Why Should We “Test All Things?"
Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, he encouraged them to continue serving the Lord with zeal. He prayed for them and was grateful for their example:
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father” 1 Thess. 1:2-3).
As he brings the first epistle to a close, he gives them several exhortations. These encouraging words are small statements with huge implications that apply to us today. Consider these inspired commands:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:16-22).
For our study today, we want to spend time on the exhortation, “Test all things.” Why should we do that and why is it so important?
Because the Lord Commanded it.
First, we should test all things because it is a command from the Lord.
The word “test” is a present, active, imperative verb in the original language. The word “imperative” means it is of vital importance and is given with authority. The Greek word for “test” is the word “documatzo” which means to “observe, check out, examine, inspect” (think “looking over a document”).
Paul and the other apostles wrote with authority as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. He, the Holy Spirit, “guided the apostles into all truth” (John 16:13). They did not follow “cunningly devised fables, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:19-21).
Paul even said that “if anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37).
For us to “test all things” is not a suggestion, but a divine command!
Because There is a Divine Standard.
Second, we should test all things because there is a divine standard.
What God says is right. His Word is flawless (Psa. 19:7-11), absolute truth (John 17:17) and is “forever settled in Heaven” (Psa. 119:89). On the day of Judgment, the Word of God will be the “measuring stick” for all mankind: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Men fall short (Rom. 3:23) and make mistakes while God never falls short and never makes mistakes! It is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18-19; Tit. 1:2); therefore, whatever He says is exactly right and intended to be heeded.
Paul encouraged the brethren in Phillipi to “walk by the same rule and to be of the same mind” (Phil. 3:16b). By knowing the divine standard, error will be exposed.
In the federal government, employees that work with U.S Currency are taught to examine a true one-dollar bill. They are to analyze and study what makes a dollar truly a dollar. By doing this, they can pick out a fake or counterfeit dollar bill.
The same is true with us as we “test” what men say with what the Bible actually says!
To Have Confidence and Assurance in What We Believe and Practice.
Third and finally, we should test all things so we can have confidence and assurance in what we believe and practice. Consider what Paul wrote to Timothy:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
The King James Version says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God.” It takes diligent effort to study the Bible but it is worth it as it enables us to “rightly divide” or properly discern the truth.
The Apostle John wrote about how we can have confidence in knowing truth from error:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:1-6).
May we be sure to “test all things” so we can have confidence and assurance submitting to God’s commands as revealed in His Word.
Don’t take man’s word for it! Wherever you are attending church services, test what the preacher says by going to the Word of God. If it agrees with the Bible, accept it; if it does not, reject it!
God bless you as you study God’s Word and “test all things.”
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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AMEN 🙏