HELEN SANDERS
5-7-2020
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
Over the years I have heard so many “preachers” preach messages that were absolutely not biblically sound. I wondered where they come up with the ideas. Many have been indoctrinated through the schools they attended, whether they were godly or ungodly. So, how do we know the truth?
Jesus said in John 16:13
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.”
Jesus, the Word made flesh also said in John 14:6
…”I am the way, the truth, and the life….”
So, you know the truth from the Holy Spirit, and you will have a witness in your spirit what is truth. Another way of putting it is “you will know in your knower.” There is no way to know truth unless you know the word of God.
When I began my search of things of the Spirit, I was led to buy some study tools. I bought a Strong’s Concordance; a Greek Interlineal dictionary (Greek and English) and a Bible that has study guides in it. I wanted to know the truth because I had been challenged by someone in a cult that had an answer for everything.
Most cults indoctrinate their members by brainwashing them. They twist scripture (if they use scripture at all) and some even have their own “man written” Bibles. It is very important that you know that not all Bibles will have the right interpretations. Many are what you would call paraphrases, which means they took the original and put it into their own words so people could “understand it” better. Unfortunately, they left important doctrine (teachings) out.
When you receive salvation, the Holy Spirit resides within you. He will give you a witness in your spirit if something isn’t right. As I studied the Word and grew in the things of the Lord, it was as if a red flag would go up when something didn’t register correctly in my spirit that was being preached or taught. I asked questions, lots of questions, and most of the time the answers many gave did not register with the Spirit within me.
Never just assume that a Pastor or teacher knows everything or preaches sound biblical doctrine. It is so important that you know the word of God for yourself. Deception is at an all time high. How will you know the counterfeit if you don’t know the real? Always take your Bible to Church, and make sure it is a good one. I personally don’t like the NIV because it leaves out verses. Others leave out the word begotten in John 3:16. Other versions leave key verses out or translate them improperly. Be someone that is a truth seeker, and you will never be deceived. For as Jesus said in John 8:32,
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
When you study the Word of God, don’t start with Genesis. Start with the book of John in the New Testament then read the writings of Paul, the epistles (Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and the rest) these will help you understand who you are in Christ, and your authority as a believer.