DO NOT BE MISLED
Sakkie Parsons
Today I would like to share with you, through some examples from the Word, how satan sometimes uses people, false teachers, to misuse certain parts of the Word.
First, they proclaim their own kind of gospel of Jesus.
Secondly, they twist the Word just a little—like a lady once wrote to me, telling me how, for example, 1 Corinthians 7:36 was distorted by a false teacher to try to satisfy his own lustful desires.
(I wrote a “Thought from the Word” about 1 Corinthians 7:36 which I will gladly share with you if you ask me.)
I always tell people this:
One fact that we must always remember very well is the following:
Satan knows the Word as well as many of us and better than most of us.
Already in Genesis, for the first time, he twisted the Word, misusing it to try to bring people into hell. And for more than 6,000 years he has never stopped doing this—simply because it has always worked for him.
The first time he did it, he had to, as it were, use a serpent. But since then, he has never again needed to do it that way, because there are plenty of people around the followers of our Lord who are more than willing to be misused by him.
Now I want to share with you some examples from our Lord’s precious Word, to show you how he uses people, false teachers, to twist God’s Word—in this first example, twisting our Lord’s loving grace to mislead people.
We read:
Galatians 5:1
It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
The false distortion of this passage is then the following:
“You are now free from ‘you may not do this or that.’ Enjoy your life, because you are saved now. So, you don’t need to feel guilty anymore if you don’t want to give up this or that sinful addiction in your life. Just enjoy life as you do.”
But what is the true meaning of Galatians 5:1?
It is childishly simple if you let yourself be led by the Holy Spirit of our Lord and read the Word in context.
Just a little further in Galatians 5—namely Galatians 5:13—it becomes even clearer, if you did not already see it in Galatians 5:1.
Read again Galatians 5:1 and then also what follows, which so beautifully shows the true meaning:
Galatians 5:1
It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
(The “yoke of slavery” here also includes the sinful lifestyle you once lived.)
Then, to underline how Galatians 5:1 should be read—that freedom in Christ is not a license for sin (especially sin that, for example, I cannot, or do not want to overcome)—we read just a little further in the same chapter:
Galatians 5:13
For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.
(First your love for God, and secondly your love for your fellow human being.)
I will now close this writing with another example of the twisting of our Lord’s precious Word. Since I am trying here to give guidance, while also in love admonishing, I want to add this one.
There are people who will easily say to you:
“Don’t judge me, because you may not judge.” And then they quickly quote Matthew 7:1.
We read:
Matthew 7:1–2
¹ “Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].
² For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so you will be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you.”
Then they explain the passage by saying that neither you (who are trying to help them), nor anyone else, has the right to point out the sin in their life—or even to say that it is sin in their case.
But the truth is that our Lord actually commands His children to admonish one another, as I will show you now. But it must not be hypocritical admonition while I myself am guilty behind closed doors.
First, we read:
John 7:24
Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.
It is Jesus who spoke in both passages you just read, and Jesus does not speak out of both sides of His mouth.
To support what I just showed you from John 7:24, I will use one more example from the Word (out of the many I could have used):
Romans 12:6–8
⁶ Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if someone has the gift of prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to his people] in proportion to the faith possessed;
⁷ if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching;
⁸ or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
Yes, we must admonish one another—and as you have just read, in all ways support one another so that we do not fall away from our faith in Christ. But we must always do it with the love of Christ that can be seen in us.
That is why Paul continues, right after he wrote what you just read, and he writes:
Romans 12:9–11
⁹ Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.
¹⁰ Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor;
¹¹ never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord.
In the future, I will share more such examples with you—of how people twist the Word to suit their kind of gospel. But for now, I will close this writing with the further wonderful counsel from our Lord’s precious Word, which Paul wrote, right after he wrote about our conduct toward one another and admonishing one another:
Romans 12:12
constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength].
Sakkie