Last Sunday we had Adult & Teen Challenge visit and share testimonials from their ministry before continuing our study in the book of Second Corinthians in a message titled THE BEST COUNTERFEITS (2 Cor. 11:5-15). The Bible shows us here that the enemy of our souls, “Satan… transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14) to attempt to lead God’s people into sin through discounting God’s Word. The Greek word for “transforms” here means to disguise or change one’s outward appearance. It also is in the present middle tense, showing us this is the Devil’s habitual practice. This is what he does. He, as a matter of policy or habit, disguises himself and his approach to appear good (i.e. “an angel of light”) for the purpose of deception to make God’s children stumble and also to try to keep unsaved people from “the gospel” (2 Cor. 4:4; 11:2-4, etc.). Indeed, THE BEST COUNTERFEITS are the ones that look closest to the truth, and that is how Satan and his kingdom works (Gen. 3:1, 4-5, etc.).
In this section of Scripture, Paul continues a heated battle with false ministers from Satan’s kingdom- who, like their “father,” changed their outward appearance to look good, but inwardly were “deceitful workers” not knowing Jesus at all! (John 3:7; 8:41, 44; 2 Cor. 11:13, 15). Part of this disguise of theirs as “super apostles” (2 Cor. 11:5 NET) included personal attacks on Paul to discredit the Bible spoken through him, as well as human letters of accreditation claiming to be with other original apostles like Peter (2 Cor. 3:1; 11:6, etc.). They also claimed that Paul’s refusal to receive money when he planted the church at Corinth was evidence of him not being an apostle since such ministers are entitled to such wages (2 Cor. 9:9-11; 11:7-11) and wealth also was, in fact, one of their primary motives for wanting to control people there (2 Cor. 2:17). Paul tore down these accusations so he could “cut off the opportunity” of these “false apostles” from leading Christians into sin (2 Cor. 11:12-13). Light exposes darkness, and the light of God’s Word also reveals the habitual disguises and lies of the Devil and people unwittingly serving him “whose end will be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:14-15; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:11-15, etc.).
Once again, THE BEST COUNTEFEITS are those that look closest to the truth, and we also have false apostles and teachers today all around us- who attack the Bible (Gen. 3:1). The best way to know error is to know and apply the truth (James 1:16-25; Heb. 4:12-13; 1 John 1:9, etc.). And an important part of that is being involved with and in the church (Heb. 10:23-25; Eph. 4:11-16, etc.). *For more information on some lies advanced in our culture today, please see SBFC’s May 25, 2025 sermon above.