2 Corinthians 11:13

2 Corinthians 11:13 says, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  Paul begins to give a warning against false prophets.  He said they were deceitful, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  We cannot transform ourselves into apostles, or even followers of Christ, but must be transformed by Christ Himself.  We know that the Bible tells us that not all who claim to know Christ as Savior and Lord really do.  Some make the claim for personal reasons and not because they have really accepted Christ.  Paul said some who called themselves apostles were the same.  Verse fourteen adds, And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  We need to remember that Satan does not come to us with horns, a tail, a pitchfork and totally in red.  It would be easy to avoid him if he did.  Satan comes in the most appealing form to the person that he is attempting to deceive.  Verse fifteen continues, Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  Paul warns us that it should come as no surprise that Satan uses false ministers to do his work.  We need to look at who Satan really is, and that is the great deceiver, and be aware that he works by appealing to people's vanity.  Verse sixteen states, I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  Paul said that no one should think him a fool, but if they received him as such that he would boast a little about himself.  I don't believe this was to bring glory to himself, but to prove his faithfulness to the gospel.  Paul was not fooled by the actions of Satan through Satan's false ministers, and we should not be either.  Verse seventeen adds, That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  Paul said that when he boasted of himself it was not a commandment of the Lord to do so.  Paul was not boasting to bring credit to himself, but to prove his worthiness to proclaim the gospel.  As a general rule, we as followers of Christ are to be humble, but at times we may need to boldly defend our work for Christ that He might be glorified.  Paul never defended himself for his glory, but always for the sake of the gospel.  Verse eighteen continues, Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.  As just stated, Paul was not speaking of self-glory, but of glorying in the gospel.  Verse nineteen says, For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  Paul may have meant that for all their wisdom they were easily deceived by those who preached foolishness.  There are many worldly-wise people today who will follow the foolishness of a false gospel while claiming the true gospel of Christ is just too simple.  Verse twenty adds, For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.  Paul said that they suffered for believing the fool, the one who declared salvation by any means other than faith in Christ.  They placed themselves back in bondage.  If we add any requirement to salvation other than faith in Christ alone, we are placing ourselves back under the bondage of sin.