Discernment Between Truth and Error

Grace To You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world” (1 John 4:1-3).

God’s children are able to discern false doctrine.

A sure mark of every false religious system is doctrinal error, particularly about the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Those systems deny that He is Savior and Lord, God in human flesh, the only way to the Father (John 14:6) because salvation comes only through Him (Acts 4:12).

A sure mark, then, of all true children of God is that they believe the truth about Jesus Christ and do not deviate into doctrinal error. Although they may be temporarily duped by false teaching, they will not be permanently deceived by it. The apostle John wrote, “[False teachers] are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:5-6).

When you were saved, you were clear about who Christ was. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ,” writes John, “is born of God” (1 John 5:1). Had you not passed that doctrinal test, you wouldn’t have been saved. God’s children distinguish spiritual truth from doctrinal error because the Spirit of truth (John 14:16) indwells them.

“O Timothy,” Paul exhorted his beloved son in the faith, “guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’” (1 Tim. 6:20). I pray that you will guard the precious treasure of truth entrusted to you in the Scriptures and so assure your heart that you belong to the God of truth.

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for revealing His truth to us in the Bible.

For Further Study

Read John 1:1; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9. What do they teach about the Person of Christ?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[TheConservativeParty]

This is a very important topic. Happens to be one that was featured in the Bible study I go to on Wednesdays.

Thanks for posting

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Who is Jesus?

The most important question anybody will ever answer. Even a non-answer is an answer.

Every religion ever founded tries to make sense out of the senseless world. They all lead to death.

John 14:6
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru me.

Amen!

[Mark17]

Even a non-answer is an answer.

You are correct sir. Concerning Jesus, it is not possible to be neutral. As you say, neutrality is a non answer, and a non answer IS an answer. It is a decision against Jesus. Fence sitting is NOT allowed. 😁

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I’m sure that will be the excuse of legions at the Great White Throne Judgement.

“I thought you were a great philosopher”

“I was never against you”

:(

[ravenwolf]

A sure mark of every false religious system is doctrinal error,

---

And almost every religion is false to another religion, Jesus said many shall come in my name ,”saying i am Christ and deceive many”

Even true believers will deceive people because they have been duped by the religious leaders who has a doctor or Reverend as a title in front of their name.

Jesus said they are of their father the devil, but they are Worshipped because people puts their word ahead of what the Bible says.

[Zuriel]

**A sure mark of every false religious system is doctrinal error, particularly about the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Those systems deny that He is Savior and Lord, God in human flesh, the only way to the Father (John 14:6) because salvation comes only through Him (Acts 4:12).**

The Christ says that he is the only way to the Father, and in the next 4 verses explains that every divine word and work, that the Son of God showed the world, is from the Father that dwells in him (and he in the Father. Where is the Father NOT at?)

The Son said that the Father is greater than he (John 14:28). The Son also said that the “only true God”, the “Father”, has given him power over all flesh 17:1-3) The Son also said:

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev. 3:21

Want a type and shadow? Joseph was given the power of Pharaoh by Pharaoh.

“Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou....See I have set thee over all the land of Egypt...... and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” Gen. 41:40-44