Watchout For WOLVES: Keys To Discerning Authentic Ministries & Evaluating Doctrinal Trends

…smooth words and flattering speech… Rom. 16:18b

…smooth talk and glowing words… --NLT

Barnes says that these people make “ mild, fair, plausible speeches; with an appearance of great sincerity, and regard for the truth.” In addition they use flattery to entice people.

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. Colossians 2:4

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine sounding arguments.

The word used for “deceive” in this Colossian passage is a word that means to mislead by false reasoning or argument. False ministries depend on average Christians not knowing their Bibles well and not being grounded in theology. This is a perfect set up so that they can mislead them. Just like the devil, false ministries present themselves as angels of light and ministers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:13- 15). 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. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 In the above passage, Paul refers to false apostles who have transformed themselves into apostles of Christ. Often people like this push the idea of their apostleship and expect others to acknowledge it as well. Often they do not answer to anyone. It is as if they have laid hands on their own heads and have ordained themselves?

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