False Christs

 False Christs 

Jesus said,

"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.  

See, I have told you ahead of time. 

"So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. Matthew 24:24-26

As Christians we need to be on guard against false prophets and teachers, whom Jesus said “will perform great signs and miracles”

In my lifetime which now spans in excess of sixty years many false teachers have arisen leading people astray. Many times with tragic consequences. This is also true throughout the history of the church.

Sadly many Christians are easily fooled. They tend to be trusting to the point that they give anyone who claims to be Christian the benefit of the doubt. As a result many are led astray. 

The best way for a believer in Christ Jesus to know who to follow is through prayer and bible study. 

Prayer brings us closer to God. While bible study fills us with knowledge about God. The two compliment each other.

  When we pray we should also ask God to give us wisdom about the scriptures and how it relates to us and the world around us. That way we will not be led astray.

Thus my question to you the reader is; do you pray and study the Bible at least daily? OR do you simply trust anyone who claims to be a Christian? 

Please think about it.

A Truth

A Truth
The letter James was described to me as a “Christian how too” letter. A letter all who claim to be followers of Christ need to read and heed.
He writes,
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. 
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.  
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:25-27
James makes several points to the believer
1/ He tells us that we should be studying the word of God. That by doing so we will be blessed.
2/ That we should keep a tight rein on our tongue. That not doing so can make his faith worthless.
The wrong word can sometimes be more damaging that a physical injury. What we say can either point people to God or away from God. Can point people to eternal life with God or an eternity without him.
If our words are not pointing people to God then our faith is worthless because the whole duty of a believer in Christ is to point people to eternal life with God.
3/ James states “Religion that God our Father accepts is pure and faultless”
We are to keep true to what the scriptures say. Not twist them to say what we want them to say. This is the only faith God accepts.
4/ We are to look after the widows and orphans.
We are to look after those who cannot look after themselves.  As one pastor told me “our faith must has legs”.
James later in his letter reminds us that faith without works is useless.
Question. If you claim to be a Christian what are you doing for Christ?
Please think about it.

A Caution to Christians

A Caution to Christians
“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2Timothy 2:16.
Godless chatter, do you engage in it? Godless chatter is teaching wrong teaching. We need to be very careful about what we teach. False teaching can spread like wildfire through a congregation and have disastrous consequences. It can turn people away from God.
Paul in 2 Timothy gives an example saying,
“Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,  
who have wandered away from the truth.....”  2 Timothy 2:17,18a.
  We as Christians must hold those who teach the scriptures to a high standard. The apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
While we as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. We as Christians have the right to Judge those who claim to be Christians because they by calling themselves Christians are saying “I believe as you do”.
Likewise if they are not teaching correct doctrine then we have the right to expel them from the body of believers.
Christians must remember,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
As Christians we must be studying the word of God for ourselves. We must be questioning those people who are teaching the word of God if we perceive they might be in error. Asking them to explain more fully from the scriptures what they believe.
We must check to see that all scripture is used in its correct context not simply used in such a way as to deliberately or otherwise lead people astray.
The key thing is for Christians to be on guard. Pray and ask God for direction. Study the scriptures for yourself and as Paul says to Timothy,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it. 

Christ's Example

Christ's Example
Matthews gospel records,
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’” 
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’’” 
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’’” 
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’” 
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”   Matthew 4:1-11.
Here Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he is tempted three times by the Satan. These three temptations serve as an example to Christians as to how to deal with temptation.
The first temptation was to do a miracle outside the Fathers will.
Christians must remember that anything we do must be in accordance with God the Fathers will. Even Jesus just prior to His crucifixion while in the garden said “not my will but yours be done”.
All too many Christians forget about this. They want things done there way and when a it doesn’t happen they get upset.
I know within some church groups they pray for someone’s healing saying “it’s God’s will that everyone should be healthy”, yet the person dies and they can’t understand it.
They never think that it might just be God saying “come home to me where there is no pain and suffering.”
All our actions should be in accordance with God’s will. We are His servants. He is not ours.
In the second one Satan tells Jesus to throw Himself off a tower saying that God will protect Him by sending His angels. This would show who Jesus was through a spectacular act rather than Christ’s righteous works and life.
God want people to recognize who Jesus is by having faith in him. The writer of Hebrews telling us.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.
Faith defined as,
     “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
The third temptation is Satan telling Jesus to bow to him. That if he did he’d give him the world. It would mean Jesus would not have to go to the cross.
Jesus however turned this down saying, “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’
This should remind us that we should not have any other gods except God the Father. We should not worship the things of this world.
We must only Worship the Lord God Almighty.
Jesus through all of this used Scripture to rebuke Satan.
In order for us to be successful in our walk as Christians we should study the scriptures. We should make the scriptures part of our life and lifestyle. So that we know what God requires of us and thus live a life acceptable to God.
Please think about it.

A Caution

A Caution
Jesus said,
Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:22,23.
We as Christians live in parlous times. There are those outside the church who would want to see Christ’s message proven wrong. There are even those, extremist, terrorist and others who would want to see the death of all Christians. These people have been around since the dawn of Christianity.
At the same time however there is what I would say is a more dangerous group lurking within Christianity it’s self. These are men and women who claim to be Christians but are not following the teachings of Christ. Men and women who are twisting the teachings of Christ for their own gain. These too have been around from the start of Christianity. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
It can be very easy to see the threat to our faith by those outside our faith. It however is not that easy to see the threat from within.
A lot of times these false teacher will say they believe in God. They will even lie and say they truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind. But in their heart they do not believe this. They will quote scripture both in context and out of context.
They are out to deceive the believer into following them quite often for personal gain or for power.
That is why I urge all Christians to read their Bible. To study the scriptures. To pray, pray, pray, that God will show them the right path and person to follow.
To find a good church that is following the teachings of the Bible. Beware of those who over emphasise money. Every church and ministry needs money but it shouldn’t be the focus of the ministry. They shouldn’t be constantly spending a great deal of time asking for money.
Remember the apostle Paul said,
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:19.
If the ministry is of God, God will supply its needs.
Beware of churches or pastors that ask you to follow them blindly or refuse to answer any question you have no matter how seemingly insignificant.
Remember there will be differences in minor interpretations but there should never be on the core issues of the Christian faith.
The apostles creed while not written by the apostles gives the core beliefs that all true Christians can believe in.
The Apostles Creed
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
These points are not negotiable. They are the core of what all true believers in Christ believe.
To the Christian reading this. I would ask, Are these your core beliefs?
I would ask have you accepted Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life? Or, have you only given intellectual consent to Jesus?
Jesus said to Martha,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26. 
Dear reader do you believe this?
Please think about it.

False Teachers

False teacher

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
                                                                                                                                         2 Peter 2:1-3 
Christians should always be aware that there are false teachers in our midst. Peter in the above quoted Scripture notes them.
Unfortunately false teachers do not come with neon signs telling who they are. Many speak well. They even string scriptures together that sound good but when studied in context are found to be false.
Christians need to know the signs of a false teacher. In order to do that you need to study the Bible.
Peter notes,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”  
                                                                       2 Peter 2:1. 
False teacher will bring the word of God into disrepute among non-believers. It is therefor imperative we have nothing to do with such people.
Someone pointed out to me some time ago that we should be speaking out publicly against such teachers. Then noted but in the secular democracy with freedom of speech laws the way they are. Even heretics have the right to teach as they wish. He also noted that the person spoken against could possibly take legal action against the person who spoke up against them.
That being said we know God will one day judge the false teachers. Until then we should be quick to spread the truth of the Scriptures. We need to be both inside and outside our churches teaching the truth about Jesus Christ.
The voice of the true believer should be should be louder and more prolific than that of the false teacher.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
                                                                         Matthew 28:18-20.
We need to be doing so with the truth. We need to be echoing the words of Jesus who when speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 
                                                                                                                                 John 3:16-18.
We need to tell the world the words of Paul who said,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                     Ephesians 2:8,9.
We need to be telling people the words of Jesus who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                             Matthew 11:28-30.

Please think about it.