1.
Biblical Discernment Weighing God’s Truth against a World in Error

2.
The Doctrine of Biblical Discernment

3.
Introduction <ul><li>Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. </li></ul><ul><li>1 Corinthians 1:12-17 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (13) Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (14) I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; (15) Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. (16) And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. (17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. </li></ul><ul><li>1 Corinthians 3:4-6 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?(5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. </li></ul>

4.
The Essentials <ul><li>2 Peter 1:1-2 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, </li></ul><ul><li>James 2:19-20 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? </li></ul>

5.
The Essentials: The Bible <ul><ul><li>We must recognize it as God’s inspired Word: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. </li></ul></ul>

6.
The Essentials: The Bible <ul><ul><li>We must recognize it as God’s inspired Word </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>We must recognize it as inerrant </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Hebrews 6:17-18 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: (18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: </li></ul></ul></ul>

7.
The Essentials: The Bible <ul><ul><li>We must recognize it as God’s inspired Word </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>We must recognize it as inerrant </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>We must recognize its authority </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: </li></ul></ul></ul>

8.
The Essentials: God <ul><li>His Greatness </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Psalms 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Isaiah 40:12-18 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? (13) Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? (14) With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? (15) Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. (16) And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. (17) All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. (18) To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? </li></ul></ul>

9.
The Essentials: God <ul><li>His Greatness </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Even the pagan kings of Daniel’s time saw the greatness of God: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Daniel 3:28-29 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. (29) Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Daniel 4:34-35 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: (35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Daniel 6:25-27 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. (26) I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. (27) He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. </li></ul></ul>

10.
The Essentials: God <ul><li>His Greatness </li></ul><ul><li>His Son </li></ul><ul><ul><li>-God in Human flesh </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>-He lived a sinless life before His death </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>-He was the once for all sacrifice </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; </li></ul></ul></ul>

11.
The Essentials: God <ul><li>His Greatness </li></ul><ul><li>His Son </li></ul><ul><ul><li>-He rose from the dead </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>-He saves those who call upon Him </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>-He clothes the saints with His righteousness </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. </li></ul></ul></ul>

12.
The Essentials: God <ul><li>His Greatness </li></ul><ul><li>His Son </li></ul><ul><li>The Spirit </li></ul><ul><ul><li>John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; </li></ul></ul>

13.
The Essentials: The Gospel <ul><li>Right view of sin </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 5:12-19 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. (17) For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. </li></ul></ul>

14.
The Essentials: The Gospel <ul><li>Right view of sin </li></ul><ul><li>Right view of self </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. </li></ul></ul>

15.
The Essentials: The Gospel <ul><li>Right view of sin </li></ul><ul><li>Right view of self </li></ul><ul><li>Right view of salvation </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. </li></ul></ul>

16.
Handling the Non-essentials <ul><li>To come to an answer: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Search the Scriptures </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Check with your church </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Examine your conscience </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Four-fold test for discerning doctrine </li></ul><ul><ul><li>How clear is it in Scripture? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>How clear do others think it is in Scripture? (particularly those you trust) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>How near is it to the Gospel? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>What would the affects be if we allowed disagreement in this area? </li></ul></ul>

17.
Handling the Non-essentials <ul><li>Hold the truth with humility </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Philippians 2:2-4 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>“ Truth and humility are great friends. Without humility, we can’t learn. We can’t learn the truth about ourselves or the truth about the Bible.” </li></ul></ul><ul><li>“ In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, and in all things charity.” </li></ul>