Good morning. Today’s Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
In today’s social media landscape, believers can access a wide range of spiritual content, including messages about Christian living, faith in Jesus, and church history. While some of this content can be entertaining and at times, even informative. Nevertheless, these vague and misguided productions make it difficult for believers to discern the valid message relevant to this age of grace. When they speak of Jesus, it’s vital to consider which Jesus is being discussed: the man Jesus, the prophet Jesus, or the Jesus who is fully God and fully man, as taught by Paul. Some may share a “gospel” message and speak of salvation, but they diverge far afield from Paul’s gospel for this age.
How can one determine whether the message being conveyed is valid? Take a few minutes and read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28. The answer lies in understanding Paul’s teachings and doctrines for this age of grace. Paul emphasized this principle to the believers in Thessalonica, reminding them—and us—of the importance of evaluating every message against the standard of his gospel.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are called to be ambassadors of the Body of Christ, proclaiming the clear message of salvation and sanctification by grace through faith plus nothing. Paul calls all believers to imitate him (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1). We learn to pattern our lives after Paul, who followed Christ and taught what he received by revelation from Him. We do so by reading, studying, and applying his teachings.
We are presented with a choice: follow Paul and embrace the truth contained in the gospel of grace, or risk being misled by a false gospel. This is the message from today’s verse, “test all things and hold fast to what is good,” which is just as relevant today as it was in Paul’s time. I encourage you to evaluate everything, including these newsletters, compare them with Paul’s teachings, and, as guided by the Holy Spirit, decide on your course of action and live accordingly.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
How discerning are you in a world filled with conflicting voices?