Topical Index of Scriptures

 Biblical Discernment

Seeing and evaluating all things from His perspective

The opposite would be compromise, synthesis & an "open-mindedness" that tolerates everything -- including today's popular blends of good and evil.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

 

"You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?" Luke 12:56-57

 

"...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2

 

"Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:8-11

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith...." I Peter 5:8-9

 

"...everyone who partakes only of milk [elementary teaching] is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food [solid Biblical teaching] belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Hebrews 5:12-14

Only by His Spirit can we discern what right or wrong

"...as it is written:

       'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man
       The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches...." 1 Corinthian 2:9-13

 

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

       'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
       And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.'

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthian1:18-24

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12

The world cannot discern God's will or standards

"...the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthian2:13

"You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. " Matthew 16:3

"You love evil more than good...."
Psalm 52:3

"...many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." Matthew 24:11

"...in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...." 1 Timothy 4:1 

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness.... Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:20-21

"They refuse to return. I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright.
No man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into the battle.
Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times;
And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming.
But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.
How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’?
Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood."
Jeremiah 8:5-8

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways...." Jeremiah 17:9-10

"My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13

"... to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to declare My statutes or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you? ... You thought that I was altogether like you;  but I will rebuke you....'" Psalm 50:16-21

God-given discernment leads to Spirit-led action

"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ."  Colossians 2:6-8

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things..." 2 Timothy 4:2-5

"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly." 
Proverbs 2:1-7

 

"Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly." 
Proverbs 15:21

 

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ." Philippians 1:9-10

 


See also See also God's eternal, unchanging Word and My High Tower: Seeing the world from His perspective

  Home      America's Spiritual Slide   Victory in Christ