DOES GOD ALLOW ERROR?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Dec 2, 2016
1,652
26
0
#1
I hear folks in this forum write about how they know they are correct in their study of the word because they make sure the Holy Spirit leads them in their study. My question is, how do you make sure that you are being lead by the Spirit, just saying that you are being lead by the Spirit does not make it so. We will be judged by how we used the word of God, therefore it is up to us whether or not we are in truth or error. There is no voice that will say, you are wrong, God expects us to be honest enough to discover that for ourselves.
 

Desertsrose

Senior Member
Oct 24, 2016
2,819
207
63
#2
I hear folks in this forum write about how they know they are correct in their study of the word because they make sure the Holy Spirit leads them in their study. My question is, how do you make sure that you are being lead by the Spirit, just saying that you are being lead by the Spirit does not make it so. We will be judged by how we used the word of God, therefore it is up to us whether or not we are in truth or error. There is no voice that will say, you are wrong, God expects us to be honest enough to discover that for ourselves.

Hi Samuel,

The Holy Spirit does lead us into all truth. The question that must be asked is what truth? Everyone has what they would say is truth, but is it?

The only way we know is to take what they say and line it up with God's word. His word is the plumb line that we measure truth by.

As I walk in the Spirit of Truth, He does tell me when I'm getting something wrong. Sometimes it's immediate, other times it's as I'm studying God's word that the Holy Spirit tells me how I'm believing something in error.

Other times it's through
prayer that I'm corrected and there are moments where it comes to me as I'm simply meditating on Him or His word - or it just drops into my mind as I live life in Him.

So I would have to say that there is a voice that will say I'm wrong or in error in my thinking. The Holy Spirit is faithful and as I pray and ask for correction to come - it will come!
 
Last edited:

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,126
2,537
113
#3
Many claim that their views and interpretations are holy spirit inspired many claim that they came to their conclusions from the holy spirit however the most common error is that many misunderstand their own interpretations from the holy spirits.
I myself cannot say that all my views and my interpretations are correct and from the holy spirit as i am human and sometimes confuse the two however it takes the humbleness to understand and admit this to begin to hear and understand the holy spirits voice better.

the most common thing i see is christians claiming they are right and going into endless debates and arguments never taking in the possibility they could me mistaken. The best way i have found to study the scriptures is to not go into it with my own views and beliefs set in stone because if we do this then our own views and our beliefs are all we will see in the scriptures and we will say it was from the holy spirit when in fact it was really seeing what we wanted to see.

and also it is vital to get to know the holy spirit personally so that we will know his voice and not confuse it with ours, in fact some have been in faith for 40+ years and yet still do not know his voice at all. I read the bible because i hunger to know God i thirst deeply for a closer and more intimate bond and love with him and to me the bible is not simply a book it's the very heart of God itself and so when i am searching the scriptures to me i am searching his heart, this is what the holy spirit taught me he has taught me many many things and among them is the way to read and study the bible.

although i have a very long ways to go I can at least read the bible with a heart hungering for God and I think that in itself is a good place to start to be able to read the scriptures with the holy spirits voice and not out own
 

Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
1,954
64
48
#4
God does not judge you by your handling of the word, He judges you by the Commandments.

Romans 3:19-20 "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."


You know you are Spirit lead when your believes line up with the word of God. Does that mean that everything that I believe right now is perfect doctrinally, no. As I study more is shown to me and I will change my thinking about a doctrine. Their are doctrines that you can not be wrong on, the Triune Godhead, Deity of Jesus, Deity of the Holy Spirit, we are saved by grace only, though faith alone, in Christ, that Scripture is the word of God and is infallible(in the original manuscripts), that God through Christ created all things seen and unseen, that Jesus is the atonement for our sins, that He died and rose again on the third day. Believe in the attributes that God has revealed to us, here's a list. https://www.theopedia.com/list-of-gods-known-attributes

I know that's a long list but if the Spirit lives in you, you believe them or will believe them at some point in your life. It seemed as if once the Lord saved me I understand that those were true, to the extent of the knowledge I had at that time, learned more as I grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope that helps, it probably didn't right now but maybe it will later.
 

Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
1,954
64
48
#5
Forgot to mention Christs bodily resurrection and His physical return to the earth that all can see.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,185
6,507
113
#6
How would you like I respond to the question posed in the title in a manner out of context? God tells us we will be perfect for H is perfect. There! It seems He does not allow error.

Now the real response is, yes, but He does not engourage error. We being commanded (more or less) to be perfect is more a promise of God completing the work He began in us, which is saying, it is God Who perfects us......

Let us always keep matters of the Word in context.......it is always a blessing in Jesus Christ, amen.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,126
2,537
113
#7
God does not judge you by your handling of the word, He judges you by the Commandments.

Romans 3:19-20 "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."


You know you are Spirit lead when your believes line up with the word of God. Does that mean that everything that I believe right now is perfect doctrinally, no. As I study more is shown to me and I will change my thinking about a doctrine. Their are doctrines that you can not be wrong on, the Triune Godhead, Deity of Jesus, Deity of the Holy Spirit, we are saved by grace only, though faith alone, in Christ, that Scripture is the word of God and is infallible(in the original manuscripts), that God through Christ created all things seen and unseen, that Jesus is the atonement for our sins, that He died and rose again on the third day. Believe in the attributes that God has revealed to us, here's a list. https://www.theopedia.com/list-of-gods-known-attributes

I know that's a long list but if the Spirit lives in you, you believe them or will believe them at some point in your life. It seemed as if once the Lord saved me I understand that those were true, to the extent of the knowledge I had at that time, learned more as I grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope that helps, it probably didn't right now but maybe it will later.
It is my belief that he judges the heart not with the commandments, I feel no judgement from the commandments i only feel myself growing closer to him from them like David before me i have written them upon my heart and they are a crown upon my head, However it's my heart that I have to constantly search.

But a very wise post indeed my friend :)
 

Utah

Banned
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
251
0
#8
You can't go wrong embracing the simplicity of God's love and saving grace in Jesus. Love God and neighbor as He commands and everything will fall into place.
 

Johnny_B

Senior Member
Mar 18, 2017
1,954
64
48
#9
It is my belief that he judges the heart not with the commandments, I feel no judgement from the commandments i only feel myself growing closer to him from them like David before me i have written them upon my heart and they are a crown upon my head, However it's my heart that I have to constantly search.

But a very wise post indeed my friend :)
We are not under the Commandments, the world is and they are found guilty because of it. As far as the heart Jesus deals with that in Matthew 5:17-48 making the 10 Commandments a matter of the heart. 5:17-20 17 "“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.........20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

What exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, then He adds, 48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." I like the way the Phillips translate it "No, you are to be perfect, like your Heavenly Father." No one can do that, but that's the requirement of the Law, bake one point of it and you are guilty of it all. That's why Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, by living a sinless life and suffering the penalty of braking the Law for us, it's impossible to please God, without faith, we are justified by faith or made guiltless before His court of judgement.
 

lastofall

Senior Member
Aug 26, 2014
609
38
28
#10
"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 John 4:5-6)
 
B

bestbefore1973

Guest
#11
I hear folks in this forum write about how they know they are correct in their study of the word because they make sure the Holy Spirit leads them in their study. My question is, how do you make sure that you are being lead by the Spirit, just saying that you are being lead by the Spirit does not make it so. We will be judged by how we used the word of God, therefore it is up to us whether or not we are in truth or error. There is no voice that will say, you are wrong, God expects us to be honest enough to discover that for ourselves.
Yes how, well you know as I that Gods spirit only reminds us of the truth.

Not that we always listen.
 
Dec 17, 2013
822
7
0
#12
I think that He allows error...within reason.

And He also takes into account the facts,like He gave us all of the advice that we need to have a functioning world yet the world is non functional that's because we have gotten carried away with our own cleverness in interpreting that advice.

Yes He does allow error but what is the collective result of this error that we made because of NOT taking His advice literally?

We destroyed the world,when you consider that is the error really OK? And to the next level,is it forgivable?
 

MadebyHim

Senior Member
Dec 17, 2016
572
15
0
#13
[SUP]14 [/SUP]But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
[SUP]15 [/SUP]And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance(error) ye did it, as did also your rulers.

[SUP]18 [/SUP]But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:14-21


[SUP]30 [/SUP]And the times of this ignorance(error) God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

[SUP]31 [/SUP]Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
[SUP]32 [/SUP]And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
[SUP]33 [/SUP]So Paul departed from among them.
[SUP]34 [/SUP]Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:30-34

Looks like error needs repentance, it may be allowed for a season, but eventually God will command repentance.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,481
3,497
113
#14


The only way we know is to take what they say and line it up with God's word. His word is the plumb line that we measure truth by.
Are you the same one that said in another thread that we don't have a perfect "plumb line"? How is the word of God our plumb line if what we have has errors? Just saying...I need a "plumb line" that I can trust 100%.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#15
I hear folks in this forum write about how they know they are correct in their study of the word because they make sure the Holy Spirit leads them in their study. My question is, how do you make sure that you are being lead by the Spirit, just saying that you are being lead by the Spirit does not make it so. We will be judged by how we used the word of God, therefore it is up to us whether or not we are in truth or error. There is no voice that will say, you are wrong, God expects us to be honest enough to discover that for ourselves.
I have a voice that tells me I am wrong alot, but that doesn't mean that voice is right.

I am interested to see what people say of how they can discern God's voice from others they may hear. Or do they assume every voice they hear that isn't their own is from God?

Which I don't understand, since even Jesus was tempted by Satan and heard his voice...only difference is Jesus recognised who was speaking and knew how to defeat Satan by using scripture and His faith in God.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#16
It's not really answered....How do you known the difference between God's truth and Satan's twisting of scripture?

Only way I can tell is the fruits of the doctrine being proposed.

Does the belief foster love or judgement and condemnation?

Does it draw people closer to God or push them farther away and closer to the lusts of this world?

Does it promote helping others and selflessness or pride and selfishness?

Does it promote God's sovereignty and power or does it promote magic and YOUR power?
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#17
False doctrines that are easy to spot is ones that promises you wealth in this world.

Another false doctrine is that YOUR FAITH limits how God can work in your life and the lives around you.


I could list more but I would probably offend someone.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#18
I hear folks in this forum write about how they know they are correct in their study of the word because they make sure the Holy Spirit leads them in their study. My question is, how do you make sure that you are being lead by the Spirit, just saying that you are being lead by the Spirit does not make it so. We will be judged by how we used the word of God, therefore it is up to us whether or not we are in truth or error. There is no voice that will say, you are wrong, God expects us to be honest enough to discover that for ourselves.
Well that is interesting I wonder how man got that animal sacrifice in that was the skin for human clothing. O yea well the garden was the ideal place no bad weather, the ideal tempature, the ideal everything. In a place like that what need is there for human skin?

Yea a human without skin might look really weird to most folks, does God look at the bare human with no skin as weird?

I know this as way to much to fathom... lol...

 
D

Depleted

Guest
#19
God does not judge you by your handling of the word, He judges you by the Commandments.

Romans 3:19-20 "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."


You know you are Spirit lead when your believes line up with the word of God. Does that mean that everything that I believe right now is perfect doctrinally, no. As I study more is shown to me and I will change my thinking about a doctrine. Their are doctrines that you can not be wrong on, the Triune Godhead, Deity of Jesus, Deity of the Holy Spirit, we are saved by grace only, though faith alone, in Christ, that Scripture is the word of God and is infallible(in the original manuscripts), that God through Christ created all things seen and unseen, that Jesus is the atonement for our sins, that He died and rose again on the third day. Believe in the attributes that God has revealed to us, here's a list. https://www.theopedia.com/list-of-gods-known-attributes

I know that's a long list but if the Spirit lives in you, you believe them or will believe them at some point in your life. It seemed as if once the Lord saved me I understand that those were true, to the extent of the knowledge I had at that time, learned more as I grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope that helps, it probably didn't right now but maybe it will later.
Fortunately, God doesn't judge his his peeps by the law. He judges his peeps by Christ's propitiation on that cross.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#20
I hear folks in this forum write about how they know they are correct in their study of the word because they make sure the Holy Spirit leads them in their study. My question is, how do you make sure that you are being lead by the Spirit, just saying that you are being lead by the Spirit does not make it so. We will be judged by how we used the word of God, therefore it is up to us whether or not we are in truth or error. There is no voice that will say, you are wrong, God expects us to be honest enough to discover that for ourselves.
Question for you: Since God's word, (not some little voice in my head, since there are several of them looping in my mind at any given moment), does not say we will be judged by how we use the word of God, why should I believe your voice that says that is the truth either?

How do I study scripture? To the best of my abilities and with the help of Dead Guys (Bible scholars of the past who wrote down what they learned and published it.) I believe what I believe 100%, and also know that some of it is wrong.

I mostly trust God and know he had to even implant that trust into me.

The Holy Spirit may well lead me in my studies. (Might be him, might be Jesus, might be the Father. Probably the full triune God.) But I will never blame him as a ha-ha, I'm-smarter-than-you device.

I tend not to believe people who use that device as their sword. I'm fine to argue until my death or Christ's return, but when it comes down to "No, I heard the Holy Spirit, and you didn't" there is nothing left to learn, so no purpose in continuing.