Truth, Indoctrination, or Self, How Can We Know What We Believe Is Right?

L.A.M.B.

Active member
The above question seems to be of great concern to myself of late.
I find sincere loving, belief centered people in constant debate or controversy over "who is right", whether within themselves or with others !

It seems the many can quote scripture as proof of said beliefs, but how can we believe as God says?

This question was asked 2 thousand years ago by the religious leaders about the followers of the gospel of Jesus.
Acts 5:20-39, the newly appointed Apostles began the great commission by receiving great persecution by the established religious leaders of their day. Please read the entirety of this passage, it is too long to post, however the stance of Jesus' disciples was this......after being thrown in prison for preaching Christ, the command came to carry forth with the " words of this life".v 20
Peter's reply
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

This is the true question, Are we obeying God rather than men?

The answer was given in this same passage....
V 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Where is the fight?
Is it against principalities and powers that be against GOD, or against man, or self delusions ?
What is the TRUTH, and are we living in it ?
How can we be sure WE are NOT indoctrinated?
Every man's ways are RIGHT in his own eyes, so HOW can we believe as God says ?

Beliefs are NOT doctrines in God's word.

Salvation vs Election
Law vs Grace
Second Coming vs Rapture
Indoctrination vs Truth
Assurance vs Perseverance of
Tradition / Rituals vs the Works of God.
Ect. Ect.......


How then can we measure ourselves to be found not fighting against God in our fight against these forms that ARE against God, Indoctrination, man and self ??????

Maybe many have these same questions, or others.
Today is only what is promised, for life is a vapour.
I do not want to be weighed in the balance and be found wanting !
 
When belief is used to mean faith we are instructed by Heb 11:1 to realize that faith is an unovoven hope...

This suggests that our beliefs, the ideas that we accept as true, can never be accepted as proven but our faith, our deepest hope that there is a GOD and Saviour from our sinfulness not only exists but is bringing us to the truth of faith, the truth of the reality HE proclaimed to every creature under heaven in the beginning defines our relationship with our GOD.

Berean Standard Bible
Col 1:23...if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. in which has been proclaimed is in the tense of a fully complete action in the far past,
supported by
Berean Standard Bible
Isa 40:21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to YOU from the beginning? Have YOU not understood since the foundation of the earth?
 
When belief is used to mean faith we are instructed by Heb 11:1 to realize that faith is an unovoven hope...

This suggests that our beliefs, the ideas that we accept as true, can never be accepted as proven but our faith, our deepest hope that there is a GOD and Saviour from our sinfulness not only exists but is bringing us to the truth of faith, the truth of the reality HE proclaimed to every creature under heaven in the beginning defines our relationship with our GOD.

Berean Standard Bible
Col 1:23...if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. in which has been proclaimed is in the tense of a fully complete action in the far past,
supported by
Berean Standard Bible
Isa 40:21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to YOU from the beginning? Have YOU not understood since the foundation of the earth?
I'm sorry but I'm not sure what you are saying.

If we accept by faith our beliefs are you saying that makes them valid ?
I would have to disagree, if so, bc I believe that God's doctrine is in his word whether it aligns with our beliefs or not. This is what we are to live by, the word.

Our faith should be based on what is HIS truth, even if it is unprovable.

I do agree that our beliefs are by faith but we as humans are fallible and can lean on self or man's interpretation as opposed to truth.....we all are not nor can not all be right, except by the word of his truth !

So how do we verify or determine our beliefs are NOT indoctrination of denominal affiliation or other men's, & our own interpretation ?

WE all claim to be led of the Spirit in our study and walk, everyone of us, so as a personal quest how do we solidify HIS doctrines into our beliefs?

There are some issues I've listed in the op; salvation by faith to all whom will believe or predestination only by God's election. Living under the Law as opposed to or in conjunction with the New Covenant grace ? What is truth as opposed to man's interpretation? Eternal security by accepting salvation or promise received by enduring in faith in Christ until the end. Ect.

It becomes tedious to constantly be debating what the word says and then what it really means.

Thanks
 
If we accept by faith our beliefs are you saying that makes them valid ?
No, we are judged as righteous or reprobate based upon our faith, our unproven hope GOD is telling, teaching and leading us into the truth. We are NOT saved by our knowledge, the proof of what is true, because without faith we are condemned already, Jn 13:18 and we will exchange the truth for the lie, Rom 1:21-32 though we have seen the PROOF of the truth of HIS divinity and eternal power, Rom 1:18-20. Faith, then understanding the truth.
 
The above question seems to be of great concern to myself of late.
I find sincere loving, belief centered people in constant debate or controversy over "who is right", whether within themselves or with others !

It seems the many can quote scripture as proof of said beliefs, but how can we believe as God says?

This question was asked 2 thousand years ago by the religious leaders about the followers of the gospel of Jesus.
Acts 5:20-39, the newly appointed Apostles began the great commission by receiving great persecution by the established religious leaders of their day. Please read the entirety of this passage, it is too long to post, however the stance of Jesus' disciples was this......after being thrown in prison for preaching Christ, the command came to carry forth with the " words of this life".v 20
Peter's reply
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

This is the true question, Are we obeying God rather than men?

The answer was given in this same passage....
V 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Where is the fight?
Is it against principalities and powers that be against GOD, or against man, or self delusions ?
What is the TRUTH, and are we living in it ?
How can we be sure WE are NOT indoctrinated?
Every man's ways are RIGHT in his own eyes, so HOW can we believe as God says ?

Beliefs are NOT doctrines in God's word.

Salvation vs Election
Law vs Grace
Second Coming vs Rapture
Indoctrination vs Truth
Assurance vs Perseverance of
Tradition / Rituals vs the Works of God.
Ect. Ect.......


How then can we measure ourselves to be found not fighting against God in our fight against these forms that ARE against God, Indoctrination, man and self ??????

Maybe many have these same questions, or others.
Today is only what is promised, for life is a vapour.
I do not want to be weighed in the balance and be found wanting !
Hello @L.A.M.B.

I believe that it is the word given by Divine revelation to Paul, as the Prisoner of the Lord for the Gentiles (Eph. 3:1) which is the word of God specifically for the period in which we now live: made known faithfully by Paul in the letters written from his imprisonment: namely, Eph. Phil. Col. 2 Tim. Titus and Phile, on the foundation of Romans 5:12-8:39. This is the truth concerning the Church which is the Body of Christ, of which Christ, now risen and glorified, is the Head.

Written and addressed as it is to the 'saints' and 'faithful' in Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 
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