Spotted Children
Today’s Verse:
They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. ~Deuteronomy 32:5
Do you have a birthmark? This is typically a blemish you are born with that stays with you for your entire life. It is an identifier for an individual. For parents who have identical twins or triplets, a birthmark helps them tell the children apart. In our passage this morning, God speaks of people who were spotted or had birthmarks. However, a close examination indicated that these were not His people. He was referring to people who had acquired wrong doctrine.
We see the foundation.
Doctrine is the set of beliefs and teachings that identify what we believe. Doctrine is our creed, tenets, and statement of faith. It is a setting out of everything we believe in. It is the foundation of our belief system. What we believe determines how we behave. Our doctrine determines our duty. It is incumbent upon us to practice and live out that which we believe. Our doctrine is our identifier that makes very clear what we believe and practice as Baptists.
We see the falsifying.
“They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” There were Israelites who came under the influence of wrong doctrine. God describes them as having “corrupted themselves.” He strongly referred to them as a perverse and crooked generation. False doctrine opposes what we hold as truthful and right: it is twisted and falsified. For instance, salvation by grace through faith is right doctrine. False doctrine advocates that good works are essential for salvation. Another example is biblical doctrine clearly teaches God wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. False doctrine advocates an unconditional election and a limited atonement, which means Jesus only died for a select group of people. False doctrine occurs when someone who does not have his foundation settled is seduced by false teachers and twisted teachings.
We see the fix.
“My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.” The remedy for corrupt doctrine is right doctrine. We must be in submission to right doctrine. If you spend your time questioning God’s Word, you are disobedient and insubordinate to God and the local church. People who question the Bible and right doctrine are following the pattern of Satan who told Eve, “Yea, hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1). We must be saturated with right doctrine. Let right doctrine be as a heavy rainfall and as the consistent showers that cover the garden herbs. In order for us to be saturated with right doctrine, we must be under strong expository Bible preaching, discipleship classes, and pastoral training.
We see the fruit.
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit… Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:17, 20). Your fruit indicates your doctrine. An advocate of evil doctrine is given some very boding descriptions. He is referred to as a ravening wolf, a seducer, a heretic, and an antichrist. He does not produce grapes, but rather thistles and thorns. The word for heretic means “divisive.” Good doctrine gives glory to the name of the Lord. A true believer stands firm upon the fact that He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
Make sure your spots indicate you are a possessor and steward of good doctrine. Be careful you do not become spotted!
Have a spotless God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Exodus 28-29