Sunday Bullets: False Christianity

More Facebook wisdom from Pastor
David Pitman, Senior Pastor. Pastor Pitman of
 Addyston Baptist Church

•  One example: 2 Corinthians 11: 12-15 from the New American Standard Bible (NASB): 12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be [e]regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. e 2 Corinthians 11:12 Lit found

• The Orthodox Study Bible using the New King James Version (NKJV) explains that in verse 14 'Satan imitates the Kingdom of God, telltale signs reveal his sham, such as nonapostolic doctrine'... (419). A different Jesus is preached (verse 4). Another telltale sign is a 'lucrative ministry' (verses 7-12) (419). Paul preached the gospel, free of charge (verse 7). (419).

• I am not opposed to types of reasonably paid ministry, as even Paul states in verse 9 that his needs were met from believers in Macedonia. (419).

• David J. A. Clines states (verse 15): 'They are servants of Satan in that the work of destruction and vilification they are doing is Satan's work.' (1409). 

• An aspect of these kinds of false apostles is attacking those true apostles in the New Testament era. In our present era, false teachers attacking true (but imperfect) teachers would be a similar comparison.

• With such religious teachers, often, black is white, and white is black. The truth is falsehood, and the falsehood is truth.

• I heed Clines' comments that a servant of Christ could do Satan's work. (1409).  A warning for us all in Christ.

• Indeed, as well, from a Reformed perspective,  in particular, God can also use the evil intents of persons for the greater good. (see The Bondage and Liberation of the Will and The Institutes of the Christian Religion)

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) 2 Corinthians, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

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