Discerning Error and Truth

Acts 15:24

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

As Paul and Barnabas taught the Gentiles how to be saved, multitudes of those they shared the Gospel with accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. However, there were Jews who were bigoted towards the Gentiles that said the Gentiles needed to be circumcised before they could get saved. Circumcision was a command of the law, and Christ did away with the ceremonial laws at His death. To add circumcision to the Gospel was to add works to the Gospel. Eventually, Paul and Barnabas settled this error by telling the Gentiles that salvation was by faith in Christ, but they were to abstain from worldly living after they got saved.

There are times in anyone’s life when you must discern what is truth and what is error. There are a plethora of voices that come through media and books that often sow false doctrine with what they say; therefore, every believer must be careful about discerning truth and error because what they tell others will eventually affect the Gospel, which means it will affect whether people get saved. Let me share some guides on how you can discern truth and error.

First, what does God’s Word say about it. One of the first places Paul and Barnabas went to discern whether this was truth or error was to the prophets. The prophets they were talking about was the Word of God. Always make God’s Word your first stop when trying to decide if something is truth or error, for all that we believe comes from God’s Word.

Second, what does history teach us about it. Paul and Barnabas compared what they were being told what to what they and others had done to get saved. Truth never changes; therefore, you can look at what God’s men and what Christians did in the past to discern if what you are hearing is truth or error. One reason we must not destroy the past preachers is because their examples are part of what helps us to learn what is truth and error. People will never go to history to help discern truth and error if we have torn down the foundations of the past. Let the history of past believers teach you what is truth and error when you cannot discern from God’s Word what is right.

Third, what do men of God say about it. Paul and Barnabas went to their pastor to find out if what they were being told was truth or error. When you can't discern truth or error from God’s Word or history, you would be wise to go to your pastor to ask his mind about your question. God gave you a pastor to help guide you away from error. Ask him, as he cares for your soul and for you knowing what is truth or error.

Fourth, what does the Holy Ghost say about it. Paul and Barnabas relied on the Holy Ghost to guide them to the truth. God gives us the Holy Ghost to guide us into all truth; therefore, you would be wise to ask the Holy Ghost to guide your mind and heart into what is truth and what is error.

My friend, God gives the believer much freedom in grace, but freedom is only found within the boundaries of God’s Word. Let the guidelines we find from Paul and Barnabas in discerning truth or error be the same guidelines you follow when trying to discern if something is right. You always want to be right because the Gospel always depends on us being doctrinally right in all that we believe.