Wednesday, 11 January 2012

• Deception: A Sign of the Times

  By Joseph Lule

  Matthew 24:1-5 "And going out, Jesus left the temple. And His disciples came to show Him the buildings of the temple. But Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, There will not at all be left one stone on a stone which in no way will not be thrown down. And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And, What is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age? And answering, Jesus said to them, See that not any leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ. And they will cause many to be led astray."

  Please take note that the disciples showed Jesus the magnificent Temple and its structures, but the Lord broke their hearts by telling them “There will not at all be left one stone on a stone which in no way will not be thrown down.” And as He was sitting down on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him privately and not openly with the masses asking Him, “Tell us, when will these things be? And, What is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” They asked when these things will be and what was the sign of His coming and end of age; kindly take note that the Holy Spirit quickened their hearts to ask the Lord the question as they saw that He was talking about His return and the end of age.

  Deception: A Sign of the Times

  “And answering, Jesus said to them, See that not any leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ. And they will cause many to be led astray.”

  This answer was directed to His disciples: see that not any leads you astray. This warning was given to the disciples. It was directed to Peter, John and the rest of the gang and also to those who would believe the message of the Lord. This warning was not directed at the world but at the shepherds, the Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and the rest of the Church.

  Jesus foresaw that, before His coming, they would be great deception that would be spread all over the Church that would even target the Pastors. The warning stated that, “For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ. And they will cause many to be led astray.”

  What did the Lord mean by saying for many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ? Oh that you may see many prophets would come in the name of Christ and would deceive many the Person of Christ. Basically what Jesus was saying was that, not only would people say they are Christ, but also some would deceive many by preaching another gospel, another Christ that was not the person of Christ and the Lord said that they would cause many to be led astray.

  Who is the Person Christ?

  In Revelation as Jesus addresses the Church He says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, the One who is, and who was, and who is coming, the Almighty…. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last” “These things says the Son of God, the One having His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished brass” “These things says the Holy One, the True One, the One having “the key of David,” “the One opening, and no one shuts; and shuts, and no one opens:” “These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God” “These things says the One having the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars.”

  Oh that you may see He is Holy, Holy and Holy. For Paul says His desire that He might present the Church to Himself as the glorious assembly, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such things, but that it be holy and without blemish.

  This is what the Lord said: that many will be lead astray by a gospel that does not preach the real person of Christ. The Lord was saying to His disciples, "Please guard your heart from people who will preach another Jesus that is not the person of Christ." Yes He said many will be lead astray by this gospel, for it was revealed to Peter in 1Peter 1:15 -- "But according to the Holy One who has called you, you also become holy in all conduct; because it has been written, 'Be holy,' 'because I am holy.'"

  Yes we are living those times that Paul called perilous times, where a lot of people who know the Lord have a form of godliness but lacks power. It is those times where people have been peddled another gospel that does ask people to depart from their sins but encourages them to pursue a good life without living holy. It is a gospel that lacks the Holy Spirit as it cannot change people. It is all a lie as we all know we are supposed to be presented before the Father having no spot, wrinkle or any such thing. In this gospel the Word is not used to rebuke sin but used to encourage people to seek after their own desires.

  Those in authority are afraid to rebuke sin as many will flee from their churches and their desire is to have a big multitude of people in their church even though they know that those who live in the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

  This gospel is what the Lord Jesus warned us to be careful about, for no one will see the Lord without holiness. It is gospel that allows people to say a sinner’s forgiveness prayer and with a magical wand they are told that they are already accepted in the Kingdom of God without seeking to change their evil ways.

  It is a gospel that allows people to live their former lives without repentance with having in mind what may have to called as an insurance cover that will not allow one to go to hell. This gospel is deceptive and a lot of people are buying into it.

  Paul says flee from this as this will not lead anyone into the Kingdom of God and yes as our Lord said “they will cause many to be led astray.”

  We are living truly in end of the age.

  What do you think about deception in the Christian church?  Do you think there is a deceptive gospel that is being preached in Christianity?  Do you think this is a sign of the times, or is this something that has been going on since the gospel was written?

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