Day: August 31, 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023

“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” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

It is pleasant, lovely, or wonderful to the ear, but is it truly wholesome and beneficial to us? After listening to the Devil’s “motivational” speech, Adam and Eve literally learned the hard way: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:6,7).

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening [hungry, greedy] wolves” (Matthew 7:15). This was Satan in the Garden of Eden—the façade of a friend, but the character of a snake. Pledging peace and prosperity, he delivered only strife and poverty; as opposed to knowledge, there was ignorance; instead of life, there came death. If you doubt it, just look around at society. Like the false teachers since him, he was a “well without water” (2 Peter 2:17), a “cloud… without water” (Jude 12). Rather than a source of life, he and his promises were utter disappointments. “Having a form [semblance, likeness] of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5).

Re-read 2 Corinthians 11:3,4. Now, verses 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.” For far too long, church members have been negligent in realizing just how serious such spiritual dangers really are. Let us therefore be on guard….