Deceivers under Disguise

[Christsfreeservant]

“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.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

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.

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