Can we recognize the true Gospel of God from a counterfeit?
You think it would be easy to know a true teacher of the Word of God, from a false one. Or that it would be simple to recognize the genuine Gospel of Christ, from a counterfeit. It is, if we know what to look for. Satan however is cleaver, and out to deceive both those called, and uncalled. How then can we spot true, from incorrect teachers? By their works. Paul wrote this to the church at Corinth.
2Corn.11: 13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan here is described, appearing as an angel of light. And his ministers, as ministers of righteousness. If this is the case, it seems it would be nearly impossible, to distinguish a true, from false, minister of God. These ministers also look to deceive with their words.
Rom.16: 17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
By now it would seem almost impossible, to recognize these deceivers. But Paul gave a clue. He said that they cause division and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned. What was the doctrine Paul constantly taught? He taught salvation was by faith, not by works. Over and over, Paul emphasized this theme.
Gal.1:5-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
The gospel of Christ, is The gospel of salvation, through faith in Jesus.
Eph. 2:7-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Jesus was asked by his followers, what they should do, to work mighty works like him.
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
James wrote about faith, and works. James 2 :20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Locking ourselves away in a prayer closet, and not walking as Christ walked, is dead faith. God wants us to practice our faith, and by so doing, strengthen our faith. But anyone who teaches that salvation comes through any work of our own, is a false teacher, and a deceiver.
Math.7:21-26 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock .And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
In the above verses, Jesus stated, even those that had done, “many wonderful works “, he would order to depart from him. He went on to call them, workers of iniquity. How could this be? They had done all these mighty works, in his name? Jesus explains, they had not built their foundation of works on rock, but instead upon sand, and they were all washed away. Jesus is the Rock. We must always give all glory, and honor, to Jesus. Faith in him only, gives us salvation. Any church, or organization, that teaches anything differently, is building their house on a foundation of sand.
Math.7:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
- Posted in: Salvation
- Tagged: Christ, deceitful workers, false apostles, False teachers, House, James, Jesus, Paul, Rock, salvation, sand, true minister, works
Saved By Faith In Christ 
Reblogged this on johnedoe.wordpress.com/.
Sorry, not to come across with argumentativeness, but do you know that “depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” means by definition
You that do not keep my Fathers Law?
Iniquity means “lawlessness” and only the “law of Moses”.
Steven your response is not argumentative, it’s nonsense. Have you not read the book of Galatians. Exactly where do you perform your animal sacrifices?
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”[4
Gal 3:10-11 (ESV)
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GOOD MORNIN,…..lol,…I’m all in a good morning mood today!!! lol………….now, my confession,….it took me about two hours of nice reflective praying to get “here!!!!!!!” I’m not kiddin either! Yall ever have days like this??? For me, my morning was like those tests we had to take in grade school, the ones where we get to go out on the playground, but “ONLY AFTER” we, not only “finish” the test,…but PASS IT AS WELL,…WITH FLYING COLORS!!!! BIG OLD LOL!!!!!! BUT TRUE!!!
THE LAST 12 HOURS OF MY LIFE HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS!!! WHY??? BECAUSE I “TRULY DESIRED” FOR THEM TO BE!!! I HAVE DISCOVERED, OR, BEEN SHOWN, MUCH CONCERNING WISDOM! most of us, as christians, especially with the availability of “GOOGLE” can (and do!) rapidly “quote” scriptures all day long! As for wisdom,…we “google” wisdom,…in mere seconds, there are all the scriptures about wisdom,…then we just copy and paste,….AND VOILA!!!!! WE LOOK TO BE A HIGHLY EDUCATED BIBLE SCOLAR!!!!!!! WEEEEHHHEEEEE, LOOK AT ME!!!!!!! I’M A “KNOW-IT-ALL!!!!!!!!
OH,…BY THE WAY,……..THIS METHOD IS “NOWHERE REMOTELY CLOSE TO WHAT GODLY WISDOM IS!!!!!!” not at all…..jus sayin. is “wisdom”, something that we “HAVE?????” or, is “wisdom”, something that we “DO??????” the bible will reinforce that wisdom,….IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO!!!………………………..Solomon “had” wisdom, right???????? But,…it was “only” wisdom,..as long as he “used” it….correct??????? He built all the altars for his “too” many wives and concubines,…and he built them, on (in) high places,…right????? Solomon “compromised”,…correct??????? Why??????? Because HE, SOLOMON, WAS “NOT PRACTICING” WHAT HE “KNEW” TO BE THE “RIGHT” THING!!!!!!!……I think we know how it all ended for solomon, don’t we??? lol…if not, “google” it!!!! lol
You ever heard the old saying, “there is more than one way to skin a cat??????” I have been really, RRREEAALLLLLLYYYYYYYY thinkin and prayin about this lately!!!!!!! I’m really diggin what I have learned too!!!! And, I admit, that because of how “profoundly beautiful” (AND EXTREMEMLY SIMPLE!!!) what I,…”HAVE NOW” learned is, that I am extremely excited to share it with “whomever!!!” why????? Because it (WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, AND ACCEPTED) will “help us all” grow closer as “christian” brothers and sisters!!!!!! “GOD HIMSELF GUARANTEES IT!!!!!!!”
I am also a bit “nervous”, although nervous isn’t the correct word……….I AM “RESPECTFULLY FEARFUL”,…….WHICH MEANS THAT I AM “FEARFUL” IN A GODLY WAY! AND THIS IS THE BEST KIND OF FEAR TO HAVE!!!! IT MEANS THAT WE ARE (FREE) “WILLING”, AND HAVE A TRUE HEALTHY DESIRE TO LEARN A LESSON!!! IN OTHER WORDS,….WHEN WE LEARN GODLY LESSONS,……WE ARE MATURING. MEANING, WE ARE “GROWING UP!!!”
I don’t wanna leave you hangin,…..so I’ll share a little more bout what I learned as I go,……more later…………
Growing up, IS A HUGE PART OF “OUR” BEING CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF GOD’S SON!!!”……………….we had bettered “really” desire to let this sink in, folks!!!…it is crucial!!!
HAVE YOU EVER REEEALLLLLLYYYYY THOUGHT DEEPLY ABOUT THE SCRIPTURE, “TURN THE OTHER CHEEK?????” HOW ABOUT, “PRAYERFULLY????????……….WHAT DID, AND DOES, (SINCE HE IS STILL ALIVE) JESUS MEAN BY THIS “SAYING???” HHHMMMMMMMMM,…….”TURN THE OTHER CHEEK??????????????”
lookin back at my life,…I “remember,“ that I have been in a few fights. What we might call “fist fights.”
Why am I tellin you this??? I’ll tell ya. As we sit with our eyes glued to the television screen, we see that in “movie fights“, most times the “fighters” take turns hitting one another.
You know what I mean, right??? yup, “he hits him, and then him hits he, and he hits him, etc, etc“,………yup????? Movie fights are dumb!!!
In reality,….it’s (fist fighting) a whole nuther ball game!!! in the times when I was pushed to the point of “losing control” (losing my cool, that is!!!) enough to ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY fight with the “instigator“, “THEN”,…it wasn’t about taking turns!!!
MY, common sense GOAL WAS TO PUT AN ABRUPT END TO THE CRAP that had been “thrown“ my way!!!!
Fact is, when it came to fighting, and finishing “what was started”, I did this, “finishing”,…as QUICKLY as POSSIBLE, too!!! Fighting is not a “game”, to me!!! It is something that must be taken very, very, seriously!!! There is a life on the line!!! “Mine!!!” And I intended to keep it!!!
So, WHY did I put an end to it as quickly as possible??? well, as I have, “kind of” already explained, but since this subject should be, and needs to be, taken very seriously,…there are a COUPLE of reasons.
But,…THERE IS ONE “reason” which would seem to be much more “OBVIOUS” than the OTHERS,…………I DID “NOT WANT” TO BE HURT!!!
At least, truth be told,…I did NOT WANT TO BE HURT, ANY “MORE”,…THAN I “ALREADY WAS, and or, HAD BEEN HURT, THAT IS!!!
Can anyone understand this????????? IT’S PRETTY MUCH DAY ONE STUFF,…YA KNOW!??? RIGHT???
more in a few…
Ooooppppssss,….before I go, though!…
I ASK YOU THIS,…HAVE YOU EVER HEAR THE SCRIPTURE,….
”THE SPIRIT IS WILLING,…
BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK??????????”…
I’d like to encourage you to look “deep” into what “those” words “really” mean, and you will “SEE” it, clear as day,…and,…you will “HEAR” it, clear as a bell!!!
And you will see it, PROBABLY, “EVEN BEFORE” I FINISH WRITING ABOUT THIS, TOO!!!
OK,…NOW, MORE IN A FEW……….