In the last times – the times that we are living in now between Christ's first coming and second coming – there will be perilous and dangerous times. Scripture is very realistic, but there is still hope – even in this warning.
The natural human state is to look out for #1, and the rest of the list of bad things in this passage are just outworkings of that main sin of a distorted and perverted self-love. Our culture is puffed up with self-esteem and we are told to "believe in ourselves."
Pauls says to avoid these kind of people. We need to be watchful because hypocritical unbelievers will creep into the Church and they are almost more dangerous than outright pagans.
Do we understand and know the power of the Gospel? We need to be watchful against these false teachers, but we can also be encouraged because these people do not get the last word. The Lord Jesus has set up His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! |