2 Corinthians 11:12-15 • Righteous Robes, Sinister Hearts
From Accusation to Affection • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
As you can see Pastor Clark & Sally are away . Pastor Clark is teaching at a different Calvary Chapel for the night.
If you don’t know me…
Review & Overview
Review & Overview
1. Previous Study’s Review
1. Previous Study’s Review
Chps.10-13: Paul deals with some Corinthians who were not thrilled about his 1st letter to them...
A letter that exposed that they were Divisive... Sexually Immoral... Unethical... Idolatrous...
So they became Critical of Paul... in chp.10: they questioned his Motives... & his Authority for writing that letter...
We saw how Paul dealt with the issue of Authority... Spiritual Authority...
Here in chp.11 we come to the 3rd accusation against Paul by his critics & it’s about: His LOVE...
This 3rd accusation against Paul is simple... Paul you don’t love us... you don’t have affection toward us... or you wouldn’t have written these things about us... look at vs.11...
So Paul answers this accusation beautifully by comparing his love for them...
To a father’s love for his children...
Look at 1 Cor.4:14-16... because this is not the 1st time Paul brought this up...
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
If a father loves his children he warns them...disciplines them...corrects them... because he wants the best for them
And so far Paul deals with this issue in several ways:
1. Paul’s Jealousy for the Church Vs. 1-4
2. Paul’s Service to the Church Vs. 5-11
3. Paul’s Warning to the Church Vs. 12-15
That brings us to our portion of scripture and the 3rd way Paul deals with this issue. Read…
The Title of today’s message is: Righteous Robes, Sinister Hearts
Because as you can see in our quick reading of todays scripture Paul deals w/ this issue by warning them, he warns them of the false teachers, the Judaizers.
1. False Teachers are Ambitious like Satan Vs. 12
1. False Teachers are Ambitious like Satan Vs. 12
Notice there in the beginning of Vs. 12 Paul said…
What is Paul referring to here? What was he going to continue to do?
Paul is saying that he will continue to boast about the fact that when he came to Corinth he didn’t charge them, he didn’t ask for any money, he served them free of charge. Look at Vs. 7-10
Like any loving father Paul will continue or be faithful & dedicated to do what he’s been doing, which was to preach the gospel for free...
Why? Look at the middle of Vs. 12 again…
Why? to cut off any opportunity or to end any opportunity for the false apostles to say they’re like Paul...
Because they’re not like Paul... they were in it for the money! … they only loved themselves...
APPLICATION: Talk about Paul was called false teachers were not.
We want to stick to our calling.
2. False Teachers are Deceitful like Satan V.s 13
2. False Teachers are Deceitful like Satan V.s 13
Back in vs.3 Paul talked about Satan deceiving Eve...
Here, these false apostles have an EXTERNAL transformation to deceive the Corinthians...
but INTERNALLY they were only in it for the money... for themselves...
So we see here that False Teachers rely on deception……
18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
14 And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.
Let’s camp here for a second…
Let’s talk about deceit because deceit is a theme we see in the Bible.
And if you are taking notes we want to note 7 things about deception.
We already looked at one, false teachers rely on deception.
2. Satan’s Power Derives from Deception
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Deceit is his MO
3. The Antichrist Will Rely on Deception
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
4. The Fall of Man Took Place Through Deception
We see it with the creation story, satan deceiving Eve
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
5. Deception is a Characteristic of Fallen Human Nature
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
35 They conceive trouble and bring forth futility; Their womb prepares deceit.”
6. Deceit is Contrary to the Nature of God.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
7. God Cannot Be Deceived
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV)
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts…
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
You can’t deceive God nor can satan or anyone or anything…
And since God cannot be deceived, we should be motivated, inspired, we should be empowered to establish our relationship with God through His Word.
John 17:17 “17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
John 8:32 “32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.””
APPLICATION: Listen! We need to be in the Word of God!
TALK ABOUT HOW THERE IS A COMING TIME OF DECEPTION WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUE OR FALSE.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
APPLICATION: Talk about NOT BEING DECEIVED - Self help guru’s, New Age Spirituals, Etc.
Keep it simple…
3. False Teachers are Patterned after Satan Vs. 14
3. False Teachers are Patterned after Satan Vs. 14
Satan’s pretty smart... he’s not walking around in a red suit with a pitchfork & horns saying hello I’m the devil do you want to sin today...
No he comes as a angel of light... making sin look fun... inviting... with no consequences...
APPLICATION: And Paul as a loving fathers is warning his spiritual children in Corinth about the subtle tactics of Satan...
And we need to heed this warning as well…
ILLUSTRATION: Because all false religions that exist today are a direct result of this concept.
1. Islam: The Prophet Muhammad's encounter with the Archangel Gabriel (Jibril in Arabic) is a central event in Islamic tradition. Gabriel is said to have appeared to Muhammad in the Cave of Hira, beginning the revelation of the Quran.
2. Mormons: Angel Moroni
3. Hinduism (Avatars): Hindu scriptures describe various divine beings appearing to people and kings. For instance, Lord Vishnu is said to have appeared in various avatars to earthly figures.
4. Buddhism: While not angels in the traditional sense, Buddhism has stories of Bodhisattvas and other celestial beings appearing to humans. For example, in various Jataka tales, which are stories of the Buddha's past lives, there are descriptions of encounters with divine beings.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
3. False Teachers are Patterned after Satan Vs. 14
3. False Teachers are Patterned after Satan Vs. 14
Now what’s interesting, is this concept of transforming. Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.
Transform Greek - metaschematizo (meta-skaymah-teezoh). It’s a compound word: Meta, Schema.
Meta - A preposition, often used as an adverb to modify a verbs.
The word Meta means to be with, or to be after something, or to be behind someone or something.
It speaks of following or accompanying someone or something.
Schema - Means to have the visual appearance of something or someone.
So this word metaschema could be translated to: Following after or accompanying the appearance of something or someone.
And this is important because this speaks of A FALSE TRANSFORMATION.
Satan doesn’t miraculously transform himself like a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
He simply follows the trends, the appearances of an angel of light.
And what is compelling about this: Is that the word Schema is also used of Jesus to communicate the hypostatic union of Christ.
Philippians 2:8 (NKJV)
8 And being found in appearance (SCHÈMA) as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus had the appearance of a man. QUESTION: Was Jesus simply just a man?
No, He was 100% man and 100% God.
In the eyes of man Jesus looked like a regular guy.
This speaks to the genuine humility and incarnation of Jesus. He took on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And notice, this appearance was not deceptive but was a true embodiment of humility and sacrifice.
Now in contrast, when satan “Transforms” it is a deceptive appearance. He is only following after and modeling after an angel of light. It’s not a true transformation.
And this brings up an important topic. Let’s look at what a true transformation look…
Matthew 17:1–4 “1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves…
2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
Now this was a true transformation that is both internal and divine. It signifies a transformation that goes beyond the superficial and temporary.
Transfigure Greek - (Metamorphoō) It’s our english word for metamorphosis.
The word we use to describe a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.
This is a TRUE transformation. When a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly it still contains the same DNA: In other words it’s still a caterpillar only evolved.
APPLICATION: And what a picture this pains for us…
Because what this teaches the importance of true genuine transformation in our spiritual lives.
It's not enough to merely look and look like a Christian. True spiritual growth involves a deep, internal metamorphosis that aligns our character and actions with the humility and love demonstrated by Jesus.
APPLICATION: Another thing this teaches us is that at the same time, we are called to exercise discernment.
Recognizing that not all transformations are genuine and that true change is more than skin deep.
In a world filled with superficial alterations and deceptive appearances, God is calling us to have a true transformation. A change of heart.
And that my friends only God can do.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
4. False Teachers are Empowered by Satan Vs. 15
4. False Teachers are Empowered by Satan Vs. 15
Just as demons are empowered by Satan, these false apostles are empowered by Satan too...
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
APPLICATION: Point: it’s easy to be deceived... so how do guard against it... by the Word of God...
don’t believe a word anybody tells you... especially me... we need to turn to the Word of God...
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
And notice at the end again it says, “Whose end will be according to their works”…
At the end of the day, though they may have an external look of righteousness - Eventually they will show their cards, they will show their true selves… Turn to…
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: don’t be deceived because look, it’s confusing when you see a person who has an appearance of godliness and righteousness and MIXED W/ that they have satanic devil characteristics.
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Talk about yes, satan is powerful and is a roaring lion. but in the presence of God he is just a kitty cat. Or in this case a copy cat.
PREACH THE GOSPEL
ENDING….…