Part 2 – The “doctrine of man”

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Dealing with Fear.

Our discernment also comes from understanding that the ‘sin-nature’ dwells in the flesh of all men. Here Jesus exhibited that discernment.

“Now when he (Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any (any of these) should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:23-25)

This text says many people believed in Jesus but he “did not entrust himself to them because he knew all men.” Verse 25 tells us why Jesus did not entrust himself to them. The reason was not based on His “omniscience” but His “doctrine of man,” His knowing man’s sin laden condition.’ Jesus “knew what was in man.” Jesus understood that even though the crowds were following him, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” (Jer. 17:9) Jesus knew people were following him for food and for healing but not for who he was as the Messiah/Savior. He knew men were prone to run after a person who did the sensational, and that they were not truly committed to Him. Christ didn’t entrust himself to these crowds because he understood the fallen sin-nature “in man.”

This is something also we need to understand if we are to develop discernment of the “lie.” We need to understand the nature of man and the fickleness of man. First, we learn this from looking at our own hearts and how we are tossed to and fro in our passions and our dreams. The person who seeks to understand himself will have a greater understanding of mankind. This then is developed through studying the nature of man in Scripture. Men are like sheep that are constantly prone to go astray (cf. Isa. 53:6). The natural or soulish man, as well as the Christian who lives “according to the flesh,” is then prone to rebel against God and the things of God (cf. Rom 8:7) ... because he is not “spiritually minded” (Rom. 8:5-6).

If we better understood the nature of man, it would keep us from disappointment when friends, family, or church members and human governments fail us. This understanding would also help us put our hope all the more in God. Some are discouraged when they see believers fall away from God or when friends stumbled into sin. The way for us to be strong is to have a strong “theology of sin,” which is to understand man’s sin nature, and understand Satan as man’s tempter.

Below we will see that Nehemiah’s understanding of the Scriptural teachings about mankind, as well as his personal experience, gave him great discernment as he contemplated and responded to his enemy’s request. I think Nehemiah understood the nature of man, as Jesus did, and as we also should. So, if we are going to have discernment like Nehemiah, we need to start to develop a doctrine of fallen man, knowing man’s vulnerabilities and susceptibilities, as well as God’s grace. We must also recognize the corrupt words that flow from fleshly Christians minds as they seek to “help” us with their, often, corrupt counsel and teaching. Thankfully, we have the truth of “the word of God… rightly divided” in Paul’s epistles.

Look at Nehemiah’s experience with his enemies and note that his enemy’s plan was to use “fear.”

“And, lo, I (Nehemiah) perceived that God had NOT sent him (the prophet); but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore was he hired, (so) that I should be ‘afraid,’ and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach (accuse) me. 14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in ‘fear.’  19Also they reported his (the Prophet’s) good deeds before me, and uttered (revealed) my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in ‘fear. (Neh. 6:12-14, 19)

We need to note that in the Old Testament we see the account of Israel having to contend with the many “ites” who occupied the land that God promised to Israel as an “everlasting possession.”  “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8) Occupying and living in this “land of Canaan” is a metaphor for us living “in Christ.”

The promise was theirs, but Nehemiah had to contend with Sanballat a Horonite and Tobiah, an Ammonite (cf. Neh. 2:10). In addition to the Horonites, Ammonites, there was also the Moabites, Jebusites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, and the Hivites. Each of these tribes are metaphors for the enemy of our flesh. Paul says “sin in the flesh” of all of us is “at enmity with (hostile to) God.” (Rom. 8:7), thus after our salvation, we need to have soul renewal which the Bible calls sanctification. This is a process of Holiness that comes by our coming to faith in the cross for our sanctification after our initial salvation. So, we see in the Old Testament account how Israel was always in contention with these “ites.”

One of the enemy’s primary tactics against Nehemiah was psychological warfare, more specifically, fear. In bringing in a false prophet against Nehemiah, Tobiah and Sanballat were ultimately trying to make Nehemiah intimidated or frightened, which would have led him to fail God and thereby sin. Tobiah also tried to intimidate him through sending letters (v. 19).

It’s important to see the enemy’s intent of bringing fear was behind the tactic of false prophesying and the letters, it was also the same intent behind the tactic of slander. Nehemiah 6:9 said,

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it (Jerusalem) will not be completed.”

Jerusalem was to be God’s dwelling place, which is also a metaphor for our heart being sanctified unto God as His dwelling place. Satan wants to keep us from having and enjoying the peace of ‘Jerusalem, ‘salem’ means ‘peace.’

Behind the tactic of slander, false teaching, and the letters, the enemy was ultimately trying to make Nehemiah afraid. Satan also constantly tries to do that with us. He is always trying to promote fear, anxiety, and worry in those who desire to follow God.

In fact, Peter compares Satan to a “roaring lion” seeking whomever he may devour.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)

How does the Devil walketh about” today”? He does this in and through other people who speak foreboding words and counsel to us; we must have and must use the discernment of His Spirit within us.

Why does a lion roar? Since the cross, “roaring” is about all that Satan can do; Satan was rendered powerless by the cross. The roar of the lion is strategic to paralyze the lion’s prey with fear, so he can attack and devour it. In the same way, Satan commonly uses words and thoughts shot into our minds… to produce fear, trying to consume believers.

Tobiah and Sanballat were trying to use fear to immobilize and paralyze Nehemiah. They tried to frighten him with gossip, which could have led to the wrath of the king of Persia. Thereby, the enemy tried to attack him with the threat of killing him. The enemy was trying to use fear to hinder the work of God through Nehemiah. Our enemy, Satan, uses fear for similar purposes with us.