Verify Podcast

I’ve heard people say that there’s no need to bother much about doctrine or teaching because as long as the name of Jesus is called upon in a place, all is well and good. The question, though is, which Jesus? Which Jesus is called upon? Which Jesus is preached? Is it the Jesus of the bible, or another Jesus? Which gospel are you hearing? Is it the gospel of Christ, or another gospel? Oh and just in case you’re wondering, I didn’t make this up. Let’s look at the bible.

2 Cor 11:4 and Gal 1:6-9, tell us of a different way that pretends to be the way of God. They tell us of those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. These verses make us understand that not everything that looks and sounds Christian, is Christian. Paul speaks about people who distort the gospel of Christ. They were there in bible times and guess what; they are here with us today.

A gospel that tells you that the words of Jesus no longer apply, is another gospel. A gospel that teaches only that Jesus is a friend, but never that He is returning as a judge, is another gospel. A gospel that says it’s ok to do your will; whatever makes you happy, even when that thing is a bold rejection of godly standards, is another gospel.

Today, it’s not uncommon to hear some preach these and similar messages, to the applause of their congregations, just as is mentioned in 2 Cor 11:4, where people are described, who happily put up with whatever they were told, even if it was a different Jesus or a different gospel that was preached. 2 Tim 4:3-4, mentions times when people will not endure sound doctrine but will accumulate teachers to suit their own passions and tell them what their itching ears want to hear; times when people will reject the truth and chase after myths. Friends, those times which the bible warned about; those times are here.

You know, the teachings that we hear consistently, shape our lifestyle and Apostle Paul knew the gravity of this because in 1 Tim 4:16, He says, Timothy for the sake of your salvation and the salvation of those who hear you, pay attention to your lifestyle and your teaching. This was how important Paul thought the matter of teaching was.

But you see, the people preaching another gospel, don’t expect them to come looking all evil with horns on their heads! No, no, no! 2 COR 11:13 says they will disguise themselves as apostles of Christ! Mat 7:15 says they will come as harmless sheep, but inwardly they are vicious wolves. They will mix their lies with the truth, so that you won’t ordinarily classify them as false. That’s why Eph 4:14 in different bible translations describes them as cunning, deceitful, crafty, people who will try to trick us with lies, SO clever, they sound like the truth.

Rom 16: 17, is one of Paul’s several warnings against those teaching things contrary to what they had been taught initially, and he left one strong instruction. He said, “Stay away from them”. They may be smooth talkers (Rom 16:18), they may be more eloquent than speakers of the truth (2 Cor 11:5-6). They may be influential, able to fill out stadiums and have lots of followers, but remember that just before sounding a warning about false prophets in Mat 7:15, Jesus says in verses 13 and 14, “narrow is the way that leads to life and few are they that find it”. Therefore if you believe the words of Jesus, then don’t be moved by the direction in which the crowd is heading.

My dear listener, the light of God’s word, is the best ammunition against the spirit of error. May our hearts be flooded with this light and may our discernment be heightened so that we never embrace another Jesus or deviate from the true gospel of Christ, I pray in Jesus name, Amen.