Contend for the Faith

The human search for truth is relentless and happens in every category of life. Our family still chuckles at my mother’s response when someone asked her if she would like an egg. She replied, “I don’t know. Are they in this year?”

This restless search takes place in the spiritual realm too. Pet doctrines come and hopefully go as people want to hear something that fits their personal desires, mainly to allow them to control their own lives.

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. (1 Timothy 6:20–21)

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

In the early days of the church, the Apostles continually faced the challenge that salvation required human good works or at least included religious practices and rules long established by those who claimed their authority came from God, the same people who crucified God’s Son. Even though the good news of the Gospel won that battle, the human heart still cries out, “I must do something” regarding earning eternal life.

Jude, the half-brother of the Savior, wrote: “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

The author of today’s devotional says a sizable number of Christians have drifted from a thoughtful, Biblical, God-centered theology to one that is increasingly mystical, non-Biblical, and man-centered . . . with a proliferation of extra-Biblical revelations that certain people are claiming to receive directly from God.

I share his dismay and his reliance on the Bible as our source of truth. Even though we may not fully understand every verse, it says this:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

First of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20–21)

It also warns us repeatedly that this truth must be tested and held firmly:

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

God teaches me that If a teaching doesn’t conform to Scripture, it must be rejected. If it does conform, it isn’t a new revelation. That is, additional revelation is unnecessary. It may come in a still, soft voice, or a dream, or through the words of another person, but it will conform to what God has already revealed. Besides, there is danger in adding to it:

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18–19)

This is why those who defend the faith say: “Don’t be swayed by supposed new revelations. Devote yourself to what has already been revealed” and then point to these words:

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Timothy 4:1–4)

PRAY: Jesus, as the days become filled with news of wars, increased earthquakes, and crimes against the masses, I’m also tempted to forget what I know about You and panic into teaching that will make me feel more comfortable. Today’s headlines challenge what I believe about Your goodness, but they do not put a ripple in the reality of Your holiness and Your right to deal with the sinfulness in this world. Guard my heart and my faith in You. Don’t let me wander into any teaching that denies what Your Word reveals.

PONDER: Psalm 37 is a good place to start. It reminds me that God is still on His throne and that He is not yet finished with those who continually challenge the truth He has revealed. In the end, Jesus wins.

 

 

 

Being Tested . . .

 

We live in a scary world. With AI and skill in technology, movies and other media can be created depicting things that never happened or were never said. While it is also filled with wonders, knowing what is true becomes more difficult. Add to that the devices of Satan to delude, God’s Word becomes the only certain anchor, yet even it can be twisted. The NT says of Paul’s writings: “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:16)

For that reason, Christians are told to test what we hear . . . and realize that God also tests us. He does this several ways, such as asking Abraham to sacrifice his son; a test of his faith. He also tests with affliction and some fall away because of it.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (Luke 8:13)

But He tells me that “the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” and “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:3; 12) I’m not to be surprised at any fiery trial because God uses them as tests and they are not simply a strange event. (1 Peter 4:12)

He also promises a good outcome, for example, the “severe test of affliction” can produce an “abundance of joy” and even when in “extreme poverty” the Lord can produce in us an overflowing “wealth of generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:2)

So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)

I’m also to test myself in several ways:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (2 Corinthians 13:5)

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. (Galatians 6:4)

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21)

All this is to make certain that I think like Jesus thinks and not fall prey to false teaching:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

I must not forget that Satan is the accuser so need to be careful how I test myself. One way is obedience. The NT is clear that I’m to be one who does what God says, “ . . . not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) Today’s devotional says a hearer is like someone who audits a course. They hear the lectures but do not have to write the papers or take the tests. For a Christian, this failure to follow though leads to spiritual delusion. That same delusion can even happen to those who appear to obey because Jesus said:

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21–23)

All these tests reveal that true faith will do God’s will even in trials and difficult challenges because of an intimate relationship with Him that relies on Him rather than on my own ability. Not only that, I must not delude myself by thinking all I need is to know stuff. Anyone can attend church, hear sermons, serve in various ministries, even pray, but without that personal connection with God that seeks His will. I cannot ‘do Christianity’ my way.

PRAY: Lord, I hear You tell me to listen, to make certain, to be discerning, to realize that disobedience in any area can lead to delusion. I know those who assume they are saved because they are ‘nice’ but do not honor You at all. Grant me the grace to be faithful to You and to all that You say because I hear You and because I love You.

Read Matthew 7:13–29. What is the difference between a true believer and a false prophet? How can I be certain that I am a child of God?