1. "The devil can quote scripture too."
2. "The Bible can be twisted to mean whatever we want it to mean." (Or "The Bible can be used to establish whatever our personal opinions are.")
Let those who love and submit to truth expose and resist these two lies.
The first step is to unveil the false assumptions behind these two deceptions. It began in the garden of Eden with these words from Satan to the first woman, "Did God indeed say..." Satan's assumption is that God's words are uncertain. We can't know what He really means (or even what He really has said.) After all, isn't it a matter of discussion and interpretation? That is the assumption behind Satan's conversation with Eve. She should have NEVER entertained the discussion. God's command was not open to discussion and was very clear in interpretation. We must resist any attempt of Satan or a person to make God's word's unclear and thus untrustworthy.
The first lie comes from a misapplication of Jesus' temptation. Jesus was tempted by the devil three times on His 40th day of fasting in the wilderness. Jesus resisted each of the three temptations with scripture. This alone shows that we should use scripture to resist the tempter and deceiver, Jesus being our example. Notice one of the temptations of Satan:
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:5-7
Satan misquoted scriptures, taking them out of the overall context of the God's word as a whole. Jesus resisted this misuse of scripture by a correct use of scripture.
In other words, the first lie assumes that because the devil can use scripture, we cannot rely upon scripture, or that scripture is unreliable in resisting evil. This is not what Jesus thought or taught. The Apostle Paul calls the word of God the "sword of the Spirit." It is a part of the whole armor of God by which we resist the deceptive schemes of the devil. Yes, the devil and other liars can use and twist the scriptures for their selfish ends. But this does not make scripture unreliable. It makes those who misuse it unreliable.
The second lie is not very different from the first. In both lies there is an attack on the character of the ones who use the scriptures. They are made out as no more sincere than the devil himself in his use of scripture in Jesus' temptation. Yet in the second one, though there is still the assumption of insincerity, the main issue is scriptural reliability. Can the scriptures be used and interpreted accurately to establish truth and refute deception?
The devil would have us believe it cannot; that there is no absolute standard of truth, even in using the Bible. But instead of listening to the devil, we should listen to the Lord Jesus. Hear his words:
Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked. So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.
John 7:14-17 NLT
Notice the two things Jesus said about His message:
1. It was not His own. (Not merely his opinion, view, or perspective.)
2. It's origin, and the origin of his mission, was God Himself. (not his own initiative)
And how did Jesus say anyone will know whether His teaching was from God or merely His own? This is a crucial question. This exposes the crucial assumptions and accusations against those who use scripture to establish truth. Isn't this what we want to know: Is this person's teaching/interpretation of scripture merely His own, or is it from God? How can we know?
Jesus gives a clear answer:
Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether a teaching is from God or merely comes from human opinion.
ANYONE. Not just those educated in Greek or Hebrew or seminary. This idea of being untrained is the very thing that started the discourse with Jesus in the scriptures above. They were amazed that Jesus knew so much WITHOUT TRAINING. So training alone is not the issue. The issue is our desire to DO God's will. GOD'S WILL. NOT OUR OWN.
So, if we want to do God's will, we will know whether a teaching if from God or merely human opinion. Jesus held Himself to this standard! He said that if anyone wanted to know whether HIS OWN TEACHING was from God or merely His opinion, all they need to do is sincerely seek to do God's will.
Isn't this what those who are in dispute should be seeking? Is it possible to remain in dispute if both ONLY want to do God's will? They don't want to be "right" or "win the argument." They want the will of God alone! And if both want God's will, and thus to agree with God, will God refuse to reveal His will? Not according to the promise of the Lord. He promises that anyone who wants to do God's will will know whether a teaching is from God or merely from man.
Do you want to do God's will alone?
If so, then you can expose and resist the two lies, as it is written,
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 NIV
This present world system is against God's will. It does not seek nor approve of God's will. It considers God's will bad, displeasing, and imperfect. As believers in Christ, we reject this present world and all that is in it, the temporal and transitory. Paul again says that one who seeks God's will will have the ability to test and approve what God's will is.
We can know if the devil is misusing or abusing scripture without dishonoring the reliability of scripture. And we can know whether someone's use of God's words is merely to promote his or her own opinion, without ever discrediting the words of God.
May we never deceive or be deceived. May we always honor God's word as perfectly trustworthy, giving God glory.
In the name of the Lord Jesus and by His Spirit,
Amen.
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