In 2 John 7-11 the apostle noted that, at that time (90 A.D.) there were many “deceivers” on earth, specifically in the church. Deceivers have one job–to deceive as many people as possible. Having already deceived the un-churched, their primary task is to deceive professing Christendom, which they have done with perfection. Recall that some 30 years earlier the Apostle Paul was already warning the church that there were those within her who were preaching a “perverted gospel” (Gal. 1:6). As a result of their efforts many in the church had accepted “another Jesus,” which the modern church continues to worship and serve to this day. I will now state a Biblical Truth: THE MODERN CHURCH IS A FALSE CHURCH WITH A FALSE GOD, A FALSE CHRIST, A FALSE GOSPEL, A FALSE FAITH AND A FALSE SALVATION.

Let us see how the wiley devil–the Antichrist/Deceiver–has managed to dupe so many well-meaning God seekers for so long. God seekers have two characteristics that have allowed Satan to gain and maintain control of Catholicism/Protestantism: ignorance and trust–ignorance of the Bible and trust in those who claim to know it. Being innately lazy, parishioners rely solely on church leaders for the dispersion of God’s Truth. Their total trust in the ministry negates the Biblical commands to “study to show thyself approved of God,” to “prove all things of God” and to “try the spirits” of those in positions of church leadership.

During the early days of the New Covenant Church false prophets were teaching that the Biblical Jesus of Nazareth was not the promised Messiah Who was to come in the flesh. They did not accept Him BECAUSE HE DID NOT SPEAK AND DO WHAT THEY EXPECTED HIM TO SPEAK AND DO. ALSO, HE WAS NOT OF THE FAMILIAL LINEAGE FROM WHICH ISRAEL’S SAVIOR WAS SUPPOSED TO SPRING. Nothing about this fellow identified Him as the Messiah God had promised to send. John labeled these false prophets as “deceivers” and those who followed them as “deceived.” Note that in verse 7 he once again refers to a singular entity–“he.” Again he is referring to the leader of the deceivers/antichrists. This highlights an important Biblical Truth–AS GOES THE LEADER, SO GO THE FOLLOWERS. Antichrist deceivers (ministers and laity) strictly follow their leader–the chief Antichrist/Deceiver. They are in effect “little antichrists/little Satans.” The same rule holds true for those who strictly follow Christ. The word “Christian” actually means “little Christs” because they do, say and think as does their Leader. Such are His true disciples/saints. John makes this clear in 1 John 2:6 where he states that if we call ourselves Christ’s brethren we must “walk as He walked.” Jesus noted in Revelation 3:21 that only those who overcome Satan “as I overcame” him will join Him in paradise. Sinners saved by grace claim that Satan cannot be overcome, therefore God allows them to obey him with impunity.

There are two gods relative to mankind’s spiritual condition: the Biblical God and the god of the earth. In the eyes of the Biblical God, man either loves, worships and obeys Him or Satan. The two have nothing to do with each other. As we are asked in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, what relationship does God have with Belial, believers with unbelievers, righteousness with unrighteousness (Lawlessness”, light with darkness, the temple of God with the temple of idols? Yet “Sinners saved by grace”–all of professing Christendom–proudly admit to serving both gods with equal zeal. While they view themselves as belonging to the Biblical God (being saved by Him–spiritually hot), they admit to serving Satan (being controlled by him–spiritually cold). Jesus, they tell us, died so that they could be both hot and cold AND GET AWAY WITH IT. However, the Biblical God views them solely as Satan’s people (luke warm). Because they insist on being both hot (religious) and cold (dead) He has vowed to “… spew you out of My mouth.” Satan tells them that they can sin and God will not reject them due to their religiosity–church-going, cross-wearing, Bible-owning, tithing, smiling, etc. Yes, smiling. I have been chastised on three occasions by total strangers for not wearing a grin. I did not get the memo about the 11th commandment: Thou shalt not fail to grin. According to the grin police, God’s condemnation of me for not smiling is warranted.  Apparently, grin sinning is a serious no-no. L.J.