WHEN AN APOSTLE IS CONCERNED The presence of moral and spiritual corruption within the professed church is staggering. One can scarcely find a person who is wholly devoted to the Lord. Should one be found, they are an exception within the modern church, and generally considered to be peculiar. Most, if not all, of this condition is owing to the lack of spiritual maturity. While all of the children of God begin their kingdom tenure with a single heart, it is only by means of growing up into Christ in all things (Eph 4:15) that this singularity of heart can be maintained. I have come to be persuaded that a person cannot maintain a small spiritual stature. If growth is not taking place, and a change from glory to glory is not occurring, then the light of the soul is gradually being extinguished. In such a case, corruption has been introduced, and corruption always spreads like an infection. Neither singleness nor corruption is static. Neither one can be inactive, motionless, or unchanging. -- Tomorrow:
"Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:1-4)
Devotion 19 of 29
It is no wonder that Paul has such a deep concern for the church in Corinth, or that part of his suffering which was the daily care that came upon him concerning the churches (2 Cor 11:28). He knew the inevitable outcome of corruption – the place where all carnality ends! The solemn word from heaven is, "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die" (Rom 8:13). There is not the slightest chance that this word can be successfully contradicted! Wherever men choose to live after the flesh, or be dominated by a carnal mind, they are being pushed toward the precipice or eternal ruin!
ANOTHER JESUS
"For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER JESUS, whom we have not preached . . ." Other versions read, "preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached" (NIV), "proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed" (NRSV), "preaching another Jesus from the one whose preachers we are" (BBE), "preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach" (NLT), "preaching about another Jesus who is different from the Jesus we preached unto you" (IE), and "preaching a different Jesus from the one we told you about" (PHILLIPS).
Paul now gets straight to the point. He will tell them what is involved in him fearing Satan would deceive them, luring them away from single-heartedness toward the Lord Jesus. His immediate concern is not the local temples to idols, or the sports arena, or the occultist books. He knew Satan would be more cunning in his attempt to infect and pollute the minds of the Corinthians. In fact, the beginnings of corruption had already taken place. This was evidenced by the unacceptable conditions that had surfaced since Paul had left them.
THERE IS "ANOTHER JESUS"
There is such a thing as "another Jesus." This is not a real person – unless it be a demon – but a fictitious "Jesus" that is preached. This "Jesus" is not announced to be "another Jesus," but is represented as being the One God sent, and declared in the Gospel. It is a "Jesus" that is said to be the Son of God, having died for men, and is said to be presently saving men.
Jesus warned His disciples, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Mat 24:24; Mk 13:22). He also affirmed that other personalities would arise, coming in His name and saying, "I am Christ" (Matt 24:5; Mk 13:6; Lk 21:8). All of these operated under the auspices of the devil.
Paul is clear about this matter, the other Jesus is one that is "preached," or declared. The particular things said about this other Jesus are not specified. However, this was a "Jesus" who allowed division. It was one who permitted people to call themselves after the names of men (1 Cor 1:12-13). This other "Jesus" did not move people to expel a fornicator from their presence, but rather influenced the people to endure such a monstrosity in their presence. It was a "Jesus" who, when embraced, allowed the people to fail to discern Christ's body when eating at His table (1 Cor 11:29) – and think they still maintained identity with Christ.
"Another Jesus" is one who seems better suited to address the ails of humanity – at least that is the way he is presented. It is not the Messiah foretold by Moses (Deut 18:15,18), or promised by the Prophets (Isa 9:6-7; 11:3-4; 40:11; 61:1-4; Jer 23:6; 33:15-16; Mal 3:3). Perhaps it is a "Jesus" who, together with His Father, and in stark contradiction of Christ's own words, loves people "unconditionally" (John 14:21,23; 15:10; 16:27). It may be a "Jesus" who entertains an intense interest in all of your problems, and extends himself to become involved in all of them – even though that contradicts the revelation given to us of the real Christ (Matt 11:17; Luke 12:13-14; John 2:4; Acts 1:6-7).
Perhaps it is a "Jesus" who can tolerate being rejected, and endure unbelief among the people – something for which the real Jesus is NOT noted (Matt 11:10-24). Maybe it is even a "Jesus" who wants everyone to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, even if they are not interested – even though Jesus was thankful these things were "hidden from the wise and the prudent" (Matt 11:25-27).
The point is that there are, indeed, "false christ's." These are christ's who do not save – yea, cannot save. They cannot do the things "the Christ of God" does (Luke 9:20). They only serve temporal interests.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to avoid every "Jesus" that is not real.