Preserving the Truth

English speakers have a proverb, "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch."

Apples are pretty hardy when kept in the right conditions. They can last for quite some time (up to seven months for some varieties) in a properly built root cellar, which is what families and farmers did before the modern age of refrigeration. But to ensure the apples would not spoil while in storage, they had to be gathered carefully, examining each apple for signs of spoil. One bad apple included in the bunch will spoil the entire lot. Likewise, Paul makes a similar statement:

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." (Galatians 5:9)

If you have ever baked with yeast you will know that it does not take much to work through the entire dough. You mix in a little yeast and give it time to rise. A short while later you will have a dough that has doubled or tripled in size. 

Just like the bad apple and the leaven, so goes a little false teaching. You might hear something that sparks your interest or alerts your mind. It may sound fascinating, incredible, and even almost truthful. From there your mind is set in motion, and if you are not careful, your faith in Jesus will be consumed by an ever increasing snowball of falsities.

But what is the truth that we must be careful to preserve? Paul tells us, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:7). The apostle is very clear that it doesn't matter what you do or don't do. Faith in Christ is not a matter of "doing something" or "doing nothing" (cf. Romans 14:17). True faith will work itself out naturally in love. We call this the gospel love response.

The idea is pretty simple: If you truly love someone you will do good to them. Likewise, our good works and obedience must be inspired by our love for who God is and what he has done for us. We serve God willfully and lovingly because he first loved us! Our good works and obedience then become a response of worship toward God. But this can only happen when we recognize the salvation we have been called into and respond by faith in love. Then, Gods commandments will not be a burden to us.

So having begun well in the faith, who should come along and rob you of it? Who should come and teach you contrary to the simple faith we have in Jesus Christ, that you should not obey the truth? It is not God that teaches you these things... the false teachers of this world seek to make you their disciples and their servants. 

"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you." (Galatians 5:7-8)

One bad apple spoils the whole bunch. So, if you are spoiled by some false teaching, chances are, you will cause the ruin of others around you as well. It doesn't take a lot of false teaching to begin the spoiling process; it takes just a little.

The truth is found within the pages of Scripture. Read it, know it, believe it, protect it.

Perhaps there is a similar proverb in your mother tongue? Feel free to share by leaving a comment or replying to all.

In Christ,

Jay