Biblical Discernment – Part 1

“Test,” dokimazo, a term used in metallurgy to assess the purity of metal.

We are to test the persons, whether they be human or whether they be demonic.

We are reminded to do this also in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 where Paul writes, “Do not despise prophesying. But examine…” The same word is used, to test what we’re hearing.

This is critical. It is critical because Satan exists, and because demons exist, and oversee a kingdom of lies that govern the world. The Bible lets us know how to tell the difference between a true teacher of God’s Word and false teachers.

One way to tell the difference between the two is by testing them to see who denies one or more of the essential doctrines of Christianity.

Here is a basic list of what the Bible teaches as essential doctrine:

There is only one God in all existence (Exodus 20:1-4, Isaiah 43:10, 44:6, 8, 45:5).

Jesus is divine (or deity) (John 1:1, 14, 8:24, Col. 2:9).

Forgiveness of sins is by grace alone through faith alone; without works (Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 3:28, 4:1-5).

Jesus rose from the dead…physically (John 2:19-21, Luke 24:39).

The Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

If you are one who teaches something different that one or more of these essential Christian doctrines you are a false teacher.

In John’s day there were many false teachings that plagued the first century church but the false teaching that he honed in on was that concerning the deity of Jesus Christ.

So John writes in verse 2-3 of chapter four, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the antichrist you heard is coming, and even now is already in the world.”

Most, if not all of the religions of the world except for Christianity fail this test.

Hinduism

Hinduism views mankind as divine. Because Brahma is everything, Hinduism asserts that everyone is a God-man. Hinduism fails the test in 1 John because it does not recognize Jesus as the uniquely incarnated God-Man and Savior, the one solely sufficient source of salvation for humanity.

Islam

Islam also fails the test of truth about Jesus because they believe that He was created by their God Allah. They also deny that Jesus died for sins and believe you are cursed if you say Jesus is God's Son.

Mormonism

Mormonism is not Christian because it denies that there is only one God, denies the true Gospel, adds works to salvation, denies that Jesus is the uncreated Creator, distorts the Biblical teaching of the atonement, undermines the authority and reliability of the Bible, says that God used to be a man who came from another planet and we can become gods, and there is a goddess mother in heaven, etc.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are not Christian because they deny the Trinity, they deny the deity of Christ, and deny His physical resurrection.

Roman Catholics

The official Roman Catholic doctrine of salvation is that the grace of God is infused into a baby at baptism--making him/her justified before God. This justification can be lost through sin and must be regained by repeated participation in the many sacraments (some seven) found in the Roman Catholic Church.