"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee." (Deut. 13: 1-5 KJV)
The presence of false prophets and teachers puts professing Christians to the test by God's design. But, what is proven by such a test? Is it not the proof of profession? Is it not to show who is really joined in heart to the Lord versus who is only a pretender?
Now, notice these words from the New Testament:
"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." (I Cor. 11: 19 KJV)
The presence of heretics with their false teachings is again viewed as a means for showing who is, and who is not, "approved" by the Lord. The word "that" is from "hina" (a hina clause) and denotes purpose or reason. Why are heresies among the saints? In order that by this means the approved may be "made manifest," which will, of course, also reveal those who God disapproves.
How are you in relation to the various heresies at work today?
"A glimpse of the divine mind is in this. Christians who become upset and discouraged because of schisms, factions and other disorders in the church make a tragic mistake. As God used Satan in the Paradise of Eden to test the progenitors of the human race, he still tests the faith of all Christians. Church difficulties provide an opportunity for Christians to demonstrate that they are genuine followers of the Lord. God never intended that any man should move through life in a constant environment of encouragement and spiritual delight. There is a place in the experience of every Christian where "the rubber meets the road"; and his response to unfavorable, or even tragic, situations will determine whether or not he is "approved" of God. It should always be remembered that "many are called, but few are chosen."" (Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible - emphasis mine)
I look back over my life and see the numerous heresies I have had to confront. I have battled against Arminianism, Hyper Calvinism, Sabellianism, Arianism, Antinomianism, Pelagianism, and a host of other sectarian doctrines and sects. I never gave an inch to any of them but battled against them all. I believe in this that I revealed that I was one in the truth, one approved of God.
How about you?
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