life on, that govern your life, determine your decision-making process, things you will live by, and things you will die by?
Now some people have some beliefs that they believe very strongly. And not necessarily the truth, but that's the way they believe them because they've been taught them. And so often we hear people who will write us and say, well, This is what I have been taught all of my life, but when I listen to you explain the word of God, somehow the two do not match.
Well, listen. The question is, how did your belief system develop? That is, all of us have a set of beliefs about different things, but we're talking about primarily beliefs about every aspect of life. Those beliefs that are based upon the word of God.
Now, there's a whole segment of Sasaja who has absolutely no concern, no care, and no respect for the Word of God.
Well, now, you can't make somebody believe what they don't want to believe. The issue is this: that you and I are to so live our life. And we're to be able to defend our faith when we come up against people like this. First of all, we wanted to see our lifestyle. Secondly, we wanted to see what we believe.
And what we want to be sure about is that what we say we believe and the way we live are consistent with each other. Otherwise, they have a reason to doubt that what we believe really works. Because if it really worked, we'd be living by it. Those people who say, I'm not interested in the Bible, that's an old antiquated book that's totally outdated.
Well, it's interesting that those of us who have peace and joy and happiness in our life, and those of us who have a sense of contentment and can face death, believe in the resurrection, believe there's a heaven after this one, and have a lot to live for, and watch God enable us to endure difficulty and hardships and trials and troubles and tribulations with a joy in our heart and an end, listen, an indestructible faith. We wouldn't swap what we have for anything out there. Amen? No way in the world. We wouldn't swap what we have.
Now On the other hand, I understand that people oftentimes have not been taught, and when they begin to listen, the Spirit of God begins to identify to their heart and say to them, That is the truth. You see, there's a witness of the Holy Spirit that says, That is true, that is not true.
Now, listen carefully. When we talk about a belief system, we're talking about developing. A set of beliefs. Listen. that becomes a part of your mental grid.
And that is that everything you hear as you develop that belief system, everything you hear gets run through that. And so, therefore, if that grid system is made up of truth, biblical truth, every time you hear error, If you are deepened in that truth and you are Establishing that truth. When an error comes your way, something goes off that says, mm-mm, that doesn't match what? It doesn't match the grid. And the grid is very important, and it's very important what that grid is made of, and it's very important how that grid system within you gets developed.
What we're talking about is a grid system that's based on the truth of God's Word, that will stand the test of arguments, life, and death, and if it won't stand the test of death, if I were you, I'd get rid of it. Because one thing for certain, we're all gonna die one of these days. And if what you believe is, listen, if it's not adequate to live by, it won't be adequate to die by. If it's not adequate to die by, it won't be adequate to live by.
So, what you have to decide is this: what do I believe? Why do I believe it? Can I defend my beliefs? Or am I one of those persons who says, Well, you know, I do believe some things, but I'm not quite sure what I believe. I think about the millions of people, for example, who sit in church week after week.
And as they sit in church and listen, and they go out and they live their life, and here's the problem. They call the Holy Spirit in it. They do not realize he's a person of the Trinity. They think you can be saved by being good. They would say that baptism is a choice you have in life, and it's not really absolutely necessary.
Or they would say, well, you know, you don't have to join a church to be a Christian. To be a believer, to be saved, that's true, but what kind of Christian would a person be without being instructed in the fellowship and the worship of God with His people? And so you could just go down the list of things that people believe. For example, they say, well, yes, I trusted Jesus as my Savior, but am I saved?
Well, I hope so. And I could go down a long list of things that I've heard people say, many of whom have been Christians or said they've been Christians for years and years.
Now, here's the issue. My friend, if, listen, if this is the Word of God, which it is, and you believe it, Then it's time that we understand exactly what we believe, why we believe it, and to be able to defend it because we live in a society that is full of false doctrine and error. And it is everywhere. And many people can't even discern the difference. For example, This lady said to me on one occasion, she was telling me about how she watched the television and how she loved this, that, and the other.
She said, The three favorite preachers I love. You're one of them. And then she named two of the very fine men. And she says, I just listen to you all every Sunday, and she says, I just get so blessed, I just love all of y'all.
Well, I guess he was wondering and thinking that I was going to have this beam on my face and was saying, Thank you very much for loving me. But you know what? I stood there sort of dumbfounded. Because I'm telling you, if I've ever heard three divergent theologies, absolutely, totally, diametrically opposed to each other, and I'm thinking, dear God, ma'am, one thing for certain, she couldn't tell me what she believed. Because you know what she does, here's what she does.
She's a pick and chooser. I choose a little bit of this, I pick a little bit of that, I choose a little bit of this, and pick a little bit of that. What is she doing? She's picking and choosing what she wants to believe, what she wants to hear.
Now you put that kind of theology together and you mark this one down. You listen, say amen. Here's the thing you found. When you start finding people who are picking and choosing theology, 99.99% of the time, they're going to be off. Totally out and left the ill on the absolute essential of the atoning death of Jesus Christ.
And somewhere along the way, they're going to mix up some good works into their salvation. It just happens over and over again every time.
So, when somebody says, Well, do you believe the Bible? I believe the Bible.
Well, tell me what you believe. And oftentimes they can't. And so, what I don't want you to do, I don't want you to be able to have to walk up to somebody in a very wobbly fashion and say, Well, I think I know, well, talk to me later. I have to think about it. No.
Listen to what he says. He says, Always. Always being able to do what? Always being able to make a defense to everyone who asks you: what is the reason you believe what you believe? Why do you believe that?
Now I want to say again to fathers and mothers, listen. You need to instruct your children. I understand this. You can't hand down your theology, but yes, you can. You can hand it down to them.
You can hand down your belief system. But here's what's going to happen. If it isn't solid, If it isn't absolutely established in something that's immovable, unchangeable, and defendable, you know what?
Somewhere along the way, it's going to get tested, and they'll give it up. Even if you have done your very best as a parent. You've said, here's what I believe. Here's what God says. And you can hand it down.
You know what they're going to do? They're going to test it out themselves. And sometimes they'll keep it, and sometimes they'll mix a little error with it. And ultimately, maybe we hope and pray that they'll come back to saying, you know what, my mom and dad were smarter than I thought they were. They knew more about God than I thought they did.
Or it may be that because you have not established what you believe, you can't really tell them what you believe. But listen, even if you can't, say to them, Son, search for the truth. Sweetheart, search for the truth. Find your church, somebody's teaching the Word of God, not just preaching some sermon. Very important what you and I believe, very important what we teach our children, because it affects every single area of our life and affects all of our relationships.
Every relationship in life we have is affected by what we believe. Thank you for listening to Does It Matter What You Believe? For more inspirational messages like this one, visit our online 24-7 station. And if you'd like to know more about Charles Stanley or InTouch Ministries, stop by intouch.org. This podcast is a presentation of In Touch Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia.
