Mt. 24:24 π Jn. 8:44 π 2 Cor. 11:13-15 π 2 Ths. 2:9 π Rev. 13:13
Since thought, or "belief," originates either from the God of Truth, or the father of lies ( Jn. 8:44; top ), there is but one basic principle for testing the source of all doctrines, or "thoughts" and "beliefs," held by believers, or unbelievers, i.e., the test of the revealed Word of God.
All "truth" is in harmony with the only channel of revealed truth in the world - the written Word of God. All "teachings" originating from deceiving spirits -
(1) Weaken the authority of the Scriptures;
(2) Distort the teaching in the Scriptures;
(3) Add to the Scriptures the thoughts of men; or
(4) Put the Scriptures entirely aside.
The ultimate object being to hide, distort, misuse, or put aside the revelation of God concerning the Cross of Calvary, where Satan was overthrown by the God-Man, and where freedom was obtained for all his captives.
The test of all "thought" and "belief" therefore is its
(1) Harmony with the written Scriptures in its full body of truth.
(2) The attitude to the Cross, and sin.
In the Christianised world, some doctrines of demons, tested by these two primary principles, may be mentioned as
Christian Science: | no sin, no Saviour, no Cross. |
Theosophy: | no sin, no Saviour, no Cross. |
Spiritism: | no sin , no Saviour, no Cross. |
New Theology: | no sin, no Saviour, no Cross. |
In the heathen world:
1. | Mahommedanism Confucianism Buddism, etc. |
No Saviour, no Cross, a "moral" religion, with man his own Saviour. |
2. | Idolatry as the worship of demons | No knowledge of a Saviour, or of His Calvary sacrifice, but true knowledge of the evil powers, which they endeavour to propitiate, because they have proved them to be existent. |
In the Christian Church: Countless "thoughts" and "beliefs," which are opposed to the truth of God, are injected into the minds of Christians by teaching spirits, rendering them ineffective in the warfare with sin and Satan, and subject to the power of evil spirits, although they are saved for eternity through their faith in Christ, and accept the authority of the Scriptures, and know the power of the Cross. All "thoughts" and "beliefs" should therefore be tested by the truth of God revealed in the Scripture, not merely by "texts" or portions of the Word, but by the principles of truth revealed in the Word. Since Satan will endorse his teachings by "signs and wonders" ( Mt. 24:24 ; 2 Ths. 2:9 ; Rev. 13:13 ), "fire from heaven," "power" and "signs," are no proof of "teaching" being of God; nor is a "beautiful life" to be the infallible test, for Satan's "ministers" can be "ministers of righteousness." ( 2 Cor. 11:13-15; top )
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