Spiritual Warfare

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to Himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7 NLT)

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel — not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7 NET.)

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to…

There are a great many in this world who possess a faith which is so similar to a genuine saving faith that they themselves are deceived.  Those around them may also consider this faith genuine even those who may have the gift of discernment.

There was a man named Simon Magus.

"Then Simon himself believed and was baptized.  He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed." (Acts 8:13 NLT).

His faith expressed itself in such a way that is was mistaken by Philip who considered him to be a Christian.   But subsequently the Apostle Peter said:

"You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God… for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin." (Acts 8:21, 23 NLT).