² … for not all have faith. ³But the Lord is faithful …

Sometimes faith is unseen. We cannot always see whether what others do is done in faith or not. We can go by the outward evidence and by the words spoken, but the reality is that not everyone who calls themselves a Christian has faith. Even believers do not always do things in faith. Thus the problem exists of false teaching—that which is not built in faith upon previously known and embraced apostolic truth. How do we discern?

In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul addressed those who ostensibly claimed his authority for their teachings to lead the Christians astray. They must have been close enough in their doctrine and living to blend in somewhat with the genuine believers. Jesus addressed this issue when He warned about weeding out the “tares” (metaphorically referring to unbelievers) too quickly (Matt. 13:30). Paul, on the other hand, inspired by the Holy Spirit, warns that Christians are always to be on the alert for the weeds of false teaching. He warned the Ephesian elders:

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock … I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28–30)

False teaching spreads across the spectrum of spiritual ideas, from innovation to speculation to intentional deception to gross contradictions of God’s clearly revealed truth. Christians, depending on their maturity and spiritual astuteness, vary where they become susceptible to persuasion along the continuum. The most insidious errors often are the ones that most resemble truth, those that arise from people within our own fellowship of believers. So how do Christians discern doctrine with any hope of purity without resorting to Pharisaical dissection of the mint and dill (Matt. 23:23)?

The answer is “faith.” By this we mean, does the questionable teaching build on the already revealed truth of God? What did the Thessalonians know about God at that time? They had the inspired teachings of Paul, that the Lord saved them by grace through their faith. They can rest on this because God is faithful in His grace toward them. If He were not, then all is lost!

Any teaching that diminishes or negates the grace of God in salvation and in Christian living is false because it belittles the faithfulness of God. He is faithful, and His grace is sufficient. On that our faith rests.

Lord, help me continuously refresh my spirit in the truth that You are faithful.