Knowing the counterfeit from the genuine

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul revealed four ways in which Satan works like a master counterfeiter. (1) 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. (2) 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” (vv. 13, 15 ESV). (3) Satan brings counterfeit saints. Paul identified these false brethren as those who seem like your brother or sister on the outside but are secretly your enemy on the inside (see Galatians 2:4). (4) 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” (Galatians 1:8 ESV). 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.