The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Warnings

  • Disciple New Believers

    “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

    2 Corinthians 11:3

    Paul gave his life in service to the Lord to reach the lost for Christ. We read of his three missionary journeys taking the Gospel message to those who had not heard of Jesus. Paul cared deeply for the people whom he led to the Lord. He not only taught the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, but he proceeded to teach those new Believers how to live that new life daily (for an example, see Ephesians 4:17-32). Because these new Believers were beginning a whole new life, there was much for them to learn. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It would take much time and patience to teach them. God had many places for Paul to go in order for people to hear the Gospel Message. When he could not stay in one place long enough to disciple a new Believer himself, he left men he trusted in charge of these new Believers to teach them (Acts 20:28-32). These new Believers formed the first churches. Today, we call this “discipling new Christians”. This is when a new Believer is instructed how to live this new Christian life according to God’s Word, and taught the reasons why we are to live this new life in Christ.

    Keep in mind that when God is working, changing the lives of people, Satan tries to thwart God’s work. Remember what Jesus warned as He taught the people. “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:15). Satan tries to take away the Word, immediately. Paul understood this. Paul knew that God wanted him to continue on missionary journeys (even when he wanted to stay with the people), and Paul obeyed God. However, he warned the people of dangers when he could not be with them. “2. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3). Chaste means “chaste, pure; predominantly used to express freedom from defilements or impurities.” It is important to remember that Believers, collectively, are the bride of Christ (“espoused you to one husband”). Paul was jealous for new Believers, for he understood that Satan would try to steal the Word from them. If he could not steal it from them, he would corrupt their understanding of God’s Word, just as Satan did to Eve in the garden. Paul so wanted them to be presented to Jesus as pure and free from defilements. So Paul warned them of the subtlety of Satan. Subtilty means “adroitness (shrewdness, clever skill, or high ability), that is, (in a bad sense) trickery or sophistry (the use of clever, deceptive reasoning or argumentation that sounds superficially plausible and logical, but is actually false or intellectually dishonest, typically used to trick or mislead).” Paul did not want their minds corrupted. Corrupted means “to corrupt, that is to seduce to evil company or corrupt opinions.” They must be grounded in their faith.

    Paul’s warning: “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:4).

    There are three specific things of which Paul warned them:

    1. Some would preach a false savior: “if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached”: Jesus warned of this: “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:24).
    2. Some would come having a false spirit: “if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received”: There are deceiving spirits. Remember the test of the true Spirit of God: “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).
    3. Some would teach a false salvation (gospel message): “or another gospel, which ye have not accepted”: There are false teachings of ways to be saved other than Jesus. We know: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

    Paul also wanted them to consider, “ye might well bear with him.” Paul did not want them to listen to, or tolerate, these teachings. This would be wrong. Paul warned them again: “13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). They are wrong and very dangerous.

    Pastors, teachers, and Christians mature in their faith should be discipling new Believers – and even those who have never grown in their faith. They need to know how to live, why we live this new life, and be warned of Satan’s subtlety.

    Are you grounded enough in your faith to be able to disciple a New Believer?

    Are you faithfully doing it?

  • Know the Way and Live in It

    “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish”

    Psalm 1:6

    As you read through Israel’s history during the divided kingdom, one cannot help but notice how important it is to God that He be kept first in one’s life and even in the nation. At any point in Israel’s history, the kings could have sought God (remember the prophets constantly preached for the people to seek God!). The kings of Israel could have remembered God’s laws and commandments — and kept them. Instead, we read that they continued in the sin of Jeroboam I, who made Israel to sin. When the kings led the people to sin against God, He sent prophets to cry out to seek God; to return to Him. However, because they did not, the nation was not in favor with God. Read the following verses to remember this: “1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:1, 3–4).

    As you continue reading through the history of Israel, keep in mind that none of the kings of Israel were considered good because they led Israel to sin against God. Read what is recorded in Proverbs that they should have known: “He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him” (Proverbs 11:27). Because they sought mischief, they got it. Mischief means: “bad; wicked; evil; of inferior quality.”

    Since we are to learn from history, we must notice the progression of sin in the nation Israel. One of the best examples of this progression is in Psalm 1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1). Recognize what we are NOT to do: First, walk with sinners, then stop and talk with them, and finally to sit with them. Understand that desiring sin and walking with sinners begins with lust. Lust means “a strong desire; a longing; to satisfy carnal appetites.” Read what James 1:14–15 says, “14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

    Instead, read on in Psalm 1 to learn what one should do. “2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:2-3). Understand what happens when one does not do as one should. “4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:4-6).

    Remember the turning point in the nation Israel, the point from which they did not return: when they refused to hear the Word of the Lord from the prophets of God. Even with all of the warnings, we found they did not return to God, but “… walked in the statutes of the heathen …” (2 Kings 17:8). God had no choice but to fulfill His promise of discipline and judgment upon His people.

    As we have learned, the Israelites sinned against God when they forsook Him and worshiped creatures (golden calves, Baal, etc.). They also walked in the ways of the heathen (the wicked and idolatrous nations around) instead of walking in God’s Laws and statutes they had been taught. Notice that in the New Testament, Paul preached to people in the same condition. He warned that the wrath of God would fall upon those who knew the truth, but did not live it out in their lives: “18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools … 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts … 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:18–19, 21-22, 24–25).

    What should we learn from Israel’s obstinacy? When we know the truth and what is right, we should do it. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Seek God if one is not sure — remember Amos’ plea, “Seek the LORD, and ye shall live …” (Amos 5:6). We should never sin away our lives — as Israel did. For, “… There is a sin unto death …” (1 John 5:16).

    The following is an important question for each Christian to consider:

    Have you searched your heart to see if you are guilty of knowing the way of righteousness, yet not living in the truth of it?