Let No One Deceive You
2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the [a]simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! 5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have [b]been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. 7 Did I commit sin in [c]humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
In good Paul fashion, he defends his ministry as more than just an apostle called by the Lord, but as a father. He has loved them and cared for them. He has spoken to them the word of God in truth and all righteousness.
However, he is frustrated with their so easily being duped and deceived by false teachers. Paul says, “you have allowed them access into your heart and your mind, even though they speak contrary to the things I have taught you! Why do you allow this!!??”
And I get it. We have had so many people in the church listen to YouTube and TikTOk preachers speaking things that are contrary to what we have taught you. These men and women have no accountability. They answer to no one. They do not know you. They do not live life with you. You do not know them, their family, their friends, etc. Ps Matt and I get frustrated because we are jealous over you! When many of these teachers just want followers and admiration.
In Paul day, they were deceived by these ministers because they appear as angels of light. They appear to love you and want good for you. What they say tickles and pleases your ears. How much more will the end times be marked by deception and these false teachers?
Matthew 24:3-8 The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [a]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [b]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Jesus tells us TAKE HEED! Give your utmost attention to not being misled and deceived. Guard your heart, mind, eyes and ears. Let no one deceive you, no matter how angelic they appear. The latter days just before Christ returns will be marked by deception. Do not go to sleep, the battle is intensifying. We are in a time of great deception.
Matthew 24:23-25 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
Here is Christ! There is Christ! It could be there will just be a huge influx of people claiming to be the Messiah. But I think Jesus is referencing more to the false gospels that produce a false christ. AS Paul, “if any man preaches to you another Jesus”. Paul said something similar to the church in Galatia,
Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert[a] the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be [b]accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
We cannot run and hide because of this deception. WE cannot circle the wagons, so to speak. We must go forth. However, the Lord gives us a way to navigate through deceptive waters.
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless[a] as doves.
Behold- give all your attention to what Jesus is saying. Behold is a strong word. Look intently and dwell on this. Pay attention. As in “Behold the Lamb!” It is a strong word.
Be wise- prudent, shrewd; how we size something up. The difference between wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom will discern between what is good and what is God.
Be innocent- It does not mean harmless, this is an inaccurate translations. It means “not mingled or unmixed, pure”.
Paul says, “. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” This means that we are to be pure and unmixed from the world and its fashion, philosophy and traditions. We must remain the pure bride of Christ, not a harlot that mixes with the world and claims Jesus.
Signs of the last days, days of Noah
Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
“did not know”- this phrase in the Greek means that their ignorance was voluntary. They would not comprehend the signs of the coming judgment, because they preferred their own carnal pleasures to the care of their souls. The Lord assures us that similar recklessness and unbelief will be found in the age before his coming. Anguish and fear will fill many hearts, but the general feeling will be incredulousness, a state of unwilling to believe and a false security which refuses to take warning.
This is your warning. Do not be deceived! Paul tells timothy that in the end times, satan’s deception will enter in through a simple doorway-
2 Timothy 4:3-4 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; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
People will not endure sound doctrine. They will want their ears to be tickled. Tell me good things, never bad. Do not rebuke me or make me feel bad about my sin. Prophesy to me good things! There is a huge influx of FB “prophets” having new revelation and words of encouragement and blessings
False gospels will do one of these 4 things: 1) weaken the authority of scripture; 2) distort or twist Scripture, 3) add to the teachings of Scripture the thoughts, ideas, wisdoms, philosophies and teaching of men, or 4) put aside the teachings all together.
Let’s start with the easy ones- Mormons and Jehovah witness- believe in “Arianism”, These preach that Jesus is a son of God, but not the only begotten Son of God. Arianism is a Christian heresy that declared that Christ is not truly divine but a created being only. He was both God in the flesh, full God and fully man, both are also works based.
Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and most other religions around the world acknowledge Jesus- all make Jesus as a prophet, but not God in the flesh. All other religions is man trying to get to God, Christianity is God dying to get to man.
An easy to recognize false gospel will always attack the deity of Christ.
Catholicism- be careful, there is no priest as a mediator between us and God, we do not pray to mary nor any of the saints, and the pope is not God’s representative on earth. God will not look past these idolatrous things.
Marcionism was an early heretical Christian belief system, that emerged around the mid-2nd century AD, founded by Marcion of Sinope. It was characterized by a sharp dualism between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament, with Marcion rejecting the Old Testament entirely and believing Jesus Christ to be the Son of the benevolent God of the New Testament. This belief system creates Christians who pick and choose what parts of the Bible they want to obey. False teachers include Andy Stanley, who has gone on video telling people to “unhitch form the Old Testament”. Lauren Daigle is his worship leader. I have heard preachers say that the OT God was angry, and the NT God is only love. Beware of any gospel that pits the OT against the NT. God has not changed.
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Antinomianism, derived from the Greek words “anti” (against) and “nomos” (law), is a theological doctrine that affirms Christians are freed from the obligation to obey the moral law of God. It’s often viewed as an extreme interpretation of justification by faith, suggesting that salvation is attained solely through grace and faith, regardless of obedience to moral laws. Thus, you can continue to sin and inherit eternal life
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
We are saved by grace through faith. There is nothing we can do. A new life in Christ transforms us into obedient children of God. It is the Spirit in me that leads me to obey and turn from sin. Let me ask you a question: Is a train free when it jumps the tracks or stays on its rails? Freedom is found in staying within the confines of God’s word and laws. Rails are good! I am safe when I stay within the confines of God’s Word.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [a]Christ.
This verse describes the faithful of God’s people- they keep His command, obey His laws and principles and hold fast to their faith in Christ and witness to the truth. Obedience is part of the gospel message. Scripture calls the world “the sons of disobedience”.
“Easy-Believism” – I am not sure what others call it, but this is what I call it. The Bible says “the demons believe and tremble” at Jesus. But they are not saved. You said a prayer, you say you believe, but there is no change. There is no repentance, no turning away form the world, no new life, then there is no salvation. You live life exactly the same as before Christ. The word believe means “to fully trust in and rely on, cast yourself onto”. It is all encompassing.
Charles Spurgeon, “Beware of presuming you are saved. If your heart is renewed, if you hate the things you once loved and love the things you once hated, if you have really repented, if there is a thorough change of mind within you, then you have reason to rejoice. But if there is no vital change, no inward godliness, no love for God, no prayer, no work of the Holy Spirit, then the statement “I am saved” is only your assertion and it may delude you, but it will never deliver you.
Akin to this is the “false love gospel” or false agape- God loves you, you are saved.
Syncretism is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, asserting a unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths. It specifically denotes a more integrated merging of beliefs into a unified system.
An example of religious syncretism is the blending of Christian beliefs and indigenous practices in some regions of the Americas, where Christianity blended with local beliefs and created new practices, the Rastafarian movement, which combines Christian beliefs with African traditions and interpretations. The Black Hebrew Israelite Movement is a newer movement, another example of syncretism. As well as the “woke” gospel here in America,
“Woke Christianity” applying culture justice with the gospel. It refers to a growing trend in American Christianity that emphasizes social justice, particularly racial and social justice, while also maintaining a strong faith commitment. It involves being aware of and addressing systemic injustices within society, often advocating for the marginalized and oppressed. CRT is a godless and demonic agenda. Any gospel that makes a group of people oppressors and another group victims, is a gospel of confusion and chaos. This new gospel embraces homosexuals and transgenders as marginalized people groups. Do not be deceived!
Many are falling prey to this false doctrine. There are many para church organizations that started out well, but are falling into this false doctrine. I watched a video of campus crusade for Christ having a general conference and telling their white people they are racist and that they are sin. Many of these organizations have become goodwill organizations and no longer preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the need for repentance and a new life in Christ
Be careful of the populous movement. The crowd is not on the narrow path.
Prosperity gospel. Prosperity gospel is an heretical Christian movement that teaches that financial prosperity, health, and happiness are God’s will for believers, and these blessings are attainable through faith, positive confession, and giving to God to get. It’s often associated with the idea of “name it and claim it” and the belief that God will reward faith with material blessings.
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
The fruit of the prosperity gospel produces greed and covetousness. Neither does it properly prepare you for persecution, suffering and affliction.
The fruit of the gospel produces righteousness, holiness, and changed life surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Savior. If a church or organization is not producing god-fearing, changed people; who turn from sin and to righteousness, from the world to the Word, who do not love what God loves and hate what He hates; they are preaching a false gospel. YOU WILL KNOW FALSE TEACHERS/GOSPELS BY THE FRUIT COMING OUT OF IT.
Universalism, multi-faith deception. The pope has said, “every religion is a way to arrive at God”. I was in a service at a UMC church years ago when the preacher said, “It is closed-minded to believe that only Christians are going to be in heaven. All religions have their path to God,” THIS IS A LIE and is heresy. Not all paths lead to God. Not all men will be in heaven.
Acts 4:10-12 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Preeminence of Christ
Colossians 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [a]principalities or [b]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Many gospels make Jesus prominent but not preeminent- preeminent means He is first in all things. HE is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the End. He is above all, over all and surpassing all. No one or no thing can come close. He is LORD over my time, decisions, family, health, finances, work, hobbies, relationships and life. He was. He is. And He is to come.
Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, [a]the Beginning and the End,” says the [b]Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
It is not Jesus+. It is Jesus only. He is not your buddy. He is not the granola eating hippy. He is God in the flesh and He is coming back as the Lion to make war. He requires faithful and obedient children.
He did it all. We supplied nothing.
On the cross, Jesus said “teletelestai” It is one word in the Greek, but it means “it is finished and the works will continue”. The gospel proclaims we are dead to sin and alive in Christ when we repent, turn away from the world and take up our cross and follow Him. There is nothing else needed to overcome, no further revelation, no human philosophy or wisdom. The gospel is the power to overcome all past sin, present affliction and the future grave. We can do all things in His name and do nothing without Him. We are born again of the Holy Spirit. He is our helper in this life. We do not minimize His role. The Holy Spirit is God, not a third step-child.
He has given us beautiful and powerful gifts through the Holy Spirit that we are to embrace and use. The Lord heals, redeems, renews, restores; and He rebukes, corrects, chastens, disciplines and punishes. The gospel produces a changed man and a changed nature. We are transformed into a new creation! We are sons and daughters of God. This is not just a mind-set. But a real supernatural birth has transpired.
There is a heaven and there is a hell. We are to preach and hold onto the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. We fight spiritual battles and take up the whole armor of God. We will suffer affliction, persecution and rejection for His name’s sake, yet we are loved, accepted and held by Him.
2 Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
ALL MEANS ALL!
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