GOD MAKES THINGS NEW

This talk was based on the passages:
Isaiah 35
Mark 7:24-37

Here’s what the West is like - it’s like people marching the streets with banners, shouting, “What do we want? Everything! When do we want it? Now!” We must get what we want, without delay, or someone will pay. People scream to get their will done. Patience - what’s that? So easily caught up in what’s happening now, we forget the past or future. Instant everything - that’s what we expect. But we’re blind, deaf and lame to the ways and will of God.

Ever since Eve saw that the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was pleasing to the eye, humans have become those who want what we shouldn’t want, and God goes out of our thoughts. Gimme gimme gimme - I DESERVE it! We fix our eyes on what we lack and think the Universe doesn’t love us. I also easily lack patience, want every problem sorted straight away, want my will to be done. I have eaten the fruit of the tree. But I don’t blame God. The badness in humanity and in me isn’t God’s fault. He is perfect and gracious. This gives us hope.

I want to start in Isaiah 35. Note the words expressing Israel’s situation: desert, hands that are tired, knees that tremble with weakness; blind, deaf, lame; burning sand, dry land. A place for jackals and lions, a people in need of rescue, sorrowing and grieving. What a mess! But it’s not hopeless, because God comes along with promises. God will make the deserts fertile. God will rescue them and punish their enemies. The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, the dumb will shout for joy. There’ll be a road called Holiness, a place of safety for those who do right, who’ll enter Zion with gladness and joy; forever happy, forever free from sorrow and grief. Did this ever happen in or around Isaiah’s day? Maybe in part.

Fast forward 700 years to our reading from Mark. Any liberation Israel had previously gained was long gone. The Romans were the latest oppressors on the block, who came and squashed their freedom. But the Romans aside, they weren’t free anyway. They were oppressed by evil spirits, by prejudice, by sickness. Deserts come in many forms. In the coming of Jesus the Christ, God’s at work. After 700 years, Isaiah 35 comes to life. “The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear. The lame will leap and dance, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.” When John the Baptist was in prison and doubting if Jesus was the one God had promised to send, Jesus told him, (Luke 7:22-23), “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. How happy are those who have no doubts about me!” Jesus says His miracles and preaching show He’s the expected Christ. “What Isaiah wrote about - yep, that’s me.” That wait is over. He started to make all things new.

What happens in Mark 7? A non-Jewish Canaanite woman (a triple whammy of unworthiness) comes to the Jewish Christ. She sought Him with determination because He wanted to keep a low profile. She fell at His feet, begging Him to drive a demon out of her daughter. Jews considered non-Jews to be defiled rubbish. Jesus acts the part, effectively saying, “I came to save the lost sheep of Israel, not you. When Israel is saved, maybe then I’ll come and heal your daughter. It’s not right for me to give you what belongs to them.” The woman has none of it. She effectively says, “Not everyone in Israel accepts you. And those who do, have the wrong motive. Give me what they rejected.” This faith, courage and tenacity moved Jesus to set her daughter free. Matthew’s version has more detail. To the disciples, she was a nuisance to be gotten rid of. To Jesus, she was a woman of great faith. Her desert started to blossom. Jesus started making all things new. His disciples learned that Jesus will help anyone who asks Him. Come to Jesus and ask for His help; you’re not a nuisance.

Jesus moves on. A deaf man who could hardly speak was brought to Him. No quibbling or testing of faith this time. People begged Jesus to heal him, which He did. The desert for that man began to blossom. Jesus started to make all things new for him. This is just one example. The Gospels give many more. Remember also that Jesus did a lot more which wasn’t written down.

Is there anything else in Isaiah 35 that was fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus?

Verses 3 and 4: Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness. Tell everyone who is discouraged, “Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.”

Jesus occasionally needed to speak words of encouragement to His disciples. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” (Matt 10:28) “Don't be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near.” (Luke 21:9) “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) The apostle Paul builds on this in Romans 8 (35,37): “Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!” Wow! God has given us victory over many enemies. In the coming of Christ, God judged His enemies, be they death, sickness, humans, the Devil. This may be hard to see, yet we walk by faith. More on that later…

Verse 8 also hints of the first coming of Jesus: There will be a highway there, called “The Road of Holiness.” No sinner will ever travel that road; no fools will mislead those who follow it.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV) Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. And now we believe and know that you are the Holy One who has come from God.” (John 6:68-69) Jesus said, “I have already told you, but you would not believe me. The deeds I do by my Father's authority speak on my behalf; but you will not believe, for you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:25-30)

To summarise: Jesus claimed to be the way to God, the path to life, one with the Father God. So be His sheep. Listen to His voice. Receive eternal life. Let Him guide us in the right paths.

Now, there’s an elephant in the room - if Jesus is all we say He is, has done all we say He’s done, why do people still live messy, sinful lives, ignoring God, turning their backs on Him? Why do we still see wars, oppression, atrocities, wickedness in nations, governments and, dare we say, in the church or maybe even in ourselves? It’s 2000 years since Jesus came - why are we waiting?

Isaiah 35 ends: “Those whom the Lord has rescued will travel home by that road. They will reach Jerusalem with gladness, singing and shouting for joy. They will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief.”

This part of Isaiah’s prophecy is still not yet fulfilled, after 2700 years. We’re still travelling home with Jesus. We haven’t yet reached that heavenly City, that new Jerusalem, where we’ll be happy forever, free from sorrow and grief. Rather than suggest a God who doesn’t keep His promises or doesn’t care, this speaks instead of a God who is patient. He’s a God who’s passed judgement, but not yet fully carried the sentence out. What do we want? Peace on earth. When do we want it? Now! What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now! What do we want? An end to evil. When do we want it? Now! We want it; so does God. So what’s He waiting for? Here’s what Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.” (2 Peter 3:9) God prefers to be merciful, than vengeful. But He’s not a big softy who’ll let everyone into heaven in the end. Peter also writes of “the day when godless people will be judged and destroyed.” Until Christ returns in glory the gate is open, the road is there to be walked upon, Heavenly Jerusalem bids us welcome. At a time of God’s choosing, that gate will slam shut. There’ll be joy on the inside, terror on the outside. God beckons us to come. He invites everyone to be saved. We only have ourselves to blame if we turn down His offer of life in Christ. He will rescue His people fully. “If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son—will he not also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

God has already made some things new for us. Christians have been born again, are new creations, partake in a new covenant through Christ’s death, live a new life in union with Christ, serve God in a new way of the Spirit. This means we live differently now, as new people in Christ. It means we patiently wait in faith, trusting in God’s promise that Christ will come again and make all things fully new. Then we will truly sing, with gladness, “we’ve come home”.

https://pixabay.com/photos/cactus-bloom-pink-pink-desert-4801046/

Image by Michael Bußmann from Pixabay

Two Betrayals

Acts 1.15-26

1 John 5.9-13

Peter and Judas. Each betrayed Jesus in different ways. Each had very different outcomes. Let’s start at the Last Supper in Matthew 26 for the backstory. Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples when, while eating, he lets out this bombshell, “One of you will betray me.” Each one asks, “Is it me?” but only one is being insincere. Judas Iscariot knew full well it was him. He’d already struck a deal to hand Jesus over. After the meal, they went to the Mount of Olives, all still wondering, “who’s the betrayer?” Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter piped up, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” I’m sure Peter meant it. It was a loud protest that he wasn’t the betrayer. So imagine his horror when Jesus says, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” Peter would’ve been terrified. He ups his protestations. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Every disciple said the same. There was an air of suspicion now amongst this band of brothers.

Shortly after, Judas was with the crowd that came to arrest Jesus, who plainly says, “here comes my betrayer”. But Judas kisses Jesus. Calls Him, “Rabbi”. Jesus calls Judas, “friend”. Did this show of affection prevent the disciples understanding?

Peter demonstrates his intention to follow Jesus to death by cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant (which Jesus promptly reattached). He followed the arrested Jesus to the high priest’s house. This was brave and he deserves credit. But Peter lost his nerve. People started saying he was a follower of Jesus. Peter kept denying it. Then the rooster crowed, as Jesus prophesied. Luke adds that Jesus then looked at Peter. Peter wept bitterly. His resolve crumbled. It’s possible to think you’ll be heroic until you’re in a situation that demands it!

Peter denied Jesus rather than suffer with Him. In Matthew’s gospel, Peter’s name doesn’t appear again. But it’s not the end of Peter’s story any more than our failures are the end of ours. Maybe we don’t always choose to suffer with Jesus, even if we don’t actually say, “I don’t know the man!”

Skipping on. Luke tells us more. The women saw the risen Christ and the empty tomb. They told the eleven disciples, who didn’t believe them. What nonsense! It still sounds like nonsense to people today. “Dead men don’t rise.” Despite this, who ran into the tomb? Peter. No body, just grave clothes - strips of linen. He leaves, wondering what happened. I want to scream at him. “He kept telling you about this!!!” Then I think, how often do I have to hear Christian things before they sink in?

John shares a vital point in the story. After a miraculous catch of fish and breakfast on the beach with the disciples, Jesus talks with Peter.

Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep…”

But. The English word “love” translates two different Greek words. Agapao and phileo. Sacrificial love and fondness. So might we paraphrase it like this?

“Simon son of John, will you sacrifice yourself for me even if these other disciples don’t?”
“Yes, Lord, you know that I’m fond of you.”
“Feed my lambs.”
“Simon son of John, will you sacrifice yourself out of love for me?”
“Yes, Lord, you know I’m fond of you.”
“Take care of my sheep.”
“Simon son of John, are you fond of me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Are you fond of me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I’m fond of you.”
“Feed my sheep…”

Peter loved Jesus but couldn’t bring himself to say the right love word. I wish we could see Peter’s face. Could he look Jesus in the eyes? I find it difficult to say the “L” word because I know my inadequacies. I know what love means, but find it hard to say so.

Peter had said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” And, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Despite his willing spirit, his flesh was weak. Peter thought he was better than the others. He’d stay strong when they crumbled. However, when the going got tough, he denied Jesus. “Do you love me more than the other disciples?” Peter couldn’t claim that now. But Jesus is merciful. To Peter, Jesus had said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” So Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Now the focus rests on Peter alone. He can’t bring himself to say the word. “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus then shocks Peter. “Simon son of John, are you fond of me?” I expect Peter deflates a bit. It hurt him that Jesus stepped down to his level.

Jesus doesn’t humiliate Peter, but gently forces him to face up to reality. Jesus takes us as we are. We can come no other way. We can’t deceive God. Peter accepts he’s not better than the others. Jesus says, “feed my sheep”. Despite everything, Peter still has the job. But it’s not a Peter who might lord it over the others. It’s a humbled Peter. It’s Simon, son of John.

Jesus continues, “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter WOULD sacrifice himself for Jesus. His fondness WOULD transform into sacrificial love. God won’t let him fall away. But still the challenge remained. “Follow me.” But, but, but, what about John? What’s going to happen to him? Not your business. “Follow me” is your business.

Peter followed. He journeyed from “I’ll die for you, no matter what!” to “I don’t know the man!” to “You know I’m fond of you, Jesus” to following, knowing he’d die for Him. This isn’t self righteous Peter. This is humbled Peter.

If you or I had been told, follow Jesus and you’ll die for Him, would we have followed?

So we come to Acts 1. Jesus has ascended to heaven. The apostles, the women, Mary and Jesus’ brothers are praying and waiting in Jerusalem, as Jesus told them to. Peter stands up to address this group. Peter is no longer like the child who wants to be noticed. “Ooh, teacher, pick me pick me!” Now he’s the Peter who must feed Christ’s sheep. He doesn’t begin, “Listen to me, subjects. I’m your leader. Jesus said so!” He begins, “brothers and sisters”. He’s not better than the rest. He sees a need to replace Judas Iscariot as apostle. He doesn’t pick a successor. He sets out the job description and the criteria. The whole group chooses two candidates. They cast lots, effectively giving God the final say.

Peter doesn’t go on to be perfect, but in Acts and in his letters, he’s a changed man.

What about Judas Iscariot, the actual betrayer? He showed remorse. He recognised he’d betrayed an innocent man. He confessed he’d sinned. He gave back the money. Why wasn’t he restored? He allowed himself no opportunity to change his life.

Judas followed Jesus out of self interest, stealing from the money bag that belonged to all. Yet he’d been sent to proclaim the gospel and heal the sick, like the others. He witnessed miracles, heard Jesus’ teachings, told others about Him. But he didn’t believe it. He had no faith in God. How on earth does that happen? Consider the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt. All they saw and experienced, yet the vast majority didn’t trust God. Dear Father, may our hearts not be unbelieving. I went to Bible College 30 odd years ago. One student I was friends with used to evangelise in his spare time. He’d pray with others and join Bible studies outside official college meetings. In other words, when he wasn’t obliged to. Years later I received a letter from him. Christianity is stupid. Christians are stupid, relying on blind faith. He never believed. He was always an atheist. It was all an act. Really? It’s what he claimed. Why spend two years at Bible College if it was all fake? Maybe you can put on a show and pull the wool over people’s eyes, just like Judas.

Our reading from 1 John gets to the heart of this. “Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Peter believed. Judas didn’t. God said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Peter believed. Judas didn’t. Most still don’t believe it. Do you believe it? I once met a 93 year old lady who’d been going to church since she was 3. Someone asked her why Jesus had to die. She answered, “I don’t know why that young man had to die.” Doesn’t that break your heart? 90 years attending church and she didn’t even know that. We need to know Jesus died so our sins could be forgiven, believe in Him, seek Him in our lives, be fond of Him but also be living sacrifices. If the most we can offer is to be fond of Him, He can transform that into something greater. We won’t all need to die for Him like Peter did. But we must die to self, giving up sins and things to do what He wants. None of us love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We confess that every week. But He offers forgiveness. And the opportunity to change if we’re willing and don’t walk away. 

Image by Antonio López from Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/photos/agony-in-the-garden-jesus-salzillo-501754/

WHY DOES IT MATTER IF WE BELIEVE JESUS IS THE MESSIAH?

1 JOHN 3:1-7

WHY DOES IT MATTER IF WE BELIEVE JESUS IS THE MESSIAH?

INTRODUCTION

Last month, Jean McCloughry used an illustration of a person joining us on Zoom without their video on. Their screen name was H M ELIZABETH II. I’m nicking that idea to make a different point. Someone joined us on Zoom today and hasn’t shown their video. Their screen name is JESUS. Who is on the other side of the camera?

My theme today is, why does it matter if we believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ? Firstly, we need to know what Messiah means.

Messiah means an anointed one. Very helpful, you cry! It’s somebody set apart for a purpose or to an office. Prophets, priests and kings are amongst those who received anointing. In the gospels the expectation of the ultimate Anointed One is clear - one set apart by God to be prophet, priest AND king - to rule Israel, to speak from God, to deliver His people from their enemies. Son of the living God, descendant of King David, yet David’s superior; king of Israel, miracle worker, the Lord, the one to be obeyed. He would be the best of the best of all the old testament heroes of faith. This is what Messiah is - and then some! The Gospels and New Testament tell us this SuperMessiah is the Lord Jesus.

Why does it matter if we accept that Jesus is this person? This is one issue John addresses in his first letter.

Who was John warning the early Christians about? There was a false teacher called Cerinthus. Amongst other things, Cerinthus taught that the man Jesus was not the Messiah. Rather, a spirit called Christ came upon Jesus at His baptism. This Christ left Jesus before His sufferings and death. A bit of a scaredychrist, if you ask me. John mentions people left the church. It’s reasonable to think they left to follow Cerinthus or someone similar.

The first reason it matters that we believe Jesus is Messiah is that….

IT’S VITAL FOR OUR SALVATION

To separate the man Jesus from the spirit Christ is an error. An error which is still around today. Jesus was born Christ. 

We read in Matthew 2:(4-5):

“Where will the Messiah be born?” “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea, …” 

In Luke 2:11, an angel tells the shepherds of Bethlehem, “This very day in David's town your Saviour was born—Christ the Lord!”

At Jesus’ dedication in the Temple as a baby Simeon, who’d been told he wouldn’t die until he’d seen the Messiah, picked up Jesus and said, “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation...” (Luke 2:29-30)

This baby was born Messiah. Otherwise, the angels and Simeon were wrong.

Jesus Himself said, “The Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later…” (Luke 24:46.) No Christ departed before suffering came. Otherwise, Jesus was wrong.

Jesus always was and is Messiah, not just some bloke on whom Messiah came for three years.

John has strong words for those who think otherwise. He calls them antichrists and liars.  

In 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV), he warns: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist...”

1 John 2:22 (NIV): “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist – denying the Father and the Son.”

1 John 5:10b: “...those who do not believe God, have made a liar of him, because they have not believed what God has said about his Son.”

John wouldn’t go down well in our society.

The second reason it matters that we believe Jesus is Messiah is that….

IT’S VITAL FOR OUR UNION WITH GOD

In February, Jenny spoke about Jesus telling the disciples, “I am the vine.” In John 15:4-6, Jesus said, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

It’s vital that we remain in Christ to have union with God, because Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6.) 

If Jesus is just a man, He cannot unite you to God any more than I can. But as Messiah, the way, the truth, the life, the one who’s in the Father and in whom the Father is, the God-man, we’re united through Him.

John has much to say about being united to God. Many had left the church. They didn’t “remain in Jesus”. John had to encourage those who stayed. Imagine the upset if a chunk of our congregation said a new prophet told them we’re wrong about Jesus and they upped and left. 

John needs the Christians to know they’re God’s children, united to Him. How can they know?

By living like Jesus Christ did (tough ask!), by obeying God’s commands, by loving one another, by declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s what being united with God looks like. It’s the basis for Christian living.

As is this awkward verse in our reading:

“So everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen him or known him.” (v6) Whoa! Which of us doesn’t sin? Are we all doomed? Clearly not. In this letter, John says we deceive ourselves if we say we have no sin, that God will forgive us if we confess our sins, that if we sin Jesus pleads with the Father for us, that if we see a believer sin we’re to pray for them. John is fully aware that Christians sin. So what’s he on about? The only thing that makes sense to me (and which I suggest for consideration) is that “continues to sin” means denying we do anything wrong, so we don’t change a thing, we live our lives as we always have, we don’t believe we need to change or ask God’s forgiveness and so continue as we are. That self righteous attitude is very different from wishing you hadn’t done wrong and saying sorry to God.

The third and final reason it matters that we believe Jesus is Messiah is that….

IT’S VITAL FOR A GOLDEN FUTURE

“We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2)

God loved the world and sent His Son, but most spurn that love and refuse to believe. Many Jews didn’t believe in Jesus because He was the “wrong kind of Messiah”. Many non-Jews didn’t believe because a dead god is stupid and useless. “Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children.” (John 1:12) This is down to God’s goodness and initiative. 

When Christ returns, we’ll be like Him. Remarkably, He will share His glory with us! John saw this glory at the transfiguration, when Jesus’ face changed and His clothes became dazzling white. In Revelation 1(13b-16), John had a vision of Jesus, “wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest.  His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was as bright as the midday sun.” 

Our resurrected bodies will be beautiful, strong, immortal, spiritual, like Christ’s body. He shared our humanity that we might share His divinity. Not His deity, but His divinity. We’ll share His character, not His being. By grace we’ll be LIKE Him, but we won’t BECOME Him.

The infant church faced problems from false teachers and false prophets. Ever since, false teachings have become more sophisticated, more numerous, ever developing. It’s tempting to see something new and think “we must follow this exciting development because it’s new and better than what we have!” But no, we must follow the old ways, the old truths. John wrote, (1 John 2:28) “remain in union with him, so that when he appears we may be full of courage and need not hide in shame from him on the Day he comes.” Why turn from truth only to be embarrassed as we stand before the Lord?

(1 John 5:20) “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God—in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.”

CONCLUSION

The apostle Paul warned against accepting a different Jesus. John warned about false prophets. As did Jesus Himself. He said they’d be like sheep on the outside but vicious, devouring wolves on the inside. 

When Christians talk about false this and false that and point out error and fake Christians, we’re not merely trying to “protect the brand”. We’re doing it because eternal life is at stake. Some Christians get paranoid and angry and denounce as heretics anyone with a slightly different opinion on smaller issues. We should reserve the condemnation “heretic” for those preaching a different Jesus.

This JESUS who joined us on Zoom. Who do you say that He is? There are many opinions in the Bible. A reincarnated prophet of old, a king who will overthrow God’s enemies, a criminal, a deceiver, a demon-possessed Samaritan, a good teacher? Maybe it’s a trick - no one’s there because it’s all a made up story? Is it some poor stooge whom the Christ abandoned when the going got tough? Or is He Messiah, as the scriptures, as Jesus Himself, as God the Father say? Choose wisely and accept no substitutes!