Read 2 Corinthians 11.
The Apostle Paul introduced these Corinthians to Jesus. He planted this church and taught them. But false teachers crept in, questioning Paul's credentials and teaching things contrary to God's word.
Paul earned the right to be bold and blunt. In the second half of this chapter, he responded concerning his qualifications. Though he utilized no little bit of sarcasm in presenting his case concerning himself, he held nothing back in assessing those who had been wrongfully influencing the congregation.
What false teachers can do to a church.
They were being cunningly deceived by the devil. (v.3a)
They were being led astray from devotion to Christ. (v.3b)
They were being taught "another Jesus", "a different spirit", and "a different gospel". (v.4a)
They put up with it. (v.4b)
They were being enslaved, taken advantage of, and being mistreated. (v.19)
Who false teachers really are.
These were false apostles.
These were deceitful workers.
These were disguising themselves.
These were servants of Satan.
How to identify a false teacher.
1. Are they teaching the Bible as the inerrant word of God, or are they dismissing the Scriptures as inspirational material, but culturally irrelevant and only from human authors?
2. Are they presenting Jesus as the one and only Son of God who died on the cross for the sin of the world, or are they only presenting a social Jesus who went about doing good things?
3. Is church a place where the Bible is taught and the gospel is presented for personal decisions to follow Christ, or is it only a gathering for religious rituals?
To the Galatians who being troubled by false teachers, the Holy Spirit guided Paul to write: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8)
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