Justification and Its Counterfeits
Justified Conference 2026 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Opening Illustration
Opening Illustration
Beloved, Ligonier Ministries, on its website, provides a biblically sound definition of the Doctrine of Justification...
It records that:
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“Justification is a principal benefit of redemption that Christ secured for the elect.
In justification, God declares sinners righteous in His sight in the divine law court.
According to Scripture and the Reformed tradition, justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
In justification, God forgives the sins of His people and imputes Christ’s righteousness—puts it on their accounts before Him—to them solely on the basis of Jesus’ sinless life, atoning death, and resurrection...
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God does not require any other gracious operation on the part of those He justifies except faith, which rests on and receives Christ alone for one’s righteousness...
Holiness and good works will not be the reason that God declares a believer righteous, but these things will prove that God has declared that person righteous in Christ because those who have been justified bear spiritual fruit.”
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Now, Beloved, pay attention to this next part:
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“The New Testament includes well-reasoned defenses of the doctrine of justification from the attacks of false teachers.
In church history, the doctrine of justification by faith alone was central to the Protestant Reformers in their refutation of the false gospel of Roman Catholicism.”
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Beloved, it is not just Rome who has pushes a false gospel...
The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Church, Jehovah's Witness, Mormons, Muslims, Jews, etc.
All are peddling a counterfeit gospel that promotes a counterfeit doctrine of Justification...
And that will be the topic of our message today.
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So, please turn your Bibles to the 2 Corinthians.
We will conduct our study in Chapter 11 and focus on verses 1 through 15.
Our message this morning is titled “Justification and Its Counterfeits.”
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As you are turning to our passage today, please keep in mind this fact:
When Paul was ministering to the churches that he helped establish through his letters...
He often had to rebuke the church he was addressing due to some of their unbiblical practices...
And of those rebukes those found in his epistles to the Galatians and those in Corinth where the strongest...
This was due to those churches flirting with false teachers that taught a false gospel.
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So, this morning we will cover three main points:
1) The True Gospel
2) The Super-Apostle
And...
3) The Servants of Satan
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Before we consider our text, please join me in prayer...
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Heavenly Father...
Our mighty God who is like no other...
Open our hearts and eyes to understand Your truth...
Remove and any obstacles and distractions in our life...
Shape our desires to match Your desires...
Soften our hearts so we can serve You with a humble and honest heart.
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Thank You sending Your Son into a world that You loved...
And into a world You knew would be hostile towards Your Son...
We don’t deserve Your mercy...
For we were Your enemies.
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We don’t deserve Your grace...
For we were rebels...
But You loved us anyways...
And You saved us who where not worthy to be saved!
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And it is in Jesus’ name we pray all these things...
Amen.
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Let’s turn to our text for today:
Reading of the Text
Reading of the Text
1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3 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.
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
So, let’s look at our first point...
1) The True Gospel
1) The True Gospel
Verses 1-4: I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 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 you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
Beloved, let us start by look at the background information related to the text we will be expounding...
Paul is writing this letter to the church in Corinth that he first brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
As he said in 1 Corinthians 15:1:
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
Paul preached a message that one is saved by Grace alone, through faith alone...
Paul preached a message that one is saved in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone...
And Paul preached a message that one is saved all for the glory of God alone!
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Beloved, Paul preached the true Gospel...
The Gospel of Justification as defined by Scripture...
The only Gospel that can save!
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But the situation in Corinth became very concerning to Paul...
For wolves, claiming to be superior apostles than Paul came with a seducing message.
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They came and peddled a gospel that was powerless...
They came and peddled a gospel that was void of the Holy Spirt...
They came and peddled a gospel that lacked a true Christ...
And Paul’s heart was broken...
So, he made himself a fool to expose to foolishness of these pseudo apostles!
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As the New American Commentary on 2 Corinthians says:
“Paul has repudiated self-commendation and comparison (one-upmanship) as worthless.
Scripture attests that God gives the only valid praise.
But he now asks the Corinthians to bear with a little foolishness of his own.
The circumstances have driven him to this extremity.
Boasting is clearly unwise; but if he ignores the slurs of rivals who have maligned him, the church might be persuaded that they were on target.
If he stoops to their level by boasting, he is a fool.
But if he does not defend himself, he might lose the congregation to even greater fools.
Forced into a corner, Paul feels he must opt for this foolishness and introduce his own so-called boasts.
It is more than a case of trying to fight fire with fire.
In the process he turns his foolish boasting into a sly and devastating attack on his opponents.
By repeatedly insisting that he is playing the fool by boasting in the same way that his opponents have, he hopes to lead his auditors to recognize how foolish his boastful rivals are and how foolish they have been for being taken in by them.
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The difference between Paul and the rivals is that Paul admits that what he does is foolish; they do not.
Paul undercuts the rivals’ boasting further by using irony.
He does not boast only about his glorious accomplishments, as they had, but recounts a string of humiliating experiences and boldly contends that he is a better servant of Christ because of them.
The battle lines are drawn between Paul, the weak but true apostle authorized by God, and the super but false apostles working under Satan.”
So, Paul plays the fool to help the Corinthians grasp more firmly the wisdom of the cross and the finished work of Christ at Calvary.
Thus, Paul requests permission to be foolish...
Or more precisely, he asks the Corinthians to bear with him and accept him as a fool.
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What Paul is saying is that the Corinthians should be happy to have a fool as their apostle...
For that is precisely what they have been happy to do in their embrace of these false apostles.
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Paul truly has a deep concern for the Corinthians...
So much so that his concern for them leads to a divine jealousy...
For the Corinthians are not just embracing some bad doctrine...
They are embracing a counterfeit gospel...
They are embracing a counterfeit view of justification...
They are embracing a counterfeit Jesus...
And to due so is to flirt with eternal damnation!
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Just look at Paul’s strong words to the Galatians who also flirted with and embraced teaching of false teachers...
In their case it was the Judaizes who added requirements like circumcision to the doctrine of Justification.
Look with me at Galatians 1:6–7 which says:
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
And Galatians 1:8-9 which says:
8 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.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Beloved, to accept another gospel is to be cursed by God!
To accept another gospel is to be cursed by God to hell unless one repents and genuinely believes!
So, this is no small matter.
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That is why Paul says he has a “divine jealousy” or “godly jealousy” for the Corinthians...
That jealousy is inspired by zeal for God’s causes, and thus similar to God’s own jealousy for His holy name and His people’s loyalty.
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In our passage, Paul portrayed the Corinthians like a daughter, whom he betrothed to Jesus Christ (at their conversion).
Having betrothed or pledged the Corinthians to Christ, Paul wanted them to be pure until the marriage day finally arrived.
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You see, Beloved, during the betrothal period, it was the father’s responsibility to ensure that his daughter remained faithful to her pledged husband.
He would then present her to him at the wedding ceremony as a pure virgin.
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When Paul preached the gospel to them, he illustrates this as him betrothing the Corinthians to one husband, Christ.
However, if the Corinthians follow the false apostles, they will stray from Christ and be unfaithful to Him.
So, it was that passionate concern to protect the Corinthians which provoked Paul’s divine jealousy.
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Furthermore, Paul compared the danger facing the Corinthian church to Eve’s deception by Satan.
As Genesis 3:1–6 says:
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Paul feared the Corinthians, like Eve, would fall prey to satanic lies and have their minds corrupted.
The tragic result would be the abandonment of their simple devotion to Christ in favor of the sophisticated error of the false apostles who were Satan’s emissaries.
Consider this note from the MacArthur Study Bible:
“The false apostles came into the Corinthian church from the outside—just as Satan did into the Garden.
Likely they were Palestinian Jews who allegedly sought to bring the Corinthians under the sway of the Jerusalem church.
They were in a sense Judaizers, seeking to impose Jewish customs on the Corinthians.
Unlike the Judaizers who plagued the Galatian churches, however, the false apostles at Corinth apparently did not insist that the Corinthians be circumcised.
Nor did they practice a rigid legalism; in fact, they apparently encouraged licentiousness.
Their fascination with rhetoric and oratory suggests they had been influenced by Greek culture and philosophy.
They claimed (falsely) to represent the Jerusalem church, even possessing letters of commendation.
Claiming to be the most eminent of apostles, they scorned Paul’s apostolic claims.
Though their teaching may have differed from the Galatian Judaizers, it was just as deadly.”
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“Did God actually say?”
The words of our enemy to Eve...
They are also the words of those who are followers of our enemy...
Casting doubt on God’s commands...
Either removing, adding, or twisting God’s Word...
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As we see in the Old Testament as recorded in Jeremiah 14:14:
14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
Likewise, we see that same deception with the Pharisees...
The religious elite of Jesus day...
Just look with me at Mark 7:8-9, which says:
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
And take a look at what Mark 7:13 has to say on the matter:
13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
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So, it is no surprise that counterfeit gospels where peddled in the Garden, during the time of the prophets, during the time of Christ, and now, in our passage, in the time of the early church.
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These false apostles where notorious for three dangerous characteristics:
First, the false apostles preached another Jesus, not the true Lord Jesus Christ whom Paul preached.
Instead of viewing Christ as the eternal second person of the Trinity, who became a man and died as an atoning sacrifice for sin, they promoted a different Christ...
False religions and cults have presented Jesus as a mere prophet, guru, avatar, socialist, political revolutionary, Michael the archangel, a spirit child of God, etc.
The same was true with these false apostles who outwardly identified with Jesus, yet the Jesus they preached was not the Jesus of Scripture...
In fact, it seem these pseudo apostles downplayed the importance of Jesus’ crucifixion, since Greeks considered crucifixion to be a sign of weakness.
However, the crucifixion of Christ as the heart of his gospel!
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Second, the false apostles came in the power of a different spirit, a demonic spirit, not the Holy Spirit whom the Corinthians had received at salvation.
All false teaching ultimately derives from Satan and his demons.
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Third, the false apostles preached a different gospel.
They believed in a gospel that denied biblical justification and that salvation is by grace through faith alone.
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Thus, Paul’s opponents at Corinth were not just fellow Christians who differ in certain nonessential matters...
These false apostles were actual servants of Satan inside the visible church, competing for its leadership.
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Counterfeit gospels are rampant in our time as well...
Just look at all the cults in our day...
Jehovah's Witness claim Jesus is archangel Michael...
Mormons believe Jesus is the brother of Satan and just one of many gods...
Muslims believe Jesus was just a prophet who was never crucified...
Jews deny Jesus is the true Messiah and speak about Him is a vile manner.
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Counterfeit churches are rampant in our time as well...
They may have a Trinitarian view of Jesus...
But the Romans Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches serve as spiritual decedents of the Pharisees and Judaizers...
For they, claiming to be successors of the apostles, add requirements to salvation...
They add requirements to the biblical view of Justification...
They require icon veneration in order to be saved...
They require veneration of Mary and the saints in order to be saved...
They require belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity in order to be saved...
They require belief in Mary’s assumption into heaven in order to be saved...
They require belief in true presence in the communion elements in order to be saved...
And the list goes on...
In fact, based on their dogmas, one is saved by the Church alone, through the Church alone, in the Church alone, according to the Church alone, all for the glory of the Eastern Orthodox Church alone...
So, in order to be part of either the Romans Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches...
One must hold to Sola Ecclesia or “the Church alone.”
However, that is a counterfeit of what we see in Scripture.
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As Paul cried out to the Galatians as they where seduced by their false teachers as recorded in Galatians 3:1–3:
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
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So, let’s talk a little more about these charlatans who claim to have apostolic authority...
Or whom Paul calls “super-apostles”...
And that takes us to our next point.
2) The Super-Apostle
2) The Super-Apostle
Verses 5-11: Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things. Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Beloved, the term “super-apostles” used by Paul was him making a sarcastic reference to the false apostles, based on their exalted view of themselves.
This is not unlike the “super-apostles” of our time...
Especially in the Romans Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches we see an appeal to their own authority...
They believe in the man-made doctrine of apostolic succession...
That is the belief that today's popes, patriarchs, cardinals, monks, bishops are the direct successors in an unbroken line to the apostles.
This spiritual authority and passing on of holy tradition is done through the sacramental act of “laying on of hands.”
These churches also claim that their own church is the only infallible body that can interpret Scripture and pass down holy apostolic traditions...
In fact, in Decree 2 of 1672’s The Confession of Dositheus, the Eastern Orthodox Church says:
“When any man speaks from himself he is liable to err, and to deceive, and be deceived; but the [Eastern Orthodox] Church, as never having spoken, or speaking from herself, but from the Spirit of God — who being her teacher, she is ever unfailingly rich — it is impossible for her to in any wise err, or to at all deceive, or be deceived; but like the Divine Scriptures, is infallible, and has perpetual authority.”
However, an outlandish claim that one is as infallible as Scripture is just that...
An outlandish claim by a bunch of modern day “super-apostles.”
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Now these false apostles that Paul was dealing with in his day where very skilled orators...
Much like so of the online personalities in the Catholic and Orthodox apologetics circles.
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They are charismatic speakers and have a track record of deceiving many...
Especially of late...
But we must remember...
It is not our skill in speaking that God is concerned about.
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Beloved, when Paul says he is “unskilled in speaking” he is acknowledging his lack of training in the rhetorical skills so prized in Greek culture...
There seem to be little change in the things that are prized in our time as well.
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However, God often uses what is weak in the world to shame the proud...
God often uses the least likely candidate to accomplish His will.
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Look at what Moses said in Exodus 4:10:
10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
And even of Paul himself, look what is recorded in 2 Corinthians 10:10:
10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”
You see, Beloved, Paul was a preacher of the gospel, not a professional orator and lacked formal training in rhetoric.
Furthermore, he had no intention of engineering an audience’s favorable response with rhetorical devices because that may mean that they have been convinced by the power of his rhetoric rather than converted by the power of the cross.
So, Beloved, to not get sucked up in the oratory skills of a supposed “super-apostle.”
Trust in the power of God’s truth.
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Many who have flirted with and recently joined the Eastern Orthodox Church, have appealed to the great early fathers that have amused them due to their use of philosophy...
But I would push back with the wisdom from a true apostle of Christ when we look at what Paul said in Colossians 2:8:
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
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The New International Commentary on the New Testament on 2 Corinthians put it like this:
“Paul’s language here reflects the accusations brought against him by the rival ‘apostles’ who had invaded the Corinthian church.
To the sophisticated Greek mind skill in rhetoric and philosophy provided a commendation superior to all others for the man who wished to gain a following; and these false teachers endeavoured to trade upon this mentality.
No doubt they sought to commend themselves by some display of rhetorical art and by the presentation of a philosophical-religious gnosis (knowledge) calculated to appeal to the Greek mind; and in doing so they drew attention to the deficiencies of Paul in these respects, hoping thereby to discredit him.
In his earlier letter Paul had already exposed the incompatibility of artificial eloquence and human philosophy with the style and content of Christian preaching.
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As a minister of the gospel, the alluring tricks of oratory and the persuasive arguments of philosophy were not his stock in trade.
Yet in bringing them the gospel of Jesus Christ he was indeed bringing them wisdom, a wisdom, it is true, not of this fallen world (though for this fallen world), but the only true wisdom, the wisdom of God.
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The contrast in its essence is between rhetoric and preaching.
The former is superficial, artificial, formal, ephemeral, attractive to the ears, but unrelated to the depth of human need; the latter is direct, serious, earnest, directed to heart and mind and will, related to eternal issues, concerned with the message rather than with the method of its utterance.
The former is applauded, for it conduces to human adulation; the latter is unapplauded, for it brings men face to face with God.”
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Thus, although Paul said he was unskilled in speaking, he also adds “I am not so in knowledge.”
That means whatever deficiencies Paul may have had as an orator, he had none in terms of biblical knowledge.
You see, Beloved, that is what matters.
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Next, Paul says, “Did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?”
When he said this he was referring to how the Greek culture measured the importance of a teacher by the fee he could command.
Today, in our culture, the measure of importance of a teacher or an “influencer” is judged by the amount of followers and subscribers one has on social media.
Beloved, do not get distracted by that...
The false apostles in Paul’s day accused him of being a counterfeit, since he refused to charge for his services.
However, it was Paul’s policy not to accept financial support from churches in which he was currently ministering, although he is entitled to receiving payment.
Though Paul did not take money from churches while he was establishing them, he did accept support from those churches after he left.
They were thus able to share in his church-planting ministry.
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Again the New International Commentary on the New Testament on 2 Corinthians has a very helpful note for us to consider:
“Among the Greeks the accredited rhetorician or philosopher was a ‘professional’ man who charged for his services and lived by his art.
For a speaker to refuse [compensation], or not to demand it, would at once cause his listeners, such was the sophistication of their outlook, to suspect him of being spurious, a mere poseur, and his teaching as worthless.
What we have here, then, is the echo of another and most despicable accusation fabricated by the false teachers who had trespassed on his territory in Corinth:
It is Paul, they were whispering, who is not genuine; his teaching is so worthless that he does not dare to accept payment for it; a man who has so little confidence in his proclamation, and who so obviously declares himself to be the unskilled amateur, is unworthy the credence of intelligent people.
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It is certainly true, as he had explained to the Corinthians in his earlier letter, that, consonant both with the law of Moses and the precept of Christ, those who proclaim the gospel have a right to live of the gospel.
But, though he might with complete legitimacy have done so, Paul forbore to avail himself of that right.”
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So, Beloved, beware of false teachers who boast of worldly things..
The “super-apostles” of Paul’s day boasted of the size of their speaking fees..
The “super-apostles” of our day boast of the number of followers or converts into their apostate churches...
Do not let that gaslighting disturb your assurance of salvation in the finished work of Christ...
These “super-apostles”...
Both now and then...
Offer a counterfeit gospel...
Because their master is the father of lies...
And this takes us to our third and final point.
3) The Servants of Satan
3) The Servants of Satan
Verses 12-15: And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 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 no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Paul makes it clear that he will not change his policies based on pleasure from the “super-apostles” or to satisfy the Corinthians desires...
In fact, Paul refusal to accept financial support from the Corinthians was a source of embarrassment to the false apostles, who eagerly sought money for their services...
Very much like prosperity gospel teachers today who ask their followers to sow a seed of $1,000 for a blessing...
Or like the Eastern Orthodox Church that has some churches charging over $1,000 for baptism.
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Now, the moment has come for Paul to drop the veil of irony and to speak in the plainest possible terms in denunciation of these would-be “super-apostles” who have invaded his territory in Corinth.
He flat out calls them false apostles...
And not only that...
Paul is not pulling any punches...
He calls them deceitful workmen...
He calls compares them to Satan who disguises himself as an angel of light...
And he says this should be no surprise for they are his servants.
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Men of this sort are in fact false apostles, impostors whose aim is to usurp the apostolic authority.
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In fact, the sharpness of Paul’s accusation against the apostolic claimants in Corinth is unsurpassed in his letters.
Not even the warning in Galatians matches the charge that he makes here in its directness.
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Paul’s forceful language may seem harsh, but it expressed the godly jealousy he felt for the Corinthians.
Paul was unwilling to sacrifice truth for the sake of unity...
Another lesson we need to remember today in light of all the talk of ecumenism.
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Beloved, we as born-again believers who believe that justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone...
Cannot unite with those who believe justification is by grace and the church’s sacrament...
Through faith and works...
In Christ, Mary and the saints.
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That would be a counterfeit to the truth found in the Word of God!
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You see, Beloved, Satan is most effective in the church when he comes not as an open enemy, but as a false friend...
Satan is most effective when he comes not to persecute the church, but when he joins it...
Satan is most effective not when he attacks the pulpit, but when he stands in it.
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Never forget this reality...
As Ephesians 6:12 says:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
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Now, the terrifying end of these false “servants of righteousness” will be to face God’s judgment.
And it will be a harsh judgment...
As 2 Peter 2:1-3 says:
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
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Beloved, make sure that you put your trust in the finished work of Christ...
For only He can save...
And run away from all the deadly and destructive counterfeits this world has to offer.
Closing Illustration
Closing Illustration
So, as this message comes to a close...
I would like you to consider this:
Warren Wiersbe tells the story about a man who purchased a Rolls Royce and decided to tour through Europe.
As he was enjoying his drive looking at the sights, suddenly his Rolls Royce broke down with no one around who could fix it.
He sent a cable to the company in England and they flew a man over who did the repairs.
The man thought to himself, “This is going to cost me a ton of money.”
He waited for a bill but it never came, so he sent a letter to the company telling what had happened, how the mechanic had fixed his car, and wondered what the charge would be.
He got a letter back from the Rolls Royce Company which said,
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“Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your letter.
You need to know that we have no record in our files that any Rolls Royce has ever broken down at any place, at any time, for any reason.”
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That’s what justification has done in the life of the Christian.
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You may fail, you may break down and run yourself into a ditch, but God Almighty looks down at you and says,
“There is no record that my child has ever broken down at all.”
Your sin record is wiped away and you are credited with the perfect, eternally secure righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray...
.......
Heavenly Father...
If anyone hearing this message right now does not know You in a saving way:
.......
For those hearing this message who already know You:
.......
It is in Jesus’ name we pray all these things...
To God be all the glory.
Amen.
