March 18, 1997
Imagine going to your bank to make a night deposit and later discovering someone built a replica of it and attached it to the side of the bank. Now they have your money. In effect, that is the latest scam on the computer communication system known as the World Wide Web.
This electronic con game is called “Web Spoofing.” Users connect to what appears to be the home page of their bank, enter information such as password or card numbers, and disconnect. They never realize they were not connected to their bank but an electronic replica of their bank’s homepage. Security experts may already have solved this problem, but this is one reason many people continue banking in person. Who needs another deception to watch out for?
Deceptions abound and along with them, an increase in human capacity to be deceived. Not that this is a new thing. The first book of the Bible tells how God made both man and woman: “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
God placed them in a perfect garden with only one command: they were not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Along came a serpent and said to Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
“The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”’
“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Get that? He suggested God may not have given the command, but Eve knew better. That trick didn’t work, but the serpent had another one more subtle. He suggested she was not like God, a remark much like saying to someone, “You would be good looking if you dyed your hair.”
Eve fell for it. She was already created in God’s image, but assumed she needed more. In taking the bait, what she hoped for did not happen. Instead, she became less like God. His image in her was now marred by sin.
In the New Testament book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul writes to a church that had fallen for a lie about their salvation. They had started thinking they had to keep it, if not earn it, by keeping the Old Testament law. Paul said, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” He warned them and us that many try to deceive us about how a person can have eternal life.
In 1 John and other places, the Bible warns us to “test the spirits” for many would also try and deceive us about the identity of Jesus Christ. He is uniquely God the Son, fully man and fully God. A lesser being is powerless to save, yet some trust an imitation Christ — to their eternal peril.
How can a person avoid spiritual deception? We have only one source of information that gives truth in a black and white format: the Bible. Acts 17:11 gives us a good example of what to do with any spiritual claims we hear: “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
The Apostle Paul stood the test because what he said matched the rest of Scripture. The same will not be true about the deceptions of spiritual spoofers.
Showing posts with label test for truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label test for truth. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Tests for a true prophet .......... Parables 499
February 6, 1996
A friend was offered a $5000 advance just before Christmas. Amazed at this unexpected source of generosity, he wondered if God was telling him he would soon need some cash. The phone rang again. This time it was a sales pitch for a funeral plot!
This amusing story suggests we need to be careful about interpreting life’s situations as special messages from heaven. While God is involved in history, interpreting each of life’s daily events as prophetic messages can lead us astray.
Nevertheless, thousands of people want a handle on the future. Some plan their day around their horoscope. Some seek out fortune-tellers for predictions on everything from vacations to Vatican decisions. Few consider the fact that false prophets abound. Fewer realize there is a test to determine the legitimacy of prophetic claims.
In the Bible, the prophets and seers proclaimed the will of God. Sometimes their messages followed a pattern: If you do this... God will do this.... making it clear that God’s plan included conformity in the lives of those who heard it. Sometimes their utterances included accurate predictions of future events, events that always came to pass.
Not all who called themselves prophets loved and served God. Some were “false prophets.” They were in the fortune telling business but their messages were not from heaven. They claimed otherwise but God’s true prophets challenged their claims.
Jeremiah writes, “Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.’”
Jeremiah explains to the people: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.”
According to God’s Word, false prophets tell those who despise God that He will give them peace (inferring that their attitude against Him is okay). False prophets also say no harm will come to those who stubbornly follow their own way instead of His. Jeremiah says none of them seek the will of God or hear His word. Instead, they tell people reckless lies that will not “benefit them in the least.”
When the people asked how they could discern true prophets from false, God gave them these answers. First: “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity.” A false message will be inconsistent with one basic truth of the Gospel — that we are under bondage to sin unless we turn to God and His saving power.
Second: “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams... announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.” This test acknowledges false prophets sometimes make predictions that happen but we need to test if their message will lead us toward God or away from Him. If it leads us away, then the messenger is not from God.
Third: “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.” This is the major test: EVERYTHING a prophet predicts must happen. Otherwise, he or she is a false prophet.
Our friend decided God was not talking to him through his unusual windfall. He didn’t buy a funeral plot. Instead, he paid his bills and purchased some special gifts for his family.
A friend was offered a $5000 advance just before Christmas. Amazed at this unexpected source of generosity, he wondered if God was telling him he would soon need some cash. The phone rang again. This time it was a sales pitch for a funeral plot!
This amusing story suggests we need to be careful about interpreting life’s situations as special messages from heaven. While God is involved in history, interpreting each of life’s daily events as prophetic messages can lead us astray.
Nevertheless, thousands of people want a handle on the future. Some plan their day around their horoscope. Some seek out fortune-tellers for predictions on everything from vacations to Vatican decisions. Few consider the fact that false prophets abound. Fewer realize there is a test to determine the legitimacy of prophetic claims.
In the Bible, the prophets and seers proclaimed the will of God. Sometimes their messages followed a pattern: If you do this... God will do this.... making it clear that God’s plan included conformity in the lives of those who heard it. Sometimes their utterances included accurate predictions of future events, events that always came to pass.
Not all who called themselves prophets loved and served God. Some were “false prophets.” They were in the fortune telling business but their messages were not from heaven. They claimed otherwise but God’s true prophets challenged their claims.
Jeremiah writes, “Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.’”
Jeremiah explains to the people: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.”
According to God’s Word, false prophets tell those who despise God that He will give them peace (inferring that their attitude against Him is okay). False prophets also say no harm will come to those who stubbornly follow their own way instead of His. Jeremiah says none of them seek the will of God or hear His word. Instead, they tell people reckless lies that will not “benefit them in the least.”
When the people asked how they could discern true prophets from false, God gave them these answers. First: “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity.” A false message will be inconsistent with one basic truth of the Gospel — that we are under bondage to sin unless we turn to God and His saving power.
Second: “If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams... announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.” This test acknowledges false prophets sometimes make predictions that happen but we need to test if their message will lead us toward God or away from Him. If it leads us away, then the messenger is not from God.
Third: “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.” This is the major test: EVERYTHING a prophet predicts must happen. Otherwise, he or she is a false prophet.
Our friend decided God was not talking to him through his unusual windfall. He didn’t buy a funeral plot. Instead, he paid his bills and purchased some special gifts for his family.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Predicting the Future ..................... Parables 172
(July 5, 1989)
Those OLD magazines in the doctor’s office are pure entertainment... or have you noticed?
Have a look at the articles that deal with “coming” events. It seems everyone is a prophet. They already knew who will win the Presidential Election; who will win the Kentucky Derby; which hockey team will trade which player; if the Oilers will make the playoffs; and who they will defeat and by how much. Fascinating reading, especially after the elections, after the races, and after the hockey season is over.
Obviously, 100% accuracy they don’t have. In fact, some of them are so far off, one wonders where they got their assurance. But then again, most nonfiction periodical writers don’t consider their prophecies will be read six months later by someone with a sore stomach or a tooth ache.
In fact, we probably all make such self-assured predictions, based more or less on our personal preferences, but since no one records them for posterity, and unless someone makes a bet on it, we soon forgot how clouded is our crystal ball.
Newspaper, “prophets” fare a little better. Their articles usually wind up recycled or in the fireplace before the actual events disprove their predictions. However some, sports columnists in particular, must have red faces now and then. They are so sure— and so wrong — so often.
Maybe I’m getting cynical but it seems to me that predictions about the future, whether sports, politics or any other news story, are a total waste of time, effort and paper.
Why bother? Maybe some writers can’t wait until the thing is done and over with before commenting on it, or today’s news is old hat (television’s fault) so let’s discuss tomorrow’s?
One thing is for sure, no matter how gifted we are perception-wise, or how observant we are trend-wise, we are not very good at foretelling tomorrow or next week. There are just too many variables.
That is why fulfilled prophecy in Scripture is so astounding. What are the odds that an assortment of men, smattered over a few hundred years, could make predictions about the future and have all of them come true? Someone once said about the same as finding a certain five-dollar bill in a pile of fives three feet deep covering the entire globe. Long odds.
Have a look at these few examples. Zechariah wrote in about 520 B.C., “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you. He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)
The event happened about 33 A.D. “... When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel! Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it...” (John 12:12-14).
Here’s another from Isaiah 53:9 about the burial place of the promised Messiah. “And they made His grave with the wicked — but with the rich at His death...”
Several hundred years later, Matthew tells how Jesus was crucified between two thieves (the wicked) and buried in the tomb of a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60).
Every now and then, someone says the Bible is just an ordinary book written by ordinary men. But if evaluated by prophecy alone, TIME, LIFE, McLean’s, and Sports Illustrated are the ordinary books written by ordinary men. No matter how old the waiting room copy, the events predicted in Scripture ALWAYS happen exactly as the prophets of God said they would.
Those OLD magazines in the doctor’s office are pure entertainment... or have you noticed?
Have a look at the articles that deal with “coming” events. It seems everyone is a prophet. They already knew who will win the Presidential Election; who will win the Kentucky Derby; which hockey team will trade which player; if the Oilers will make the playoffs; and who they will defeat and by how much. Fascinating reading, especially after the elections, after the races, and after the hockey season is over.
Obviously, 100% accuracy they don’t have. In fact, some of them are so far off, one wonders where they got their assurance. But then again, most nonfiction periodical writers don’t consider their prophecies will be read six months later by someone with a sore stomach or a tooth ache.
In fact, we probably all make such self-assured predictions, based more or less on our personal preferences, but since no one records them for posterity, and unless someone makes a bet on it, we soon forgot how clouded is our crystal ball.
Newspaper, “prophets” fare a little better. Their articles usually wind up recycled or in the fireplace before the actual events disprove their predictions. However some, sports columnists in particular, must have red faces now and then. They are so sure— and so wrong — so often.
Maybe I’m getting cynical but it seems to me that predictions about the future, whether sports, politics or any other news story, are a total waste of time, effort and paper.
Why bother? Maybe some writers can’t wait until the thing is done and over with before commenting on it, or today’s news is old hat (television’s fault) so let’s discuss tomorrow’s?
One thing is for sure, no matter how gifted we are perception-wise, or how observant we are trend-wise, we are not very good at foretelling tomorrow or next week. There are just too many variables.
That is why fulfilled prophecy in Scripture is so astounding. What are the odds that an assortment of men, smattered over a few hundred years, could make predictions about the future and have all of them come true? Someone once said about the same as finding a certain five-dollar bill in a pile of fives three feet deep covering the entire globe. Long odds.
Have a look at these few examples. Zechariah wrote in about 520 B.C., “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you. He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)
The event happened about 33 A.D. “... When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel! Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it...” (John 12:12-14).
Here’s another from Isaiah 53:9 about the burial place of the promised Messiah. “And they made His grave with the wicked — but with the rich at His death...”
Several hundred years later, Matthew tells how Jesus was crucified between two thieves (the wicked) and buried in the tomb of a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60).
Every now and then, someone says the Bible is just an ordinary book written by ordinary men. But if evaluated by prophecy alone, TIME, LIFE, McLean’s, and Sports Illustrated are the ordinary books written by ordinary men. No matter how old the waiting room copy, the events predicted in Scripture ALWAYS happen exactly as the prophets of God said they would.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Not tempted by the Last Temptation ................ Parables 132
I hate to give “The Last Temptation of Christ” any more publicity but a few people have asked, “How can you judge it unless you go and see it?” That is a valid question. Here is my answer.
1] There are other ways to test something besides testing it personally. Scientists use monkeys and rats before they try their inventions on people. As for the movie, others have given objective descriptions without their personal opinion. Those clearly tell me that the movie does not portray the same Jesus that is in the Bible.
But how do I know if it is the real Jesus without seeing it . . . ”
2] The false does not have to be studied in order to know the true. A friend once told me about a trip to the Franklin Mint in the United States. He described a display of dozens of counterfeit bills. He was amazed at their resemblance to actual currency so he asked the attending specialist, “How on earth do you recognize fake money? You must study this stuff all day?”
The expert laughed. “No,” he replied, “we don’t study it at all. We only study the real stuff. Then, when someone tries to pass counterfeit bills, we recognize them instantly.”
Anyone who belongs to Christ can spot the phoneys a mile from the nearest marquee -- because we know the Real Thing.
But how do I know this is not the real Jesus . . . ?
3] The people who made the movie say that it is fiction. The Bible clearly warns not to add, alter, or subtract from the truth it presents. The makers of this movie put a warning at the bottom of their advertisement saying the “fictional” account of Biblical events may offend some. Webster says fiction is “something invented, not fact.” Simply put, that means they made it up. Therefore, I know without seeing the movie that the truth has been altered. It is a made-up Jesus. The movie-makers said so themselves.
So what is wrong about a fictitious movie about Christ . . . ?
4] God tells me to follow the truth about His Son, not fiction. According to the Word of God, anyone who presents a Jesus other than the one presented in Scripture is doing a wicked thing. David said, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes . . . ” (Psalm 101:3). Christians are to fill their minds with truth, not deliberately look at evil.
But is it okay for non-Christians . . . ?
5] The Bible warns about false presentations of Jesus. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray . . . if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached . . . ”
There are phoney Christs being portrayed or pushing themselves on the unsuspecting all the time. The Genuine Christ is entirely satisfying. Why look elsewhere?
6] Finally, it doesn’t pass the “heart test.” Our son has food allergies. One of the worst is strawberries. The odd part is that he has never eaten or even tasted a strawberry. He refused them from infancy. We used to say to him, “How do you know you don’t like them if you won’t taste them?” But he never would. Then we took him to a specialist who tested his reactions to certain foods. We discovered our son should never try strawberries. He already knew they were not for him, in spite of advice from those who meant well.
Jesus Himself said, “My sheep hear my voice . . . and they follow me . . . ” but I don’t hear His voice urging me to endorse this movie. To do so without His leading would be sin. Those who think it’s okay may mean well, but what does the Shepherd say?
I don’t have to try everything for myself. There are other tests. They show me this movie is a dark blot, not the shining Light I have found in the real Jesus.
1] There are other ways to test something besides testing it personally. Scientists use monkeys and rats before they try their inventions on people. As for the movie, others have given objective descriptions without their personal opinion. Those clearly tell me that the movie does not portray the same Jesus that is in the Bible.
But how do I know if it is the real Jesus without seeing it . . . ”
2] The false does not have to be studied in order to know the true. A friend once told me about a trip to the Franklin Mint in the United States. He described a display of dozens of counterfeit bills. He was amazed at their resemblance to actual currency so he asked the attending specialist, “How on earth do you recognize fake money? You must study this stuff all day?”
The expert laughed. “No,” he replied, “we don’t study it at all. We only study the real stuff. Then, when someone tries to pass counterfeit bills, we recognize them instantly.”
Anyone who belongs to Christ can spot the phoneys a mile from the nearest marquee -- because we know the Real Thing.
But how do I know this is not the real Jesus . . . ?
3] The people who made the movie say that it is fiction. The Bible clearly warns not to add, alter, or subtract from the truth it presents. The makers of this movie put a warning at the bottom of their advertisement saying the “fictional” account of Biblical events may offend some. Webster says fiction is “something invented, not fact.” Simply put, that means they made it up. Therefore, I know without seeing the movie that the truth has been altered. It is a made-up Jesus. The movie-makers said so themselves.
So what is wrong about a fictitious movie about Christ . . . ?
4] God tells me to follow the truth about His Son, not fiction. According to the Word of God, anyone who presents a Jesus other than the one presented in Scripture is doing a wicked thing. David said, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes . . . ” (Psalm 101:3). Christians are to fill their minds with truth, not deliberately look at evil.
But is it okay for non-Christians . . . ?
5] The Bible warns about false presentations of Jesus. Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said, “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray . . . if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached . . . ”
There are phoney Christs being portrayed or pushing themselves on the unsuspecting all the time. The Genuine Christ is entirely satisfying. Why look elsewhere?
6] Finally, it doesn’t pass the “heart test.” Our son has food allergies. One of the worst is strawberries. The odd part is that he has never eaten or even tasted a strawberry. He refused them from infancy. We used to say to him, “How do you know you don’t like them if you won’t taste them?” But he never would. Then we took him to a specialist who tested his reactions to certain foods. We discovered our son should never try strawberries. He already knew they were not for him, in spite of advice from those who meant well.
Jesus Himself said, “My sheep hear my voice . . . and they follow me . . . ” but I don’t hear His voice urging me to endorse this movie. To do so without His leading would be sin. Those who think it’s okay may mean well, but what does the Shepherd say?
I don’t have to try everything for myself. There are other tests. They show me this movie is a dark blot, not the shining Light I have found in the real Jesus.
Monday, March 10, 2014
False teachers ............................ Parables 090
Last week a lovely young woman came to my door representing a religious organization. She expressed concern for my eternal well-being and wondered if I was satisfied with my “religion.” I was impressed with her sincerity and her desire to please. She admitted that she did not have all the answers but was sure that if she studied more she would know whatever she needed to know.
This woman and others claim to teach from the Bible, yet I could see many contradictions between what she plainly said and what the Bible plainly teaches. Here are some of them:
THE NATURE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: I was told that people can and must please God. She said that God forgives but I had to do something to become righteous. I was also told that eternal life was a future condition and also attained by doing certain good things.
The Bible teaches that “there is not one righteous person, no, not one...” and that “there is not one just person that does good and sins not...” It says that “all our righteousness is like filthy rags” and even if we do the best we can, it “falls short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3, Isaiah 64, Ecclesiastes 7)
It also says God forgives - but not on the basis of what we do. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Jesus Christ died so we could be forgiven. “It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy we are saved.” (Titus 3)
Also, when we believe, God imputes the righteousness of His Son on us. Any good that Christians can do is BECAUSE OF that imputed righteousness, not to earn it. (Romans 4, II Corinthians 5, Ephesians 2)
I John 5 says that “eternal life is in Jesus Christ” and anyone who “has Christ (that is, receives Him by faith) HAS life.” Eternal life is found in a person, and is a present possession of those who have Christ.
HOW TO COME TO GOD: I was told that the organization this woman belonged to was God’s only true organization. Without being a member, I would not be able to come to God. However, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14) Acts 4 says “There is salvation in no other name...”
THE NATURE OF JESUS: This woman told me that Jesus was a created being, not God. (Other false teachers say He only a man, or one of many in whom the “Christ-spirit” lived, or an angel, or one of many lessor gods.)
The Bible says that Jesus is the eternal “I AM,” the self-existing One. He is God who put on flesh to “pitch His tent” among us for a time.
He claimed equality with God, not just equality of purpose but equality of nature, or essence. He proved who He was by doing things that only God can do - controlling the elements, healing the sick, raising the dead, and forgiving sin. Yet He did these things in the limitations of human flesh so that He could fully identify with our struggles and our suffering. (John 1, Philippians 2, and throughout scripture)
This God-Man was put to death for our sins, buried, and by the power of His unchanging life, rose from the dead. After being seen 40 days by over 500 witnesses, He ascended in bodily form into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for those who believe in Him. (I Corinthians 15, Acts 1, Hebrews 7)
In the day that God will judge mankind, the books will be opened. Only the names of those who have the righteousness of Jesus will appear in the book of life. These will experience “no further condemnation.” (Romans 8) but “those who do not have Christ are condemned already because they do not believe in Him.” (John 3)
False teachers don’t wear a label that says - “Watch out, I am not telling the truth!” They are sincere. The best test is to measure what they say against the Word of God.
This woman and others claim to teach from the Bible, yet I could see many contradictions between what she plainly said and what the Bible plainly teaches. Here are some of them:
THE NATURE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: I was told that people can and must please God. She said that God forgives but I had to do something to become righteous. I was also told that eternal life was a future condition and also attained by doing certain good things.
The Bible teaches that “there is not one righteous person, no, not one...” and that “there is not one just person that does good and sins not...” It says that “all our righteousness is like filthy rags” and even if we do the best we can, it “falls short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3, Isaiah 64, Ecclesiastes 7)
It also says God forgives - but not on the basis of what we do. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Jesus Christ died so we could be forgiven. “It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy we are saved.” (Titus 3)
Also, when we believe, God imputes the righteousness of His Son on us. Any good that Christians can do is BECAUSE OF that imputed righteousness, not to earn it. (Romans 4, II Corinthians 5, Ephesians 2)
I John 5 says that “eternal life is in Jesus Christ” and anyone who “has Christ (that is, receives Him by faith) HAS life.” Eternal life is found in a person, and is a present possession of those who have Christ.
HOW TO COME TO GOD: I was told that the organization this woman belonged to was God’s only true organization. Without being a member, I would not be able to come to God. However, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14) Acts 4 says “There is salvation in no other name...”
THE NATURE OF JESUS: This woman told me that Jesus was a created being, not God. (Other false teachers say He only a man, or one of many in whom the “Christ-spirit” lived, or an angel, or one of many lessor gods.)
The Bible says that Jesus is the eternal “I AM,” the self-existing One. He is God who put on flesh to “pitch His tent” among us for a time.
He claimed equality with God, not just equality of purpose but equality of nature, or essence. He proved who He was by doing things that only God can do - controlling the elements, healing the sick, raising the dead, and forgiving sin. Yet He did these things in the limitations of human flesh so that He could fully identify with our struggles and our suffering. (John 1, Philippians 2, and throughout scripture)
This God-Man was put to death for our sins, buried, and by the power of His unchanging life, rose from the dead. After being seen 40 days by over 500 witnesses, He ascended in bodily form into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for those who believe in Him. (I Corinthians 15, Acts 1, Hebrews 7)
In the day that God will judge mankind, the books will be opened. Only the names of those who have the righteousness of Jesus will appear in the book of life. These will experience “no further condemnation.” (Romans 8) but “those who do not have Christ are condemned already because they do not believe in Him.” (John 3)
False teachers don’t wear a label that says - “Watch out, I am not telling the truth!” They are sincere. The best test is to measure what they say against the Word of God.
Friday, January 24, 2014
The real thing ..................... Parables 071
Coke Cola advertised for years with... “it's the real thing” - and for good reason; the competition produced imitations. Since then, both Coke and its imitators advertise themselves on television commercials with blindfolded tasters seeking to identify the real thing, or at least try to prove that the imitation is better than the original.
Just as good products are copied, God’s spiritual truth has its imitations too. There are thousands of religions and philosophies - all claiming to have the answers. Recognizing real Christianity does involve more than a taste test...
First, watch out for personal bias, traditions, and aversions. Everyone has had both negative and positive experiences with various religions and philosophies - experiences that can bias minds and make objective evaluation impossible. The roots of family traditions go deep and may also affect our understanding and evaluations. Aversion to the implications of truth (such as discovery of personal error) can also color our evaluation of it.
Objectivity towards truth also means being realistic. Beware of people who tell you that they have solved all the problems of the world, they have all the answers, and if you jump on their band wagon, your life will be perfect. That sounds good but it is not real. In other words, the old saying, “The truth hurts” has some merit. A desire to avoid spiritual discomfort could endanger the search for it. Expect truth to be related to reality - not all of it is going to feel good, at least up front.
Third, test everything by God’s standard. A carpenter holds a plumb line against a wall to see if the wall is straight. He doesn’t rely on his ability to “eye-ball” it. Some first century hearers of the message about Jesus Christ responded by comparing what they heard with the Scriptures “to see if it was true.” It sounded right to them, but they checked it out against what had already proven itself to be true.
Another test is to look at the foundation. Find out who began the system of thought that has caught your attention. What kind of life did that person live? Was he or she godly, honest, sincere? Did that leader practice what he preached? An objective examination of the leader or leaders of any religious group may be more helpful than a study of their teaching. Then compare that person to Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves... you shall know them by their fruits...” (Matthew 7). God says that we can know the real thing by examination of the “fruit” in the lives of those who profess to have it.
Fruit is used in the Bible to depict results. The fruit of people without God is sin. The Spirit of God produces: LOVE - that sacrifices for others; JOY - that bubbles up from within; PEACE - that passes understanding; PATIENT ENDURANCE - in trials; GENTLENESS - even when abused; GOODNESS - to friend and foe alike; FAITH - even when God’s workings seem contrary to our reasoning; MEEKNESS - no matter how we are challenged; and SELF-CONTROL - in spite of strong temptations. God says, “Do not be drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
Being drunk with wine, one imitation, gives a temporary gaiety that turns into a hangover and can destroy homes and ruin lives. The real thing never does that. Other imitation philosophies promise affection, temporary pleasure, serene retreats, tolerance, and other human conditions that are appealing, but none of these imitations can produce the genuine fruit of the spirit, the real thing.
The makers all kinds of products use this line “Do not be satisfied by anything less - we have the one, the only, the original...” We fill our refrigerators, gas tanks, homes, closets, and so on, with the affordable best. Should we satisfy our spirits with anything less?
Just as good products are copied, God’s spiritual truth has its imitations too. There are thousands of religions and philosophies - all claiming to have the answers. Recognizing real Christianity does involve more than a taste test...
First, watch out for personal bias, traditions, and aversions. Everyone has had both negative and positive experiences with various religions and philosophies - experiences that can bias minds and make objective evaluation impossible. The roots of family traditions go deep and may also affect our understanding and evaluations. Aversion to the implications of truth (such as discovery of personal error) can also color our evaluation of it.
Objectivity towards truth also means being realistic. Beware of people who tell you that they have solved all the problems of the world, they have all the answers, and if you jump on their band wagon, your life will be perfect. That sounds good but it is not real. In other words, the old saying, “The truth hurts” has some merit. A desire to avoid spiritual discomfort could endanger the search for it. Expect truth to be related to reality - not all of it is going to feel good, at least up front.
Third, test everything by God’s standard. A carpenter holds a plumb line against a wall to see if the wall is straight. He doesn’t rely on his ability to “eye-ball” it. Some first century hearers of the message about Jesus Christ responded by comparing what they heard with the Scriptures “to see if it was true.” It sounded right to them, but they checked it out against what had already proven itself to be true.
Another test is to look at the foundation. Find out who began the system of thought that has caught your attention. What kind of life did that person live? Was he or she godly, honest, sincere? Did that leader practice what he preached? An objective examination of the leader or leaders of any religious group may be more helpful than a study of their teaching. Then compare that person to Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves... you shall know them by their fruits...” (Matthew 7). God says that we can know the real thing by examination of the “fruit” in the lives of those who profess to have it.
Fruit is used in the Bible to depict results. The fruit of people without God is sin. The Spirit of God produces: LOVE - that sacrifices for others; JOY - that bubbles up from within; PEACE - that passes understanding; PATIENT ENDURANCE - in trials; GENTLENESS - even when abused; GOODNESS - to friend and foe alike; FAITH - even when God’s workings seem contrary to our reasoning; MEEKNESS - no matter how we are challenged; and SELF-CONTROL - in spite of strong temptations. God says, “Do not be drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
Being drunk with wine, one imitation, gives a temporary gaiety that turns into a hangover and can destroy homes and ruin lives. The real thing never does that. Other imitation philosophies promise affection, temporary pleasure, serene retreats, tolerance, and other human conditions that are appealing, but none of these imitations can produce the genuine fruit of the spirit, the real thing.
The makers all kinds of products use this line “Do not be satisfied by anything less - we have the one, the only, the original...” We fill our refrigerators, gas tanks, homes, closets, and so on, with the affordable best. Should we satisfy our spirits with anything less?
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