The Genuine Article
“If any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not” (Mark 13:21). “If they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not” (Matthew 24:26).
These false messiah’s are often fairly obvious. It would not be difficult to recognize objects of these warnings; but, how about some of the others that are not so obvious? Every Sunday there are false teachers putting forth false christs by parsing scripture. To the new Christian or young people who are impressed with the personality putting forth the sermon it might be more difficult.
The most popular Jesus may be the baby Jesus in the manger at Christmastime or Santa Claus.
He might be the good ole’ buddy Jesus of Nashville “gospel” music. The Jesus of the “success” gospel messiah preaching “seed” offerings to gain greater wealth is preferred by many. A “social” gospel of a counseling Jesus, similar to the one introduced by Norman Vincent Peal is a Jesus who promotes the power of positive thought and the virtues of sincerity.
He may be the romantic Jesus of “Christian Rock” or the rhythmic Jesus of contemporary Christian music. He may be the reforming Jesus of the liberal secular humanist’s “liberation” gospel. He may also be the all encompassing Jesus, who loves – and therefore accepts – everyone equally, in spite of their sinful nature. This is the Jesus of the balance sheet, the Santa Claus who’s naughty and nice list is determined by an accounting of good deeds versus bad.
None of these are authentic or genuine. None of them is positively the crucified, resurrected Christ of scripture who was despised of men, spat upon and scourged until his bones shown through his bruised flesh preached by the apostles. He alone is the true Messiah, the true mediator (Job 9:33) between God and man. All those others are not the real Messiah who died that men and women might live.
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13).
Christ did not come into the world to make bad men and women good, He came to make dead people live… eternally.
Only the Christ that suffered in the garden, was crucified, dead and buried who rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven is able to save men and women from their sins.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This is the true Messiah and Mediator between God and man.
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