"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed; rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:23-24

"The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." - Psalm 145:18

These are but a few examples from Scripture demonstrating the importance of knowing the truth found in God's Word. When one considers the current state of Christianity as a whole, with its countless denominations, various doctrinal views, and differing interpretations of Scripture, it should be no surprise how often God's Word reminds us of the importance of discerning truth from error. We must be diligent in our study of the Word, taking great care to not be swayed or influenced by any teachings of man or pagan philosophies that have crept into Christianity, which have indeed ‘spread like cancer’ (2 Timothy 2:16-18), as we see rampant error being taught in many churches today (see 2 Timothy 4:2-4, Colossians 2:8- 23, Matthew 7:21-23). So with all the differing views and errors circulating, how can we be sure we ourselves are not being deceived?

First, it is important to know you should not simply believe everything you hear spoken about God's Word, whether it is an interpretation told to you by a close friend or family member, or preached to you from the pulpit on Sunday. While we can certainly learn a lot about the Bible from our Christian brothers and sisters, we simply cannot sit back and be spoon-fed the Word and expect to truly gain a deep understanding and appreciation of what it says. We are admonished in 1 John 4, "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Acts 17:11 gives us a good example of a certain group of believers in Berea preached to by Paul and Silas, who "received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." It is indeed important we search the Scriptures for ourselves, as that is the first step in finding the truth. As Jesus tells us in John 8:31-33, "If you abide in my word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Further in John 17:17, Jesus prayed on our behalf to God, "sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." Clearly, the truth is found in the Word of God. Still, in searching the Scriptures, how can we be certain we are "rightly dividing the word of truth" and not misinterpreting what we are reading?

Anytime we read, study, or meditate on God's Word, it is important to pray for wisdom and ask God to guide us in our understanding by His Holy Spirit. It is only by the power of God's Holy Spirit working in us that we can fully understand His Word and discern the truth. After His resurrection and before ascending to heaven to sit at God's right hand, Jesus told us in John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (See also John 15:26, where the Holy Spirit is aptly referred to as the "Spirit of truth"). One of the most powerful passages of Scripture on this subject is found in 1 Cor. 2:10-16:

“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

These things are especially important to remember given the muddle of man's philosophies and doctrines; therefore, we must constantly be on guard against such things. To ensure the Holy Spirit can do its work in us, we must also put aside any preconceived notions we might have, being humble in our approach to Scripture, as Jesus illustrates for us in Matthew 18:1-4: “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

While it is important to stand fast and be rooted in our faith and belief in God's Word (2 Thessalonians 2:15), we also need to be careful that we do not allow ourselves to become proud, thinking we have it all right, being above correction or instruction. For "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Therefore, "humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" in the knowledge of the truth of His Word, and by the power of His Holy Spirit.

J. Fournier ©CDMI