In today’s world, the Bible is often used as a tool to earn money. There are some who manipulate the words of the Bible to elevate themselves as special messengers who have somehow discovered the truth that you have been missing. Their goal is to sell books and generate donations to their false ministry. Unfortunately, many of these deceivers are extremely successful which only serves to increase their popularity. Jesus himself was accused of teaching beyond his authority; his response to those accusations teaches us how to identify truth from self-aggrandizement.
“The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.” John 7:15-16 (NASB)
The Jews could not understand how a man who had never attended the schools of the rabbis could be so knowledgeable about the Word of God. Of course Jesus wasn’t teaching from classroom learning, he was teaching from first-hand contact with God. What identified Jesus as a true messenger from God, was the fact that his teaching lined up with the written Word of God. Jesus was not out to make a name for himself or acquire financial support. Jesus was focused on glorifying God.
“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” John 7:18 (NASB)
Some of the celebrated false teachers we see today are highly polished and uniquely capable of blurring the line between personal promotion and true glory to God. Jesus teaches us to look closely and consider carefully the motives of those claiming to be God’s messenger. Of course, when Jesus returns, all the deception will be over and those preaching from selfish motives will suffer greatly. For now, our undistorted source of truth is found in the pages of the Bible. If we test every word delivered against our own personal study of the Bible, it will be difficult, if not impossible for us to be deceived. There is no deception in the pages of the Bible.
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