How Can I Know Which Doctrines Are From G-d And Which Aren't?
From pulpits we hear some preachers claiming they have new knowledge. They usually preface this 'new revelation' with "The L-rd told me...." And many listeners are fearful to question if the L-rd really said such a thing or not. How can we know if G-d is still sending revelation to us?
The canon is closed. The TaNaKh canon was closed with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah; the Brit Chadasha canon was closed with its final book, Revelation. Revelation 22:18,19 warns:
Because of this special admonition in Revelation we can be sure that G-d would not send us a different 'latter-day' revelation, since He has expressly forbade us to 'add or take away' from that revelation He has already given us. The Scripture we have is complete and sufficient for us. Sha'ul assures us of this in his letter to Timothy:
Scripture is sufficient!
We've been cautioned:
How do we 'test' the spirits? How do we make an informed decision about the truthfulness of doctrines we hear on television, radio, internet sites, books, etc.?
Everything must be tested against Scripture. Truth isn't based on how we feel about a doctrine --- the early believers didn't accept that Yeshua was the Messiah because they felt in their heart he was Messiah. Doctrine isn't subjective -- it's not based on warm fuzzies or a 'burning in the bosom' feeling. Our feelings are subjective and deceptive. Nor also should we accept a doctrine because someone seemingly important or knowlegeable said so. Scripture is the only solid test for doctrine. G-d preserved His Word for us so we could verify the truthfulness of doctrines we would hear. Let's use the Berean example: In Acts 17:11 we're told:
When Apollo went teaching the gospel, he was:
Even Yeshua Himself, when validating His own claims, pointed to the Scriptural support:
We're seeing a pattern here -- a doctrine's reliability is established through Scripture. G-d doesn't change -- nor does He contradict Himself. G-d's Word is an unchanging Truth and it is complete. G-d's Word is the only Truth we can trust:
"Thou art nigh, O LORD; and all Thy commandments are truth."
"The beginning of Thy word is truth; and all Thy righteous ordinance endureth for ever.
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." Yochanan 17:17
Amazing New Revelations???
Ellen Kavanaugh
"For I say to every man to whose ears have come the words of this prophet's book, If any man makes an addition to them, God will put on him the punishments which are in this book: And if any man takes away from the words of this book, God will take away from him his part in the tree of life and the holy town, even the things which are in this book."
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine , for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 Yochanan 4:1
"they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:11
"showing by the scriptures that Yeshua was Messiah." Acts 18:28
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27
"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Torah is the truth."
Psalms 119:142
Psalms 119:151
Psalms 119:160