Counterfeit

'I tell you these things so that you will not be deceived...' (Colossians 2:4)

By: Peter Walker

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Jesus told us there would be false teachers. It’s important to know this so that you are not surprised when you sense deception, nor ashamed if you are ever deceived.

‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.’ (Matthew 7:15)

Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people would reject sound teaching and surround themselves with many teachers (‘many’) that would tell them what they wanted to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

We see a time when Peter and James – the brother of Jesus – were deceived by some Bible teachers, who were trying to make some Old Testament laws popular and important again. (Galatians 2:11-13)

We do not need to fear deception. A person who loves God and is sincere about seeking God, will always find their way out of something spiritually counterfeit. Yes, like Peter and James, we may be deceived and distracted sometimes, go a little ways down a dead-end road, but Jesus will always reach for us and show us the way back. So there is no need to fear.

However, we do need to be aware that deception exists and is on all sides. We do need to be alert. Paul said about the devil: ‘We are not unaware of his schemes.’ (2 Corinthians 2:11)

In this short book we look at what the Bible teaches about deception and spiritual counterfeits, and how we can know better, discern better…