How can we discern lies that contradict "the truth of God"? Setting the Stage: Exchanging Truth for a Lie “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise. Amen.” (Romans 1:25) Paul shows that every lie ultimately shifts worship away from God to something He created. Discernment, then, is not merely detecting error; it is guarding true worship. The Nature of Lies • Lies originate with “the father of lies” (John 8:44). • The first lie—“Did God really say…?”—was aimed at Eve’s trust in God’s word (Genesis 3:1). • Lies hide in half-truths; they often sound reasonable because they borrow language that once belonged to truth. The Unchanging Standard: God’s Word • “The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). • “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Scripture is not one source of truth among many; it is the measuring stick by which every claim is weighed. Practical Steps to Discern Lies • Immerse in Scripture daily—truth internalized becomes an instinct (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:11). • Compare every message with clear biblical teaching (Acts 17:11). • Test the spirits—evaluate the source and goal of a teaching (1 John 4:1-3). • Examine the fruit—truth promotes holiness; lies excuse sin (Matthew 7:16-18; Romans 6:22). • Walk in step with the Spirit; He guides into all truth (John 16:13; Galatians 5:16). • Stay accountable within the church; “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17; Ephesians 4:14-15). Indicators That a Message Is a Lie • It diminishes God’s glory or Christ’s uniqueness (Colossians 1:15-20). • It contradicts plain biblical statements, even subtly (Galatians 1:8). • It normalizes what God calls sin (Isaiah 5:20). • It elevates human opinion, experience, or emotion above revelation (Proverbs 3:5-6). • It produces envy, division, or impurity rather than love, unity, and purity (James 3:14-17). Common Modern Lies Exposed by Scripture • “Truth is relative.” — Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) • “Follow your heart; it will never mislead you.” — “The heart is deceitful above all things.” (Jeremiah 17:9) • “Identity is self-defined.” — “God created mankind in His own image.” (Genesis 1:27) • “Grace means sin no longer matters.” — “Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Absolutely not!” (Romans 6:1-2) Strengthening Our Discernment Muscles • Develop mature spiritual senses through constant practice distinguishing good from evil (Hebrews 5:14). • Meditate on Scripture until it shapes instinctive reactions (Psalm 1:2-3). • Memorize key verses that confront prevailing cultural lies. • Keep short accounts with God; unconfessed sin clouds judgment (Psalm 32:3-5). • Cultivate gratitude and worship; a heart focused on the Creator is less tempted to serve the creature (Ephesians 5:19-20). Living as Children of Light “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light… and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10) Discerning lies is not an end in itself; it safeguards joyful obedience. Abiding in the truth sets hearts free (John 8:31-32) and keeps worship centered on the One who is “forever worthy of praise.” |
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