“God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:13.
Note.—Doctrine affects the life. Truth leads to life and God; error to death and destruction. No one would think of saying it matters not what god one worships, so long as he is sincere, any more than he would think of saying it matters not what one eats or drinks, so long as he relishes what he eats and drinks; or what road he travels, so long as he thinks he is on the right road. Sincerity is a virtue; but it is not the test of sound doctrine. God wills that we shall know the truth, and He has made provision whereby we may know what is truth.
2. Did Joshua think it immaterial what God Israel served?
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14, 15.
Note.—The influence of all idolatrous worship is degrading. See Rom. 1:21-32; Numbers 15; 1 Cor. 10:20; 1 John 5:21.
3. How may we determine the truthfulness of any doctrine?
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thess. 5:21.
4. By what should we test, or prove, all doctrine?
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.
Note.—The Bible is the test of all doctrine. Whatever does not harmonize and square with this, is not to be received. “There is but one standard of the everlastingly right and the everlastingly wrong, and that is the Bible.”—T. De Witt Talmage.