Crucify The Sensual Sins

Gal 5:14-21,

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

Paul reminds the Galatians that, though he is now talking of the need to live a godly life, he is not thereby reverting to legalism.  Life in the Spirit is neither legalism nor license—nor a middle way between them. It is a life of faith and love that is above all of these false ways. Being led by the Spirit does not imply that we have no responsibility but rather the need to allow oneself to be led. Responding to the Spirit is described by three mutually interpreting words in vv. 16, 18, and 25--"walk", "led," and "live."(Also see Col. 1:10–14; 3:1-10, “set your affections,” “Mortify,” “put off,” “put on new man”)

“The problem of the Christian life is based on the fact that so long as the Christian lives in this world he is, so to speak, two trees---- the old tree of the flesh and the new tree of the divine nature implanted at the new birth; and the problem itself is, how to keep barren the old tree and make the new tree fruitful.  The problem is solved by walking in the Spirit.”  -- C. I. Scofield

REALIZE FREEDOM THROUGH CRUCIFIXION (w. 19-21, 24).

That Spirit and flesh in conflict is now illustrated by contrasting lists of the works of the flesh and of the fruit of the Spirit. Paul has both in mind as he begins to write this section. At the same time, the lists are more than a mere proof of what he has written earlier. For by raising these particulars of conduct, he also provides a checklist for measuring the conduct of those who consider themselves spiritual.  If one's conduct is characterized by the traits in the first list, then he is either not a believer or else a believer who is not being led by God's Spirit. The same standards of evaluation hold true for churches.  We must understand that the flesh is already crucified and we are now challenged to live out this positional reality (5:24). Christ died for me to remove the penalty of my sin, but I died with Christ to break sin's power (6:14).

Crucify the Works of the Flesh.  Vs. 19, 24

Paul now lists some of the ugly "works of the flesh." (You will find similar lists in Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:29-32; I Tim. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 3:2-5.) The flesh is able to manufacture sin but it can never produce the righteousness of God.  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9).

The word manifest means “open, evident” so that anyone may see, hence, “well-known.” Paul appeals to their common knowledge. It is as if Paul said to the Galatians, “You have a clearly defined standard by which to decide whether you are being led by the Holy Spirit or by the flesh. Each is known by its peculiar work or fruits.”  This list in Galatians can be divided into three major categories: Sensual, Superstition, and Social.  The key to triumphing over the works of the flesh is crucifixion (5:24). 

         

                   

Crucify the Sensual Sins (vv. 19, 21b).

The particulars he specifies are of various sorts; some are sins against the seventh commandment, such as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, by which are meant not only the gross acts of these sins, but all such thoughts, and words, and actions, as have a tendency towards these great transgressions.

              1.  Adultery.  Adultery is illicit sex between married people.

                   A.  Physical Adultery.  It is having physical marital type relationships with someone other than one's wife or husband (Le. 20:10; Pr. 6:26-32; Eze. 16:32; Ro. 7:3; He. 13:4).

                   B.  Spiritual Adultery.  The Bible also speaks of spiritual adultery--worshiping or serving false gods or worldly pleasures (Je. 13:27; Eze. 23:43; Jam. 4:4).

                   C.  Mental Adultery.  The Lord Jesus Christ taught that adultery first occurs in the heart. Immoral lust is adultery (Mt. 5:27-28).

              2.  Fornication.  Fornication generally refers to sexual sin among unmarried people. "Fornication" or sexual immorality is a very broad term, denoting any immoral sexual intercourse or relationships.

                  A.  Physical Fornication.  Fornication could also be defined as "the gratification of sexual appetites without respect to marriage or the necessity of God's approval" (Bunnell). The Bible uses this term as a general description for immorality (Mt. 5:32; 15:19; 19:9; Ac. 15:20,29; Ro. 1:29; 1 Co. 5:1; 6:18; 7:2; 2 Co. 12:21; Ga. 5:19; Ep. 5:3; Co. 3:5; 1 Th. 4:3; Re. 9:21).

NOTE:  Fornication is a union but it is not marriage.  Malachi explains that marriage is more than the sexual union; it is a covenant before God and man (Mal. 2:14), and it is this covenant that God blesses by making the two one (Mal. 2:15).  Also take note of  the women at the well who had five husbands but Jesus confirmed the fact that the man she was currently living with was not her husband (Jn. 4:16-18).

                  B.  Spiritual Fornication.  Like adultery, fornication is also used in a spiritual sense to describe turning from God to serve false gods (Eze. 16:29-34; Re. 2:21; 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3; 19:2).

                  C.  Mental Fornication.  The Greek word translated fornication is porneia, from which the English word "pornographic" is derived.  Again the Lord Jesus made it extremely clear that immoral lust is adultery (Mt. 5:27-28; 15:17-20).  Certainly this includes the sin and pursuit of looking at lewd women in wicked magazines and on the internet.

              3.  Uncleanness.  Uncleanness means just that: a filthiness of heart and mind that makes the person corrupt.  To be defiled, foul, unfit. To be unclean refers to lifestyles that are unfit, to defilement of a moral   character, and to spiritual impurity.  The thought is often connected with sensuality (2Cor. 12:212).

                 A.  Moral Impurity.  Paul uses tern “uncleanness” almost exclusively to refer to moral impurity and perhaps of unnatural vice.  The unclean person sees dirt in everything (see Titus 1:15).  This results is a dirty mind, heart, mouth, and actions.

                 B.  Divine Purity.  The teaching about “uncleanness” springs from the concept of God's holiness (Lev 11:44-45, 47).  Uncleanness is not a matter of personal perception or preference, it is a matter which God has defined in absolute standards and terms.  It is not based on a culture’s or society’s perceptions of purity; it does not change merely because “times have changed and people or different now.”  This is an absolute and concrete issue with God.  This is why having a dirty mind and heart is a moral issue. 

NOTE:  Freedom from uncleanness and guilt is possible through God's gracious work (Ps 51:7). Holiness within and purity of heart, is possible through the exercise of faith in Christ's redemption (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:2) and obedience to His word of truth (John 15:3; 17:17; 1 Peter 1:22). Freedom is also realized as we are led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

                 C.  Spiritual Impurity.  In the gospels, the word unclean describes those who are possessed by undesirable or even demonic spirits. Jesus exercised command over these unclean spirits (Luke 4:36) and effectively rebuked them (Luke 9:42). The disciples were also given power over unclean spirits (Mark 6:7; Acts 5:16). Jesus often cast out unclean spirits (Mark 1:23,26-27; 5:2).  A lifestyle given over to Uncleanness is a lifestyle heavily influenced or possessed by demons.

                 D.  Not Ceremonial Uncleanness.  Paul is not referring to O.T. restrictions regarding unclean foods (Lev 11:1-19), contact with a dead body (Lev 11:25-31). Besides foods,  people were designated unclean under certain conditions like: 1) a discharge or menstruation (Lev 15:2-13,19-24). 2) Puss-type body emissions from open sores or 3) a leprous person was unclean (Lev 13:11).  These are not the things that Paul is referring to in Galatians.  In fact it is this type of thing he is trying to discourage (Gal. 4:9, 10; 5:3-6).

The first three words, then, cover sexual sins.  They are obviously intended to be somewhat comprehensive and inclusive.

              4.  Lasciviousness.  (Vs. 19) Lasciviousness is close to the word debauchery.  It evidently means conduct and character that is unbecoming, indecent, unrestrainedly shameless. The special sense of sexual excess is probable in Gal. 5:19 and certain in Rom. 13:13; 2 C. 12:21; 2 Pt. 2:2, 18. (Bill Clinton)

                                                                                                                                  

                A.  Shameless Conduct and Desires.

It speaks of a lewd and sensual appetite that knows no shame—excessively lewd and vulgar.  In the New Testament it generally appears to point more specifically to unembarrassed open indulgence in impurity.  It point to reckless shamelessness in unclean and sensual indulgences.  It could be defined as "the stirring up of lustful desires which cannot be satisfied within God's boundaries" (Bunnell). The Greek word (aselgeia) is also translated "filthy" (2 Pe. 2:7) and "wantonness" (Ro. 13:13; 2 Pe. 2:18).

                                                                                                                                  

                B.  Unharnessed Conduct and Yearnings.

Lascivious. A term referring to immorality (Mk. 7:22; 2 Co. 12:21; Ga. 5:19; Ep. 4:19; 1 Pe. 4:3; Jude 4). It especially refers to excess and lack of restraint, shameless conduct (Vine). In 2 Pe. 2:7 this word refers to the moral perversion which characterized Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Pt. 2:7).  It goes without saying that all of these sins were rampant in the Roman Empire and the pagan world generally (Eph. 4:19).

                C.   Lawless Conduct and Motivations. 

Undisciplined and unrestrained behavior, especially a flagrant disregard of sexual restraints (Mark 7:22; 2 Cor 12:21). This further means "outrageous conduct," showing that licentious behavior goes beyond sin to include a disregard for what is right.  It speaks of one who acknowledge no restraints, who dares to do whatever his whim and impulsive perverted heart may suggest.  It refers to one who has a cocky meddlesome hatred for decent and conservative public opinion, and shamelessly outrages public decency.

                 D.  Enticing Conduct and Motivations. 

Lasciviousness also means to entice in the lusts of the flesh.  The word originally referred to any excessive behavior or lack of restraint, but eventually became associated with sexual excess and indulgence.

Nakedness is a common act of public indecency in our days and certainly fit within the description of shameless and lewd behavior. Man was naked before the Fall (Ge. 2:25), but after man sinned their conscience was defiled and God made coats and clothed them (Ge. 3:7,10,11,21). Ever since, God has instructed man to cloth himself because of the sinfulness of his thoughts (Mt. 5:28; 15:19). Nakedness is connected with immorality (Ge. 9:22-23 (Noah); Ex. 32:5,6,25 (Calf Idolatry); Le. 18:6-19 (Incest); Le. 20:11-21 (Fornication and Sexual Perversion); Hab. 2:15 (Drunkenness and Shamelessness). Nakedness is shameful (Is. 47:3; Eze. 23:18; Re. 3:18).  Shamefacedness, however, which means to have a sense of shame; a sense of modesty; bashfulness (1 Ti. 2:9) is what should characterize the Christian’s life and appearance. Modesty is a restrained sense of propriety, not bold or forward, not loose, not lewd; it is synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners (1 Ti. 2:9; Tit. 2:5).

              5.  Drunkenness. vs. 21 Drunkenness is the condition of being intoxicated with alcoholic beverages (Ep. 5:18).   Verses which deal with drunkenness and strong drink: Pr. 20:1; 23:29-35; 31:3-5; Is. 5:22; 28:7; Ho. 4:11; Hab. 2:15; Ro. 13:13; Ep. 5:18; Ga. 5:19-21; 1 Th. 5:6-8.

                A.  The Nature of Drunkenness: Modern-day psychology would have us believe this condition is a disease or a psychological problem, but the Bible says it is a sin (Pr. 23:29-35). Drunkenness is an act of the will (vv. 30-31). Drunkenness is a moral wickedness (v. 33). The victory over drunkenness is redemption and sanctification (1 Co. 6:10-11) through the Word (Jn. 17:17) and the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

                B.  The Deception of Drunkenness: (Pr. 23:32; 20:1). Intoxicating drink has the power to take away the senses. Thus God calls it a mocker. This is why it is foolish to say it is O.K. for a man to drink in moderation. When a man takes the first drink to his lips, he does not know what the end will be. He is no longer in control; the liquor is.

                C.  The Results of Drunkenness: Immorality (Pr. 23:33), cursing (Pr. 23:33), recklessness (Pr. 23:34), dizziness (Pr. 23:34), fighting and injury (Pr. 23:35), bondage (Pr. 23:35; 5:22-23; Jn. 8:34; Ro. 6:16), sorrow (Pr. 23:29), contention (Pr. 23:29), babbling (Pr. 23:29), redness of eyes (Pr. 23:29), poverty (Pr.23:21), loss of wisdom (Is. 28:7), takes away the heart (Ho. 4:11).  The end of drunkenness is eternal death: (1 Co. 6:9-10). Deliverance from drunkenness is salvation and sanctification: (1 Co. 6:11).

               6.  Revellings. (orgies) vs. 21   Revelling is Carousing; drunkenness; evil living (Ro. 13:13; Ga. 5:21; 1 Pe. 4:3). The night life of a riotous group of half drunken people who parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before the houses of their male and female friends; therefore it refers generally of feasts and drinking parties that last till late at night and indulge in revelry.

                   A.  The Night Club Scene.  Revellings, an old word also for drinking parties, riotous gatherings for entertainment, lascivious feastings,  with obscene songs and music (Rom 13:13).  It is your typical bar room scene, discos, and night clubs,  or house or frat party in a college campus area. (1 Peter 4:3)

                   B.  The Idolatrous Prostitution.  Revellings probably had special reference to the orgies that so often characterized the pagan worship ceremonies that many of the Gentile converts of Galatia had once participated in. In a more general and universal sense, however, they refer to becoming drunk under any circumstance and to all rowdy, boisterous, and crude behavior.

Living the Christian life in freedom involves realizing Christ’s righteousness in practical ways by faith and not by mechanical obedience to mere rules and rituals.  The Christian is set free from the curse of the law and the control of the law. Christian liberty is not a liberty that leads to license, but rather to maturity, responsibility, and holiness through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  To live by grace, through faith, brings us a holy freedom and a fulfilling Christian experience.  The Holy Spirit is the secret! One danger of misunderstanding freedom in Christ is a tendency toward self-indulgence, which can express itself in destructive words and actions toward other believers.

Beware of Religious Charlatans!

A Profile of Religious Charlatans

2 Peter 2:1-3

Subject: False Teachers and Preachers

Theme: be on guard against the attack of false teachers and preachers because their message will hinder growth in grace. Acquaint yourself with their motives and methods in order to detect them, and be assured God will execute full judgment upon these rebel deceivers (Matt. 7:13-29).

Relevance:  we Believers protect ourselves and our love ones when we heed Peter’s warnings about false preachers and teachers. It is incumbent upon each of us to learn how to discern truth for ourselves, and teach it to others correctly and accurately. God reveals in this passage that false preachers and teachers will themselves meet destruction, and others will be destroyed by them. But as Christians we can wage spiritual warfare more effectively if we know our spiritual enemies, the techniques heretics use, and the end result of their deception. Be assured God's desire for us to be discerning and armed against religious lies is well founded and gravely needed in a time when specific truths are being watered down or outright denied. 

Introduction:

As long as we live in a fallen world, counterfeiting will exist. There will always be someone who, for personal gain, will use an imitation of the real to lure others to something of no value. Banks deal with this problem every day and train their tellers to be alert to the possibility that some of the paper currency they are handed may not be authentic. Their first line of defense is to know the real. They work with and handle the real every day until the feel and appearance of the authentic is deeply ingrained in their minds. When a counterfeit bill passes through their hands, an alarm goes off in their minds. Then they examine specific areas of the bill which will prove the true identity of a counterfeit (Source Unknown).

Since the inception of the Christian Age, spiritual counterfeits have appeared—false teachers who pass their teachings or lifestyle off as the real thing. In chapter 1, Peter urges us to abound in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, remembering the apostles’ teaching and staying true to the sure Word of Scripture. Now, he challenges us to be alert, and unwavering in this day of deceptions. We must be alert to the presence of false teachers.  First, let us consider the Description of False Teachers.

Message:

I.                   The False Teachers Motives and Methods Were Exposed by Peter ( 2 Peter 2:1-3). Peter opens this section by declaring that false teachers are bound to appear but will ultimately be condemned by God.

A.     They Were Anticipated (2:1).

                                                1.      False Teachers Were Predicted (2:1—“there shall be false teachers”).  At the close of chapter 1 Peter referred to the prophets of the OT as men who spoke, not by their own will, but as moved by the Holy Spirit. Now he mentions that in addition to the true prophets in the OT period, there were also false prophets. And just as there will be bona fide teachers in the Christian era, there will be false teachers as well.

                                                2.      These False Teachers Take a Place Inside The Churches (2:1)-“false teachers among you.”

i.        They pose as ministers of the gospel. This is what makes the peril so great. If they came right out and said they were atheists or agnostics, people would be on guard. But they are masters of deception.

ii.      They carry the Bible and use orthodox expressions —though using them to mean something entirely different. The president of a liberal theological seminary acknowledged the strategy as follows: Churches often change convictions without formally renouncing views to which they were previously committed, and their theologians usually find ways of preserving continuity with the past through re-interpretations (MacDonald & Farstad).

                                                3.      They Have Brought Worldly Ideas and Values into the Churches.  When the Edict of Milan was passed in a. d. 313 the church was then free to move into the world, legally and openly propagating its doctrines. But at the same time, the world also began to move into the church, diluting its message for the next 1,200 years until the Reformation broke forth on the scene. But it is obvious from 2 Peter 2 that the world was already in the church well before the time of Constantine. Believers in all ages must be constantly on guard against its attack. –Walvoord: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

                                                4.      Where Are These False Teachers Found Today? They reside in every Christian and so-called Christian denomination! The offense of some is greater than others, the deviations from the Scriptures differ in degrees, and the level of deception is not identical for each group. Still errors and misconceptions have infected every Christian movement or organization to some degree. While some movements are purer than others, Christians must cling to the Word of God as the standard of truth and measure everything else by it.

                                                5.      Stay Alert and Arm yourself with the Truth! Since false teachers were anticipated and active in the Christian world, we must be on guard against their attacks and faithfully wage a spiritual warfare against them (Eph. 4:11-16; 6:10-20). We must arm ourselves with the Word of God and become so familiar with the truth, that lies and false teaching are immediately obvious.  We should also be in a Bible-Believing and Bible-Preaching church as much as possible to further learn, grow, and protect ourselves and family from false teachers and their messages.  Lastly, we must learn and live the Word so effectively that we can fight the lies by teaching and arming others against the attacks of false teachers.

B.     They Are Deceptive (2:1).

                                                1.      Verse 1 Summarizes The Methods Of The False Teachers: (1) they appear among the people as members of the church; (2) they work secretly, under cover of hypocrisy, pretending to be what they are not; (3) they bring in their false teachings alongside the true doctrine, and then replace the truth with their lies; (4) their lives deny what their lips teach. In other words, “heresy” is not simply false doctrine; it is false living based on false doctrine. “Wolves in sheep’s clothing” is the way our Lord pictured them (Matt. 7:15; and see 2 Cor. 4:1–2; 11:13). –Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament

i.        W. A. Criswell describes the false teacher as follows: ... a suave, affable, personable, scholarly man who claims to be the friend of Christ. He preaches in the pulpit, he writes learned books, he publishes articles in the religious magazines. He attacks Christianity from within. He makes the church and the school a lodging place for every unclean and hateful bird. He leavens the meal with the doctrine of the Sadducees.

ii.      Jesus warned that deceivers would increase as the end of the age approached. Peter predicted and Jude declared their presence in the early churches. Even more now than then, false teachers mingle themselves within true Christianity. Like Satan, the false teachers come as angels of light. Peter and Jude help us spot these apostates by unveiling their: (1) destructive heresies, (2) depraved, immoral character, and (3) dangerous deceptions.

                                                2.      While Professing To Be Ministers Of Righteousness, They Secretly Bring In Soul-Destroying Heresies Alongside True Bible Doctrine (2:1). It is a deliberately deceptive mixture of the false and the true. Primarily, they peddle a system of denials. Here are some of the denials which can be found among certain modern groups:

i.         They deny the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, and His death as a Substitute for sinners. They are especially vehement in their denial of the value of His shed blood. They deny His bodily resurrection, eternal punishment, salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the reality of miracles in the Bible.

ii.       Other false teachings common today are:

a.       The Kenosis theory—the heresy that Christ emptied Himself of the attributes of deity. This means that He could sin, make mistakes, etc.

b.       The “God is dead” fantasy, evolution, universal salvation, purgatory, prayers for the dead, etc (MacDonald & Farstad).

iii.      The ultimate sin of false teachers is that they even deny the Master who bought them (2Pet. 2:1). While they may say nice things about Jesus, refer to His “divinity,” His lofty ethics, His superb example, they fail to confess Him as God and as unique Savior.

a.       Nels Ferré wrote, “Jesus never was or became God. ... To call Jesus God is to substitute an idol for Incarnation.”

b.       Methodist Bishop Gerald Kennedy agreed: I am frank to confess that the statement (that Christ is God) does not please me and it seems far from satisfactory. I would much prefer to have it say that God was in Christ, for I believe that the testimony of the New Testament taken as a whole is against the doctrine of the deity of Jesus, although I think it bears overwhelming witness to the divinity of Jesus (MacDonald & Farstad).

                                                3.      Their Greatest Offense is their Denial of the Lord Jesus Christ (2:1)—“even denying the Lord that bought them.”  In this and in many other ways, false teachers deny the Lord who bought them. Here we should pause to remind ourselves that while these false teachers to whom Peter refers had been bought by the Lord, they had never been redeemed. The NT distinguishes between purchase and redemption. All are purchased but not all are redeemed. Redemption applies only to those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, availing themselves of the value of His shed blood (1 Pet. 1:18, 19).

i.         In Matthew 13:44 the Lord Jesus is pictured as a man who sold all He had to buy a field. In verse 38 of that same chapter, the field is distinctly said to be the world. So by His death on the cross, the Lord bought the world and all who are in it. But He did not redeem the whole world. While His work was sufficient for the redemption of all mankind, it is only effective for those who repent, believe, and accept Him (MacDonald & Farstad).

ii.       The fact that these false teachers were never truly born again is indicated by their destiny. They bring upon themselves swift destruction. Their doom is eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

C.     They Are Quite Effective (2:2).

                                                1.      Peter Predicts That They Will Attract A Large Following (2:2). They do this by scuttling the biblical standards of morality and encouraging the indulgence of the flesh. Here are two examples:

i.         Anglican Bishop John A. T. Robinson wrote: ... nothing can of itself always be labeled as “wrong.” One cannot, for instance, start from the position “sex relations before marriage” or “divorce” are wrong or sinful in themselves. They may be in 99 cases or even 100 cases out of 100, but they are not intrinsically so, for the only intrinsic evil is lack of love.

ii.       In the book Called to Responsible Freedom, published by the National Council of Churches, young people are counseled: In the personal, individual sense, then, what justifies and sanctifies sexuality is not the external marital status of the people before the law but rather what they feel toward each other in their hearts. Measured in such a way, holding hands can be very wrong indeed while intimate sex-play can be right and good (Believers' Bible Commentary).

iii.      Remember large crowds and huge membership does not automatically equal God’s approval or activity upon a movement.

                                                2.      As A Result Of This Type Of Behavior, Taught And Practiced By False Teachers, The Way Of Truth Is Maligned (2:2)—“the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”  

i.         Unbelievers develop a deep contempt for real Christianity because of the teachings, influence of these false teachers and their followers.

ii.       These false teachers claimed that knowledge was superior to practice, so they argued that it did not matter how Christians behaved, as grace could forgive every sin, no matter how great. The Bible consistently denounces this idea (Rom. 6:1-4; 1Jn. 3:3-10). Peter sorrows that the immorality of so-called-Christian groups will bring the true faith into disrepute.

iii.      But, God's justice for anyone leading another astray will be swiftly meted out.

D.     They Are Greedy Manipulators (3: 3).

                                                1.      Their Motives. These false teachers are covetous and greedy, both in the sexual and financial realms (2:3). They have chosen the ministry as a lucrative profession. Their great aim is to build up a large following and thus to increase their income.

                                                2.      Their Manipulations (3:3). They exploit people with false words—“feigned words.”

i.        Darby said, “The devil is never more satanic than when he carries a Bible.” So these men, with Bible in hand, pose as ministers of righteousness, give out well-known evangelical hymns, and use scriptural expressions. But all this is camouflage for heretical teachings and corrupt morals (Believers' Bible Commentary).

ii.      They make false plastic or fabricated statements, literally making up whatever suits the ears of the hearer (1Thes. 2:5) to manipulate them for gain. They make merchandise of believers; that is they exploit you for commercial or money-making schemes for themselves.  If they cannot beg the money out of your purse or pocket they will try to manipulate it out!  They will use charity pleas, and place impoverished children from distant lands on the TV screen and plead with you to give to their cause. The problem with too many of these is that they use most of the donations for something else, and the needy and hungry little children remain hungry and unclothed!

                                                3.      Their Judgment (3:3).  An awful condemnation awaits these religious fifth-columnists. Their judgment has not been idle; it has been arming itself for the slaughter. Their destruction has not been nodding its head in sleep; it has been wide awake, ready to pounce like a panther. –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary

E.     They are Nothing Like the Lord Jesus Christ!  Jesus was warning the people of His day to be on the lookout for gifted leaders who would take advantage of them and lead them astray. They would be men who looked good on the outside but were corrupt on the inside. They would perform well (Matt. 7:13-27).

                                                1.      To put it bluntly, too great preachers and teachers are not necessarily great Christians. The same goes for famous gospel singers and best-selling Christian writers.… Praise the Lord for all those who are true to Jesus Christ and the Word of God, but such Believers are among the few. 

                                                2.      The best picture of what a Spirit-filled man looks like is Christ. His life was characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, and so on in the midst of a world characterized by just the opposite of those things. He was certainly no wimp. He stood up to His detractors when it was appropriate. But He knew when to be silent as well. He had the courage and wit to take on the intellectuals of His day on their turf according to their terms. He spoke with authority. People, especially children, were attracted to Him. Even sinners loved to be with Him. He was a very secure man. There was nothing pretentious or intimidating about Him. He didn’t need those props. And at the end of His life He tackled the toughest account of all—death. And He won! – C. Stanley: The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life

Please consider carefully and prayerfully what I have recorded, restated, adapted, quoted, incorporated, recited, and included in this lesson/article. I have quoted many other works in this article on purpose to demonstrate that this is not merely my opinion on these matters. Most importantly I have slavishly held to the text of God’s holy Word. The concern is real and the spiritual danger is serious. Please consider what is stated here with a sincere heart. I pray that Christ Jesus will give tremendous light by His Spirit of grace.