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In the world today, many false teachings
are being proclaimed and believed. What should our response be? Should we just
stand by and allow these teachings to go on without saying anything or are we
called to do something major? In this series of articles, we are going to look
at what the Bible says are reasons why we are CALLED to defend the truth
against error. First, we must see where God stands on
false teaching. Because it is the case that God’s words are truth (Psalm
119:160, John 17:17), anything that is opposite of that IS NOT HIS! When
something alters from the word of God, it is NOT what God has said. And if it
is not what God said, then the intent for those words spoken by God is missed
and overlooked. When we take what God says and try to replace it or misconstrued
it, God IS NOT HAPPY with it because it is NOT what He said. We must realize
that God says what He says for a reason, and it is for the fact of making us
more like Him. God is also against false teaching because
His word leads to everlasting life and anything different DOES NOT lead to
everlasting life. This goes back to the purpose and the intent of His words for
us. Do we realize that when we speak anything that differs from God’s word, we
are affecting the eternal destiny of the hearers? In John 8:32 Jesus said, “And
you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Truth intends to set
free the ones who are willing to listen and obey it. If it is not the truth, NO
ONE CAN BE SET FREE! If we are not set free, then we will still be in our sins
and therefore will be lost for all eternity. God is also against false teaching because
God’s word makes disciples of Christ, but error makes disciples of Satan. We
see this in John 8:31 when Jesus says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who
believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” The
qualification to being a disciple of Christ is that we follow the word of God
as our standard. If our standard is based on anything else, then it is a lie
because it is not the truth. Now we know who the father of lies is from John
8:44 where Jesus says, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of
your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not
stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” If we
don’t want to be disciples of the devil, we must change and follow the other
standard – the word of God. God is also against false teaching because
God’s word leads people to have a relationship with Him, but error drives a
wedge in the fellowship of God and His people. We see this in 2 John 9 where
John states, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ
does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father
and the Son.” God longs to have fellowship with His creation, but He makes the
standard of fellowship based on the teachings of His word. When mankind wants
to change the source of their teachings from what God says to say and teach
another, we have to sacrifice our fellowship with God. We cannot change or
alter our teachings from God’s word and be found to be in good standing with
God. Galatians 1:6–9 teaches “6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from
Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is
not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel
of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel
to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have
said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you
than what you have received, let him be accursed.” May we stand with God and not be against
Him so that we can have Heaven as our home, and we can be in full fellowship
with Him! |
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Defending The Truth Against False Teaching?
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