As we conclude this section on discernment, let us return to Paul’s charge to the Philippians: “that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent” (Philippians 1:9-10). Discernment is not a cold exercise in fault-finding, but the outworking of a heart that treasures Christ above all. It is the means by which we cling to what is most precious—those core, Christ-centered truths that form the very foundation of our faith and our inheritance.
The Essentials: The Treasure We Guard
Let us revisit, without apology or dilution, the essentials that have been committed to us. These are not mere doctrines to be debated, but the very riches of Christ, wholly positive and delightful, the substance of our assurance and freedom:
- The Word of Prophecy: God has vindicated His promises through Christ. Every prophecy fulfilled is a declaration that His Word is utterly reliable. When all else fails, He remains trustworthy.
- The Mystery of the Incarnation: Christ is fully God—mighty to save to the uttermost—and fully man, able to sympathize with our frailty. He is our perfect representative, ever interceding for us with compassion.
- The Substitutionary Atonement: In one offering, Christ has fully satisfied the demands of justice. There remains no expectation of wrath for us; we have peace with God because of Him.
- Regeneration: We have been born of God, made new creations, joined to the Lord in spirit. Our identity is no longer in Adam, but in Christ.
- Assurance of Salvation: Christ, the Good Shepherd, will never lose a single sheep. Our security is not in our grip on Him, but His grip on us.
- Identification with Christ: We are united with Him in His death and resurrection. We are dead to sin and the law’s accusations, alive to God, seated with Christ, and made heirs.
- The Riches of Christ as Our Inheritance: Christ Himself is our portion—unsearchably rich, the center of God’s purpose, and fully given to us for eternal enjoyment.
- Justification and Sanctification by Grace Through Faith: Christ is our righteousness and our sanctification. We are not made right or perfected by works or law-keeping, but by faith alone. To add law is to subtract Christ.
- The Bema Judgment Seat: The judgment seat of Christ is not a tribunal of condemnation, but a celebration of victory. While some works may be burned, the believer remains saved, and Christ’s generosity abounds—He rewards even the smallest act done in His name.
- The Glorification of the Saints: Our ultimate hope is to be conformed to Christ’s image, sharing in the Father’s glory for eternity.
- The Salvation of Israel and the Millennial Kingdom: We live in the days when prophecy is being fulfilled. The regathering of Israel signals the approach of the promised Kingdom, the hope of all the prophets and saints.
The Cost of Neglect: What Is Lost
If we allow these essentials to be ignored, contradicted, or undermined—as is tragically common in many churches today—the result is not mere theological confusion. It is the loss of assurance, the forfeiture of blessing, the collapse of freedom, and the stripping away of our confidence in Christ. To accept teachings that diminish these truths is to surrender the very inheritance purchased for us at such cost. The bondage and deception that follow are not minor inconveniences; they are a direct assault on the believer’s joy, liberty, and standing before God.
The Nature of True Discernment
Discernment, then, is not about nitpicking or negativity. It is the joyful, vigilant guarding of the treasure entrusted to us. It is love for the truth—a love that refuses to let anyone judge us unworthy of our prize (Colossians 2:18-19). The so-called “discernment ministries” that lose sight of this treasure inevitably become sour and lifeless, missing the point entirely. True discernment is the fruit of growing in the knowledge of God and love for His Son. It is the natural result of seeing Christ as our all.
The Danger of Losing Our First Love
Even the church at Ephesus, commended for its intolerance of false teachers, was rebuked for abandoning its first love. Discernment without love is a dead end; love without discernment is naïveté. Jesus warned that in the last days, deception would be rampant and love would grow cold. Only those who endure—who cling to both truth and love—will stand firm and be saved. We must not let our flame die out. The only way is to guard the treasure, discern what differs, and hold fast to that which is more excellent.
The Enduring Hope
At the end, we will stand before Christ—not to face condemnation, but to receive what He, in His generosity, delights to give. Even if our works are imperfect, we remain secure in Him. Our hope is not in our performance, but in the finished work of Christ and the unsearchable riches He has given us. Let us, then, abound in love, grow in knowledge, and discern with joy—jealously guarding the inheritance that is ours in Christ, and refusing to be robbed of what is most excellent.
