June 6
“Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light,” 2 Corinthians 11:14.
Exposing and contending with religious leaders who are in the service of Satan is something that will continue until the end of time. The apostle Paul had to deal with them in the congregation at Corinth and everywhere else.
He calls them false apostles. They are messengers who have not been called and sent by God. They are deceitful workers. They teach and practice deceit. They lie to deceive anyone and everyone who will listen to them. Outwardly, they give the appearance that they are messengers called and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ. They attire themselves in attractive and appealing clergy garments, but there is no beauty in the words that come out of their mouths; they tell lies, lies, and more lies. The Christ of whom they speak is not the promised Messiah and Savior whom God promised to send into the world. They do not accept and teach that Jesus is the Son of God and the only Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
The false apostles are walking in the footsteps of Satan, who transforms himself into an angel of light. He pretends to be the bringer of good news. The devil never presents himself as the fallen angel who first sinned and who, with his lies, led Eve and Adam into sin. The devil never announces his coming with the words, “Beware! I am the devil! I’m here to tempt you and to lead you into sin! Jesus was a nice person, but He is not the only Savior! You must do something to get right with God and save yourself!”
The devil is the father of lies and a deceiver. To the Jews who refused to believe and trust in Jesus as their Savior, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it,” John 8:44.
The devil has many followers in matters of religion, and also in family, business, and political matters. Regularly in the political realm, and particularly in election years, we are expected to listen to lies coming from people who are in the highest to the lowest levels of political offices. In the business world, promises for a brighter or darker future are always on the horizon. As citizens in our beloved land, we must constantly seek to distinguish between truths, half-truths, and deliberate lies.
Making the distinction between truths, half-truths, and lies in spiritual matters will have eternal consequences! In his Second Epistle to Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” and then he pleads, “You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of,” 2 Timothy 3:13-14.
Continue in the faith in the one true triune God, and in Jesus Christ, God’s Son and your Savior, who was born into this world to redeem all sinners. He lived a perfect life and fulfilled God’s Law in our place. He took upon Himself the sins of all and paid the price for our redemption on Calvary’s cross. He rose from the dead and conquered sin, death, and the devil. Believe in Him, trust in Him, and beware of false religious teachers who are in the service of Satan! Cling to the truths of God’s Word recorded in Holy Scripture. God bless you in your spiritual struggles! Amen.