Knowing The Counterfeit From The Genuine

 

*Knowing The Counterfeit From The Genuine*

Paul reveals four ways in which Satan works like a master counterfeiter. 

*First, he supplies a counterfeit saviour*: 

_For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light._ So though there are cults that preach Jesus, they do not preach the Christ of Christianity.

*Second, Satan presents counterfeit servants*: 

_For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ…So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness._ Their end will correspond to their deeds.

*Third, Satan brings counterfeit saints*: 

_Paul identifies these false brethren as those who seem like your brother or sister on the outside but are secretly your enemy on the inside_(Gal 2:4). 

*Fourth, Satan offers us a counterfeit salvation*: 

_But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed_ 

(Gal 1:8). 

It’s not necessarily that Christians pretend to be children of the devil, but instead that the ungodly frequently appear to be righteous. 

*God can distinguish a sinner from a saint, and you’re going to discover both inside the church just as you will outside it. And that’s a good thing because constant exposure to Bible preaching is what changes people.* Jesus never claimed that the church was perfect, and neither should we. *Our awareness of these truths shouldn’t make us self-righteous and judgmental.* Rather, it should make us paramedics of God’s grace and mercy and cause us to be more fully committed to Christ.

_For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light._

2 Cor 11:14