1

2

Not Guilty or Righteous by Not Guilty or Righteous by AssociationAssociation

The soul who sins shall die. The The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.wicked shall be upon himself. Ezek. 18:20Ezek. 18:20

3

Not Guilty or Righteous by Not Guilty or Righteous by AssociationAssociation

• Mere contact with sinners Mere contact with sinners does not make one a sinner,does not make one a sinner, Lk. 15:1-2; 1 Cor. 5:9-10Lk. 15:1-2; 1 Cor. 5:9-10

• This is not permission to This is not permission to ignore the influence of ignore the influence of wicked,wicked, 1 Cor. 15:33-341 Cor. 15:33-34

4

The Problem StatedThe Problem Stated• The temptation to consider The temptation to consider

ourselves righteous because of ourselves righteous because of our association with those we our association with those we deem to be righteousdeem to be righteous•Mere contact with righteous people Mere contact with righteous people

& activities does not make us & activities does not make us righteousrighteous (Ezek. 18:20) (Ezek. 18:20)

• In the presence of Jesus, In the presence of Jesus, Lk. 13:23-Lk. 13:23-2727

5

Influence of the Influence of the Righteous is Righteous is

Powerful & NeededPowerful & Needed• In a marriage, In a marriage, 1 Cor. 7:141 Cor. 7:14• In the home, In the home, 2 Tim. 1:5 (3:14-2 Tim. 1:5 (3:14-

15)15)• In the world, In the world, Matt. 5:13-16 Matt. 5:13-16

(Col. 4:5-6)(Col. 4:5-6)• In the church, In the church, 2 Cor. 9:22 Cor. 9:2

6

Influence of the Influence of the Righteous does not Righteous does not Remove Personal Remove Personal

ResponsibilityResponsibility• MarriageMarriage: Unbeliever must obey to be : Unbeliever must obey to be

saved saved (1 Pet. 3:1-2)(1 Pet. 3:1-2)• HomeHome: Child becomes accountable : Child becomes accountable (Lk. (Lk.

2:52)2:52)• WorldWorld: Will give account to God : Will give account to God (1 Pet. (1 Pet.

4:5)4:5)• ChurchChurch: Each bears own burden : Each bears own burden (Gal. (Gal.

6:5)6:5)

7

““Faith by Association” Faith by Association” is not True is not True

FaithFaith• Judas, Judas, John 6:70John 6:70• Job’s wife, Job’s wife, Job 1:1; 2:9-10 Job 1:1; 2:9-10

(Ezek. 14:14, 20) (Ezek. 14:14, 20)• Take responsibility & Take responsibility &

confess your own faith, confess your own faith, John 12:42-43John 12:42-43

8

““Repentance by Repentance by Association” Association”

is not True is not True RepentanceRepentance

• Pharisees & Sadducees, Pharisees & Sadducees, Matt. Matt. 3:5-93:5-9

• Repentance is not reportingRepentance is not reporting• Repentance is changing of the Repentance is changing of the

mind & the life, mind & the life, Acts 19:18-Acts 19:18-2020

9

““Worship by Worship by Association” Association” is not True Worship is not True Worship

• Christians are to assemble, Christians are to assemble, Heb. Heb. 10:24-2510:24-25

• Being present does not mean you are Being present does not mean you are truly worshipping, truly worshipping, Matt. 15:8-9Matt. 15:8-9• Can eat Lord’s Supper without discerning Can eat Lord’s Supper without discerning

the body & blood of Christ, the body & blood of Christ, 1 Cor. 11:27-1 Cor. 11:27-3131

• Worship in spirit & truth, Worship in spirit & truth, Psa. 5:7; 29:2; Psa. 5:7; 29:2; Heb. 2:12 Heb. 2:12

10

““Morality by Morality by Association” Association”

is not True Morality is not True Morality• Live moral lives, Live moral lives, Titus 2:11-13 (1 Titus 2:11-13 (1

Jno. 3:3)Jno. 3:3)• Morality begins in the heart, Morality begins in the heart, Mk. Mk.

7:21-23 (Col. 3:12)7:21-23 (Col. 3:12)• It is then seen in how we liveIt is then seen in how we live

• Holiness & modesty,Holiness & modesty, 1 Tim. 2:8-101 Tim. 2:8-10• Children of light give off light,Children of light give off light, Eph. Eph.

5:8-145:8-14

““Bible Study by Bible Study by Association” Association” is not True Bible Studyis not True Bible Study

• Personal testimonies, Personal testimonies, Jno. 6:68Jno. 6:68• Forwarding error via e-mail, without Forwarding error via e-mail, without

exposing it as error, is not Bible exposing it as error, is not Bible study study (Eph. 5:11)(Eph. 5:11)

• Genuine Bible study Genuine Bible study (Acts 17:11-12)(Acts 17:11-12)• Good & honest heart Good & honest heart (Lk. 8:15)(Lk. 8:15)• Open the book of God Open the book of God (Lk. 4:17)(Lk. 4:17)• Search for truth of God Search for truth of God (Jno. 5:39)(Jno. 5:39)• Produces faith & obedience Produces faith & obedience (Acts 18:8)(Acts 18:8)

12

““Evangelism by Evangelism by Association” Association”

is not True is not True EvangelismEvangelism

• ““Friendship” / “Relationship” Friendship” / “Relationship” evangelism, evangelism, Jno. 1:41Jno. 1:41•Prior relationship not Prior relationship not

prerequisite, prerequisite, Acts 2:41; 8:5-6; Acts 2:41; 8:5-6; 8:29-308:29-30

• Associating with erring brethren is Associating with erring brethren is not teaching them the truth not teaching them the truth (2 Jno. (2 Jno. 10-11)10-11)

13

““Salvation by Salvation by Association” Association” is not True Salvation is not True Salvation• Being saved does not mean those Being saved does not mean those

you associate with are savedyou associate with are saved• Saved parents does not mean you Saved parents does not mean you

are savedare saved• Knowing what you need to do to be Knowing what you need to do to be

saved does not save you saved does not save you (Matt. 7:21)(Matt. 7:21)• Knowing you are lost does not save Knowing you are lost does not save

you you (Acts 2:37-41)(Acts 2:37-41)

14

Association with Christ Association with Christ is Necessary for True is Necessary for True

SalvationSalvation• ““I tell you I do not know you…I tell you I do not know you…

depart from me, all you workers depart from me, all you workers of iniquity”of iniquity” (Lk. 13:27)(Lk. 13:27)

• Be baptized into Christ Be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-(Gal. 3:26-27)27)•Put on Christ…Live with ChristPut on Christ…Live with Christ•Obey Christ…Be saved by ChristObey Christ…Be saved by Christ