I want to illustrate just how careful believers need to be, especially in the last days. Too often we get comfortable in our Christianity, or maybe complacent is a better word. We would do well to listen to the clear warnings given in Scripture to believers.
Concerning His second coming, Jesus asked, "when the Son of man cometh, shall he find [the] faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). It doesn't sound like He was expecting to find a large, healthy Church when He returns. Then again, there has always been a small remnant of true believers mixed among a larger group of outwardly professing religious people who have "a form of godliness, but [deny] the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Remember Christ said the narrow road was the one that leads to life; the broad road leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14).
So why did Jesus ask whether He would find the faith when He returned? Perhaps it has something to do with what Paul was dealing with in Galatia. Keep in mind this was written to believers.
Galatians 1:6-8; 5:4; 5:9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel [another of a different kind]: (7) Which is not another [of the same kind]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed...
(5:4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace...
[The verb ‘justified’ in 5:4 is in the present tense which denotes a continuous action. These believers were continuously trying to be justified by their own works instead of by faith in Christ’s finished work on our behalf.]
(5:9) A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
[Leaven is indicative of sin. He is saying attempting to live by the law rather than operating in faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross is a sin that will corrupt the believer and lead him into further sin. Study the entire book. See also Colossians and Romans ch. 5-8.]
This was not the only time Paul spoke of a counterfeit message. Here is what he wrote to the church at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 11:2-4 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
So it looks like the early church was struggling against a counterfeit message, but haven't we worked out all the kinks by now? Well the short answer is no. Let's not forget we still have an adversary, "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan" who deceives the whole world (Rev. 12:9). He is continually trying to lead believers astray. Peter tells us to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" and that we are to firmly resist him in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-9).
I already expressed my view that believers can in fact be deceived if they are not careful. In my opinion, there are so many examples and warnings in the Scriptures that support this view that I cannot come to any other conclusion. Let's quickly look at a few more examples.
Paul told Timothy "that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Tim. 4:1). The way I see it, it is impossible to leave a place to which you've never been. The Greek word aphistemi, translated as depart in the previous verse, is also used by Paul when he told Timothy, "let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart [aphistemi] from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19) and by the author of Hebrews when he said, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing [aphistemi] from the living God" (Heb. 3:12). And note in the latter verse, the author is addressing "brethren," or fellow believers. This verse also gives us a clue to what causes some to depart from the faith. They have "an evil heart of unbelief." Much could be said about the "seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Perhaps I'll come to that in another post.
At another time, while warning the elders in Ephesus that "grievous wolves" would come in among them "not sparing the flock," Paul said, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30). No doubt this still happens today. Jude echoes the warning about "grievous wolves" coming in.
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
As does Peter.
2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
But we must not lose sight of who the real enemy is. Keeping with the main theme of this blog, I turn to 2 Cor. 11 which describes the power behind false teachers, false prophets, etc.
2 Cor. 11:13-15 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.
This post was not meant to be a downer. On the contrary, I hope it will create a sense of caution in the reader as well as energize you to "search the scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11). We must never allow ourselves to become so complacent that we lose sight of the tasks the Lord has given us.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
