Another Jesus, Another Spirit, Another Gospel – Beware!

 READ: Isaiah 41,42; Psalms 83; 2 Corinthians 11

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

OBSERVATION: In the last 2000 years, hundreds of men claimed that they were (re)incarnation of Jesus or the Messiah. According to internet sources, presently, there are twelve such persons who claim to be Jesus living in different parts of the world. It is disturbing that people are ready to follow such pseudo-Jesuses by believing their deceptive and cunning teachings. In Corinth Church, false apostles not only attacked Paul’s authority and apostle ministry, but they also tried to deceive the Corinth believers who were tolerating them. Paul surprises at the tolerance of the believers to hear false teachings. So Paul expresses his fear that it may lead them to believe the lies of false teachings just as Satan deceived Eve. Satan successfully deceived Eve to believe his lies that made her doubt God’s word. He cunningly alienated humanity from God. People are attracted to the boldness and communication skills of the false teachers and deceived by their crafty words. We should not allow anything that disrupts our pure devotion to Christ.

Paul proclaimed the crucified Christ (1 Cor.2:2), the Spirit who gives freedom (2 Cor.3:17) and preached the Gospel of grace and reconciliation (2 Cor.5:19). But the false apostles’ teaching was contrary to what Paul preached—another Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. False teachers boast that all they teach is a new revelation and reject anything other than what they preach. They try to prove their new interpretations by twisting the bible verses or choosing them at their convenience. If we are not watchful, we may fall into their traps. Paul says, “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Cor.11:13,14). Sometimes, false teachers would pretend to be zealous for the word of God. In the early Church, they were present in many places ( Gal.1:6-9; Col.2:20). In his farewell speech to Ephesians, Paul warned the Church elders concerning false teachers.(Acts 20:29-31). We should not allow or accept the false teachings infiltrate the Church in any form or through any man.

APPLICATION: I will not accept any teaching just because it is pleasant to my ears and attractive to believe it. I will test every teaching and preaching in the light of the Word of God. I will reject false teachings and warn others to be careful about false teachers and their words.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your word that helps us to understand the truth. Lord, help me to keep you the crucified savior before me always.  Holy Spirit, guide me into all the truth and protect me from believing false teachings and Satan’s lies. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

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