“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works,” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
Yesterday (11/3/25) I received an email from a female, or at least it was signed by one bearing a female name and with the designation (Rev) attached. With the satanic confusion that is abroad today, it is difficult to tell at times!!
She is someone living in complete defiance of Paul’s teaching in Titus 1:5-6. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”
Whatever else she may be, she cannot be in obedience to this Scripture and claim to be a minister of Christ!
The title ‘elder’ is interchangeable with the title ‘overseer’ or ‘bishop’ as Acts 20:17, 28 demonstrates. A minister, an elder who labours “in the word and doctrine,” 1 Timothy 5:17, can only be a man. That is the teaching of the Bible!
Claims
This person claimed to be a ‘sister in Christ.’ She further claimed that she was converted over sixty years ago and has been ‘over 40 years . . . in Christian ministry.’
This person then began what was really just a tirade against our conformity to Biblical worship.
Here is one comment: ‘Watching live Free Presbyterian worship on utube I observe the need for outward conformity to expectations. Recently from XXXXX FP I was delighted to see a choir of about 40 young people but dismayed to see how the young girls all felt constrained to wear strange berets (very similar to the Brethren head coverings.) There can be no Scriptural authority to put such expectations on them. I suspect that are merely responding to church and peer pressure.’
Those are her words not mine!
Doubtless, the final words are meant to ‘embarrass’ me! I find I have no difficulty finding myself aligned with any who, in this matter, obey the teaching of the Bible.
I would much rather be in such company than in that of this sneering female Bible-rejector!
The source of this ‘constraint’, so contemptuously referred to, is merely a desire to obey God.
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered,” 1 Corinthians 11:4-6.
So much for ‘no Scriptural authority’, as asserted by this female ignoramus!
Rant
She continues her foolish rant: ‘My conclusion is that the Free Presbyterians could more rightly be known as the Bound Presbyterians.’
She would be correct were she affirming the simple truth that as a people we are indeed ‘bound’ – bound to and by the Word of God.
Love Defined
The Saviour defined the love we ought to manifest toward Him.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . . He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him,” John 14:15, 21.
Just what does this woman display by here mocking and disparaging obedience to the Word of God??
She goes on: ‘My position is that I am free in Christ for now and for eternity. I am your equal in Him and have identical guidance from the Holy Spirit.’
She makes no mention of the Word of God in her email. Only those who live to obey the Bible can claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit, for ONLY in it is God’s mind and will revealed by the Holy Spirit.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
God has communicated His will for men through the inspired writings of godly men. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” 2 Peter 1:21.
What the Saviour said to the Sadducees, is equally applicable to this woman who despises the Word of God as the ‘only rule of faith and practice’. “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” Mark 12:24.
This poor deceived woman concludes with these words.
‘Please be aware that I do not intend any ongoing discussion. Rather this is my response to your biased writings and I am sad that Christians today bring themselves under a new set of laws when we are under the New Covenant.’
Just how blind is one who claims to be following the ‘New Covenant’ but claims that those who teach the Bible are setting forth ‘a new set of laws’!
I would simply quote God’s Word in response to this final folly.
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,” Isaiah 8:19-20.
“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning,” 1 John 2:7.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,” Revelation 22:18-19.
Turning to Our Text
If I may return to the verses at the head of this article, I would like to set forth more ‘extremely insular and indeed insulting’ teachings, as my articles are termed by this female ‘Rev’!
I understand that there are children’s games which use the name ‘Transformers’. Sadly, like many such games, they set forth a mythical world in which seems to be the environment in many of the rising generation ‘exist’!
I think it helps to explain the mounting lawlessness that is increasingly pervading today’s society.
However, long before the invention of these games came along, the devil was engaged in such a practice as a means of deceiving and deluding and ultimately damning, millions of lost sinners.
I. EVEN IN THE DAWN OF THIS CHRISTIAN AGE, THE DEVIL WAS ACTIVELY CORRUPTING THE TRUTH OF GOD BY HIS AGENTS.
There is nothing new in this, of course. He showed his ‘subtlety’ — craftiness, back in the Garden of Eden when he deceived Eve, Genesis 3:1-6.
1. In this New Testament age, he seeks to resist the Lord by counterfeiting the gospel message. His brazenness is seen in that he does not hesitate to pass off his agents as ‘apostles’. But they are ‘false apostles’, verse 13. The office of apostle was the highest office in the early years of the New Testament Church. That office ceased with the death of the last of the Christ-appointed apostles. The devil is not afraid to attempt to counterfeit the work and authority of the Lord Jesus. Indeed, that is the essence of his whole plan!
2. These ‘false apostles’ preached a false gospel. Paul encountered this devilishness in Galatia. There he found that many believers had been deceived. He was most scathing in his rebuking of their folly.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed,” Galatians 1:6-9.
The judgment of God upon such deceivers is most severe indeed. They are ‘accursed’. The word literally means ‘one given over to the direst of eternal woes.’ I believe that we can use the word ‘damned’ to explain what Paul is here saying of the deceiver.
Tremble
That ought to make any tremble who take upon themselves the designation ‘servant of Christ’ but who have not been ordained as such by the Lord!
Such as engage in this deception will reap the terrible eternity that awaits those deceived by the devil. None are more deceived than such deceivers!
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” 2 Timothy 3:13.
3. The devil’s brazenness does not stop at seeking to counterfeit the apostles of Christ – he seeks to replace Christ Himself! Paul has earlier written to the Corinthians: “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted . . ,” 2 Corinthians 11:4. He again refers to the devil’s deceitful transformations. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light,” 2 Corinthians 11:14.
What wicked boldness to ‘masquerade’ as God’s ‘angel of light’! Such are the depths of the evil the believer faces and must, under God, seek to discern and reject.
Remember: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand,” Ephesians 6:11-13.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Thursday, 13th March 2025
(Part 2 will follow in a few days.)