Do not be deceived

• 1^st – Learn the lesson of Eve… vs. 1-4
  • Paul asked the church to put up with his foolishness… vs. 1
    • Paul had already defended his apostleship on two other occasions in his letters…
    • And though Paul did not like to boast – the church had come to understand…
    • He was not doing it to bring glory to himself – but to establish his authority…
    • To protect the church against the false teaches seeking to destroy the church…
    • Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God…”
    • Pastors are not given authority in church so they can have power over others…
    • They are called to serve and protect the people of God from false teachings…
    • By teaching the Word of God – by being a Godly example to the people!
  • Paul wanted to present the church as a spotless bride to Jesus… vs. 2
    • Paul was excited for the church – he wanted to see them remain pure before God…
    • He used the example of a virgin bride – to be presented to her husband at a wedding…
    • Paul did not want the church to be caught – ‘cheating on the Lord’…
    • ‘Going out’ / ‘dating’ – other false religions – following false teachers…
    • Beware a divided heart – desiring to follow Jesus – but flirting with the world…
    • Trying to love this world and the Lord – is in essence cheating on Jesus…
    • Matthew 6:24 – “[We will] be devoted to the one and despise the other…”
  • Do not be like Eve… vs. 3
    • Eve was deceived by the cunning words of the snake (satan) in the Garden of Eden…
      • God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge…
      • Satan’s strategy was to get Eve to question God’s word – ‘Did God say’…
      • Satan’s tactics have not changed – he still tries to get us to doubt the Word…
      • Satan subtly tires to get us to look elsewhere for answers – not to Jesus…
      • He tries to keep us from church from the Bible – from listening to the Word!
• Eve saw that the fruit looked good / was tasty / and made you wise…
  • I John 2:16 –“ For all that is in the world––the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life––is not of the Father but is of the world.”
  • If Eve had listened to God’s Word she would have walked away…
  • But because she thought about the sin – wanted it – she choose to disobey
  • Sin would be easy to avoid if we did not want to do it…
  • The reason we sin is because we think it will be good – make us happy…
  • We all have a choice – we can choose to give in to the desires of our flesh…
  • We can seek to fulfill the lust of our eyes / flesh / and our pride…
  • Or we can listen to the Word of God – and choose to obey Him!
• Like Eve – the church was also in danger of being corrupted… vs. 4
  • 1^st – By listening to men who came preaching a different Jesus…
    • The world is full of false faiths posing to be from God – but denying the TRUE Jesus
    • They talk about a Jesus but they are cults – their Jesus is not THE Jesus of the Bible
    • Mormons believe Jesus is a created being – not God – but the brother of satan…
    • Jehovah witnesses – believe Jesus is Michael the arch angel – He is not God…
  • 2^nd – By receiving men who came with a different spirit…
    • Just because someone says they go to church  – does not make them a Christian…
    • Just because a man says he is a pastor – does not mean he is from Jesus
    • I John 4:1 – “Don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits…”
    • We need the discernment of God – to know what is truly from God!
  • 3^rd – By following men who taught a different Gospel…
    • Men love to add to the Gospel message – in order to be saved you must…
    • Be baptized in our church / tithe / believe in our doctrines…
    • Galatians 1:8 – “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.”
    • Salvation by grace alone – through faith alone – in Jesus alone!
    • There is nothing else we can add to the work of Jesus – He did it all on the cross!
      
• 2^nd – Not all leaders are alike… vs. 5-9
  • The Judaizers saw themselves as the ‘Super Apostles’…
    • They were well trained in speaking – they were well educated in universities…
      • They saw their degrees as proof of their pre-eminence – superior status!
      • And they expected people to listen to them – they were THE authority…

• A piece of paper on a wall – not matter how pretty – is still just a piece of paper…
• I know a lot of men who have the ‘pastoral degree’ – who are not pastors…
• And I know a lot of men who have no degree – no diplomas – who are pastors!
• The calling of God – is shown through the work of God through someone’s life!
• They also expected men to provide for them – to pay them for their knowledge!
  • Many pastors today believe it is their right to take from God’s people…
  • Like a paycheck – they demand the church provide for all their wants and needs…
  • But it is not a church that employs a pastor – God employs him…
  • Therefore it is not the responsibility of the church to pay the pastor…
  • If a pastor is not being provided for by the Lord – perhaps he is not a pastor…
  • Because if a pastor is truly called by God – then God will provide for all his needs!

Hold fast to His Word – so you recognize these angels of light – and reject them!

Paul was not less of an Apostle – as these men claimed…

Though he was not a trained speaker – he was very well educated…

Paul was born/ brought up / and taught as Jew – Philippians 3:4-8…

He trained under Gamaliel – a man held in respect by all the Jewish people…

Though God does not need us to have a degree – diploma of higher education…

That does not mean it is not advantageous for us to be students of the Word!

II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The proof of Paul’s Apostleship was the church of Corinth!

The fact there was a church should have removed any doubt…

The whole world could see the work God had done through the Apostle Paul…

It is not very difficult to figure out what purpose/calling God has on your life…

All we really need to do is look at how God is using us – where is the fruit…

It will not just be you who recognize the calling – it will be obvious to everyone!

Paul asked – ‘Did I commit a sin because I did not charge you for the Gospel’…

Paul worked during the day – humbly making tents – to provide for all his needs…

* Acts 20:34-35 – “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.  I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Being called into ministry does not that mean a pastor does not have to work…

They might have to work because those they minister to have nothing to give…

Or so that they can relate to those they are reaching – and they relate to them…

Or they might have to work to set an example to those they are teaching… 

He ‘robbed’ other churches – so he could minister in Corinth!

Even when he was in need – he never asked for anything from the church…

The brothers from Macedonia (a poor congregation) came to help Paul…

Paul writing to the church in Philippi talks about a ‘gift’ they has sent to him…

* Philippians 4:11-17 – “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul understood that God is the one who provided for our needs – not men…

So often we think that we have to let God (and others) know about the need…

The need is not the point – God already knows the need…

God is the creator of everything – He lack for nothing – including money…

Paul had not – and never would – be a burden to the church!

Paul’s reward was to present the hope of Jesus – without being paid for it…

So that he did not abuse the authority he had in the Gospel…

Too many pastors today abuse they authority they are given in the church…

They use the pulpit as a means for personal gain – taking advantage of God’s people

The result is people are wary of the church – the Gospel message become tainted…

Paul was an Apostle – and he wanted everyone to hear about Jesus…

God had already paid the price for salvation – there was no cost – the Gospel is free!

3^rd – Watch out for the angel of light… vs. 10-15

Paul proclaimed everywhere the fact he never took money from the Corinth…

Not because he did not love the church – he loved them VERY much…

But so that others could see the differences between his ministry and the Judaizers…

They claimed they were just like Paul – yet THEY were always after money…

Do not miss this – the number one way to stop a false teacher – they are after money!

* Philippians 3:17-19 – “I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth.”

These false teachers / divisive brothers do not look to bless/help others…

They do not look to bring glory to God – they  only look to please themselves!

They only think about things here on earth – food / money / fame / power…

They will try to win you over to their cult – so they can take advantage of you…

These men are False Apostles (pseudo apostles – only here in the NT)…

They work and seek to deceive others – draw them away from the truth of Jesus…

They do so by making themselves look like REAL apostles – pretending to be from God

Why do the Mormons have meet in ‘churches’ on Sunday morning for ‘worship’…

Why do the Iglesia ni Christo have ‘Bible studies’ and talk about ‘Jesus’ as their savior

The best way to tell a lie – is to make it look as much like the truth as you can!

They are just like their master – satan – who also transforms into an Angel of light!

The impression most have of satan is a red horned – pitchfork wielding – ugly monster

The assumption is we could spot his evil for a mile away – easy to identify…

But the description actually comes from the Greek God ‘Pan’ – god of the underworld…

Likely satan spread this description of himself – so we would not recognize him…

Satan is not ugly – God created him as the perfection of beauty – Ezekiel 28:12 

Satan can and will imitate God – he looks like the real deal…

Satan can come in pretty packages – sin / false teachings – can look really good…

But he will always contradict the Word – draw you from relationship with God!

In the end these false teachers will suffer the same fate as their master!

Satan’s destination is set – the Lake of Fire is prepared for him and his followers…

The contrast is huge – why would you want to follow men who follow satan…

Why would you want to share their end – suffer the same fate…

Do not be deceived by these false teachers – instead cling to Jesus!