Explores discernment, divine love, and our duties towards God and our neighbors.
Friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ, it is indeed a joyous occasion to gather together, united by our faith and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here to reflect, to learn, and to grow, not just as individuals, but as a community, as the body of Christ. We are here to seek wisdom and understanding, to deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and to better comprehend His Word and His will for us.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 22, verses 34 to 46. This passage speaks to us about discernment, love, and our duties towards God and our neighbors. It is a passage rich in wisdom and instruction, a passage that challenges us to examine our beliefs, our attitudes, and our actions.
When we look at the world around us, we see a myriad of beliefs and doctrines. Some of them are clearly contrary to the teachings of the Bible, but others are not so obvious. They may seem right, they may sound right, they may even feel right. But if we look closely, if we examine them in the light of God's Word, we find that they are not quite right. They are deceptive doctrines, doctrines that lead us away from the truth, away from God.
Not a new phenomenon: They have been around since the beginning of time. The serpent in the Garden of Eden was the first to introduce a deceptive doctrine when he questioned God's command and twisted His words to deceive Eve. And since then, deceptive doctrines have been a constant threat to our faith, a constant challenge to our discernment.
How do we discern these deceptive doctrines?: How do we distinguish the truth from the almost truth? The answer lies in our relationship with God, in our knowledge of His Word, and in our reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Our relationship with God: This is the foundation of our discernment. The closer we are to God, the more we understand His character, His ways, and His will. We become familiar with His voice, and we can easily recognize when something is not from Him. We become sensitive to His leading, and we can easily detect when something is leading us away from Him.
Our knowledge of God's Word: This is our guide in discerning deceptive doctrines. The Bible is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It is the standard by which we measure all other doctrines. If a doctrine aligns with the Bible, it is the truth. If it does not, it is not the truth. It is as simple as that.
Our reliance on the Holy Spirit: This is our assurance in discerning deceptive doctrines. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, our Counselor, our Teacher. He guides us into all truth. He brings to our remembrance all that Jesus has said. He testifies about Jesus. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He does not speak on His own but only what He hears from the Father. He glorifies Jesus. He reveals to us the things that are to come.
Jesus was confronted with a deceptive doctrine: The Pharisees, in their attempt to trap Him, asked Him about the greatest commandment in the Law. They were trying to get Him to prioritize one commandment over the others, to create a hierarchy of commandments, to suggest that some commandments are more important than others. But Jesus, in His wisdom and discernment, saw through their deception. He gave them an answer that not only silenced them but also revealed the truth about the Law.
As we turn our attention to the heart of this passage, we find ourselves faced with the profound declaration of love that Jesus presents ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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