Discerning Falsehoods

Jan. 1, 2000 | By Greg DesVoignes

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

"And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Ezekiel 44:23

DISCERNING FALSEHOODS

The Word of God not only provides the warnings and the commands concerning deception, it also provides the way to discerning between what is true and what is false. We can get some immediate ground level insight by looking into Exodus 25.

In Exodus 25 we find Moses on Mt. Sinai in the presence of God. God told Moses that he wanted to dwell among His people. He instructed Moses to build a tabernacle so that he could dwell among them. God told Moses what materials to gather that were going to be used in the building of this tabernacle. He then said,

"According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall construct it." Exodus 25:9

Now the materials, the construction, design, and instructions were a foreshadow of Jesus and the church, having the same purpose; that God may dwell among His people. Now since the tabernacle was to be built according to the plan, pattern, materials, and instructions from God's Word, how is the church [individual believers, and the body as a whole] to be built? According to God's Word.

Jesus confirms this by saying

"...and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Matthew 16:18

Jesus was not referring to Peter as the rock, but Himself. Since He is the rock, the church [which is His, and His plan] the church is to be built upon His living Word. This brings us to the next aspect.

"You shall not add to the word which I am commanding, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandment of the Lord... You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him, and you shall keep his commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him." Deuteronomy 4:2; 13:4

Now we see that the church [which belongs to Jesus] is not only supposed to be built according to His Word, but that we are not supposed to add our own philosophies, plans, doctrines, nor are we to omit any part of God's plans. It is His voice, the voice we see in His words we are to follow. The Word of God is the standard by which we grow, change, learn to know God, and the plum line by which we can tell the truth from the false.

So, number one, false doctrines will not be found in the Word of God, but are the additions or omissions by man following a voice other than God's. And, by knowing the Word, you will be able to discern that which is false. Jesus said,

"...he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers." John 10: 4,5

The lesson? If it is not in the Word, it should not be used in the church, and the more familiar you are with the voice of Jesus the more you can recognize something different. In fact God's people will not only not follow something strange from the Word, they will flee from the ones speaking it.

[al_c]

Now tell me how to approach him.

I'm sure you have already done this, but my answer to that would be ... Ask God how to approach him. Ask why you should approach, too. Always start with prayer.

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Mack giving html lessons ... who'd have thunk it? ;o)

[OLD REGGIE]

Hello, I enjoyed reading your post. If I may I add one note . . .

So, number one, false doctrines will not be found in the Word of God, but are the additions or omissions by man following a voice other than God's.

Also, interpretations. As God's word states:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

II Peter 1:20

I have found this to be one of the greater challenges in understanding God's word. Simply let it say what it means and mean what it says without my mind corrupting the meaning.

Anyway, good post and God bless!

The key word in 2 Peter 1:20 is prophecy. The inclusion or exclusion of this one word turns the entire meaning on it's head.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

The key word in 2 Peter 1:20 is prophecy. The inclusion or exclusion of this one word turns the entire meaning on it's head.

This is something I had not thought of before. Explain a little please:)

Becky

[1john2 3and4]

Just a hunch, but maybe that's because you're always trying to prove them wrong.

hehe.....good point, al. it might help (ease becky & mack's heartache) to "objectify" points of error as being of the rcc, rather than personal/individual. (you know, saying; "that is wrong" rather than; "you are wrong"). it takes alot of discipline, a "schooling of the tongue" so to speak, as i know that i certainly have much to be ashamed of, and will have much sin of thought, deed, and spoken word, to account for at the judgement. but for jesus, precious jesus, and his sacrifice of his blood for me, i would have no hope of salvation.

the all-to-human tendency to wrongly interpret reasoned debate is not the exclusive domain of the rcc!

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

[St.Chuck]

the text chosen was specifically outlining the role of (certain) levites in the sanctuary service.

Yeah, absolutely nothing to do with scripture, as Becky claims. It's just a good example of the arbitrary use of scripture to buttress YOPIOS. I think Becky's parents wise to ignore her attempts at proseletizing.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Do you think it wise that the RCC brainwashed them into believeing that they were not capable of reading the bible for themselves?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Where do you think we can learn what is holy and profane from? Where did the priests of the OT learn what was holy and profane from?

Becky

[w_over_w]

Good Morning Becky and Big Mac,

This is something I had not thought of before. Explain a little please:)

I can't speak for "OLDREGGIE" but it seems the verse to follow . . .

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

II Peter 2:21

Additionally, this "rightly divides" with . . .

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, . . .

II Tim. 3:16a

Other than the simple analogy of a CEO dictating a letter to an Admn. Asst. wherein the CEO is the "author" even though the Admn. Asst. did the writing, I've yet to study why God had man write for Him. There are many answers to this. However, if one chooses to believe that chosen "holy men" were NOT given revelation from God to write God's word . . . well . . . what do we have? Man's word. No thanks . . . I choose to believe that God made His word available so we could all know his plan of redemption and his Will for our lives. God bless!

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[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Ezekiel 44:23

In the context of the article, IMO, this verse is used to show that we are to learn to discern between the unclean and the clean.

The context of the article is not about who teaches. That's not the point. Maybe, IYO it was a poor choice of scripture on the part of the author. But the context of the article is discernment.

Are you just trying to be inflammatory? Do you want to fight? Going down the road you are trying, no one learns anything.

Becky

[OLD REGGIE]

(Reg) The key word in 2 Peter 1:20 is prophecy. The inclusion or exclusion of this one word turns the entire meaning on it's head.

This is something I had not thought of before. Explain a little please:)

Well, there are two very simple reasons:

2 Peter 1:
[20] First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,
[21] because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

1. (And most important). The statement must be taken in context. 2 Peter 1:21 makes it very clear that God was the one from whom the prophecy came. The "man" was not acting on his own, he was "moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

2. 2 Peter 1:20. There are many "words" of Scripture which are pure and distinct from "prophecy".

The more I think about it the more I think I could have been mistaken. Imagine that!

I was thinking of replacing "prophecy" with "words". Well, in order be certain of a correct interpretation we should be certain we are "moved by the Holy Spirit".

I was probably hasty with my response.

[1john2 3and4]

. I choose to believe that God made His word available so we could all know his plan of redemption and his Will for our lives.

thank you jesus! Praise you always! because of god's special protection throughout ages of persecution, his special covering and guiding hand, his WORD is now available to us. this, despite attempts (read: "principalities and powers" through human agencies) to keep it from our eyes and knowledge. how blessed we are! and.....how fervently we pray for others in the world who are STILL being hunted and killed for having the WORD in their keeping. the FIRST thing jesus said, when asked about the signs of the end of the age was what? (see: Matt. 24) the enemy has not ceased, nor will he EVER! even in the face of the holy city, the new jerusalem, miraculously descended; And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army

since the enemy of truth failed in his attempt to suppress god's word, that is, since we have emerged from the "dark ages", his attacks can only taunt, disrurpt, sneer, and impotently rage. have peace with this, becky, mack, w,....i often have to remind myself that the son of god HIMSELF, left the rebuking to his father! we need more jesus, his example for us! obedience, faith, kindness, love, forgiveness, long suffering......insofar as possible for "us" fragile and fatally flawed beings, is our call, our duty. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

[w_over_w]

Wow! Now THATS! what God calls . . .

. . . that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Eph. 4:29b

I consider myself gracefully edified by your ministering the WORD of Truth. Selah!

[Iowegian]

Actually I don't believe Peter was referring to how we interprete Scripture or prophecy, but it is rather a testimony to the inspiration of the Bible.

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

He is saying that the prophet didn't make up the prophecy and it is not just his own opinion, but rather the very words of God. The process was the same and true for all of those humans that God used to give us His Word in written form. So we cannot claim it was just Paul's opinion or Moses opinion, etc. The key in the verse that makes this true is "came about", referring to the source of the message, not the hearer or reader.

[1john2 3and4]

thanks! but we know it aint me! lol

the source of ALL good is "who loves us"

if isaiah prostrated himself, how much more should i? god bless

[St.Chuck]

Do you think it wise that the RCC brainwashed them into believeing that they were not capable of reading the bible for themselves?

I disagree with your premise. The RCC brainwashes noone, as evidenced by your easy departure out of the RCC. All I know is that if my child came to me claiming that my beliefs were bogus, and that my interpretations of scripture were false, I would be very sceptical. Aware that my beliefs about scripture derive from 2000 years of learned, holy men praying and studying that scripture, I would have to think that my child was the one who was brainwashed, and I would tend to prevent any opportunity for her to indulge in her fantasies.

[Commander8]

It's very important for Churches to stress DAILY Bible study.

[hoppity]

"It should be noted that the "they" referred to in this text are priests. Interesting how this verse is used to buttress an idea, but when put in context seems to oppose it."


Levitical priests, not RC priests. ". . . sons of Zadok. . . ."