In what ways can we ensure our teachings align with God's truth? Ezekiel 13:2—Setting the Stage “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’” Why God Confronts False Messages • People can speak “out of their own imagination,” claiming divine authority they do not have. • When that happens, God calls His faithful servants to expose error and point everyone back to “the word of the LORD.” Foundational Convictions for Truth-Aligned Teaching • Scripture is fully God-breathed and therefore our supreme, literal authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Truth never originates in private creativity; it is revealed by the Holy Spirit through the written Word (2 Peter 1:20-21). • Nothing may be added to or taken from God’s commands (Deuteronomy 4:2; Galatians 1:8). • God’s Word itself is truth, not merely one source among many (John 17:17). Practical Safeguards—How to Keep Our Teaching on Track • Daily Scripture Examination – Imitate the Bereans: “examined the Scriptures every day” (Acts 17:11). – Refuse to accept any doctrine that cannot be clearly traced to the text. • Contextual Reading – Read verses before and after, the whole book, and the whole canon to avoid cherry-picking. • Literal-Historical-Grammatical Method – Take words in their normal sense unless the text itself signals symbolism. • Confirm with the Whole Counsel of God – Allow clear passages to illuminate difficult ones; Scripture never contradicts itself. • Testing and Discernment – “Test all things; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). – Ask whether a teaching glorifies Christ and promotes holiness. • Obedience and Application – “Be doers of the word” (James 1:22); theory without practice invites deception. • Accountability in the Faith Community – Submit teaching to mature believers and elders for review (Proverbs 11:14). • Dependence on the Holy Spirit – The Spirit guides into all truth (John 16:13), never contradicting His inspired Word. Guarding the Heart of the Teacher • Cultivate humility—recognize we are stewards, not authors, of truth. • Reject personal agendas, popularity, and profit as motives. • Pray for reverent fear of misrepresenting God (James 3:1). • Love the people enough to give them the unvarnished Word, even when it cuts (Hebrews 4:12). Fruit of Teaching That Aligns with God’s Truth • Believers mature, no longer “tossed about by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14-15). • Christ is exalted, and His church is unified around sound doctrine (Titus 1:9). • God receives glory as His Word accomplishes what He sent it to do (Isaiah 55:11). |
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