Is it important? How can we know it?
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About this page...
As it was written as one train of thought, this page should be read straight through; this is what we recommend for your first perusal. However, you can also use the drop-down list below to select a particular issue with which you are wrestling. If we can make this page more helpful, please let us know! Here are the main topics for this page:
Is Truth Crucial for Salvation, or Is
a Good
Intent And Heart Enough?
(John 4:24)
This is an important question, as it will determine how you seek God and ultimately which 'god'/God you will find. In general, many today would say that truth is not even relevant to such a quest, as all the differing paths lead to God. Is this really the case? For example, will Buddhism, Islam, Mormonism, Biblical Christianity and Judaism – though they contradict each other in terms of how one approaches God and His very nature and existence – all bring you safely home to the Father of Creation? More importantly for our study, is this what the Bible teaches? In our first section of Scripture that deals with truth, Jesus Himself addresses this very idea.
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24 NASB®)
In order to properly understand
what this verse is intended to say and how it addresses our
question, let’s look at its context.
Jesus, on His way to Galilee, stops to rest at a well in Samaria. It is there
that, in His providence, Jesus steps into the life of a wretched
woman, who was not only a despised Samaritan, but also one who had
committed adultery
five times over (John 4:18 KJV
NASB).
Jesus’ intention to give her spiritual life (i.e. salvation) is evident throughout their conversation (John 4:10,
13-14, 25-26, 29 KJV
NASB);
it is therefore clear that He is motivated by love and mercy when He speaks to
her (Luke 19:10 KJV
NASB).
As we will see, however, the Lord’s motivation of
compassion does not prevent Him from directly confronting the
woman with two very difficult and important issues that stood
between her and a true, saving belief in the one, true Lord.
The first issue that Jesus confronts is her sin – adultery and fornication. That He would confront these sins is not surprising to most of us, as that is the very reason for which He came to die: to remove the sin that separates us from God (Is 53:5, 11-12; Rom 8:1-2; Col 2:13-14; Luke 19:10 KJV NASB). What is striking, however, is His direct manner!
Jesus saith unto her, “Go, call thy husband, and come hither.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said unto her, “Thou hast well said, ‘I have no husband’: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” (John 4:16-18 KJV)
He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, "I have no husband.'' Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.'' (John 4:16-18 NASB®)
Though this is doubtlessly painful for her, Jesus brings her sin and error out into the light of truth. Why would He do this? Is this loving? How many of us would think it appropriate to confront someone – indeed, a stranger (let alone a friend from church!) – so directly with her errors? Would those in your church consider such a direct rebuke as ‘loving’ or ‘contentious’?
Nevertheless, I think most would agree that, though such a confrontation would be difficult, it is necessary. Sin must be addressed with those seeking God, as coming to Jesus means leaving the dark life of our past (Rom 6:7-23 KJV NASB).
It was loving for Jesus to confront her (even bluntly)
with the
truth of her sin and failure so that she might
recognize her need for Him as Savior. She had to know that
she was 'sick' with sin so that she could be restored by the Great
Physician to a healthy, saving relationship with the Lord
(Matt 11:27-30 KJV
NASB).
The second issue was
raised as the Lord addressed her sin: her ignorance of God (John 4:19-24 KJV
NASB).
Just as He directly confronted her with her sin, in like manner does He
confront her with her ignorance.
The woman saith unto him, “Sir, I
perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that
in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, believe me, the hour
cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at
Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what:
we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for
the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they
that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
(John
4:19-24 KJV)
The woman said to Him, "Sir, I
perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say
that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.''
Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is
coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you
worship the Father. "You
worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for
salvation is from the Jews. But
an hour is coming, and now is, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for
such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those
who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.''
(John 4:19-24
NASB®)
Here we see the woman recognize Jesus as a prophet because He exposes her hidden sins (John 4:16-18 KJV NASB). She therefore asks Jesus for a definitive answer to an age-old Samaritan-Jewish theological debate: are the Jews or the Samaritans right as to where one was to properly worship God? It is important to note two things: 1) she recognized that the truth concerning the proper worship of God was vital 2) Jesus does not correct this notion and say that truth regarding worship is irrelevant. Instead, He poignantly, bluntly points out her (and all Samaritans') inadequate knowledge of God and states that true worshippers must worship as God requires them - 'in spirit and truth' (“…those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”). The implication is that 1) she was not worshipping God in the truth and 2) truth is essential for acceptable interaction with God ('...must worship in spirit and truth.') and 3) this vital truth concerning how one was to worship was about to change because of who Jesus was and what He was about to do.
Specifically, the way a believer relates to God will soon change. God’s Son, the Messiah (V. 25 KJV NASB), was about to inaugurate a new era of direct, intimate communication (that is irrespective of locations or buildings). Through His atonement, Jesus would wipe out the believer’s debt of sin, which prevented him from coming into God’s presence (Col 2:13-14 KJV NASB). (Read more about this on our Salvation page.) In fact, the only requirement for this new dispensation was that those who approached the Father must do so by faith in spirit and truth. Jesus is telling the Samaritan woman that not only did the Samaritans have it wrong before (because they had rejected part of God's truth) but also that He was bringing the fulfillment to that which the Jews' correct worship pointed. In short, truth does matter and the Samaritans were greatly lacking it.
View Other Scriptures that apply.
Why Is Truth Essential?
Now that we have
established that the Bible, even Jesus Himself, teaches that truth
is essential for acceptable worship of the one, true God, this
leaves us with an obvious and important follow-up question: “Why is truth
essential? Why
are good intentions not enough?” The answer lies in what separates all
unbelievers from their Creator, as well as what brings them back
to Him. To see this, we will look at Ephesians 2:1-19.
For clarity, we'll break this text into two parts so that we may
first deal with the two issues that Paul raises one at a
time. (The break in the text will be signified by three
periods [...].)
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath even as others... Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. (Eph 2:1-3, 11-12 KJV)
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and
were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest...
Therefore
remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called "Uncircumcision''
by the so-called "Circumcision,'' which is performed in the
flesh by human hands, remember that you were at that time separate
from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of
Israel, and strangers to
the covenants of promise, having
no hope and without God in the world.
(Eph 2:1-3, 11-12 NASB®)
So, here the Apostle Paul is declaring the spiritual reality of all who have not been born again of Jesus Christ: he says that they are all by nature children of wrath (or living under God's wrath from birth). This is so because mankind, as a result of the fall and apart from His intervening grace, lives according to Satan ('the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience...'), and so lives to fulfill the sinful lusts of the flesh.
Granted, this is a very basic level of truth to which many religious people would agree, but not everyone. In my very short list of belief systems above, we know that Islam, Judaism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Biblical Christianity teach that mankind sins against God. However, Buddhism's teachings do not address the issue of sin against God, but rather its doctrine's focus is on helping one to live rightly in order to achieve self-satisfaction. The result is that those following that teaching are not made aware of their sin and therefore do not seek the Lord Jesus Christ forgiveness. This leaves them under God's wrath and separated from Him. Because of this, we must therefore conclude that Buddhism is not a valid way that mankind's worship can be acceptable to the Lord, as it leaves all who believe its teachings separated from, and without a desire for, Him.
Now let's examine the rest of our passage in Ephesians as a further demonstration:
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them... But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. (Eph 2:4-10, 13-19 KJV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them... But now in Christ Jesus, you, who formerly were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household… (Eph 2:4-10, 13-19 NASB®)
In the previous section (and this one), we learned that we were (spiritually) dead and separated from God because of our sin. We also learned that Buddhism cannot be true if Christianity is true, as it does not teach that this is mankind's problem. Buddhism, though it teaches many to be righteous, leaves man still guilty of his sin. In this section of Scripture, we learn what overcomes the condemnation we face under God's wrath so that we may boldly enter His presence. Paul says that while we were still dead because of our sins, God, as a free gift, made us alive together by the blood of Christ that He shed for us. In other words, the way we become a member of God's household and have access to our Father in heaven is by Christ's atonement on the cross.
Again, we need to ask if our remaining systems of belief teach this truth. Islam teaches that Jesus was only a prophet (and a quite good one, though not God's Son) who did not die for our sins (Qur'an 2:116; 4:156-159), and therefore it leaves its followers still guilty of their sins before God. For this reason, it must be disqualified as a true path that leads to God. Judaism teaches that Jesus was not the Messiah (they are still waiting for one), that He did not die for our sins; it also leaves men in their sin and disqualifies itself according to the Bible. The only two left that on the surface teach the Jesus died to atone for our sins and bring us back to the Father are the LDS Church and Biblical Christianity.
So, we can see that truth is important because there is a particular reality (or truth) about our sin and therefore a specific method by which we must be saved. Because men sin, they are separated from God; because Jesus has paid for the sin of those who believe this of Him, He provides the only way by which they can be reunited to their Father in Heaven (Heb 10:19-22 KJV NASB). This is why Jesus said the ever-exclusive statement, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6 KJV), as it is only through Jesus and the truth of Him that one can obtain eternal life (See note).
In summary, we cannot
depend on Buddhism, Islam, or Judaism to 'save' us - to show us
the way into the presence of our father in heaven - because what they teach about God, man and
salvation is not true. Their
teachings lead you down the 'wrong path'. Though people may
believe different inconsequential things (like Jesus' physical
appearance), truth does
matter when the issues
are crucial (like how
one is saved, who Jesus was, etc.).
With that in mind, we must ask the
question, "How can we know what is true?", or more
specifically, "How can we know what is true about Christianity?" There are some very important precedents
and principles established in the Bible that will be very helpful
in answering this question. However, if you have questions
as to whether or not the Bible is trustworthy and authoritative on
all matters pertaining to Christianity, you may want to check out
our 'Is the Bible
Reliable?' page, as our 'What is Truth' page
assumes that the Bible is both trustworthy and authoritative.
How Can We Determine the Truthfulness of Revelation?
Now that we see the importance of truth, we must look at how we can know what is true. In the case of investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Bible, we are concerned particularly with the truthfulness of revelation. In other words, how can any of us know what revelation comes from God and what does not? We will look at several Scriptures and see what implications they have in terms of determining the truthfulness of revelation.
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How Can We Know Who Is Speaking the Truth? - 1 Cor 14:29-38
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints... 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. (1 Cor 14:29-33, 36-38 KJV)
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints... 36 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.(1 Cor 14:29-33, 36-38 NASB® .
This scripture is set in the context of Paul giving instruction to the Corinthians for how the church was to be conducted, specifically with regard to the use of the spiritual gift of prophecy [for full context, read 1 Cor 12-14 KJV NASB]). However, as Paul sets forth commandments concerning church conduct, he backs up his instructions with truths pertaining to prophets and prophecy.
Paul lays down the following basic rules:
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Prophecy is to be quietly listened to and judged by others as it is given (v. 29). |
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Prophecy is not to be done in disorder (v. 30-31). |
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Prophecy is to be subject to and judged by previous revelation made by other prophets (v. 29); it can not contradict them (v. 32) or what Paul has written (v. 37). |
Paul gives the truth behind these rules:
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Prophets must not speak over or contradict each other because the Lord God is not a God of confusion - He does not change (v. 35). In other words, it is because of God's nature (and the subsequent role of a prophet) that they are constrained. God is not a God who confuses people or obscures truth, and therefore a prophet's task is to clearly speak only the Lord's truthful words (2 Pet 1:21; Deut 18:20; Jer 26:2; Josh 3:9; Josh 24:25-27; Heb 1:1; 2 Chr 36:15-16 KJV NASB, etc.). Therefore revelators must neither talk over one another nor contradict what true prophets of God have said before them, both of which would create a confusing atmosphere so that others could not learn or be exhorted (v. 31). |
Prophets contradicting existing revelation would cause an obvious problem, as it would truly confound
those trying to follow God as to what the truth
really is. For example, if Jesus is declared to be the way of salvation one day, and
then a week later Mohammad is heralded as savior, how could anyone really
know the truth or who to follow? The answer is simple - they
couldn't! None of us could. Without any kind of standard, we could
only guess which prophet was trustworthy. However, if we had a standard,
something by which we could measure each prophet's truth-claims, then we could
reject as false those that do not 'measure up' and accept those that do.
This idea of needing a standard of truth is recognized throughout the Bible,
as we shall see. It is not mysterious, however, for we inherently know
this in almost everything we do! We use rulers and yardsticks to measure
distance, scales to measure weight, measuring cups to determine quantity, meters
to calculate amounts... In fact, banks employ this concept in a very illustrative
fashion: they have their tellers become so familiar with true currency that they
can instantly spot a counterfeit bill. They use the standard of true money
to help them discern between the false and the true.
The same is the case with religious truth, especially concerning
Christianity! The only way that one might discern between true or false
prophecy or doctrine is to compare it to a standard. The question then becomes, "What is that
standard?" Paul, here, clearly declares that previously confirmed
prophets (who did not contradict what had come before) and what he wrote, Scriptures (2 Pet
3:15-16 KJV
NASB),
are the standard. All future prophecy must measure up and agree with what
was previously written by other Biblical prophets including Paul. If any
teaching contradicts, it is not from God and should therefore be ignored:
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized (1 Cor 14:37-8 NASB®).
In other words, as Paul says in Galatians, a teaching that contradicts what he has taught is essentially a different gospel - in fact a non-gospel:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:6-9 KJV).
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (Gal 1:6-9 NASB®).
Though we will address these verses more extensively later, it is important to note that those teaching the Galatians these other doctrines were not wrong for any other reason than it was different, i.e. contradictory, to what Paul had taught. It was a 'distortion', and therefore it was accursed. In conclusion, all that proclaims to be scripture or prophecy must be measured up to the standard already set forth by previously verified prophets in Scripture. If it does not meet the standard, then it is excluded as authoritative and is 'accursed'.
View other Scriptures that apply.
Acts 17:10-12
Suppose now that you a Jew living in a city of Macedonia (now known as Greece) in the first century. You have not even heard of Jesus, but you faithfully believe in the God of the Old Testament. You are in the synagogue, and in comes a man, a former Pharisee who is now claiming that he has great news from the Lord.
To your surprise, he says, “Brothers and Sisters, the Messiah has come – Jesus of Nazareth! It is not what you had supposed, or as you had been taught by the Scribes and Pharisees. He did not come to conquer and disperse the Romans to restore our earthly kingdom as the Lord did in the days of Moses, but He came to save people from all over the world by setting up a spiritual kingdom in which any man can be saved! You need only repent of your sins and believe that His sacrificial, atoning death on the cross is payment for your sins and your guilt will be washed away! All that was written in the Law and the Prophets has been fulfilled in Him - He has borne our sins that we might have God’s forgiveness and eternal life.”
Imagine what you might have thought...
“What?! A ‘messiah’
that was condemned to such a despicable, accursed death is supposed
to be our savior? What kind of a messiah is that? And what is this about saving the whole world;
is not the Lord the God of Israel?
This man says that this Jesus did not come to drive out the Romans; from what then did he
come to save us, if not from them? And
what is this about ‘eternal life?’ From where does this man come,
and how does he teach these strange things?!”
To say the least, this man's claims about Christ were quite extraordinary and
not you'd expected. What, then, should you do to verify (or disprove) the truth of
what he said? Fortunately, we are not left to ourselves to ponder the
answer, for this very event took place in a city called Berea:
And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed,… (Acts 17:10-12 NASB®)
The Bereans, when faced with a claim to new revelation from God, did not simply pray for a subjective, spiritual
confirmation (or disconfirmation). Instead, they diligently searched the
Scriptures they already had from God (the Old Testament in their case) to verify
Paul's claims (Acts 17:11). The fruit of their diligent search
was that in fact what Paul had said was proven correct by the Word and
they came to believe in the messiah whom Paul taught (Acts 17:12). In short, their
checking up on the apostles teaching by comparing it with the Bible
was actually honoring to God; and as such, they were considered more noble-minded
than the Thessalonians, who rejected Paul's revelation without even testing it (Acts 17:11).
This situation also happened just over a century and a half ago, when Joseph Smith
began to speak of having received a revelation from God. If you were a Bible-believing
Christian back then, you would draw the conclusion (from Acts 17 and others) that you should
compare what Joseph Smith was teaching with what God had already revealed
in His Word (the New and Old Testaments at that point). If what he
taught was supported by the Bible, then you would embrace him as a prophet; but
if what the prophet and the Bible taught contradicted, then you would have rejected Joseph Smith’s “new”
teachings as not from God.
This still applies to us today. Even though his teachings are decades old (and are supposed to be written in the times that the Bible was written), they were still presented as new revelation over 1800 years after the Lord had given His Bible. For this reason, we must still do with the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the same as we would have back in Joseph Smith’s day and what the Bereans did back in Paul's time – compare his story and teachings to those of the Bible.
The point is this: according to the Bible, the veracity of a prophet's claim to speak for God by His authority is established by his teachings and revelation being supported by, and not contradicting, that which the Lord has already revealed. This is the Biblical standard. In the following Scriptures, we'll see this principle clearly taught and supported throughout Bible.
Deut 13:1-18
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: but thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; when thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God. (Deut 13:1-18 KJV).
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you. "If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. "But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. "So you shall stone him to death because he has sought to seduce you from the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you. "If you hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you to live in, anyone saying that some worthless men have gone out from among you and have seduced the inhabitants of their city, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom you have not known), then you shall investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly. If it is true and the matter established that this abomination has been done among you, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword. "Then you shall gather all its booty into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its booty with fire as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God; and it shall be a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt. "Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling to your hand, in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He has sworn to your fathers, if you will listen to the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God. (Deut 13:1-18 NASB®).
Deut 18:20-22
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid
of. (Deut 18:20-22 KJV).'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' 21 "You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' 22 "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deut 18:20-22 NASB®).
1
John 4:1-6; 2 John 1:4-11
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error... ...I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (1 John 4:1-6; 2 John 1:4-11 KJV).
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error... ...I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (1 John 4:1-6; 2 John 1:4-11 NASB®).
2 Cor 11:1-15
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:1-15 KJV).
I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (2 Cor 11:1-15 NASB®).
Gal 1:6-9
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:6-9 KJV).
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (Gal 1:6-9 NASB®).
Deut 12:32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (Deut 12:32 KJV).
Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. (Deut 12:32 NASB®).
Rev 22:18-19
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19 KJV).
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (Rev 22:18-19 NASB®).
Footnotes
Despised
Samaritan: It should be noted that Samaritans were those who, at the time that the
Assyria took them captive in 722 BC, inter-married with those non-Jews that came
into the area (2 Kings 17:6-24 KJV
NASB).
The Lord, of course, strictly
forbade this (Deut 7:1-4 KJV
NASB).
Another important fact about the Samaritans is that they mistakenly
regarded only the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) as authoritative,
rejecting the rest of the Old Testament. As
a result, they also rejected Jerusalem as the one place that the Lord had
appointed for worship (Deut 12:5; 2 Sam 7:5-13; 2 Chr 6:6; John 4:20 KJV
NASB).
It was for these reasons, among others, that the religious Jews rightly
looked upon the Samaritans as defiled heretics, though they did so with the
entirely wrong heart attitude.
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Was
the Samaritan Woman Adulterous?:
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False
Beliefs of the Samaritans: An important fact about the Samaritans is that they mistakenly regarded
only the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) as authoritative, rejecting
the rest of the Old Testament. Since
the command to worship the Lord in Jerusalem came after the Pentateuch (2 Sam
7:5-13; 2 Chr 6:6; John 4:20 KJV
NASB),
they rejected it as the proper place in favor of Mt. Gerizim (Deut 12:5
KJV
NASB).
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Sin
Keeps God at a Distance: The barriers that prevented the Jews from entering the temple/tabernacle
heretofore represented the separation between God and man because of sin.
For example, only the Levitical priests could go into the temple, and
that with a sacrifice for themselves. In
addition, even these priests were kept separated by a curtain from the ‘most
holy place’, or ‘holy of holies’, which represented heaven and in which
was God’s presence. Only the one,
high Aaronic priest would enter there (again, after a sacrifice for himself)
once a year on the Day of Atonement to make an offering of a slain lamb for the
sins of all the people.
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Uncircumcision: Paul uses this term to refer to the Jews (Rom 2:17, 25 KJV
NASB).
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Sincerity: Notice how sincerity becomes irrelevant, because of the objective reality of sin and our need for salvation. In other words, one who is sincerely believing in Buddhism is still, in reality, left without the Lord's atonement to pay for his sins. A more simple analogy might be one who sincerely believes he can fly from a skyscraper with merely the use of his flapping arms. The result in both cases is equally deadly and certain, regardless of the individual's passion and degree of feeling certain.
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Jesus Is the Way, Truth, and Life: Note the context of this verse, that Thomas is asking Jesus how His disciples might get to go where Jesus is going - heaven (John 14:1-5 KJV NASB). He is afraid that they will not be able to follow the Lord. Jesus comforts and assures them that they do know the Way, as He is not only the way, but the manifestation of truth and the One who bestows life. Only if one come through Him can they be with Him.
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Scripture
quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.
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