Pure Devotion to Christ
TCF Sermon
August 28, 2011
I didn’t want to preach this morning’s message. I knew several weeks ago that this is what I should preach on, but I wrestled with God about it, trying to convince Him I should do something different.
But the passage we’re going to look at this morning wouldn’t let me go, so here we are.
Here are the Top Ten reasons I didn’t want to preach this message this morning
(not in any particular order):
1. Because it’s not Amazingly Inspirational like Jim Grinnell’s sermons
2. Because it’s not deeply theological like Jim Garrett’s messages
3. Because it’s not Incredibly joyful like Joel’s sermons
4. Because it’s not Very personal like Dave’s sermons
5. Because it’s not Solidly motivational like Gordon’s
6. Because it’s not profoundly insightful like Bruce’s
7. Because it could come across as a “negative” message
8. Because it makes me sound like the “bad cop.”
9. Because it might seem like I’m primarily preaching against something instead of for something
10. Because I’ve preached many of these ideas before
But, despite these 10 reasons, which were pretty compelling as I wrestled with God over this morning’s theme, there are at least four key reasons I am preaching this message today anyway.
1. I truly believe this is the direction God has given
2. There is a faith once for all delivered to the saints, and it’s revealed in the Word of God
3. Like the apostle Paul, I feel a divine jealousy for you
4. And also like Paul, I worry you may be led astray from pure devotion to Christ
2 Corinthians 11:1-6 ESV 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. 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.
We could read much more in this section of scripture, including many verses preceding it, and following it, that relate to our theme. But for our purposes this morning, I want to focus on these first 6 verses of 2 Cor 11, because they get at the heart of what we’re going to explore this morning.
Here we see the apostle Paul feeling as if he had to stoop to the level of those he, sarcastically, no doubt, called “super apostles.” Those so-called “super apostles” were undermining the gospel Paul had preached. And the Corinthians were not only putting up with it, but they were eating it up!
This deeply concerned Paul, to the point of fear for their spiritual well-being. So, here, we have a whole section of scripture in which Paul felt the need to boast, for the express purpose of defending his credentials to remind the Corinthians of the truth.
He considered boasting about himself foolishness. But he did it nevertheless. And he did it because he was concerned about the Corinthians. He was concerned because of good-sounding arguments that were capable of deceiving these people.
He was concerned because there is such a thing as pure devotion to Christ. Not just devotion. Many people are devoted. But pure devotion, in this context, clearly indicates purity of doctrine. In verse 2, Paul expresses his desire to present the Corinthian church to God as a pure bride.
By "pure bride" he meant one who was unaffected by false doctrine. The Corinthians' pure and simple devotion to Christ was being threatened by false teaching. Paul did not want the believers to lose their single-minded love for Christ. Life Application Notes
Here’s why I didn’t want to preach this message. Kind of like Paul didn’t want to resort to boasting, which he thought was foolishness. This sounds like I’m the bad cop. Like I’m against something. Like I’m scolding. But it was serious to Paul, and it’s serious to me.
Here’s Paul, one of the New Testament’s prime teachers of the faith, one of the prime examples we have of faith lived out in the real world - Here’s Paul, admitting that this is something he feared. He feared they would be deceived. He feared they’d be taken in, won over by, false teaching, and that as a result, they’d be led astray.
Paul knew they were susceptible to deception. He’d seen it, he’d heard about it, he feared it. That’s the reason Paul resorted to foolish boasting to gain a hearing. Paul knew of Jesus’ own warnings about being deceived. Deception was something Paul himself warned about in many other letters he wrote to the New Testament churches. The sheer volume of warnings about deception and false doctrine is remarkable. Paul no doubt knew Jesus’ words in Matthew
Matthew 24:4 "Watch out that no one deceives you.”
The immediate context of this passage is Jesus’ warning about the end times, and the many false prophets who would lead people astray. But seen in the light of the many other warnings about deception, Paul knew that Jesus’ words: “watch out that no one deceives you,” could be taken as a warning for every kind of deception.
Isn’t that interesting, that his very first response to the question about the end times,was to warn them about deception.
The fact is that whenever we look for signs, we become very susceptible to being deceived. There are many “false prophets” (Matthew 24:11, 24) around with counterfeit signs of spiritual power and authority. The only sure way to keep from being deceived is to focus on Christ and his words. Don’t look for special signs, and don’t spend time looking at other people. Look at Christ. Jesus’ warnings about false teachers still hold true. Upon close examination it becomes clear that many nice-sounding messages don’t agree with God’s message in the Bible. Only a solid foundation in God’s Word can equip us to perceive the errors and distortions in false teaching. Life Application Notes
So, Jesus says, “watch out.” I believe that’s God’s word to us today, too. Watch out. Be on guard. Be careful.
This may be offensive to some, but I’m going to say it anyway. There’s so much garbage out there masquerading as Christian teaching. So many radio preachers, TV preachers, authors, so many people who have podcasts and articles you can download from the internet. I find a lot of good stuff, too, but I have to say I just shake my head at how much spiritual junk there is.
And if it’s just junk, that’s one thing. But some of it is junk in attractive packages. That’s why Paul warns us here, and in many other places in the NT. That’s why Jesus warned us to watch out. Because most false doctrine is wrapped up in the midst of at least some things, and in some cases, many things, that sound good, if we’re not exercising discernment.
There is no better check to keep us under Christ’s authority than Scripture. Groups that absolutize their spiritual experiences and make them normative for their Christianity invariably drift away from biblical doctrine and practice. This is especially the case when prophetic utterances, rising out of our experiences, are viewed as a source of new revelation. One particular group, believing that their prophecies were “living words” for today, more relevant even than the Bible, began to print up, circulate, and read their prophecies in the place of Scripture. They have long since succumbed to rank heresy… The objective, divine authority resident in the Bible offers us the only sure safeguard against our being overtaken by the human heart’s insidious bent toward idolatry and self-deception (Jer. 17:9). — Doug LeBlanc and the research staff of Christian Research Institute
Let me say this. There is no such thing as “new revelation.” The Word of God is perfect already – we do not need to add to it - we just need to understand it and apply it. There may be fresh insight into what’s already been written, and what’s already true, but there’s no “new revelation.”
Jude 1:3 speaks of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. As we noted a few weeks back, Psalm 19 tells us the Word of God is perfect – it’s all we need. Let me read again a quote I read then:
Believers should find freedom and encouragement in the knowledge that God has provided all of the absolutely authoritative instruction that they need in order to know Him and live as He intends. God’s people should never fear that He has withheld something they might need Him to say in order for them to know how to please Him, or that he will have to somehow supplement His Word with new instructions for some new situation that arises in the modern age. (The NT allows for the activity of the Holy Spirit in leading and guiding individuals, as in Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16, 18, 25; but this guidance is always in line with Scripture, never in opposition to scriptural commands.) Therefore believers should be satisfied with what Scripture teaches and what it leaves unsaid. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29). ESV Study Bible
This is one reason I felt compelled to bring this morning’s message, despite the potential it be viewed as negative. If this message is negative, then what do we do with the huge number of warnings we see in Scripture? Here’s just a sampling of verses:
Romans 16:17-18 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
Col. 2:4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
Col. 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
1 Tim. 6:20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,
Ephes. 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
2 Thes. 2:3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way
1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Tim. 3:13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers
1 John 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
2 Corinthians 2:17 (NIV) Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
In Luke 21:8, Jesus said,
"Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.
What an important word. Many deceivers will come in my name... Do. Not. Follow. Them.
So, who are we to follow? Well, the obvious answer is Jesus. The obvious conclusion is that we need to always have the Word of God as our standard, to distinguish truth from deception.
But there’s a problem, isn’t there? Can we admit that it’s not always as easy as that obvious answer sounds? Because what we see is that deceivers use God’s words to deceive. I think that’s one reason, looking back at our passage in 2 Corinthians 11, that Paul uses the word cunning. It implies trickery.
And he reminds us that the first deception we see in scripture is Satan tempting Eve. Satan uses, twists, and questions God’s words to tempt Eve. He appealed to her intellect... Satan appealed to her innate human desire to be in control....to be like God. But he didn’t say to Eve, “Hey, Eve, why don’t you just rebel against God.” He said, “did God really say?”
It’s important to recognize a couple of key points here about Paul’s comparison. Paul says he feared that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, the Corinthian believers would be deceived.
One commentary notes:
Eve either did not know God’s command very well or did not want to remember it. By contrast, Christ gained victory over Satan by His precise knowledge of God’s Word (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). Eve disparaged the privileges, added to the prohibition, and weakened the penalty—all seen by contrasting her words (Gen. 3:3) with God’s original commands (2:16-17). After Satan heard this, he blatantly negated the penalty of death that God had given (3:4). Satan is a liar from the beginning (John 8:44), and this is his lie: one can sin and get away with it. But death is the penalty for sin (Gen. 2:17). Bible Knowledge Commentary
What the story of Adam and Eve tells me, and this is clearly reinforced by what Paul says to the Corinthians, is that we’ve been gullible and self-serving since the beginning of time. Because we’re gullible, and because we’re sinful, we need these warnings. Because we’re gullible, we need to be on guard.
Jeremiah 5:30-31 (NASB95) "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
I think we could say the same about our Christian culture today. We have false prophets. We have self-appointed apostles and prophets ruling on their own authority. We have men who say they honor the Word of God as their standard, and then ignore sound interpretation of scripture and say what they want to say.
Some have a hunger for signs and miracles that can border on unhealthy. Lest you dismiss that statement, let me do a little of Paul’s type of boasting here. Allow me to give my Holy Spirit credentials. I’m not at all discounting the miraculous moving of the Holy Spirit. None of TCF’s leadership could be classified as cessationists – that is, none of us believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit ended with the original apostles.
I can recount to you many personal experiences, from speaking in tongues to prophecy, that I could classify in no other way as the Holy Spirit moving supernaturally.
Long before I was an elder, Chuck Farah prophesied over me 30 years ago, that I’d be used in the body to see that things are done decently and in order. Anyone here see that prophecy working out today?
Twenty years ago, about six years before I became an elder, long before I was ever in the pulpit at TCF, Tom Buck prophesied over me that I’d be used in preaching. So, you can’t say to me, Bill, you just don’t understand – you’re just not open to the Holy Spirit.
But when those kinds of things become our desire, our goal, rather than what Paul called, “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ,” we can open ourselves up to spiritual deception.
We looked at this idea several weeks ago. The Word of God must be our standard. t must be our guide. It must be our source of direction and inspiration. When we look to other things, or other people, for these things, we can be, in Paul’s words, led astray.
The word translated “led astray” here literally means corrupted. I think the Word shows us that we can be deceived by: other people - by the enemy of our souls – Satan - or by ourselves.
Some of the sampling of verses we read earlier show us to watch out for others who would deceive us. When we read books, or emails, or magazines, or web pages, when we converse with people, when we consume any kind of information, we’re susceptible to deception.
Some people deceive perversely and knowingly. Most are probably just deceived themselves, and don’t realize it. But the deception that captures them, can capture us, too.
You can certainly make a case that the enemy is behind all deception. While Paul, in our key verses from 2 Cor 11 this morning, recognized the important role that people, specifically these false apostles, played in their deception, he also pointed out that this is Satan’s style...He’s a deceiver. He’s a liar. It’s in his nature.
In verses 13-15, Paul writes:
13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness
in John 8:44 Jesus is speaking of the devil... He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The enemy speaks from his own nature, his own native language is lying. So, a strong case can be made that whether deception seems to come from other people, or from ourselves, it all comes from the enemy, who, after all, is described in 1 Peter as a roaring lion:
1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Let’s also recognize that we can often deceive ourselves, seemingly without any help from anyone else.
James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Maybe one of the most dangerous phrases that circulates in our culture these days is this: “Listen to your heart.”
It’s a message we see in movies, TV, in popular music, we’ve heard it spoken, as if absolutely taken-for-granted as true, and we see it depicted as true in stories.
But scripture tells us our very own hearts can deceive us. To listen to our hearts, or to our hearts alone, can be a dangerous thing. Because our very own hearts can deceive us. We are more than capable of deceiving ourselves when it comes to right and wrong, good and bad, sin and righteousness, and good vs bad doctrine.
Let’s look at some ideas of how we can guard against deception.
1. know God’s Word, and know it well. Memorize it, study it, meditate on it. The better you know God’s word, the more protected you are from deception. So that’s where we must start, that’s our standard, that’s our foundation.
Yet, as we recognized earlier, that’s not enough, all by itself, because inevitably, we have to choose between different interpretations of scripture. There is, in fact, a right way and wrong way to interpret scripture. Scripture is not about what I think it means. It’s about what it means. Learn the right way to interpret the Word. This is not the forum for that, but there are many good resources to help you learn the right way to interpret the Word – ask us for help if you need it.
Number 2 is related: be a Berean...search the scriptures daily to see if what you hear from others is true. If you don’t know about the Bereans, they’re the people commended in Acts 17
Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
They weren’t just skeptics or doubters. It says they received the message with great eagerness. But it also says they examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true. The word for examined here means they scrutinized, they didn’t just take for granted what Paul told them, they looked at it carefully.
We all need to be Bereans. You need to be a Berean with every message you hear preached, including what you hear at TCF. You need to be a Berean with every book you read, everything you consume that claims to be God’s word for you.
3. know those who labor among you.... I think this is a very important protection against deception. As we noted, inevitably there arises a question about whose interpretation to trust. Now, this doesn’t excuse us from learning how to interpret scripture for ourselves, but you must realize that it’s a relatively new phenomenon in the church that we have all these private interpretations of scripture.
When a congregation only had one Bible, which was usually true until after the invention of the printing press, interpretation was a corporate exercise, based on sound interpretive principles, and guided by godly leadership. It was never just me and Jesus. The question was never, “what does this mean to me? But the question was, what does this mean?
How do we discover it’s true meaning – that there is, in fact, one true meaning to be learned. When there’s a question about which interpretation of scripture to trust, who are you going to trust? Some TV or radio preacher? Some guy on the internet? Some author with a best-selling book?
Now, any or all of those may be absolutely trustworthy. There are certain authors I really trust. They have a track record with me.
But what about the leaders whose lives you’ve watched, whose sermons you’ve listened to, whose character you’ve witnessed up close and personally...here I go again – credentialing myself and the leaders of this church – being a fool like Paul.
So as Paul asked, I ask you to bear with me. I would submit that those are, at least in part, credentials you can rely on....that’s why Paul was boasting in 2 Cor 11... so let me do some foolish boasting.
If I have a question about one interpretation of scripture versus another, I’m going to trust one or more of my fellow elders. I’ve seen their lives, I trust their character. I know them. I respect them. I don’t think they know everything, and we might actually disagree on some peripheral issues.
What’s more, I know that when they don’t know something, they’ll say so. But when it comes to Christian doctrine... I’m going to start with the Word of God, and search the scriptures daily, as my ultimate standard, like the Bereans, and then if there’s a question, go with who I know.
This relates to the opening verse of scripture from 2 Cor 11 we read, where Paul felt the need to boast. You know what Paul was saying? Paul was saying to the Corinthians, “why would you listen to these guys?” “These so-called Super Apostles?” Why don’t you listen to me? Haven’t I invested in your life? Haven’t I earned that much? Don’t you know me well?
In verse 4, he mentions the welcome they gave visitors, who came proclaiming a message other than the gospel that they had embraced, the gospel that brought them salvation.
It was as if Paul was saying: Surely you should show your father in the faith at least the same degree of respect, that you would show a newcomer, someone you don’t know like you know me.
This is another way of saying to “know your source.”
Now, the leaders of this church aren’t perfect, and are not beyond deception themselves. So don’t go out of here saying this morning that Bill said to pay attention only to what the elders say about doctrine.
But, combined with these other protections against deception, we’re a lot less vulnerable to deception than we are if we go it alone.
4. consult church history... this is an overlooked protection.
Now, our forefathers in the faith, didn’t always get everything right, either.
But think about this. If the church of Jesus Christ has believed something for 2,000 years, if they’ve had councils, they’ve had reams of documents written, endless prayer, and discussion and debate and study, and for two millennia they keep coming to the same conclusion about the most significant, basic doctrines of the faith, I have to at least give that significant weight when deciding what’s true, and what’s false doctrine.
This morning, as an elder of TCF, I can say with Paul...as he wrote in verse 2 of our text,
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy
I can say I share Paul’s concern for your spiritual well-being. I can say that I hope you’ll be on guard against deception, realizing we battle against a cunning foe...
And I can say I pray your minds may never be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Pray
