Template:Real Jesus
Who is Jesus
Does everyone believe in the same Jesus, the same Christ?
There are many versions of Christ created by ministers, churches, and denominations. Just saying you believe in Jesus or claiming he is your Lord does not make it clear what you believe nor DOES NOT MAKE IT SO.
To believe in a false image of Christ created by your own ideology or the doctrines of men is a form of idolatry.
One of the most abused scriptures in the Bible is in John 3. Verses should never be held up as creating doctrine out of the context of the rest of the things that He says. Because we know there will be False Christs.[1]
In verse 15 we see the claim, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
And verses 16 & 17 tells us that Christ was sent that we "might be saved". It is not automatic by what we say nor just by what we may think in our minds.
By V18 we can see that those "that believeth on him" are not condemned and those who "believeth not" are "condemned already",
The question we may need to ask is "Do we Believe in the Real Jesus?"
In verse 19 we are informed if we love him we will love the light of the truth He shared. Those that do not want to know the whole truth and provide for it by seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness evidently prefer the darkness. We will know that because their deeds will be evil.
Like the deeds of the Nicolaitans God "hates" them.
The word for "evil" is poneros meaning "evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful."
The previous verse must always be read in the context of verses 20 and 21 which goes on to tell us that "every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
Those dark deeds would include, but are not limited to, coveting your neighbor's goods through desiring benefits like the wages of unrighteousness from "men ruling in government who call themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other."
Those evil deeds would include sloth in caring for the needy through a daily ministration by charity alone which is the practice of pure Religion.
Or even worse they might neglect the care of their parents so that they have to depend on systems like the Corban of the Pharisees which makes the word of God to none effect.
The list goes on... There are many warnings in the testaments, by Paul and the apostles and by Jesus himself that many will say and do things in His name but will be workers of iniquity.
They have no inheritance in the kingdom, we should turn away because they know him not.
Yes, it is clear we are saved by grace but if we are not keeping His commandments our imagination will not save us.
Reading verse 21 should make it clear that many modern Churches are not doing the truth nor coming to the light, nor does their deeds make manifest the wisdom nor the will of God.
- ↑ False Christs
- Matthew 24:5 "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
- Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."
- Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
- Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect."
- 1 Corinthians 15: 15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
- 2 Corinthians 11: 13. For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
- Galatians 2:4 "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."
- 2 Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
- 2 Peter 2:2 "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
- 2 Peter 3: 16. "Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness."