Guard the truth

Read Matthew 7:15

.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (Jn.14:6) so having spoken about the way which leads to life he now teaches that his followers need to guard the truth. There are many warnings in the New Testament about false prophets and teachers (Mt.24:10-11; 2 Tim.4:3-4; 2 Pet.2:1). Both then and now false teaching is a real danger to God’s church.

.

False teachers may seem harmless and plausible, fellow sheep in God’s flock. But the reality is that their teaching makes them wolves who bring destruction, not life (Jn.10.10). Paul warns similarly: “Savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from among your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard” (Acts 20:29-31).

.

Jesus is the revelation of God’s truth (Jn.1:14,17). The idea of revealed truth is unfashionable today but truth doesn’t change just because we don’t like it, and rejecting it or distorting it brings great loss. In Christ is “the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph.1:13). So it must be guarded well (2 Tim.1:14) as the sure foundation of our faith, obedience and worship (Gal.5:7; Jn.4:24; 8:31-32).