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Pass around these one pound coins. There are 25 of them in total and each one has a letter of the alphabet on the back in felt tip. However four of them are fakes. As you pass them round the tables, see if you can spot the fakes.
We’re not talking about being deluded (Thinking you’re a Christian when you’re not) Although that will come out of tonight’s session.
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We’re talking about how to identify false Christianity
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The most obvious way to identify a fake is by knowing what the real thing looks like
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So tonight we’ll look at some fakes in the Bible and then finish with what the real thing looks like.
Imitations
Read Galatians1. Paul speaking
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
What does this tell us? … that there were fake Christians who infiltrated the church in Galatia and started preaching another gospel – a counterfeit gospel.
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The text does not define the gospel. The rest of the book does. So our focus today will not be on the content of the gospel but on its genuineness.
First of all, the underlying truth of the passage: There is only one gospel.
In verse 6 Paul says that the Galatians are starting to turn away to a “different gospel.” Then in verse 7 he corrects a false impression.
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He did not mean to say that there are several possible gospels and that they have simply chosen another of several options. In verse 7 he carefully says, “Not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel.”
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This verse is very clear: There is no other gospel than the one he preached to them and which they received. To be sure, as verses 6 and 7 make plain, there are people presenting their ideas as gospel, but these are perversions.
So what today produces fake or imitationsfaith?
Pluralism produces a fake faith
The implications of this text for our day are very important. The text is a radical and forthright denial of a pluralism which says that we are all on different roads to heaven, but our destination is the same.
Universalism produces fake faith
Universalism is the idea that everyone will get to heaven in the end. God will sort it all out!
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I am a firm believer in the idea that heaven with be a very populous place – many more people will be there than we expect. But it won’t be everyone.
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I believe that such is the love of God that he will bend over backwards to welcome anyone into the heaven he has made for his people
but not everyone will be there – and Jesus was very clear about this – especially in some of his parables
E.g. the wheat and the tares
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let them both grow together, and then let God divide them out in the last day.
E.g. Jesus spoke of people as being the sheep and the goats. Matt 25:21ff
E.g. when he comes in his kingdom people will be divided left and right and some will go to glory wile others will go to a lost eternity.
Unpopular stuff.
There are popular forms of this universalism, and there are technical, scholarly forms of it, but there is no biblical universalism
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there is no biblical teaching which says that a person can go on rejecting Christ and still be saved.
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There may be other religions besides Christianity, and other leaders besides Jesus Christ, but there is no other gospel, no other good news of salvation.
Sincerity alone produces fake faith
Some years ago a survey of 7,000 Protestant young people from many denominations asked whether they agreed with the following statements: “The way to be accepted by God is to try sincerely to live a good life.”
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More than 60 percent agreed.
“God is satisfied if a person lives the best life he can.”
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Almost 70 percent agreed. (Reported by Paul Brand & Philip Yancey, Fearfully & Wonderfully Made [Zondervan], p. 108.)
I have found that many church-going people, like these young people, are confused on the most important question in life: “How can I be right with God?”
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Many think that sincerity is a big factor. If you’re sincere, God will let you into heaven even if you’re a bit fuzzy on the truth.
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But that’s like saying that a man who swallows deadly poison, sincerely thinking that it is medicine, will get better. All the sincerity in the world is fatal if it is not in line with the truth.
Many also think that human effort plays a big role.
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If you try your best, even though you aren’t perfect, God will say, “I’ll let you into heaven because you tried so hard.” If that is what the Bible teaches, then it is so.
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But if it is contrary to what the Bible teaches, then trying your best to get into heaven is like trying your best to broad jump across the English Channel. You’re not going to make it!
Have you ever been stuck with a counterfeit coin? You thought it was legal tender, but when you took it somewhere and offered it as money, the person behind the till said, “I’m sorry, but this is counterfeit money. It’s no good.” The Bible teaches that Satan is a master counterfeiter, trying to pass off on unsuspecting people a version of Christianity that looks pretty good, but it is not going to be accepted by the bank of heaven.
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It’s traumatic enough to get stuck with a counterfeit bill – it would be far more traumatic to stand before God someday and hear Him declare that your Christianity is counterfeit!
What makes a counterfeit obvious?
Under what circumstances might counterfeit faith emerge?
Persecution
Paul
2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Parable of sower
Mark 4:16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Pain
E.g. Job – whole book tension “Is he going to blow it or not?”
Seeing the real thing
Jesus after he had overturned the tables in the temple:
And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it “a den of robbers”.’
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
The priests reacted so violently because they’d seen the real thing. Jesus’ holiness and power was a threat to them and instead of asking the adult question (Is there something I can learn here) they plotted to murder him.
ON YOUR TABLES
What does the real thing look like?
This may seem an obvious question, but I want us to talk about it because we can easily forget and there may be differences we can explore.
Discuss and share answers
What does the real thing look like: here’s my answer …
“Ian Whites ABC of genuine Christian faith”
Actions
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23
James “faith without works is dead”
James 2:14-19 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.
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Beliefs
TABLES:
What are we to believe in from these verses?
Acts 8:12-15
John 11:24-28
John14:1
John 9:37-39 (believing results in worship)
Apostles Creed
12 tweets which summarise Christian faith – read them together…
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
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And the life everlasting. Amen.
TABLES: Say it!
IW will tweet @ianrichardwhite
Character
Galatians 5:19-25
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Notice the contrast that Paul is highlighting here – between the works of the flesh – the base sinful part of us – and the spirit – the God-inspired, grace-given new life in Christ. These are essentially distinctives in my character >>>
All three are vital – any one by itself won’t do! >>>
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If I have just Actions – I’m nothing more than a good person
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If I have only beliefs – I’m nothing more than religious person
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If I have only character – I’m nothing more than a nice person
But if all three combine I’m a Christian person.
Is there one of these that you’d like to be more genuine?
If you feel able, share it on your table.
Pray together.
