Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "Soteriology II"
BELIEVERS AND PROFESSORS

 

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BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1970

BELIEVERS AND PROFESSORS
The parables which Jesus spoke in Matthew 13 leave no doubt whatsoever in our minds that in this church age there will be a strange admixture of the true and the false among those who profess the name of Jesus Christ. Confusion of interpretation will result if we do not recognize this line of demarcation. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the false and the true, and other times it is very easy.

  1. THE FACT OF SUCH A MIXTURE OF THE FALSE AND TRUE
    2 Cor. 11:13-15; Neh. 13:1-3; Mt. 13:24-30,47-50; 2 Pet. 2:1-2; Ex. 12:38; Gal. 2:4.
     
  2. SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF FALSE PROFESSORS
    1. Simon, the sorcerer, Acts 8:13-21. Inverse 13, he believed, was baptized, continued, but verse 19 shows his real condition.
    2. The antichrists of John's day, 1 Jn. 2:19.
      What an indictment! If they were ever born again, they will come back again.
    3. The man with the unclean spirit, Mt. 12:43-45; 1 Thes. 1:9.
    4. The disciples who turned back, Jn. 6:64-66.
    5. The foolish virgins, Mt. 25:11-12.
    6. The false prophets, Mt. 7:15-23; cp. 24:29.
    7. Those without works, Jas. 2:14.
       
  3. THE BELIEVERS ARE ENCOURAGED - THE FALSE ARE WARNED
     
    THE BELIEVERS ARE ENCOURAGED THE FALSE ARE WARNED
    1 Pet. 1:5 Lk. 11:43-44
    Phil. 1:6 Phil. 3:18-19
    Jas. 5:7-8 Jas. 2:14
     Heb. 7:25 1 Jn. 2:4

     

  4. BELIEVERS ARE REWARDED PROFESSORS ARE CONDEMNED
    THE BELIEVERS ARE REWARDED THE PROFESSORS ARE CONDEMNED
    Mt. 25:19-23
    Faithful servant
    Mt. 25:24-30
    Unfaithful servant
    Lk. 12:42-44
    Prepared servant
    Lk. 12:45-47
    Unprepared servant
    Col. 3:24
    Reward if ye serve the Lord Christ
    Mt. 7:22-23
    Many will say, "Lord ... I never knew you."

     

  5. SOME CONSIDERATIONS
    1. In handling admittedly difficult passages, never use a doubtful or obscure passage to contradict a clear and positive one. "Don't use an 'IF' to contradict a 'VERILY'."

      Example: Compare Hebrews 6:4-6 with John 5:24. In Hebrews 6:6, the individual has partaken of all that God has to offer, even of the work of the Holy Ghost in His convicting work, but the Scripture does not say that he has FAITH.
       
    2. The cases of Judas Iscariot and Peter
      1. Judas never was a believer, Jn. 6:68-71. Jesus answered them, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
      2. Peter never ceased to be a believer, Lk. 22:31-32; Jn. 6:68-71. The Lord said, "Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you. . .But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. "

        Note the R.V.
        "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat; but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren. "
         
  6. THE SEPARATION TAKES PLACE AT THE SECOND COMING
    Matthew 13:28-30; 1 Corinthians 4:5



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