Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3
In 2Corinthians 11, when Paul warned the saints at Corinth of men who preached “another Jesus”, he was warning the saints of men who were serving another god: Satan. He actually called those men “false apostles” -v. 13) and “ministers of Satan” -v. 14-15).
If what a man is teaching you came from his own heart, he is seeking glory for himself. Jesus said so -Jn. 7:18). If what he is teaching came from the mind of Satan, he is ministering to you what Satan has prepared for you, and he qualifies to that extent as a “minister of Satan”. Paul knew that what he taught the saints was from Christ. He wrote, “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, nor was taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” -Gal. 1:11-12). And because he was serving food prepared by Jesus for the saints, Paul was a server, or minister, of Christ. If what a man is teaching was prepared by Satan, then he is a server, or minister of Satan. Be slow to speak, my friend, to the children of God. It matters to the Father what His children are fed.
This is an important matter. For if we are practicing a baptism other than the baptism of Christ, or if we are partaking of a communion other than the communion of Christ, or if we belong to a religious body other than the body of Christ, or if we are teaching any doctrine other than the doctrine of Christ, then we are proclaiming “another Jesus” to God’s people and are serving “another god”.
It is not by word only that we “have other gods”; it is by actions. And if any of our actions are contrary to the truth Paul taught us Gentiles, then to that extent we are guilty of “having other gods” before Him who is our God.
Paul said that there is one body -the family of born-again people).
Paul said that there is one Spirit -the holy Spirit that came on Pentecost).
Paul said that there is one hope -of eternal life, which we have when we receive Christ).
Paul said that there is one Lord -Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God).
Paul said that there is one faith -the truth revealed by the Spirit).
Paul said that there is one baptism -the baptism of the holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues).
Paul said that there is one God -the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ).
Any doctrine or ceremony that adds to, detracts from, or ignores these foundations of holy faith is evil and should be avoided. Any man who promotes any other doctrine or ritual is an enemy of the cross of Christ, is a minister of evil, and is breaking the first of the TEN COMMANDMENTS.