Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

We must always be careful not to be gullible—accepting everything that comes to us in the name of “spiritual truth.” Rather, the Bible calls us to investigate whether something is truly from God.

And how do we do that? Let me give you a test of three questions:

First, are you merely being told what you want to hear? The Bible warns of teachers “tickling” people’s ears. However, the truth is often hard. Therefore, we should be skeptical of those suggesting otherwise. Remember that line from “The Princess Bride”: “Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling you something.”

Second, is it true to the whole of Scripture? It does not matter that someone is touting a Bible verse as proof. The devil came at Jesus with Bible verses. The question is: How does this verse fit with the whole of the what the Bible teaches? The Bible is a big book and so any part must be understood in terms of the whole. A text without context is pretext.

Finally, does it make much of the person and work of Jesus, the Creator God who came to save us? Is Jesus the center and orienting principle of all else? As the Apostle Paul put it in his letter to the Colossians:

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority… (Colossians 2:8-10)

Jesus and his work for us is always the bottom line.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”

~ Colossians 2:6-10 (ESV)