“And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” (2 Corinthians 11:12-15 ESV).
In context, there were false teachers who were trying to
undermine Paul’s ministry and who were presenting to the people a false Jesus
and a false faith and a false gospel which were not biblical Jesus, biblical faith,
and the biblical gospel taught by Jesus Christ and by his NT apostles. And so
Paul spent some time defending his ministry and the truth of the gospel and the
truth of who Jesus really is and what genuine faith in Jesus Christ really
looks like. For the people were putting up with the lies easily enough.
But Paul was not going to change who he was or what God had
called him to do in order to be a people pleaser. He was going to continue to
speak the truth in love to the people and to combat the lies of the enemy and
to call out those who were lying to the people in hopes that the people would
not listen to the false apostles who were trying to convince the people that
they were of equal standing with Paul and with the other apostles, i.e. that
they were also called of God in bringing the truth to the people.
And then he went on to describe these false apostles as
deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ and as servants
of righteousness. So, what does that look like exactly? Today?
Well, we do still have modern day Judaizers who are trying
to convince Christians that they need to be more like Jews and that they should
participate in some of the Jewish traditions and ceremonies and celebrations in
order to enhance their faith in Jesus Christ, like an add on to their faith.
And we have some who are trying to convince Christians that they are somehow
less than the Jews or that they are beholding to the Jewish people for their
faith and that they should, in a sense, worship the Jewish people.
And we have legalists who add on to God’s requirements what
God does not require of us, his people. And these are sometimes religious
traditions and culture and practices that have been passed down from generation
to generation in which they are convinced that if we do not do what they do
that we are somehow sinning against God, even though the Scriptures do not
teach that. For these are externals on which they are insisting which add
nothing to our faith, and which do nothing to change human hearts.
And then we have charlatans and wolves in sheep’s clothing
who are bringing to the people another Jesus and a different faith and gospel
message other than what Jesus taught and his NT apostles taught. These are
deceitful workmen whose goal it is to deceive and to twist the Scriptures and
to make them say what they do not say, and usually for the purpose to appease
human flesh and to lead the people astray so that they do not follow Jesus
Christ in obedience, so they don’t have eternal life with God.
And what are the lies that they are teaching and that so
many people today are believing? Mainly it has to do with making the people
believe that they can make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ once in their
lives and now all their sins are forgiven (past, present, and future), and so
now they are on their way to heaven guaranteed, and it can’t be taken away from
them, but regardless of how they live, even if they continue in deliberate and
habitual sin against the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, what is the truth? It is that Jesus died that we might
die to sin and live to righteousness. He died that we might now live for him
and no longer for ourselves. And he shed his blood for us on that cross to buy
us back for God (to redeem us) out of our slavery to sin so we will now honor
God with our bodies and so we will now serve Jesus Christ with our lives in
faithful obedience to his commands (New Covenant) and in walks of holiness and
righteousness and not in sin.
[1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20;
Romans 6:1-23]
And it is what Jesus taught when he said that if anyone
would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily
to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin
and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny
self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience to his commands, then we
have the hope of eternal life. And he taught that not everyone who says to him,
“Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one doing the will of
God.
[Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23; Ephesians 4:17-24; Titus
2:11-14]
And then we learn in the Scriptures that if sin is what we
practice, and not righteousness, and not obedience to our Lord, that regardless
of what our lips profess, we will not inherit eternal life with God. Thus, we
cannot just claim faith in Jesus Christ but then continue on in moral impurity,
sexual immorality, adultery, idolatry, lying, cheating, stealing and the like.
But we must be people of God who honor God with our lives in living morally
pure, upright, godly, self-controlled, honest and faithful lives to the glory
of God.
So, please take this to heart. Know what the Scriptures
teach, in context, and test everyone and everything you hear or read or think
you see against the Scriptures in their context so that you do not fall prey to
deceiving spirits. Bow the knee to God. Submit to Christ as Lord. Follow him in
obedience to his commandments under the New Covenant and leave your lives of
sin behind you. Submit to his will for your lives and follow his lead in where
he wants you to go and who you are to become for God’s glory.
The
Prayer
Written
by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager,
Alberto
Testa and Tony Renis
I pray
you'll be our eyes
And
watch us where we go
And
help us to be wise
In
times when we don't know
I pray
we'll find your light
And
hold it in our hearts
When
the stars go out each night
Remind
us where you are.
Let
this be our prayer
When
shadows fill our day
Lead
us to a place
Guide
us with your grace
To a
place where we'll be safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqFCbtRz1Z0
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