As Christians how do we know what we hear is true Christian doctrine?
Today it seems that we have many people claiming to be religious or spiritual leaders. Many of these people have a large followers and some are pastors of megachurches with 10's of thousands of members. When we hear one of these people espousing what they say is the correct view of God how can we be sure what he or she is saying is true? How can we know that the fellow we see on TV is preaching the Bible as God intended, or our Sunday School teacher or our pastor for that matter?
We test the spirits.................
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (KJV)
How Do We Test the Spirits? *
(1). Does the work exalt the true Christ?
(2). Does it oppose worldliness?
(3). Does it point people to the Scriptures?
(4). Does it elevate the truth?
(5). Does it produce the love for God and others?
*Strange Fire by John MacArthur
If the answer to each of these questions is "YES" then we be assured that it is the true work of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (KJV)
Today it seems that we have many people claiming to be religious or spiritual leaders. Many of these people have a large followers and some are pastors of megachurches with 10's of thousands of members. When we hear one of these people espousing what they say is the correct view of God how can we be sure what he or she is saying is true? How can we know that the fellow we see on TV is preaching the Bible as God intended, or our Sunday School teacher or our pastor for that matter?
We test the spirits.................
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (KJV)
How Do We Test the Spirits? *
(1). Does the work exalt the true Christ?
(2). Does it oppose worldliness?
(3). Does it point people to the Scriptures?
(4). Does it elevate the truth?
(5). Does it produce the love for God and others?
*Strange Fire by John MacArthur
If the answer to each of these questions is "YES" then we be assured that it is the true work of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (KJV)