“Test All Things!”
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
“Test
all things;
hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.”
Introduction
- In the words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Thessalonica, we
find the title of this lesson. Why would he demand that they
“Test All Things”? Paul knew and
would share with these brethren that Christians would not remain satisfied
with the truth. In fact, in the second letter, the Apostle to the Gentiles
would use this as a dating system to give the Christians in Thessalonica
comfort concerning the return of the Lord (2
Thessalonians 2:1-12).
As time would go by, history would bear out that the falling away would
occur, in spite of the warnings of the Apostles of Christ. It is
additionally alive and well to this very day, even in the body of Christ!
This is a universal result of the complete lack of study of the book that so
many claim to be the true [Word
of God]! Because of this, many buy into the false words that the
Bible is full of mysteries that cannot be understood by the average person.
Dependence on so called religious leaders to practice hermeneutics (the
science of interpretation), and exegeses (explanation and critical
interpretation), has become the foundations for what so-called Christians
place their trust into.
All of this is born of Christians failing to obey this command given to all
Christians concerning the need to
“Test All Things”!
Would Paul through the Holy Spirit give a command that we were unable to
complete? Certainly not! In
fact, Paul knew that all of God’s word is tenable (capable of being defended
or held to scrutiny, survive the test!) too those who apply themselves to
know it.
2 Timothy 2:15
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Paul knew
that when Christians read God’s word for themselves, they could have his
knowledge concerning the mysteries of Christ (only called that because it
was in the process of being revealed).
Ephesians 3:3-4
“how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly
written already,
4
by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ)”
The
approved worker
- trusts the true source for knowledge that guides him! The word of God!
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness,
17
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work.”
He learns
- to apply the proper dispensation. God only speaks to us now through His
Son –
Hebrews 1:1-2. The only way to have a relationship with God is
through the doctrine of Christ -
2 John 9. This by its very
foundation excludes Moses and the law given to Israel as a viable system of
righteousness (we however, have much to learn from the Law of Moses as a
school master to Christ, such as the true nature of God, types and shadows,
etc…).
He learns
- that context is everything. Always asking and answering the
questions; who,
what, and
why this being written, and at
times even the when it was
written is also important.
He learns
– that the unity of scripture is also vital to know all the truth on a given
subject of righteousness. To literally compile a complete understanding on a
subject before application is practiced.
Jesus used
an inductive method of
presenting righteousness (taking all pertinent information of a given
subject in order to come to the proper conclusion), when He taught the Jews,
who often challenged Him because they themselves were untaught in this
process – see:
Matthew 12:1-13 concerning doing
well to others on the Sabbath vs. the traditions of the Pharisees. He knew
what the original commands of God were concerning the Sabbath (Exodus
31:15), which He always observed, then gave examples from their
own approved history (3-5),
taught the original precepts (7),
see also:
Hosea 6:6;
Micah
6:8; all showing that God gave the Sabbath for the benefit of
Israel, not the detriment. Punishment was to be met out to the one who
purposefully chose to fail to observe this command of God and had nothing to
do with showing mercy on those who needed it.
Here is
another inductive exercise:
Law of
Silence:
Absence of
direct commands, approved examples, and necessary inferences in any given
matter, by its very existence demands that anything else is excluded!
Period!
We always
think there is a better way, or an easier way than that which God
established as righteousness. This had led to a myriad of practices in the
church that are by this standard apostate!
What we
always forget, is that everything God has given us to accomplish is an issue
of submission! To obey what has been given is to demonstrate the willingness
to submit to Him as Supreme and to show appreciation for His love!
1 John 5:3
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome.”
By the very
use of the word Baptism (for example), submergence into water is commanded (Acts
8:38), and by the absence of any other command negates
sprinkling, dabbing, or anything other than submergence!
If it is
not of the commands of God, no matter how much easier it is, no matter how
much better an idea someone thinks it is, it does not stand up to the test
of righteousness (being right with God). We dare not want, in that
day, to stand before our creator and have to answer for why we
thought His wisdom was insufficient!
Conclusion
–
The Lord’s
body is being bombarded with a stripped down and perverted form of exegeses,
introduced by men who have not had to face the testing process. This has led
to an evolutionary stage of application that leads to the concept of [no
system of law]; therefore, thinking in terms of keeping the commandments
of God is untenable!
When these
who have perverted the truth are tested and faced with contradictions to the
pure word of God, they levy personal attacks;
“you’re just a bunch of anti’s”.
They
instead turn to a foreign form of exegesis that Paul wrote would come:
2 Timothy 3:5
“having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn
away!”
This
process of deviation from the standard established through the Apostles of
Jesus Christ (Acts
2:42;
Ephesians 2:20), is going to
continue to increase until no one will recognize the body of Christ that He
shed His blood for! Or, until the members of the body of Christ rise up and
educate ourselves to the truth and test everything for book, chapter, and
verse. Strong elders and evangelists are not enough, who will take their
places if we remain ignorant, who will support them if we cannot stand for
the truth ourselves? How can we even have them, if no one knows what strong
and faithful elders are, or evangelists? Every Christian must adhere to the
self -test first!
1 John 2:3-6
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4
He who
says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him.
5
But whoever
keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know
that we are in Him.
6
He who says
he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Then, Test All Things!