Continued from last episode-
Preamble: There is obvious gross interpretation of the
Scripture as a result of the way and manner the Scripture has been studied and
read. The inappropriate studying and reading of the Scripture has led to wrong
interpretation of the Scripture and that has resulted into wrong application of
what the Scripture says.
Anchor Text:
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the
prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
Acts 8:30
Text of Interest:
“But ye have not so learned Christ;”
Ephesians 4:20
The adverse effect of false doctrine is enormous and
detrimental to the body of Christ because it induces systems and rules that
undermine the finished work of Christ. Apostle Paul calls it bewitchment, and
it is so because it enforces a method that does not allow believers to enjoy
the freedom they have received from Christ. By this I mean all that Christ
wroth for them through His death, burial and resurrection. Therefore, false
teaching which is the product of wrong interpretation of the scripture takes
the mind of the believers away from the right doctrine of Christ where grace is
fully expressed. As a result of this though they are believers but their ways of
life will definitely to be the opposite of what it ought to be hence Apostle
Paul declared such a life a bewitched life. “O foolish Galatians, who hath
bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1).
The quotation above indicates that the believers in
Galatia were deceived and they started living a life that is outside what is
obtainable in the finished work of Christ. What is obtainable in the finished
work of Christ is called the TRUTH. This implies that any teaching which is not
falling in line with what Christ has done as in His death on the cross and His
burial, resurrection and ascension such is not the TRUTH and should be
discarded. And if it is not the truth is not of God and if it is not of God it
is of the enemy the devil no matter how soothing the teaching may sound.
Apostle Paul in his epistle calls it the doctrine of devil “Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1 Timothy 4:1). It
is called the doctrine of devil because such a teaching which is false does not
sanctify the believers; it pollutes them and removes them from the grace of
Christ. As a result of this He also warned Timothy in his epistle to him while
he was still in Ephesus to tell the Ephesians that “As I besought thee to abide
still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some
that they teach no other doctrine,” (1 Timothy 1:3).
He went further to warn Timothy that “Take heed unto
thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them for in doing this thou shalt
both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16), there is an
important remark he made in the verse above, he indicated that by taking heed
to the doctrine which is the right doctrine, which is the truth, and as he continues
in it, he will be able to save himself and the people who listens to him. This
implies that salvation is obtainable by listing to the right teaching. These
warnings are not just coming from Apostle Paul alone but other Apostle also
joined in the crusade and to warn every believer not to give heed to devilish
teachings. Apostle John in his epistles called the false teaching antichrist “And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not
of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:3), also see
(1 John 2:18, 22).
The truth cannot be ascertained in error
To be continued…..
Till I come your way again, keep on basking in the Arena
of Indubitable Truth!
Chukwuemeka C. Asiegbu
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