How can we discern true teachings from false ones, as warned in Jeremiah? Recognizing the Weight of Jeremiah’s Warning “Therefore behold, I will surely forget you and cast you out of My presence, along with the city I gave you and your fathers.” (Jeremiah 23:39) • God treats misrepresenting His word as treason against His kingship. • The penalty is separation from His presence—spiritual exile. • Jeremiah’s audience had wrapped their own ideas in the phrase “oracle of the LORD”; God vowed to silence them. Marks of False Teaching in Jeremiah 23 • Originates in the speaker’s imagination, not God’s mouth (v. 16). • Minimizes sin, saying “You will have peace” while people walk “in the stubbornness of his heart” (v. 17). • Borrows sacred language (“oracle of the LORD”) merely to sound authoritative (vv. 33–38). • Draws crowds yet lacks God’s counsel (v. 22). • Ends in judgment—being “cast out” (v. 39). Timeless Tests for Discernment 1. The Scripture Test • “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20) • “All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Timothy 3:16) • Measure every teaching—sermons, books, podcasts—against the plain, literal meaning of the Bible. 2. The Berean Test • “They… examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” (Acts 17:11) • Noble-minded believers verify, they do not merely absorb. 3. The Christological Test • “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” (1 John 4:2) • Sound doctrine exalts the incarnate, crucified, risen, and returning Christ; error diminishes Him. 4. The Covenant Loyalty Test • “You must not listen to the words of that prophet… for the LORD your God is testing you.” (Deuteronomy 13:3-4) • Even signs and wonders are rejected if they lure hearts away from exclusive love for the LORD. 5. The Fruit Test • “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) • Look for holiness, humility, and obedience in the teacher’s life and in the disciples produced. Practical Habits that Safeguard Us • Daily, sequential Bible reading—let God set the agenda. • Memorizing key passages that expose error quickly. • Gathering under biblically qualified elders who guard the flock (Titus 1:9). • Comparing notes with mature believers; error thrives in isolation. • Asking for wisdom from above (James 1:5) before accepting new doctrines. • Refusing to share or platform untested voices, no matter how charismatic. Consequences of Ignoring the Tests • Spiritual drift that feels comfortable until judgment falls. • Loss of God’s felt presence—“I will surely forget you” (Jeremiah 23:39). • Wasted witness; the world mocks when the church swallows fables. • Eternal stakes: “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary… let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8) Encouraging Reality When we cling to the God-breathed Word, honor Christ, and stay alert through the Spirit, we can spot counterfeit messages quickly and stand firm, avoiding the exile Jeremiah foretold and enjoying the nearness God delights to give His faithful people. |
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