Discernment- Hebrews 5:11-14

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Steve

First published October 2, 2010 and edited for re-publication here.

“But solid food is for the mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14, CSB).

As I have grown older and lived through many social and cultural changes in our world, one of my biggest concerns for our younger generations is the blurring of the line between good and evil.

With all the information that confronts us every minute of every day in this digital age in which we live, it becomes more difficult for some to distinguish between what’s right and what’s wrong!

But, discernment between good and evil is a fundamental proposition of our humanity and morality. In the Bible, it’s a compelling part of the Creation story. And, it’s a basic element of humanity’s separation from God and the rationale for God’s cosmic plan for the redemption of humanity.

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Maligning the Truth – 2 Peter 2

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Steve

“Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.” (2 Peter 2:2, NASB).

In this chapter the Apostle Peter describes the rise and fate of false prophets. He says that heresy grows concurrently with truth. As the truth of the gospel is more widely and broadly proclaimed, there is a corresponding increase in the willful perversion of it.

Deceit is a growth industry that is fiercely competitive with the truth. In fact, the misrepresentation or distortion of the truth of the gospel seems to be as prevalent as the proclamation of the true gospel.

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Becoming Delusional – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Steve

Some of the Thessalonians had succumbed to a teaching that Christ had already come and so the second chapter of 2 Thessalonians refutes this false teaching.

Paul seemed somewhat surprised by the Thessalonians’ lack of discernment over doctrines he had already taught them (vs. 5).

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God’s Know-It-Alls – Proverbs 28:5

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Steve

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand everything” (Proverbs 28:5, HCSB).

Those who seek and know God bear the unique responsibility of assimilating God’s spiritual kingdom, the Kingdom of God, into the reality in which they live because they are residents of both realms—the present created order and the future spiritual order.

But we live, think, and experience the world in which we live through our five senses. Unfortunately, according to the order of this world, if you cannot see it, hear it, touch it, feel it, or smell it, then it does not exist.

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The Discerning Christian – Leviticus 10:10

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Steve

“You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common, between what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean” (Leviticus 10:10, NLT).

Moses gave these instructions to Aaron’s sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, on the occasion of the fiery death of their two older brothers, Nadab and Abihu.

As Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu served as priests in the Tabernacle. As priests they were tasked with keeping a fire burning constantly on the bronze altar of the Tabernacle and supplying coals from the altar for burning incense in the Tabernacle.

Perhaps careless from drinking wine, Nadab and Abihu took coals from another source. This violation of God’s instructions resulted in God’s judgment on them and their subsequent deaths.

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