HOLD FAST!

Famed Theologian Charles Spurgeon once opined that “discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong, but right and almost right.”

Just this week I was reading a well written article that reminded me of just how true this is.

The article began by talking about how Jesus tells us to “See that no one leads you astray.” (Matthew 24:4).

Next it pointed to how Satan is a master at deceiving people, “especially in obfuscating the beautiful and simple message of the gospel.”

The article then turned to base the remainder of it’s theology on Martin Luther and how he addressed “salvation by works.”

The problem being, the author of the article apparently knew little to nothing about Martin Luther’s actual theology.

While Luther was ardent and correct in pointing back to Paul’s writings to Rome to support our justification by faith, he was just as ardent in teaching that in baptism, “God is the agent in the sacrament. That is why it is effective for salvation.”

In an article meant to caution believers to hold fast to the Word of God and not be deceived, the author, most likely unknowingly, ignored the teachings of Christ when he commanded us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19).

The author’s misplaced faith in Luther is part of the deception he warns of. Furthermore, by writing about Luther without a full understanding of the theology he adhered to and taught, the author now serves as an unintentional pawn in Satan’s deceptions.

If we are going to “See that no one leads us astray” then God’s Word is the only way.