- Verse 3-4 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one your received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one your accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
It is so important that whatever you hear, whomever you listen to teach the Bible, make sure you test it with Scripture. For, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If something you hear does not agree with Scripture, you should not receive it. Just because a man preaches, does not mean what he says comes from the Bible. Just because a man preaches something, does not mean you should assume it's teaching from God. It is your responsibility to study God's Word for yourselves, and not take everything you hear as truth. Think of how many people are being deceived by "preachers" if this is one way that Satan deceives people- even people intending to follow the one and only Jesus! There are some preachers who do not know even they are deceived- and so they think of themselves as true teachers of the Bible, leading their flock the wrong way. Then there are others, who know that what they teach, does not agree with the Bible and yet they continue on, deceiving the hearts of many and dragging them down the road of destruction.
- Verse 13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
~Leanne~