A fake gospel, that is. You know, the Good News about the true salvation of Jesus Christ. Is the church you’re attending preaching the truth about Jesus? Or do they teach a twisted, watered-down version? How can you tell the difference? How can you know the real Jesus?
Believe it or not, Paul faced the same problem back in the first century. There were false apostles who talked a good talk, but they were lying to the church of that day. Just like today, they were being deceived by Satan’s cronies. Let’s see how he dealt with it…
2 Corinthians 11
I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
5 But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. 6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.
7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.
12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
Preaching Another Jesus
Is the preacher or priest that you’re listening to cheating on the true Jesus? If they are saying that Jesus…
- was never resurrected…
- is Satan’s brother…
- is not the living God…
- was just another prophet…
- was just a rabbi…
…they are preaching the WRONG JESUS!
If the preacher says that you’ll get rich by sending him money…
…that’s the WRONG SPIRIT!
If they tell you that you have to work or pay for salvation…
…that’s the WRONG GOSPEL!
RUN! and don’t look back!
These preachers are Satan’s servants masquerading as Christian leaders and apostles of Christ. Don’t fall for the disguise! They may sound eloquent, but they are deceivers. They sound like light, but it is really darkness. Remember, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Related study on Galatians 1. Continuing…
Paul’s Many Trials
16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. 17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!
But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.
2 Corinthians 11 NLT
And we complain that life is hard!
After all that Paul went through — and he was probably writing this letter from prison in Rome — he still thought and worried about all the churches he started. He prayed for them daily. To him, they were his children. Moreover, he would send other helpers to the churches — Titus, Timothy, Silas, Barnabas — to name a few. He knew that left on their own, the church could fall for the next sweet-talking, charismatic, feel-good preacher that came along.
Yet, he admits to being weak. As we will see in the next chapter, weakness can be a pleasure under Christ.
How do You Tell the Difference Between the True Gospel and a False Teaching?
Frankly, it’s not easy. It all sounds good! However, here are 3 things that you can do to help you discern if it’s the truth or not.
- Read and study the Bible for yourself — the more you read the Bible — the Good News — the more it will be ingrained in your heart and mind. Subsequently, when you hear something that sounds flaky, you’ll know where to go to in the scriptures to see if it’s true or not. Like for instance, the concept of purgatory — it doesn’t exist! It’s not in the Bible at all! Go ahead — look for yourself. It’s not there. It was an invention of greedy church leaders centuries ago.
- Pray — just talk to God! You don’t need a special script or a ritual. God is your friend, your heavenly Father and Jesus is your Brother. Ask God for the truth.
- Ask the Holy Spirit — this is even easier if you have Jesus in your heart. If you’ve committed your life to Jesus, you’ll have the Holy Spirit in your heart and you’ll feed nudgings telling you that what you’re hearing is a lie. You’ll feel joy, peace and hope if what you’re hearing is the truth.
So, ask yourself — when you go to church or listen to a preacher online, “Do I feel joy, peace and hope?” Or “That doesn’t sound right.” That, my friend should help you decide if you should keep listening to that preacher or not.
Do You Have Jesus and the Holy Spirit in your heart?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Soli Deo Gloria! To God Alone Be the Glory!
