Chapter 5 – Build on a Firm Foundation
This chapter will discuss some principles that directly relate to our ability to distinguish truth from error. As will be shown, the critical first step is to avoid the trap of acting as if it is okay to give non-Bible sources and scripture equal consideration.
The Authority of Scripture
Jesus said, "he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is also unjust in much" (Lk 16:10). Thus, the way we handle little things is also the way we handle bigger matters. Holding to the truth on big issues depends on allegiance to the truth on little matters.
A consistent regard for God's word is also taught in this passage:
"whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he [God] that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law" (Jas 2:10-11).
"He" refers to God (cf. Ex 20:13). We are "guilty of all" if we disrespect God's law in one area because we are disrespecting his authority and he gave all of the law. Some will say, 'sin is sin' and suggest this passage teaches all sins are equally bad, but this is not what the passage is teaching. Rather, it shows God stands behind all of God's word. James cites the law, but the same logic applies to any portion of scripture since they come from the same source.
The Source of the Message
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Heb 1:1) and "all scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2Ti 3:16) are just two of the verses that tell us God is the source of scripture. So, it carries God's authority. But the things men say about scripture do not have this authority. This is why we must hold scripture above the opinions of men and be diligent to speak God's word faithfully.
Jesus told the men of his day, "had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me" (Fourth gospel 5:46). They convinced themselves they believed Moses, but they were wrong. Likewise, we can be mistaken about things we believe. He went on to say, "if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (Fourth gospel 5:47) In refusing to believe Moses' writings, they set their minds against the truth, which meant they could not believe Jesus' words either. This also applied to God's other prophets, for Jesus said: "if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Lk 16:31). If people will not respond to God's written word, then a miracle as great as someone rising from the dead will not change them, for God is the source of both.
While a formal education can teach people the words of scripture, it does not guarantee a person will hear God's voice or do his will. "The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves" (Lk 7:30) and "the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy" Jesus (Lk 19:47). Moreover, Jesus told his disciples to beware of "the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Mt 16:12). He did not urge his disciples to adopt the views of the educated elite, he cautioned them against doing so. Why? Perhaps it is because when people learn to value the teachings of men, then they do not seek the honor that comes "from God only" (Fourth gospel 5:44-47), as will be shown later.
The words "study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2Ti 2:15) set a high bar. The word translated as "study" in this verse is more often translated as either "be diligent," "give diligence," or "do thy diligence" (2Ti 4:9 & 21, Titus 3:12, 2Pt 1:10 & 3:14). "Rightly dividing the word of truth" takes time and effort but it is worth it, for God "is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb 11:6).
Saul of Tarsus
Jesus once told his disciples, "the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (Fourth gospel 16:2). This describes Saul of Tarsus. He was "a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee" (Phl 3:5). This highly educated man believed it was a good thing to persecute the followers of Jesus.
Before Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus, surely Saul thought he understood scripture. But his beliefs were based on what men told him about scripture and not on God's word itself! No doubt, Saul felt assured because he believed like his teachers. Later, he learned he was wrong and called himself "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious," but he also said God had mercy on him because he "did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1Ti 1:13).
Although Saul knew the words of scripture, he had misconstrued their meaning. Putting confidence in men had left him unable to rightly divide God's word, therefore, his method of assessing truth had to change if he was going to honor God and stand corrected.
Errors in the Church?
The brethren were told to "be not deceived" (Lk 21:8, et al.), and Paul asked the churches in Galatia, "who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?" (Gal 3:1) So, we know the brethren can be deceived. The Corinthian church even tolerated contrary ideas on the resurrection and it earned them a reprimand: "if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1Cor 15:12)
Jesus sent a warning to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans that included a rebuke: "thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rv 3:17). How can a church think they are "rich" and have "need of nothing" when they are "poor, and blind, and naked?" How did they get into such a state? This lets us know one cannot assume ideas that are accepted in a church are necessarily correct. So, let us consider some of the reasons the brethren fall prey to mistaken beliefs.
God's Word Offers Good Counsel
The idea that there is 'safety in numbers' leads many to assume it is safe to adopt the beliefs of the majority. Is this wise?
If scripture says, "in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Prv 11:14), what should we conclude?
Popularity is not a measure of truth. Thus, Proverbs 11:14 is not suggesting if a large number of people hold the same view on an issue, then one should assume that view is right or true.
In response to Jesus "some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people" (Fourth gospel 7:12). Acts 14:4 says, "the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles." When groups hold opposing views is the one that is in the majority necessarily correct? Of course not. Once during Paul's ministry, "the multitude of the people followed after, crying, away with him." Neither their number nor their unity meant their words were wise. "In the multitude of counselors there is safety" cannot mean the opinions of the majority are right, for scripture also tells us, "thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex 23:2). We need to get good counsel and the more of it we get, the better off we will be.
If Jesus, Moses, Jeremiah, etc., were our counselors, we would be better off. A multitude of their counsel would help to keep us safe from false ideas and to correct us when we have missed the truth. Psalm 33:11 says, "the counsel of the Lord standeth forever" and in Psalm 119:24 it says, "thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors." So, scripture is the place to go for wise counsel. Looking to the opinions of men is not the same thing. In scripture, we see that when the people listened to all of the religious experts in Jesus' day, it did not lead them to the truth. This does not mean we should never seek the counsel of others, but we should always remember to seek God's counsel and to value it above all else.
Put Traditions to the Test
If an idea is called a tradition, does that make it true? No. Jesus said the religious experts of his day were making God's word void through their "tradition" (Mk 7:13) and the word tradition is still used to give an air of authority to the opinions of men. Colossians 2:8 offered the brethren this caution, "beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." How can a person tell a God-honoring tradition from a tradition which makes the word of God of no effect? Test it.
The source of a tradition is what makes the difference! This is seen in verses like: "now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2Th 3:6). So, consider the source. The teachings of the apostles have God's authority. A tradition of men does not. When the traditions of men are promoted, it leads people to trust the authority of men. When this happens, then the authority of the word of God has taken a backseat.
Do the credentials issued by men ensure accuracy when it comes to God's word? No. People who are ordained or who have PhDs often hold opposite views on what the Bible tells us. This same problem shows up in scripture when people were taught to rely on the teachings of men.
The Sadducees and the Pharisees were the two leading religious groups in Jesus' day. Those two groups held contrary views, "the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both" (Acts 23:8). Since both groups could not be right, this proves large groups and trained experts can espouse beliefs that are not true. Also, notice that although the Pharisees believed in a resurrection, getting this issue right did not mean their teachings honored God.
Trust in the Teachings of Men Makes God's Word Powerless
Both the Sadducees and the Pharisees undermined the authority of the word of God. Jesus warned his disciples about this when he said, "take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Mt 16:6). After he explained these words to the disciples, "then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Mt 16:12).
He spoke of "the doctrine" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, so this shows they had this in common. Therefore, his warning was not regarding their views on certain issues, since they disagreed on many points. However, both groups used the teachings of men to convince people to adopt their group's views on God's word.
Why did he use leaven to portray their doctrine? Scripture says, "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Gal 5:9). When leaven is added to a lump of dough it will spread throughout the dough until all of it becomes leavened. This pictures how the teachings of men take over. The minute a person trusts those teachings to define what is true, they take over for God's word as the measure of truth. According to Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes were "making the word of God of none effect through" their "tradition" (Mk 7:13). How does this take place? Scripture has authority because it is of God. But this authority is usurped when the traditions of men are taught as if they have authority, i.e., should be trusted or deserve respect.
Honor? From What Source?
A group of men was once asked by Jesus, "how can ye believe, which receive honor one of another and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" (Fourth gospel 5:44) When these words were cited earlier, it was noted that in this question Jesus linked belief to honor and he contrasted the two sources of honor. The words "how can ye believe" imply an inability. So, valuing the honor we get from others, keeps us from seeking the honor that comes from God only and doing so apparently hinders being able to believe.
Jesus indicated seeking the honor that comes "from God only" is a good thing to do. Scripture also says, "before honor is humility" (Prv 15:33, 18:12). Moreover, this goes along with what was said in James 4:10, "humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." This counsel perfectly parallels something else James said in a passage where he contrasted the different results yielded by pride and humility:
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God" (Jas 4:6-7).
Peter made the same point when he wrote this to the elect:
"be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God" (1Pt 5:5-6).
Humbly submitting to God's word is what makes the difference (cf. 1Th 2:13). James also told the brethren, "draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (Jas 4:8). So, if we want to be closer to God, we need to move in that direction. How can we do this? One way is to "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phl 2:5). Jesus revealed his mind in this verse, "my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (Fourth gospel 5:30). Instead of seeking his own will, Jesus sought the will of the Father – and this caused his judgment to be just. If we want our judgment to be just, then we should do the same.
Now, notice what Jesus said after he contrasted the two sources of honor that were discussed a moment ago:
"How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (Fourth gospel 5:44-47)
Moses was their accuser! God preserved the writings of Moses, and they were dishonoring Moses and God by not believing him. Instead, they believed men who told them they were followers of Moses, even though Moses' own words proved otherwise.
Jesus said Moses wrote of him. So, we can learn about Jesus by reading what Moses wrote. Moreover, he said, "but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (Fourth gospel 5:47) He could say this because the authority of God was the foundation for both the words of Moses and the words of Jesus.
According to the Scriptures
Many will say, 'the gospel is the most important thing.' Yet, if the gospel is not taught according to the scriptures, then the gospel of scripture is not being taught! Paul referred to "the gospel" (1Cor 15:1) and said this:
"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1Cor 15:3-4).
This means "the gospel" is tied to the authority of the scriptures that we call the Old Testament. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly used the term "it is written" and cited God's word on matters they were dealing with. If they linked their teaching to scripture, then the Old Testament surely deserves our attention.
Paul certainly preached the gospel and in Acts 26:22-23 when he spoke to Agrippa he indicated the things he taught about Jesus had already been prophesied in the Old Testament:
"I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."
This shows why those who will not believe Moses' writings will not believe in Jesus. The Hebrew people should have known better since God's word warned them against trusting in "lying words." Jeremiah told those in Judah who sought to worship the Lord, "trust ye not in lying words" (Jer 7:4) and "ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit" (Jer 7:8). He wrote those words to people who had been deceived by the teachings of men. The remedy?
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings" (Jer 7:3).
Learning from Other People's Mistakes
The Lord used Jeremiah to rebuke religious leaders who did not know the Lord and yet spoke their own words while attributing them to the Lord. For example, the Lord said, "they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit" (Jer 2:8). In other verses, the Lord had Jeremiah write very similar descriptions:
- "from the prophet even unto the priest everyone dealeth falsely" (Jer 8:10),
- "many pastors have destroyed my vineyard" (Jer 12:10),
- "the Lord said unto me, the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart" (Jer 14:14),
- "woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord" (Jer 23:1),
- "thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord" (Jer 23:16).
If the words of men are assumed to be true, it keeps people from the word of God that can turn them around, as in this passage:
"I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings" (Jer 23:21-22).
Instead of standing in the Lord's counsel and causing people to hear his words, they shared their own opinions. But the Lord gave them counsel that would avoid this; "he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully" (Jer 23:28). The Jewish leaders did not do this. Instead, they attributed the ideas of men to the Lord. They became thieves when they did this, for they were stealing the word of the Lord:
"I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words everyone from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith" (Jer 23:30-31).
Still, those leaders were not the only ones at fault. The Lord said, "the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so" (Jer 5:31).
Holding Contrary Beliefs is Unreasonable
What makes the difference when God's word offers to correct us is how we respond. If scripture shows we were mistaken, will we be thankful for it or embarrassed by it? We must avoid letting the fear of others influence us, for "the fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe" (Prv 29:25).
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (Fourth gospel 14:6). Since he identified himself with the truth, the way we treat the truth is an indication of how we would treat Jesus.
When the truth is contrary to their beliefs, some people act as if it is fine to believe mutually exclusive ideas. This is what the people of Israel were doing when Elijah the prophet challenged them on their practice of honoring contrary views. "Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him" (1Kgs 18:21). When he told them to follow Baal if Baal is God, he showed their divided loyalty meant they were not really following either belief.
Yet, his most critical barb was not against Baal worship. Rather, it was against their double-mindedness and their willingness to live in the space "between two opinions."
The premise is clear. The Lord and Baal cannot both be God, so it is foolish to follow them both. The claims are mutually exclusive. If one is true, the other must be false. By behaving as if both could be true, they were tolerating falsehood. In worshipping other gods and the Lord, they showed they were believing contrary ideas. But in order to hold contradictory beliefs, a person must set aside a commitment to honest reasoning.
Unity, According to the Scriptures
For many churches, a spirit of unity is a top priority. A spirit of unity may sound good, but it is not a biblical idea. It is wrong because it makes unity the goal. However, scripture tells us we should be "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit" (Eph 4:3), and the fact that people switch those words around should raise a big red flag!
The "unity of the Spirit" and a spirit of unity are not the same. A spirit of unity might exist at a ball game or a Baal worship meeting. However, the "unity of the Spirit" has a built-in condition, for this refers to the Spirit of truth. Thus, we need to look at the basis of the unity that is being promoted or sought.
Scripture talks about "salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2Th 2:13) and Jesus talked about "the Spirit of truth" (Fourth gospel 14:17). If the Spirit and truth go hand in hand, a unity established apart from truth is not the "unity of the Spirit."
Furthermore, the truth causes division. Jesus identified himself with the truth and also said, "suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division" (Lk 12:51). So, if the truth causes division, how is the unity of the Spirit achieved? It comes about because the truth divides people who do not want the truth from those who do, while it also unites people who have a love of the truth by drawing them and opening their eyes.
Psalm 86:11 says, "teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." It appears, therefore, that a heart committed to a respect for God's authority is linked to:
- being taught by God, and
- a willingness to heed his word and conform our life to it.
When the believers were said to be of one accord in Acts 2:46, this was not achieved by avoiding the truth. It resulted from being led by the Spirit of truth, for unity among the brethren is fostered by a willingness to submit to the authority of God.
One or the Other
Jesus stated this principle, "no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other" (Mt 6:24).
So, what about the men of Elijah's day who worshiped the Lord and Baal. Were they serving two masters? Not at all. They were showing contempt for the Lord by worshipping Baal.
No doubt, they convinced themselves they were serving the Lord and Baal. But their belief did not make it so, for "no man can serve two masters."
When people hold a belief that is not justified by scripture, some will act as if that issue is a matter of personal preference because on such issues, we are the judge. Scripture tells us certain issues are matters of conscience, but this does not mean we get to play pick and choose with God's word. Scripture is inspired by God, so its content is not a matter of personal preference. If the Bible says an issue is a conscience issue, then one's conscience before God is what rules on that issue. But there are two things to note here. The first is, scripture gets to make the call as to what qualifies as a matter of conscience. We cannot put behaviors in this category simply to give ourselves an excuse to continue doing them.
Second, personal preference and conscience before God are not the same. These are vastly different and must not be confused, because one of these two standards does not include God as a fixed point of reference, while the other one does.