Grievous Wolves Will Come
“For I (the Apostle Paul) know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29,30).
At this time, the Apostle Paul was leaving Miletus on his way to Jerusalem and calls the Elders of the church at Ephesus to come to him. Paul loved the church at Ephesus having spent 3 years there establishing the church. He wanted to give them some final instruction before leaving. Paul was bound for Jerusalem at the leading of the Holy Spirit where the Spirit had shown him that he would face trouble in Jerusalem saying “bonds and affliction” would await him there.
The Lord had called Paul to teach and preach the New Covenant. He was called to the Gentiles and his love and faithfulness to the Lord’s Church shines brightly in all Paul did. Regarding the church at Ephesus, the Book of Acts tells us that “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul,” and that the Word of God grew and prevailed in Ephesus at that time. He called these Elders from Ephesus to Miletus to instruct them one final time knowing that they would not see him again.
Paul instructed them to “feed the Church of God” as under-shepherds of the church the Lord had “purchased with His own Blood.” He commended them to God and the “Word of His Grace” which points to the Cross. And he warns them against receiving false doctrine. Jesus, himself, gave a grave warning regarding false prophets in His discourse in the Sermon on the Mount.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
The problem of false brethren and false doctrine is a problem the church has dealt with from its very inception to this very time. Paul was the master builder of the church having received the meaning of the New Testament directly from the Lord. And yet, the problem of a false way to Salvation, and a false way to Sanctification, was a problem even then when the church was in its infancy.
We must guard against this today. Jesus said that we will know false Brethren by their fruit. The Gospel is the story of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He came to pay the sin debt and offers Salvation for all those who will place their faith in Him and His Sacrificial death at Calvary. Also, our Sanctification comes strictly by faith, as well. We cannot mix faith and works whether it be Salvation or Sanctification. The following happens to the Believer at Salvation, all by faith:
“… But you are washed (the Blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin), but you are sanctified (set apart unto God – our position in Christ), but you are justified (declared not guilty) in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
All false teachers will stray from the Word of God and present false doctrine that does not line up with the Scriptures. They are deceived, and deceive, all those who would be taken in with their deception. These false ways are from “seducing spirits” and are “doctrines of Devils.” This is why we must guard against this by knowing God’s Word and anchoring our faith in Christ and Him crucified. Paul concludes his time with these Elders by warning against the dangers of false doctrine coming into the church with false apostles that come from among their very own.
Our only defense against false doctrine is having our faith anchored in the Cross. Jesus paid the sin debt at Calvary and opened the way for us to have fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit will keep us in the truth as we continue to anchor our faith in Christ and Him crucified as Romans chapter 8 tells us. Paul warned those in Ephesus, and us, to be watchful and guard against false doctrine and it’s seducing power that would cause us to stray from the Word of God. And his warning came with tears as our closing verse tells us.
“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
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