The previous lesson ended with the knowledge that Christ will, symbolically through the truth of the gospel, step on the necks of those who don’t listen to the truth. It should serve as a dire warning to the ungodly, but they won’t listen to sound words and one day they will learn the folly of ignoring God and his Son. Paul addressed those who ignored the truth (and those who will continue to do so in this day) when he wrote, (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. In order to understand the full meaning of Paul’s words, the word evil must be explored for its full application of the truth. The word evil is opposite of godly and therefore refers to ungodly or not having God in mind.  When combined with men, it refers to individuals being sick, virulent, venomous or malignant. As Paul used the word, it also means degenerate. (The Living Word Commentary Series)  In the Greek language construction, it conveys the idea of an active worker working out evil. Thus, it is men who are actively engaged in the production of evil, keeping in mind that God’s word is the standard by which all things are judged and will be judged. As Paul wrote in Romans 2:16: In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Next is the word seducers, deriving from the root word seduce. It would be correct to  translate the word as imposter, which means a swindler or cheat who will go from bad to worse to increasingly worse in intensity of behavior. In other words, these evil men know no bounds for the practice of their deceit. They will practice deceiving others, leading them astray, causing them to err in the truth. In verse 13, the word is used of religious error or doctrinal error. To apply the teaching to the present day, we know that Barack Hussein Obama said that Jesus included homosexuals when he gave the Sermon on the Mount. He committed gross religious error by teaching a false doctrine for political gain known as votes. (Read article here Obama Lobbies Gays) Deceitful men know no bounds.

Not only will they deceive the weak minded, but they themselves will be deceived by their own guile. As he spouts his false doctrine, he too will be less able to recover from his error and will actually embrace the error of others as the truth. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown’s bible Commentary) Paul wrote to Timothy about those who teach falsely, I Timothy 4:1-2: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;  Though in verses 3 and 4, Paul was referring to specific behaviors of a different kind, the principle can be applied to the present day.  If the words of Obama in reference to Jesus approving homosexual conduct are true, then he isn’t guilty of what Paul wrote in verses 1 and 2. Based on Obama’s words about his faith, believing that Jesus included homosexuals in the Sermon, one can’t help but wonder to what faith Obama clings. It isn’t faith in Christ no matter how it is dissected. The gospel does not teach such in spite of Obama’s assertion.

Obama in search of political gain has deceived his hearers through the claims he is dedicated to searching for the truth. Paul’s letter to Timothy has good instructions applicable to Obama and some Christians who are among his followers.  He wrote:  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (I Timothy 6:3-5)  The man is of depraved mind, destitute of the truth, pandering to the homosexual crowd with unwholesome words. The instruction to Christians in verse 5 is very plain: from such withdraw thyself. How can a Christian be a supporter of a man who twists the scriptures and who unequivocally supports abortion, an evil on the par with homosexuality? The two are equally evil in that Obama is leading people astray with false teaching that will lead them to an eternal death, killing all hope for eternal life unless they repent and obey the gospel; while abortion kills an unborn life that will never have the opportunity to experience the joys of life and hear the glorious news of salvation so that they can one day serve God, his or her Creator. Who will you follow, God or the Democratic Party? Will it be the Obama and his worthless words or Christ and his inspired teachings?  Your answer will determine where you will spend eternity.

© 03-08-2008 DEC

                                   Next Lesson Agents of Evil Part III