Warning, Warning, You are about to be deceived!

Warning, Warning, You are about to be deceived!

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Romans 16:17-18

Paul is speaking from personal experience in church planting.  He would preach the gospel message of grace and people would be truly converted.  Shortly others would follow Paul’s teaching by adding more rules to follow God.  They would say something like…” It is great that you have become a follower of Jesus.  To become a great follower you need to follow the Jewish laws and traditions, for Jesus was a Jew.  The closer you follow Jewish rules for eating, keeping holy days, looking and sounding more Jewish the better Christian you will be.”  With many other ideas these teachings would begin to put a yoke of “good” conduct that was unsustainable.  Paul experienced this type of teachings disastrous effects.

The Greek word for “urge” is from the same root word as advocate, paracleo.  The Holy Spirit is called a “legal advocate”.  He is to give us great advice that will keep us on the right track.  Paul is saying to them, “I am giving you the best legal counsel in how to conduct your affairs”. 

“Watch out”  means “to put on notice” or to “mark something as important to monitor”.  Be watchful for deceivers.  Some may ask how to tell if a person is sowing deception?  They are looking for a guide to determine if the teaching is truth or error.  So it is very important that you have spent time knowing why and what you believe regarding your Christian life.  BUT the test is very simple…is the teaching causing division and why is it causing division.  When someone is speaking ill about a person in authority, that is division.  When a person talks more about the character of another person and not doctrinal teaching, that is division.  When a person exalts their teaching as the “true secret” that God has given to just me, he is a deceiver.  When there is disagreement (it’s not wrong to disagree),  the main atmosphere that people you should feel is love and respect.  Anything else is moving toward division. 

Paul says that we should “keep away” from divisive people.  But it seems they work their way into Sunday School classes, small groups, and deacon boards.  They appear to be genuinely nice people.  Look to the fruit of division.  Their words are persuasive so don’t engage in trying to convince them through rhetoric.  Point to the areas of division and lack of respect for authority.

Is there way to protect yourself?  Walk in harmony with the Holy Spirit.  One of His main tasks in your life is to lead and guide you into all truth.  The truth will set you free.  Where there is liberty there is freedom.  Live in Freedom.

Father, you are good.  Thank you that you protect us from the devastating attacks of the enemy.  We can think clearly because we have the mind of Christ.  We will not fear about deceivers, because your light exposes the darkness.  So help us to be aware of errors in the biblical message.  Thank you that you are truth, life and the way.