The above is a picture called "Doctrine of Signatures" by an artist named Brewer.
1 Tim. 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2John 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Colossians 2: 20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Also Mark 7:7.
Many years ago I realized there are only three types of doctrines (teachings) in the Bible. These are:
1) the doctrines of Christ and the apostles or sound doctrine;
2) the doctrines of men; and
3) doctrines of demons.
"Sound doctrine", then, tends to be any teaching that does not incorporate #2 or #3. Essentially, sound doctrine proceeds from the fulfilling commandment of LOVE. All commandments are complete in actions based on love. For instance, James says, "true religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep one's self uncontaminated from the world." If someone is teaching something like this, they are teaching sound doctrine.
In the time of Christ, many Jews were practicing not just the Law of Moses, but many variants based on it that were hatched up by men. These kinds of doctrines are often designed to bring men into bondage to systems of behavior and thought that do not come from God directly. They can be very subtle and sound right, but they aren't necessary. They don't have to be just a bunch of man-made do's and don'ts, though, they can also be ideas constructed from scripture that are from "private interpretation." That is, any doctrine that comes from human reasoning and is declared dogma.
Finally, there is "demonic doctrine." The apostle John, in his epistles, reveals the main test by which we discern spirits. A demon will oppose Christ. John calls it the spirit of antichrist. He says, "Any spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God."
So we can use these things as tools of discernment when we are being confronted by anyone's teachings. First of all, is this doctrine or teaching in opposition to Christ at its core? What premise is it building on? Does it deny Christ in some way? Better back off from it.
What if it is a Christian doctrine, but it teaches you to practice sin, or to keep endless laws that you are not required by the New Testament to practice? Then it is likely a doctrine of men. You are under no compulsion to practice it.
Finally, if it is a Christian doctrine that mirrors the Sermon on the Mount, that urges you to walk beyond the law into the law of the Spirit, then it is acceptable teaching. You can practice it.
If this sounds vague, it is because these are only basic principles to help you to discern what kind of doctrine you are being confronted with. We learn discernment through spiritual exercise: basically, study, prayer, and experience. But this gives us a basis on which to judge what we are hearing.
2John 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Colossians 2: 20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Also Mark 7:7.
Many years ago I realized there are only three types of doctrines (teachings) in the Bible. These are:
1) the doctrines of Christ and the apostles or sound doctrine;
2) the doctrines of men; and
3) doctrines of demons.
"Sound doctrine", then, tends to be any teaching that does not incorporate #2 or #3. Essentially, sound doctrine proceeds from the fulfilling commandment of LOVE. All commandments are complete in actions based on love. For instance, James says, "true religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep one's self uncontaminated from the world." If someone is teaching something like this, they are teaching sound doctrine.
In the time of Christ, many Jews were practicing not just the Law of Moses, but many variants based on it that were hatched up by men. These kinds of doctrines are often designed to bring men into bondage to systems of behavior and thought that do not come from God directly. They can be very subtle and sound right, but they aren't necessary. They don't have to be just a bunch of man-made do's and don'ts, though, they can also be ideas constructed from scripture that are from "private interpretation." That is, any doctrine that comes from human reasoning and is declared dogma.
Finally, there is "demonic doctrine." The apostle John, in his epistles, reveals the main test by which we discern spirits. A demon will oppose Christ. John calls it the spirit of antichrist. He says, "Any spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God."
So we can use these things as tools of discernment when we are being confronted by anyone's teachings. First of all, is this doctrine or teaching in opposition to Christ at its core? What premise is it building on? Does it deny Christ in some way? Better back off from it.
What if it is a Christian doctrine, but it teaches you to practice sin, or to keep endless laws that you are not required by the New Testament to practice? Then it is likely a doctrine of men. You are under no compulsion to practice it.
Finally, if it is a Christian doctrine that mirrors the Sermon on the Mount, that urges you to walk beyond the law into the law of the Spirit, then it is acceptable teaching. You can practice it.
If this sounds vague, it is because these are only basic principles to help you to discern what kind of doctrine you are being confronted with. We learn discernment through spiritual exercise: basically, study, prayer, and experience. But this gives us a basis on which to judge what we are hearing.
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