When pretenders are exposed

The pretenders are at it again

Ephesians 5:13 

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible

2 Timothy 3:13 

While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Ephesians 5:11-14 

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" 1 John 1:6

When someone is exposed as a fraud, pretending to be a Christian, it is not surprising, Scripture says and warns about those people. Many think they're Christian for many reasons, but really they're just "religious" people who have some kind of belief in God or Jesus, but it is not biblical and God has not made them born again. They do not have spiritual life (the Holy Spirit does not indwell them).

1 John 1:6-7 

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin

Romans 8:27 

And he [God] who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:5 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit

We know there are many false converts and "religious" people in the church, those not saved. Jesus parables and NT Scripture teaching explain that (a lot), but there is hope for them still, until they die. 

So there is a difference between a false convert, and a believer growing in faith, who is removing sin. But (not being perfect) he might fall into sin temporarilly. Theres usually something wrong in their spiritual walk that they got off course. And God leads them back. 

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Matthew 18:12 

If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 😊

1 Peter 2:25 

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls

Colossians 3:5 

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry..."

And this is why caring believers, and the leaders in the local church (who are shepherds over them), have a responsibility to each one in the church.

1 Timothy 5:20 

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear

Galatians 6:1

Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness

1 John 1:9 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-29  I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins

"But you brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief...you are all the children of light, and the children of the day" 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5

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Believers are a new creation. Converted by God. 

Christians are not perfect and

may fall into sin temporarily: 

Christians carry their dead old self 

Believers put aside the old self , crucifying it

And turn from sin, not live in it. 

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But if it is found to be true that someone is finally exposed as a false convert, they will either repent & get right with God, or flee from Christianity (if they love sin & not God). 

This is why Scripture tells us:

"men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hateth the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:19-20

Acts 26:18 

To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

"There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves."

Job 34:22

Ephesians 5:13 

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible

John 3:20 

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 1 John 2:19

And Scripture also tells us:

Hebrews 3:12-13 

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin

We urge you, brothers, admonish, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 

1 Thessalonians 5:14 

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

Galatians 5:22-23 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

So, we do need to be cautious, and gracious, because we do not know initially who is a false convert slandering Christianity with their sinful life, as the rest of the unsaved live, or whether they are a believer who temporarilly fell into sin.

 So if they are in a local congregation, the believers they know there and/or the leadership will confront them lovingly and encourage, admonish and exhort, and rebuke them so they repent, are restored and walk rightly once again.  Only the person and the leaders (after investigation) know if that person is a false convert or unrepentant believer. 

If the church has to go to the extreme (having followed all the steps biblically till then), they will call them out in front of the congregation during service announcements, and encourage all who know them to reach out to them with the goal of restoration. If that doesnt work, accrding to Scripture the leaders are to kick them out of the church. It is the final step to get them to come to their senses, so they can be restored and rejoin the congregation. But sin is to be dealt with in a believers life, and this is one more reason church membership is important. It is far better to go through this provess than for the Lord to step in and discipline them in their life, and possibly even end their life & take them home to Heaven. He has no use left for them on earth if they are not obedient. 

God brings success over the flesh for every believer.

Hope this helped explain something or a few things you may not have known before. 

God bless. 

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Colossians 4:6 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person

Romans 10:14 

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Acts 13:47 

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light... that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

Do you know what the Gospel is? 

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Romans 13:12

Romans 10:13 

For “everyone who calls on the name of

the Lord will be saved

John 8:12 

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life

1 Thessalonians 2:13 

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God

Are they uneducated in Scripture or a false convert?

How to have assurance you are saved 

Examine yourself 

#exposed #sin #falseconvert #churchdiscipline #restoredbeliever #gospel #teaching