Where did we think we were going to find these people?  

They are also called, ‘deceitful workers.’  Transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  The author here was writing to this particular church, cautioning them against those who might teach something other than the true Gospel.

In truth, he says that these would appear to be something they are not.  Either they never were authentic, or they changed into something else.

And he went on to say, not to marvel about it.  We likely did not pay as much attention to the next comment, as we should have.

It is stated clearly: “for Satan himself, is transformed into an angel of light.”  Not that he could be, but that he is.  In some ways we’ve all known that.

In reality, we have known for some time that there are those who look and appear, even sound like, the real thing.  How would we have known their truth, and how would we know it now?

What told us that this could happen, and to be on the alert for such things?  The next verse says that: “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers, also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”

Whose ministers is this talking about?  It’s the ministers of Satan.  We know what will happen to such ministers.  The scripture says that their end shall be according to their works.  We never thought these kind could be in the church.  The truth is, we still don’t believe that.

When reading about the sufferings that this apostle experienced in his own ministry, we find a comment about “perils among false brethren.”  It’s hard to insert this remark, but we should never have attempted to blindly follow anyone.

I heard here [Facebook] again, a comment about a one-fold or two-fold ministry.  I don’t feel qualified today to call that heresy, but it is.  This is a false teaching; it is absolutely not scriptural and it’s deception.  An act of ruling God’s people, by force.

It’s no wonder so many people were driven out.  It hurts me today to look back at where some of us came from.  The rule was that we had to buckle under, or we were being rebellous, and we might even lose our soul as a result.

That doesn’t sound like the work of the Holy Ghost.  We may have begun such things in ignorance, but the Spirit would have led us into truth, and taught us better than that.

How do we know?  Gentleness and meekness, were missing.

We can’t go back and change what happened. It was what it was.  But we don’t have to do today, what we did before.

It might sound a bit odd, but God used that system; in spite of its errors.  Why would that be?   Because He had genuine, honest and loving hearts, those whom He had called and ordained, who would learn truth anyway.  And it wasn’t all wrong; there was yet much good.  These men and women would be exposed to the real ministers among the midst.

Satan is going to be cast into the lake of fire where the beasts and the “false prophets” are.  That’s how serious God feels about this matter.

It may seem harsh to say, but if we are not striving to follow the lead of the Spirit and doing so, it might be well to say,that we are following false doctrine as well.

We don’t even know what those doctrines of demons are.  In the days to come, there will be those of the evil one, who will begin to perform great signs and wonders.

As some have already been deceived, others will also be deceived.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn

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