"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ" (2 Cor. 11:13).
The apostles of Christ were commissioned by Him, endowed with gifts of inspiration and knowledge, and invested with supernatural powers to heal, cast out demons, and bring the dead to life again. Anyone who claimed to be an apostle in the days of Paul, and anyone who claims to be an apostle today, had to possess the marks of true apostleship. This means that those who say they hold this office, as do the “successors of the apostles” in the Roman Catholic church, should be invested with infallible knowledge and supreme authority in ruling the church. If they are truly apostles, we must accept their teaching with unquestioning faith and obedience. The same is true with apostles in any other denomination. But with this claim must come the supernatural powers that were invested in the first apostles.
We know that the apostolic office is no longer functioning because the Word of God is complete and because no one has been directly commissioned by Christ, endowed with supernatural powers, and invested with infallible knowledge. The only rule by which the church is to function today is the Bible. No teaching of man can usurp this authority. It alone binds our consciences.
Yet many people, while they may not call themselves apostles, still speak as if their teaching is infallible. They lead people astray with their false doctrine, blinding people to the truth by their flashy appearances. Paul warns us against such men, calling them servants of Satan, who disguise themselves as angels of light. If a man teaches error or lives an immoral life (or, more than likely, both), he is none other than a servant of Satan. Like the false apostles of Corinth, they come into the church disguised as upright men, filled with promises. But their teaching is contrary to the Scriptures and their actions (even though they may be cleverly hidden) are immoral.
We must be ever on our guard against such deceivers. Peter warns us, saying, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them …” (2 Peter 2:1–2). Be on your guard because such men are subtle, and you can be easily deceived. Compare all teaching to the Word of God and judge all men by their fruit to know whether they be good or bad.
Spend some time in prayer today, asking God to give you discernment and wisdom regarding teachers in the church.
