Gospel Wednesday: 2 Corinthians Chapter 11: True and False Christians
2 Corinthians Chapter 11
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself . As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
II Corinthians 11:1-33 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.11.1-33.NKJV
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
II Corinthians 11:13 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.11.13.NKJV
These deceitful workers in Corinth were all about themselves. (11:18). They enslaved and took advantage of the Corinthian church (11:20). They boasted in themselves, took and never gave. They acted arrogantly and insulted and abused the Corinthians.
And that's the difference between a false Christian and a true Christian. True Christians will be servants. Not expecting others to serve them. They will give, not take. They boast in God, not themselves. They are all about others, not themselves.
A great question to ask: which are you? True or false?
If you have not obeyed the Gospel then please obey today before it's everlasting too late.
The Gospel in a nutshell
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.15.1-4.KJV
1. Hear
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.10.17.KJV
2. Believe
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.8.24.KJV
3. Repent
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.13.3.KJV
4. Confess
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.10.32.KJV
5. Be baptized
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.16.16.KJV
6. Remain faithful
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.2.10.KJV
For more information on obeying the Gospel contact your local church of Christ.
Baptism
Why Are There So Many Churches?
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
https://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/2-corinthians/true-or-false.html
Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself . As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
II Corinthians 11:1-33 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.11.1-33.NKJV
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
II Corinthians 11:13 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.11.13.NKJV
These deceitful workers in Corinth were all about themselves. (11:18). They enslaved and took advantage of the Corinthian church (11:20). They boasted in themselves, took and never gave. They acted arrogantly and insulted and abused the Corinthians.
And that's the difference between a false Christian and a true Christian. True Christians will be servants. Not expecting others to serve them. They will give, not take. They boast in God, not themselves. They are all about others, not themselves.
A great question to ask: which are you? True or false?
If you have not obeyed the Gospel then please obey today before it's everlasting too late.
The Gospel in a nutshell
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.15.1-4.KJV
1. Hear
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.10.17.KJV
2. Believe
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
John 8:24 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.8.24.KJV
3. Repent
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.13.3.KJV
4. Confess
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.10.32.KJV
5. Be baptized
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.16.16.KJV
6. Remain faithful
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.2.10.KJV
For more information on obeying the Gospel contact your local church of Christ.
Baptism
Why Are There So Many Churches?
What Must I Do To Be Saved?
https://westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com/2-corinthians/true-or-false.html
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