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"A different gospel..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:4

NECESSARY ADMONISHMENT

Paul had to admonish the Corinthians because they had not been alert and discerning. They were in danger of being deceived by the Devil.

“For if he who comes preaches another Jesus
whom we have not preached, or if you receive
a different spirit which you have not received,
or a different gospel which you have not accepted-
you may well put up with it!”
2 Corinthians 11:4

1. The context at hand

a) People who had come to the Corinthian Church.

b) They had been allowed to speak to the congregation.

c) But they were teaching things that were subtly different.

d) The Corinthians did not seem to know how to discern what was the truth.

2. “He who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached”

a) The speaker may have mentioned the name of Jesus.

b) The content may have seemed very similar.

c) But in fact, it was “a different Jesus”.

3. “Or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received”

a) This could be a reference to the Holy Spirit.

b) The Corinthians should have noted the essential and characteristic features of the Spirit of God.

c) But somehow, they were not exercising much discernment.

4. “Or a different gospel which you have not accepted”

a) The gospel they had accepted had certain characteristic features.

b) But a different gospel had been preached and received.

5. “You may well put up with it”

a) The Corinthians should have exercised discernment.

b) Why had they put up with hearing people speak of things that they had not learned?

i) A different Jesus

ii) A different spirit

iii) A different gospel

c) In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul expressed his feelings against those who preached “a different gospel!”