The Grapevine
Number 127                                                                      
April 9, 2006
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

The Genuine and the Counterfeit
by Jack Northart

The only way to know the difference between something that is genuine or counterfeit is to know what the genuine looks like.Take a ten dollar bill and look closely at it. Can you tell if it genuine or not? Unless you are a banker, or someone who understands the intricacies of U.S. money, you probably cannot. The closer a counterfeit is to the genuine, the more difficult it becomes to tell the difference between them. Sometimes it is a matter of trying to see if it works when put into service. Many times the counterfeit will fail miserably and at other times it will hold up long enough to accomplish its purpose.

Satan is the god of this world. He is good at counterfeiting what the true God has done. His counterfeit is good enough to satisfy many people.

II Corinthians 4:3,4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

With enough counterfeit in the face of the public, Satan has easily blinded the minds of people who don't believe. The Satan's motives and Christ's motives are clearly spelled out in God's Word.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus Christ came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly. Yet, when we see stealing, killing and destruction, we hear that it is "an act of God" or that it was "God's will." These types of statements are counterfeit to the truth and are a disgrace to the true God. Without knowing the genuine truth of God's Word, people are deceived into believing that God is the one who steals, kills and destroys. This can even be true for many people who read the Bible, because they have preconceived ideas about what they are reading.

I Timothy 4:1,2
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.

These verses are is not addressed to unbelievers. It is talking about those who have been exposed to the truth, but choose to go down the path of destruction and ruin instead. They certainly did not see it that way when they chose that path. For them, it appeared to be the right thing to do. This is because the counterfeit looks good, and is not very far off of the genuine. Wrong appears right, darkness appears as light.

II Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

It is clear that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. This verse reveals the truth to his success. When he appears to be the true God, he can get away with promoting his lies as truth. Unless people come back to the Word of God as the source for truth, the deception will continue to grow, and people will become more and more enslaved by his endless ideas and suggestions. When nations embrace these damnable ideas, they crumble and fall. Oftentimes, these ideas seem to benefit mankind and come in the form of intellectual brilliance.

Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

To "spoil you" literally means to be carried off as booty. These captivating ideas come from worldly wisdom and intellectualism, but in reality they are simply crude notions and plain nonsense. They follow the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and completely disregard Christ.

I Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, keep [guard] that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science [knowledge] falsely so called:


If it this information did not sound convincing, no one would believe it. However, because it is such an excellent counterfeit, it deceives many people completely.

Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

To distinguish the genuine truth of God's Word from the counterfeit lies of the devil, we must become masters of the truth. We must be experts at knowing the truth because only then will we be able to separate the genuine from the counterfeit.

Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

John 8:31-32
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

To continue in his word means to hold fast to his teachings. To study and learn who we are as God's children and what He has made us to be in Christ and believe it, is to continue in his word.

II Timothy 1:13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.


Our diligent efforts to know and believe the truth will pay high dividends to us, both now and in the future. We must take the time that is necessary to study God's Word and seek His guidance and counsel. Then we will be able to know the genuine from the counterfeit.

Psalm 85:8,9
I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.