Inferior Apostles
Notes
Transcript
We come today to Paul continuing to defend his ministry and reveal the satanic teachers that have moved into Corinth to corrupt and take advantage of the church there. Spurgeon spoke of folks like this,
Why, these are sham Christians; they are not genuine Christians; they are of the world, and do the things of the world. We may conclude that their hearts and natures are worldly, for if they were spiritual they would love spiritual things, and their hearts would be engaged in spiritual exercises.
Deliverance From The Power Of Darkness, Volume 59, Sermon #3366 - Colossians 1:13
Charles Spurgeon
As we come to todays text we need to keep in mind what our walks look like and be sure we are lined up with scripture not to try and make scripture line up with us.
For contexts sake, lets read from v1.
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Now we come to our text, and we will go through it a few verses at a time. I’ve divided it into two sections here, vv5-11 Humbling ministers and then 12-15 Boasting Ministers.
vv5-11 Humbling ministers
vv5-11 Humbling ministers
5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
He isn’t here comparing himself to the twelve. He’s saying he isn't any less or worse than the Eminent, superior, distinguished, Super-Apostles that the church there is entertaining.
He might not be a trained communicator, but boy sure can teach! Pauls training is not the real reason he was called by God. It was his willingness to die. To suffer for the sake of the gospel. Which God equipped him for.
Paul has been trained in the scriptures by some of the finest minds. He was no doubt influenced by Gamaliel when he became a Christian. Gamaliel is noted as the member of the Sanhedrin who advocated moderate treatment of Peter and John (Acts 5:34ff.), and Luke quotes Paul as claiming that Gamaliel was his teacher (Acts 22:3). It was Gamaliel who said that the Christians should not be persecuted, because if their teaching were from God no one could stop it, and if not it would die by itself.
7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
We see in Acts 18:3 He was a tentmaker getting support from other churches and himself, 1 Corinthians 9:18 “What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.” Sarcastically he’ll say in, 2 Corinthians 12:13 “For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!”
Paul is suggesting that his desire to not be a stumbling block or burden by accepting donations from the church might have been wrong because his humility kept them from investing in their minister. But his specific reasoning was not to punish them, but cut the legs from under the false teachers there in Corinth who were misleading and taking advantage of the congregation.
8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
Paul told the elders of Ephesus, Acts 20:33 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.” He was the same here. But he felt like he was sacking the other churches by getting paid from Macedonia while “working” for Corinth.
Turn to Philippians 4, This section is a little long but Paul expounds on the why of this and how he was being cared for, Philippians 4:10–20 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” His fullness was the fruit God produced not the things he had or didn't have. He gloried in what God did.
Paul the teachers assert, denied that to Corinth. And even in this, the false apostles attack his Humility, not because Paul is doing wrong, but because it brings shame to them. When one is proud, humility in someone you consider the enemy, is looked at as a flaw, a negative rather than positive.
In his heart he was keeping himself from being a burden to them rather than taking as the “Super Apostles” were doing.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!
Paul will boast about the churches in Achaia, who help him to keep going, so that he doesn't take from Corinth! Because the false teachers take and take, they try to convince them that Paul doesn't love them because he doesn't take their money!
Pauls brag isn't on his love for them, but their love for him. God is so good. He said in 1 Corinthians 9:15 “But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.” Notice Paul boasts in Jesus, in the churches of Achaia, and even on Corinth. His only self boast is the lesson he is trying to teach the church in Corinth as well as these self-appointed “Apostles”.
12-15 Boasting Ministers
12-15 Boasting Ministers
12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
this verse transitions to the next thought of the difference between Godly and Demonic doctrine (which is seen in the behavior of their proponents).
Paul, ever the teacher, points that out in 1 Corinthians 9:12 “If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.” Paul was willing to hurt for the sake of the Church there.
Paul wants to keep going to show that the truth of these false apostles. if the money and influence dried up, they would too. But Paul was in it for the long haul. Paul wanted life for the Churches, these Demonic Apostles were in it for themselves. John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
thats the difference between Godly and satanic worship. and yes, any, ANY worship that is not “Godly” is satanic. The initial attack on righteousness was bad teaching! Gen. 3 did God say?
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
Paul gives them a layout of what they are and lays out how the enemy is allowed/can do this. A person can be one or all of this. I would venture that there are no Apostles (capital A) today. Same with Prophets.
False Apostles - listed in the gifts of the church, they are capital A appointed by God. Only 14 actually know. 12 then loss of Judas, then addition plus paul. But the 12 were to represent the tribes of Israel. They were foundational and the church builds on what they gave us. If the plain teaching of the Apostles isn't our foundation, we are building on shaky ground. There are Apostolos (transliterated) which in the greek is Sent Ones. Many consider missionaries to be apostles in their actions. Creating foundations of doctrine in the lands and places sent for others to build on.
Some claiming to be Apostles were teaching them that they had to obey the law to be saved Acts 15:24 “Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—” the
2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
Some try to teach that we need to mind our own business, but here we see we should point them out, get them out - the HS praised the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:2 ““I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;”
Deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles.. We could spend 15 minutes and show you 50 false teachers in that short a time. But rather than give them screen-time, I want to encourage you to dive into the word. To never just read a verse. To get the context of everything you read. To test every spirit. The gospel, the good news is that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. And in Him, we have life for eternity. Romans 16:18 “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.”
If a teacher encourages you to live in any kind of sin, they are deceitful workers. If they demand you obey an OT law to be saved, if someone adds anything to the gospel to be saved, they are deceitful workers. Philippians 3:2 “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!”
Like many who call themselves pastors but aren't called to it, if you don’t fit the calling, you aren't called, you’re forcing your way in. Titus 1:10–11 “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.” Jesus warned them, Matthew 7:15 ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” He said, “You will know them by their fruits.”
Paul says it isn't a surprise.
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Satan is a real being, created by God for particular purposes. He played a major role in the fall of man, Ge *3:1-5. Lets look at some of his character in, Isaiah 14:12–15 ““How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.” So Satan misrepresents himself always. Ezekiel 28:13–15 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.”
A reason he may attack humanity because they were created only a little lower than angels yet the resurrection would be higher than the whole of the angelic realm. We will judge angels. (1Co 6:3)
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
his final point, is that since these guys serve (minister) Satan, its no wonder they do this and that they will get whats coming to them!
they don’t actually become apostles of God. Its a corrupt copy. As Satan imitates what is holy, his servants do the same thing. Look, the actual church in jerusalem, as Jewish as they were, encouraged the growing gentile church, Acts 15:20–21 “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.””
How? Galatians 2:4 “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),” Jude said, Jude 4 “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8–12 “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. 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
End according to works, 2 Peter 2:18–22 “For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.””
When someone teaches false doctrine, thats their only reward as well. Not eternal life but the result of sin which is? death eternal separation.
Philippians 3:19 “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”
Look, Paul had literally spent over a year with them. Acts 18:11-12 states that Paul stayed a year and six months in Corinth. Paul would teach all night every night. He was called there by God and was establishing a foundation (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:20). Ephesians 4:11–13 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” God is building a temple in us and wants us to be in unity but not at the expense of truth.