Truth From Fiction

We all start learning somewhere. This is something that I reference to often, but it is a good analogy. For most things that you learn, there is one single correct way or method, and the rest are incorrect. The simplest way I can explain it is this: When you learn how to add your numbers in kindergarten, you learn from your teacher that 1+1=2, 2+2=4, and so on. That is the correct way to learn addition.

But suppose that a young student in the class comes up with his own theory, or method, that differs from the one that the teacher taught. Instead of 1+1=2, this student believes that 1+1=3, and he tries to instruct everyone around him that this is the correct way to do addition, when in fact it is completely incorrect.

There is truth and there is fiction. You can learn many different things, but there will always be the correct way and the wrong way, and this seems kind of like a situation that Paul was overseeing in his letter to the Galatian church. It appears that there was someone who was telling the Galatians something different than what Paul had taught them. 

Galatians 1:6-12  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

When Paul taught and wrote letters to the churches, the information that he was teaching them didn’t come from himself. He didn’t learn it from others, but he learned it straight from the Source–Jesus Himself.

We know that everything that Paul taught was given to him through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, just as everything in the Bible is Spirit-given. He taught people what they needed to hear, the truth. If someone was sinning, Paul was going to rebuke them and instruct them to live correctly. And it didn’t matter if the people didn’t want to hear it. He wasn’t a people pleaser, telling them what they wanted to hear that they can continue to live in their sin. Paul served Christ and it was Christ who gave him his calling to preach.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and if someone else teaches something that is not aligned with the teachings found therein, then it is false, it is a fabrication, and Paul said “let him be accursed.” “Accursed” means “doomed to destruction or misery; damnable.”

Some people will tell others whatever they want to hear to keep them happy, and will often twist or bend the true meaning of God’s Word. And you know who else tried to twist the scriptures? The devil.

Matthew 4:1-11  “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”

In Matthew 4, during the temptation of Christ, the devil tried to use scripture to get Jesus to bend to his will. The devil clearly knew the scriptures, but he used it in an evil, incorrect way. Those who do the same by teaching things that are not found in the Holy Scriptures (and claiming that they are) will meet the same fate as the devil: eternal damnation.

This is why we need to study our Bibles daily, so that when we hear someone teaching things that are not truthful and accurate, and clearly are meant to deceive others, we will always know the truth. God will punish those who teach contrary to His word. We just need to keep reading our Bibles, and we will know the truth from fiction.

In Christ,

Andrew