Paul was expressing his and God's concern that they would accept a false christ and/or a false gospel and/or a false spirit.
Heb. 1:6. "But when He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him.""
God said Jesus Christ is to be worshipped.
Ex. 34:14. "For you shall worship no other god ..."
God alone is to be worshipped.
Luke 4:6-8. "And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delievered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get thee behind Me, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the LORD thy God, and Him only shall you serve.""
Jesus said only God is to be worshipped.
John 20:24-29. "Now Thomas, called the twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." And after eight days His disciples again were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at my hands;, and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving; but believing." And Thomas answered and said, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas worshipped Jesus as God, and Jesus did not rebuke or reprove him for it.
Rev. 22:8,9. "Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. The he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the works of this book. Worship God.""
John is chastized for worshipping an angel. He is told to worship God.
Acts 10:25,26. "As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I am also a man."
Peter stops Cornelius from worshipping a mere man.
Heb. 1:6. "But when He again brings His firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him.""
God said Jesus Christ is to be worshipped. (Was God confused?)
John 5:14-18. "Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, ans sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."
No mere man or prophet is equal to God. This man Jesus, when speaking with the Jews, claimed to be God in the flesh, and that is why they wanted to kill Him.
Ex. 3:13,14. "Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they say to me, "What is His name?" what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Isreal, "I AM has sent me to you.""
God told Moses His personal name, "I AM".
John 8:56-59. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus his Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Jesus claims to be older than Abraham, and uses God's personal name for Himself; thus claiming to be the great I AM.
Phil. 2:5-11. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Vs. 6, "being" means never ceasing to exist. Christ existed at all times in the form of God; was equal to God; took on the form of a man, and He is to be worshipped. Only God is to be worshipped.
Isa. 45:18-23. "For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is none other. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, "Seek Me in vain"; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nation. They have no knowledge, who carry the word of their carved image, and pray to a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.""
God is the creator of earth. There is no other God. Every knee shall bow to Him. God is the Savior, and there is no Savior but God.
John 1:1-3,14. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
The Word, Jesus Christ, was with God, was God, created all things, took on flesh, is the only begotten Son of God, and was observed by mankind in the flesh.
Isa. 43:1-10. "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk throught the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ramsom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, "Give them up!" and to the sourth, "Do not keep them back!" Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. Let all nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear and say, "It is truth." You are my witnesses" says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me."
God is the LORD, the only God, the only Savior, there will be no other God or Savior, and He is the creator.
Luke 2:11. "For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Jesus Christ is the Savior.
Isa. 43:11. "I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no Savior."
God is the only Savior.
Isa. 45:21. "Tell and bring forth your case; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who had told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me."
There is only one God and Savior.
Acts 20:28. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood."
God purchased the church with His own blood.
Rev. 1:5,8. "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins with His own blood," ... "I am the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and End, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and End, the Almighty, and the one who washed the church clean with His own blood.
Rev. 21:1-6. "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them and they shall be with them, and God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have all passed away." Then He who sat on the throned said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."
The Alpha and the Omega sits on the throne in heaven.
Rev. 22:7,12,20, then 12&13. "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work." "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely, I come quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My rewards is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
Rev. 1:10-13,17,18. "... and I heard a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches..." Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of hades and of Death."
The Alpha and the Omega, was dead, but is alive, and will live forever.
Isa. 44:6. "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God."
Only one God, who is the First and the Last, the King of Israel.
Rev. 1:7. "Behold, He is coming quickly with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of earth will mourn because of Him. Even so. Amen."
The one who comes quickly, was pierced.
Zech. 12:1-10. "The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah, and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. In that day," says the LORD, "I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, "The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God. In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding people on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place-Jerusalem. The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerualem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.""
God says the nation of Israel will grieve because they pierced Him.
Isa. 44:6. "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God."
There is only one God.
John 12:12,13. "The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!"
Jesus is the King of Israel.
Col. 1:15. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
Jesus is the express image of God, and created all things, He is the firstborn (pre-eminent one) over all creation.
Gen. 48:14. "Then Israel stretched out his hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Mannasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Mannaseh was the firstborn."
Mannaseh is firstborn (born first).
Jer. 31:9. "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I shall lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."
Ephraim, Mannaseh's twin, is firstborn (pre-eminent one).
Gen. 1:26a, 27. "And God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; ..." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
God makes man in "OUR" (God's) image.
Deut. 6:4. "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one!
The plural God, Elohim, is one God.
Ps. 33:12. "Blessed is the nation whose God (Elohim) is the LORD (Jehovah):"
Man has sinned (fallen short of God's perfection) and has a fallen nature?
Rom. 3:10-23, I John 1:8-10.
The penalty for sin is death of the soul?
Rom. 6:23, Eze. 18:20.
You cannot earn salvation by doing good works?
Eph. 2:8,9, Titus 3:5, Gal. 2:16, Isa. 64:6.
Jesus Christ, God the Son, is the only person who can save you from your sin? You cannot save yourself?
Acts 4:12, I Pet. 1:18-19, John 3:18.
Jesus Christ made a complete and permanent substitute payment for your sin?
Heb. 10:10-12, II Cor. 5:21, I
Pet. 3:18, Col. 2:13,14.
You must believe on Jesus (not just believe about Him, but rely on Him and Him alone) in order to gain eternal life?
John 3:18, John 5:24, Rom. 3:24-26, Rom. 4:2-5, Gal. 2:16.
To rely upon Jesus is like relying on a chair? Believing in your mind that a chair will hold you up is not enough. You must cease holding yourself up and sit in the chair to get the benefit.
Tit. 3:5.
God wants those who believe in Jesus to know they have eternal life?
I John 5:12,13, John 6:47, Titus 1:2.
The salvation of those who believe in Jesus is protected by God?
Eph. 1:13,14, I Pet. 1:3-5,23-25, John 6:37,39.
You only have one life to make the decision to trust the Jesus of the bible before you stand before God to be judged. Heb. 9:27.
That anyone, including an angel from heaven, who brings any other message than the one in the Bible is cursed by God?
Gal. 1:6-9.
Satan can transform himself into an angel of light?
II Cor. 11:14.
Many who think they have been doing God's work will be cast out?
Matt. 7:21-23.
Now is the time to change the way you think about God, now is the day of salvation? Now is the time to bow your heart and ask God to forgive you for sinning against Him. Until you do this, the Bible says that the wrath of God abides on you.
II Cor. 6:2, John 3:36.
