In Don Stubblefield's sermon, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing Christ as God in the flesh, a belief central to Christian faith as highlighted in passages from Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, and John. The sermon discusses the dangers of false doctrines, particularly those that deny Christ's divine nature, as seen in groups like Jehovah's Witnesses. Stubblefield warns against the temptation to adopt a form of eclecticism, where believers might try to combine elements of different faiths or secular values with Christianity. He stresses the importance of adhering to the true gospel, as per Galatians, and the necessity of bearing spiritual fruit as evidence of genuine faith. The sermon concludes with a call to self-examination, urging believers to ensure their faith is authentic and aligned with the teachings of Christ, as the path to salvation is narrow and requires true commitment.

We will now take time if two or three of the men have a word on the London Baptist Confession or scripture. We will hear those at this time. In the passage Russell read from Ephesians 1, 20 through 22, and also the London Baptist Confession. All who profess the faith of the gospel are united under the headship of Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. All who profess faith in Christ must believe in him as God manifests in the flesh and the second person of the Holy Trinity who alone fulfilled all of the righteous demands of the law in our place and shed his innocent blood for our sins.

Only one who is perfect could do this and that's God himself And that's Christ is God in the flesh. Let us turn to 1 Corinthians 15, 1 through 5. We have the fundamentals of our faith here. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again.

The third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again. The third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the Twelve. So we see that Christ is in the flesh. He was present in their midst. All that he did and said was proof that he was God in the flesh.

And any who do not believe that he is God in the flesh, I think of in this case, Jehovah's Witnesses, they will die in their sins. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that Christ was God in the flesh. In connection with that, I think too of the scribes and the Pharisees, they refused to believe that he was God in the flesh and he said in John 8 verse 24 he said to them the scribes and Pharisees who did not believe that he was God in the flesh, that they would die in their sins. If you do not believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins. This applies to anybody who refuses to believe that Christ is God in the flesh.

Let us turn also to Galatians 1, verses 6 through 10. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that calls you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another. Would there be some that troubled you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. For though we are an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, then that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade man or God or do I seek to please man? For if you please man I should not be the servant of Christ." To preach The gospel is an offense to those who do not know God and those who are true to God's word will preach that truth regardless of how it offends anybody. We are to speak the truth in love, but we are to preach that word faithfully and not to shrink from it because somebody might be offended by it. The tendency of many is to have the best of both worlds as the phrase is, which is known as eclecticism, which is defined as selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles, Composed of elements drawn from various sources, as did the Jews at various times in the Old Testament. Combining the worship of God with that of the gods or idols of the surrounding nations.

They wanted to have so as the phrase is the best of both worlds. I can't remember the passage of Scripture but there is one point where the Jews asked how the surrounding nations were worshipping and they wanted to be like they were. It's sort of a good example of what they call peer pressure. We want to be like the people around us, but we are where to be, what the Word of God teaches and not try to imitate those about us to try to please them instead of pleasing God. In Deuteronomy 11 16 it says take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside and serve other gods, and worship them.

Paul's final address to the Ephesian elders, He warned them of those who would creep in among them, speaking false doctrine. Let's turn to Acts chapter 20, 27 through 31, and his address to the Ephesian elders, his final address to them, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.

1st Peter 5 verses 8 and 9. He said to be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resists steadfastly and the faith knowing that the same afflictions and are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." First Peter 589. One of the chief ways that the devil seeks to devour is through false doctrine, to which numerous cults and false religions have fallen prey. For example, the Jehovah's Witnesses. Those who adhere to the true faith in Christ will make it manifest in their lives and witness.

Their lives and witness will bear evidence that we are genuine followers of Christ. 1st Peter 3 15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with make peace and fear. Our lives are to be different from those of the world. There's another verse, I didn't write it down, it comes to mind, but it says that we are to be a peculiar people. It doesn't mean to be peculiar in the weird sense of the word, but it means it in the sense that we are to be different from the world.

And if we are to be the cause of people asking us for this reason of the hope that lies within us. And then in Hebrews 12 verse 14, follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." So we can only be holy by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. There's nothing in and of ourselves that is holy. It has to be the work of the Spirit of God and us. His Holiness that He lives out through us.

We're sort of a work of our spirit with the work of God's Spirit. And then let us Look at John 15, one through eight, and the words of Christ. I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clained through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Abide in me and die in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine. No more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him. The same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is weathered, and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be my disciples. So if we're not bearing fruit, if we're not a true child of God, we're not a disciple of Christ. Sadly, there are many who profess, but they do not possess saving faith.

They will hear the bone-chilling words of our Lord on the day of judgment. I never knew you, depart from me, you that work in equity. Matthew 7, 23. And then in that same chapter, verses 13 and 14, Jesus said that, enter ye in at the straight gate or the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at, because straight or narrow is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." So I cannot think of anything more terrifying than to hear those words, depart from me I never knew you. There's nothing more terrifying than that And there are many who profess faith in Christ, but they do not possess it.

Their lives do not reflect it. And so We're warned in 2 Corinthians 13, 5 to examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates. Those that are heading to the flames of eternal hell that reprobates. In Matthew 7, 13 and 14, it says a few there be that are entering through the narrow gate to heaven and Revelation chapter 7 verse 9 we're told that there will be a great number of those in heaven.

There's no conflict here between these two verses. There'll be a number that no man could count of those that will be in heaven, but it will be few in comparison to those who have ever been born. So we need to keep the two, the right perspective on that. With that, I will conclude, and we will proceed.