The 11:45 Call

Verse 4

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were

marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the

grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and

our Lord Jesus Christ.”

For certain men have crept in unnoticed

One of Satan’s most effective strategies to spoil the work of God is to

sneak/creep in unnoticed, placing his workers in among the fellowship

of true believers. This is done just as in the world of espionage; one

country might send a spy or a double agent into the inner workings

of the enemy’s government. He is also known to use someone who

has a long relationship in the fellowship but, because of weakness, is

vulnerable to the enemy’s wiles.

Even in the early days of Christianity, Paul sent a warning to the

Philippians that Christ was not always preached from pure motives.

Philippians 1:15–16 “Some indeed preach Christ even from

envy and stife, and some also from goodwill 16The former

preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing

to add affliction to my chains;”

“All that glitters is not gold.” Not everyone who has found a place

of leadership and influence in the church is actually chosen by God and

godly. Unfortunately, some are moles of Satan. Whatever a man says

or does, compare/filter it through a Biblical worldview (a modern term

for our view(s) based on values and our body of knowledge) and in the

context of the entire Bible. Examine yourself and let God examine you.

You do not want Satan to use you to weaken the body of believers.

Paul warned the Romans to beware. Some Jews appeared to

have accepted the gospel but continued to live under the law and

taught the early Christians that they must live under the law. In their

unrighteousness, they refused to accept the whole counsel of God and

did not accept or believe the grace of the gospel. They were causing

confusion with this false teaching.

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who

suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

The Jews were the first people God worked through to prepare

the entire human race for salvation and holy righteous living. They

used this advantage to move into the church, believing that God not

judge them because they were under the law. Professing to be wise, they

taught the law, but they did not keep it.

Romans 1:22–25 “Because although they knew God,

they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but

became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were

darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and

changed the glory of incorruptible God into an image made

like corruptible man—and bird and four-footed animals

and creeping thing. 24Therefore God also gave them up to

uncleaness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their

bodies among themselves 25who exchanged the truth of God

for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather

than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

By breaking the law, they professed to raise the law alone (without

the mercy and grace given to us at the cross) as the standard. The Jews

blasphemed the name of God and lost the profit and witness.

Romans 2:17, 23 “Indeed you are called a Jew and rest

on the law and make your boast in God, . . . 23You who

make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through

breaking the law? 24For the name of God is blasphemed

among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. 25For

circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law;

but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has

become uncircumcision . . . . 29but he is a Jew who in

one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart in the

Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but

from God.”

Legalistic, ungodly teaching was a threat to the Colossians, as Paul

warns them.

Colossians 2:8,18, 20 “Beware lest anyone cheat you

through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the

tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the

world, and not according to Christ. 18Let no one cheat you

of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship

of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen,

vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 20Therefore, if you died

with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as

though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to

regulations,”

Colossians 3:1–6 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek

those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the

right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on

things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden

with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears,

then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Therefore put

to death your members which are on the earth: fornication,

uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is

idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming

upon the sons of disobedience,”

p>Timothy, whom Paul called a true son of the faith, was also warned

of those who would sneak in and teach false (ungodly) doctrine.

1 Timothy 1:4 “Nor give heed to fables and endless

genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly

edification which is in faith.”

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Timothy was to “contend earnestly” by guarding what was

committed to his trust.

1 Timothy 6:20 “O Timothy! Guard what was committed

to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and

contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,”

For further instructions to Timothy, read 1 Timothy 4:6–16. The

Thessalonians were similarly warned. See 2 Thessalonians 3:6–16

Life Application Questions

• In what areas of your life do you live as if it is okay to sin?

• How does this affect your testimony regarding Jesus as Lord and

  Master of your life?

• What can you do about it?

• What is the difference between being remorseful and being

   repentant?