People Like Us
By George Stroh
October 7, 2013
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2: 3-4)
Sometimes Christians, in the fog of spiritual warfare, misidentify our real enemy. It is true, that we need to identify and expose false teachers and their false doctrines. As Peter wrote; But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2:1). But God desires that even these false teachers be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Our real enemy is Satan and his army of demons. They deceive false teachers and use them to do the devil's evil work of leading people away from the sound biblical doctrines, especially the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
When The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, it was in the context of praying even for their hated, evil governing authorities; First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Evil kings and false teachers are really just people like us who God desires to be save and to come to the knowledge of truth.
You and I and everyone who now knows the truth and loves the Lord Jesus Christ were once also deceived, lost sinners justly condemned before a holy God; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Jesus said; You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44) We are to pray for and love other people like us who need to hear the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Maranatha!
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