Sunday, December 13, 2015 pm
FALSE CHRISTS
Matthew 24:25
The
context is one of dealing with the destruction of Jerusalem.
Jesus warns that there would be many false Christs and prophets
who would come and deceive the people.
His warning is so that they would beware of such.
Tonight for a few moments I want to address some “false Christs”
a.
The term Christ means
savior or Messiah.
b.
A false Christ could be
someone claiming he is the savior.
Throughout history we have had men, some delusional and others
deliberate, who claimed to be the Christ or the messiah.
I think of false prophets like Joseph Smith who claims the Lord
spoke to him and has a place of veneration among Mormons rivaling that
of Jesus Christ Himself.
I think of Mohammed who claims to be the prophet, greater than Jesus or
Moses or Abraham or others and is the father of Islam.
I think of many who from time to time rise up thinking they are the
returned messiah.
c.
But a false Christ can
also be one who has created Jesus of the Bible with a false persona.
They profess to follow Jesus Christ, but their picture of Him is
not what we read of in scripture.
Consider the warnings against antichrists – some in the religious world
would portray the antichrist as a specific person associated with the
end times who is going to rule on this earth deceiving many and
persecuting Christians. But
the term anti-Christ (which is used only 5 times in scripture) is
actually reference to one who denies the person and nature of Jesus (1
John 2:22 – he is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son; 1 John
4:3 – he denies that Jesus has come in the flesh, etc.)
In this lesson, this is
the false-Christ we want to address.
a.
Everyone will be saved – universalism. There
are many who want to say everyone is going to be saved.
They reason that since Jesus died for all mankind (and He did),
then everyone is going to be saved.
While that is a comfort doctrine, that removes any accountability
for the way one lives.
i.
Jesus Himself
contradicted that teaching - Luke 13:23-30 is an example that shows some
will be lost. Also consider
Matthew 7:21-23.
ii.
Warnings of judgment in
scripture refute this false Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:10-11, etc.
b.
Jesus brings unity in
diversity –
the denominational concept of salvation is that if we espouse certain
key doctrines than everything else doesn’t matter.
Many denominational websites list their “statement of faith”
which shows this view. It is
often argued that Jesus came to bring peace and that as long as we
believe in Him all will be fine.
Some have even said that we are going to heaven, just by
different routes.
i.
In Matthew 10:34-39
Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
ii.
There is certainly a
sense in which Jesus DOES bring peace -
He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
When He was born, angels sang, “glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
He preached a gospel of peace -
John 14:27, cf. Ephesians 6:15.
Ephesians 2:14-17 describes Him as our peace having broken down the wall
of separation.
iii.
That peace is an inner
peace that one has when he submits to God.
That is NOT unity in diversity.
The sword of Matthew 10:34 leads to families turning against one
another.
iv.
Jesus prayed to the
Father for the unity He desires – John 17:20-21
v.
Paul in 1 Corinthians
1:10 called for there to be no divisions among us – it was a reference
to sectarianism – or unity in diversity.
c.
Obedience is not necessary –many teach “faith only” – both in becoming a Christian and
staying a Christian. It is
argued that if we have to do anything our salvation is based upon our
merit.
i.
Such is a result of
misunderstanding of both faith and works.
While there are meritorious works (works that result in payment),
there are also works in response to one’s faith.
ii.
Paul commended the
church at Thessalonica for their work of faith (1 Thess. 1:3).
iii.
Hebrews 5:9 speaks of
how Jesus became the author of salvation to all who obey Him.
iv.
1 Peter 1:22 tells us
that we purify our souls in obeying the truth.
v.
To obey God does NOT
nullify our faith. But it is
teaching a false Christ.
d.
Holiness is not
necessary –
Holiness is separation from the world.
It is living a life of purity according to the standards that God
has established. A big
problem today is that many want (profess) to follow Christ but they
continue in their immoral ways.
Some redefine the Bible’s standard of morality.
Whether it be living in an adulterous marriage, engaging in
fornication, homosexuality, or other sinful conduct, such is rejecting
the purity of the Bible.
i.
Hebrews 12:14 tells us
to pursue peace and holiness or we will not see the Lord.
ii.
1 Peter 1:15-16 tells us
to be holy in all our conduct
iii.
Of course, we have to
identify the standard of holiness – which is God’s word!
iv.
Consider with this, 1
Corinthians 6:9-11 as an example.
It establishes that such will not enter the kingdom of God.
v.
To teach that Jesus will
overlook such ungodly behavior, as long as we are sincere, is creating a
false Christ.
e.
Repentance is not
necessary –
the cause of permitting unholy lives to continue and a host of other
problems, is a failure to call for repentance when one obeys the gospel.
Faith only AND the doctrine of eternal security (once saved,
always saved) also negate true repentance.
They may render lip service to the need to change one’s life, but
it is not required.
i.
The Bible demands that
we repent – Acts 2:38, 3:19, etc.
ii.
Luke 13:3-5, Jesus
taught that unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
iii.
Romans 6:1-2 – we cannot
continue in sin. Why?
We were baptized (cf. Rom. 6:3-4, 17).
iv.
Some teach what I
describe as modified repentance.
Repentance in most matters, but with exceptions (which they will
define for you). It may the
homosexual OR the one in a sinful marriage.
Matthew 5:32, 19:8-9 establishes that there can be unscriptural
marriages.
v.
But this is NOT the
Jesus we read of in the Bible.
f.
Jesus never offended anyone with His message
– sometimes the gospel message is going to offend others.
In fact, no matter what you teach, especially in our sensitive
society, SOMEONE is going to be offended by it!
However, there are some who want to avoid as many controversial
or offensive topics as possible.
They emphasize preaching that is positive or “relevant”.
While they may never teach error, they avoid certain subjects.
Some reason that preaching should be less offensive and that you
can cover the difficult subjects in more private settings.
i.
There are many examples of Jesus
preaching an offensive message.
Matthew 15:12-14 specifically gives an example.
John 6:60-61 speaks of His disciples complaining at His hard
sayings. Vs. 66 notes that
from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no
more.
ii.
Jesus called corrupt men
wicked and evil. Matthew
12:34 – He called them a brood of vipers.
In John 8:44 he called the corrupt leaders being sons of the
devil.
In Matthew 23 some 7 times He called the corrupt, religious leaders
hypocrites.
iii.
There are times the
message of the gospel will offend others!
That does not change that we must preach the whole truth.
Preachers are commissioned to preach “in season and out of
season” which means when it is offensive or upsetting and when it is not
(2 Tim. 4:2-4).
iv.
In Acts 2:37-38 when
Peter preached they were “cut to the heart” – the truth can hurt.
But the goal is to save the soul.
v.
NOTE: This is not
justification for hateful speech just because it is the truth. 1 Thess.
2:4-7 describes this balance.
BUT, to say that Jesus never offended anyone is preaching a different
Jesus than the Bible.
g.
His commandments were mere suggestions – another issue we are dealing with today is whether
or not the Bible still applies today and to what degree.
Some teach that it is a book of suggestions and was more relevant
for the times than it is now.
Some see Jesus as just a good teacher with good motives, but
nothing more. But what we
read in scripture finds Jesus much more than that.
His words are life!
i.
Matt. 7:24-27 – as He concluded
the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called for obedience.
ii.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us
Jesus is the same today as He was “Yesterday, today and forever.”
iii.
To see Jesus as anything
less than the Son of God is to reject the Jesus of the Bible.
It is teaching a false Christ.