WHEN AN APOSTLE IS CONCERNED Wherever there is willing involvement in sin, the individual has ceased to trust in the real Jesus. They are no longer being led by the real Spirit. They also are not believing the real Gospel. If they insist on maintaining their religious identity, even though their life is a living contradiction of the truth, they can only maintain that identity by embracing "another Jesus," "another Spirit," and "another Gospel." None of these "anothers" are invested with Divine power. None of them foster faith or strengthen hope. None of them are used by God to bless, save, deliver, or build up. All of them are tools in the hand of the devil. They are all administered by the powers of darkness, promote Satan's cause, and lead to sure condemnation. -- 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 28 of 29
A defection from the faith cannot take place while one is believing on the real Jesus, walks in the true Spirit, and believes the true Gospel! It is not possible for sin to make major inroads in an individual, or a church, unless a distorted view of Jesus, the Spirit, and the Gospel is entertained. Unless a person begins to think that Jesus really tolerates sin, he will not be disposed to commit it. Unless the Spirit is not perceived as leading us forth in the mortification of the deeds of the body, sin will, in some form, become inviting to us. If, at any point, the Gospel is not seen as the exclusive power of God unto salvation, men will become loose in their thinking about it, and will eventually be duped by the imaginary gospels of carnally-minded men who seek their own, and not the things that be of Christ (Phil 2:21).
If it is true that knowing the truth makes us free (John 8:32), then the loss of that freedom and the consequent enslavement to sin is the result of NOT knowing the truth. Spiritual freedom cannot be lost in the context of truth, and it cannot be gained in the context of the lie. Let me be clear about this, "another Jesus" is a false Jesus."Another Spirit" is an erroneous spirit. "Another Gospel" is a spurious gospel. Each of these frauds is "another" only by its existence in the minds of men. None of them are recognized as valid in heaven, and none of them are to be so considered on earth.
It is quite possible, if not absolutely sure, that all divisions within the church are actually traceable to the acceptance of "another Jesus," "another Spirit," and "another Gospel." If this is not the case, then the true Jesus, the true Spirit, and the true Gospel, can promote division. If it is acknowledged that they cannot promote division, yet its presence is found among professed believers, then the division has been caused by something else: "another Jesus," "another Spirit," and "another Gospel."
Some might feel that division is caused because people do not have the same views – they do not understand the Bible alike. However, is that really a proper assessment of the case? Why is it that they do not see things alike? Did not the prophets declare, "for they shall all see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion" (Isa 52:8). And again, "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent" (Zeph 3:9). How is it that the early church enjoyed the experience of "singleness of heart" (Acts 2:46)? Why is it said of them, "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul"(Acts 4:32)? What was different about them?
I suggest to you that they believed on the real Jesus, and many in our time have believed on "another Jesus." They had all received the real Spirit, and many of our time have received "another Spirit." They had believed and embraced the real Gospel, and many of our day have believed and embraced "another gospel." To me, there is no other acceptable way to account for the fractured condition of the modern church.
The only possible way to resolve the situation is for men to believe on the real Jesus, receive the real Spirit, and embrace the real Gospel. If that is not sufficient, there is no answer to the situation. I freely acknowledge that these are provocative thoughts, indeed! They will, however, stand the test of meticulous scrutiny. Jesus, the Spirit, and the Gospel ARE sufficient!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the singleness that characterizes every facet of Your great salvation.