2 Corinthians 11:14-15 warning

[Christ4Ever]

And 'this' really belongs in the sanctification thread.

It could be, but there is enough over lap to the subject matter of this thread, that it's best to let it stay.
Thanks for the awareness sister.

With the Love of Christ Jesus
Moderator
Nick
<><

 

[At Peace]

Unfortunately, for you....the verse doesn't say what you think it does!

Not unfortunate for me.
My life shows the verse true...thanks be to God.

Makes a practice....makes a practice....makes a practice!

That sounds like a life without ever repenting of sin.
How many men must a man murder before he is a murderer?
One, and he will forever be a murderer.
How many times must a thief steal before he is known as a thief?
One.
He doesn't need to "practice" murder or theft to be a murderer or thief.
One lie makes a liar.
One adultery makes an adulterer.
But if our "turn from" sin is real...we will never sin again.

 

[At Peace]

That pastor is right -- because nobody is perfect -- not even born-again believers. We won't reach perfection until we are with Jesus Christ in person in eternity. In the meantime -- we are believers saved by grace and growing in our spiritual lives to be gradually more and more Christ-like.

And 'this' really belongs in the sanctification thread.

If "nobody is perfect", then Jesus didn't destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
If "nobody is perfect", then only the sacrificial animals profited from Jesus' life and death and life anew.
If "nobody is perfect", then what is the difference between Judaism and Christianity?

 

[Br. Bear]

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

this is something in this scripture we have a warning of those disguising themselves as being righteous are actually servants of the satan.


I wonder how we can apply this to real world examples and what we should look out for in real world examples.

would love to here your thoughts on this

Greetings,

would love to here your thoughts on this

how about God's thoughts on the subject?

Step one, go as much as you can in your imagination, your thoughts, your mind, your brain, or whatever else you want to call the grey matter of processing God and getting a handle on what He has said, back to the first Century.

Are you there ?

Start reading the New testament with the idea that you are a hated person who fellowships with hated people, and your life is at risk because you follow Jesus and the Way (of the Cross).
Now get a little One Body minded and see that the Apostles were charged by God, called by Him, to do a work that was to stand the test of time and tyranny, and stay standing.

What mattered most? What colour undies you wore? How long your hair was or if you had pimples or dandruff?
The Gospel had to remain intact and could only do so through the suffering that Jesus said would happen to those who followed him.
The writings we now read in leisure in our modern cruisey lifestyles while sucking a coke and chomping on the dish from the microwave, were written to a people who were facing persecution that most if not all here have never known nothing of except in what we have learnt about (which is again only in our way of dealing with it in our grey matter between our ears).

Take the bloke hauled over the coals for doing the dirty with some relation of his or whatever it was. (in Corinthians) Why was that important to do? Because he had to be punished? Go back to your coke and fries.

Imagine, if you can, nothing being said. OK, we all know it is naughty but God loves us.
before going on, let us extend this to something else so as to see it a bit better.
You (for the sake of this picture in words) attend a nice little gathering of happy little Christians, all doing good and being kind to one another.
Someone, maybe even you, catches sight of a pretty girl and rather than take any thoughts captive, nurtures them and eventually gets a little closer and then with a little seduction of the ever so nice sort, woos the pretty little thing into the cot for a bit of nookies. No harm done to anyone .. or so it seems.
They continue behind the scenes for a while and then it comes apparent that they are up to something. Nothing is said because we all love one another and so be it, those two love birds seem so on-fire for Jesus and hey, a little love is OK, they aren't sleeping around or after anyone's wife or hubby, so let's let them be.

tick tock goes the clock and another little chicken is noticed, as she glances her pretty little smile across her shoulder, by another testosterone driven man and guess what, they do as the other two did and why not? Nothing wrong about it was discouraged.
before you know it everyone is doing a little loving and all is so ..... eeeek!

Still with me?
So, what sort of group have they become and what in their lusting after one another and a bigger house, car, bank balance, etc is their zeal and purpose of heart? What happens to the Gospel in it's purity and perfection?
Back to the first Century... was the man punished for the sake of being punished or was he publicly punished by the whole group according to the instruction of the Apostle so that the Gospel would remain intact with the group, the Church? Remember that the Apostles were getting killed off and they had to leave a working model behind them and one that would persevere through the trials facing them and trying to seduce and divide. What would the Church they left here be? You have to get that right in your thinking. The letters etc were to a people, a hated and threatened people, who had to stay strong and keep the faith... so as to be able to pass it on all the way so far down to us today and beyond until the Lord returns, and return He will. Read these passages you all quote with a first century mindset of being one of those hunted and hated for following the Lord of glory and start to see the message it would mean to them. then you will better handle the Word.

Sure, the man had done some wrong and ought to be somehow made to know it in no uncertain terms but the main point was to keep the Bride from becoming blemished.
The Old testament folk did not all rush in some sort of spontaneous move into idolatry but were seduced and went over to the wrong way one at a time, so to speak until it was the norm, except for the few remnant that refused to bow to other gods.
We see examples in Scripture where God makes an example out of someone in what seems a very harsh and sudden judgement. Why? Only so as to punish a naughty man or woman? No, so he would preserve the Body, the people, His People. A little leaven goes a long way folks.

Now, back to topic, the Scripture quoted here is fine IF it is in context and not used as a way to condemn anyone we don't agree with or any other clever little trick one might like to use it for.

Where do you think the Apostles got their words and instruction for the Church from? Not cyber space. Not their own reasoning's and not from a little huddle of furry animals on a rock.
Is there any chance that some of them might have actually spent time with Jesus prior to becoming Apostles? Yes. And The Apostle Paul, out of season but by God's will he was filled up with all the things he did not get savvy to as the Disciples did.

So please take note, that some of the talk here in the replies by all and sundry are singling out a few verses like the one in the OP and forgetting to look where it came from and what it was about.
Let's go to the Author and see in the Gospel according to Matthew what and where these 'verses' used by the Apostles came from and what they were about and then.... then let's get using them in proper context and with an understanding of the grey matter, the thinking or imagination department and stop using Scripture to justify our flesh and use as a way of suggesting someone is fitting to be so labelled .. complete with sick little likes.
Am i bugging you?

How's your manhood keeping? Can you keep up or are you feeling a little ashamed or perhaps infuriated?
You know what, i get a tad upset when i see the Gospel being used against others for flesh driven purposes. Does it show?

Matthew, chapter 12.
A man was brought to Jesus and he was possessed of devils, blind and dumb. Jesus healed him so that the blind and the dumb both spoke and saw.
(sometimes we might be a little blind and dumb, too)
Well, every one was amazed, as you would be.

BUT, then the Pharisees heard of it and guess what they said? This fellow casts out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils!!!

What follows is what these verses some (y'all) quote are about/from.

Jesus made it very clear that the phony men are the ones who call that which is of the Spirit of God as being from the prince of the devils. Them is the bad guys and them it is to be shunned and kept away from, them it is who you don't want to listen to or follow. They are corrupt and they are guilty of blasphemy. And who were they? The were dudes dressed up outwardly as the righteous who had everyone in their grip, until Jesus the unpopular entered and showed them up.
So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

It has zip nothing to do with calling out a brother who is claiming the righteousness of God and it has zip nothing to do with suggesting a brother is not right with God if he is not as righteous as you are.
It has a big big lot about denying Jesus as having come in the Flesh, as Lord and about calling Jesus an imposter and trying to debunk Him and His rightful title of both Lord and Christ.
It can go on to those who are His after His name and who are likewise called imposters because they too have cast out devils and healed the blind and dumb. What we do unto the least of them we do unto Him... get it right.
And while at it get fruity too.
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 12:3

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1John 4:1-3


So, read it yourself and see if the tone of some of your (all ) replies don't miss the mark somewhat. If you can be honest in private before God, He doesn't mind, just as He doesn't mind a little love.**

I have put it in quote form here but please do yourself a favour and read it through, then get your Bibles out and read the proceeding verses/sections/passages and the ones after it.

Matthew chapter 12 verses 15-50

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all; and charged them that they should not make Him known: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Behold My servant, Whom I have chosen; My beloved, in Whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory. And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.

>>> Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee. But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.

Bless you ....><>


**
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him,

That he who loveth God love his brother also 1John 4:7-21