Which Jesus?

[0:00] But we've got an empty tomb this morning.

[0:15] ! And that's what matters. That's what we want to emphasise, isn't it? today. 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.

[0:31] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if he receive another spirit, which he have not received, or another gospel, which he have not accepted, he might well bear with him.

[0:47] Verse 13. In between times he talks about the false apostles. Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

[1:02] And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Please be seated. I'd like to focus on verses 3, particularly verse 4, 2 Corinthians 11 there.

[1:18] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus. Another Jesus. There's counterfeit Christ's.

[1:30] There's other Jesuses on planet earth today. In many circles believed in and followed. With devotion.

[1:41] With love. Paul issued a word of warning that there will be those who will preach another Jesus. A different one.

[1:53] A different one. An imposter. A counterfeit spirit. A counterfeit gospel. A counterfeit Christ. And the Lord warns us to beware lest we follow another Jesus.

[2:07] You can pick and choose from many types of Jesuses today. Many different styles of Jesus are available today. You can select one to suit your own particular preferences.

[2:20] The name Jesus is used, but it's not the Jesus of the Bible. Not the biblical Jesus. A Jesus of your own liking.

[2:31] To suit your own carnal mind. What Jesus will you follow? A Jesus who has been custom designed by some religious leader?

[2:44] Or the Jesus of the Bible? One or the other. He challenges us. Who do you say that I am? It's important to discern the real from the false.

[2:58] Will you follow for example the Mormon Jesus? The Mormon Jesus. You could choose to follow him today. He's a brother to the devil. That's what they say.

[3:10] He's born to the physical union of God the Father. Once a man, Adam and Mary. This Jesus had children by more than one woman.

[3:21] He was crucified because he practiced polygamy. The Jesus of the Mormon church did not pay for your sins. Or the sins of the world on the cross.

[3:33] But in the garden of Gethsemane. And his sacrifice was not sufficient. You have to work your own way to heaven. The Mormon Jesus could not maintain his church.

[3:45] But he had to commission a lying, swindling, occult dabbling, adulterer, a womanising, pedophiliac, freemason, a con artist known for telling tall tales to translate an ancient and inspired book that needed almost 4,000 corrections and changes and alterations since its first publication.

[4:13] And this man was the one he chose to restore the church that this Jesus couldn't keep together. The Mormon Jesus.

[4:25] You may prefer instead the Jehovah's Witness Jesus. He's a created being. Michael the Archangel.

[4:35] He's not God with a capital G. But only a God. Which makes you a polytheist. A worshipper of more than one God. Which the Bible is plainly against.

[4:47] The Jehovah's Witness Jesus will condemn you for celebrating your birthday. Or giving your child a life-saving blood transfusion.

[4:58] He did not die on a cross but on an upright stake. His body is unaccounted for and still missing today. Because he did not physically rise from the dead.

[5:09] But only raised up spiritually. His sacrifice was insufficient. Because you still have to earn your own salvation. And in spite of accepting worship in the Bible from those around him.

[5:24] The Jehovah's Witness Jesus does not want you to worship him. The Jehovah's Witness Jesus. Perhaps instead you may choose the Roman Catholic Jesus.

[5:37] He's a co-saviour and co-mediator with the Virgin Mary. He dies continually for man's sins in the Roman Catholic Mass.

[5:48] He's bound to take orders from his mortal mother whom he created. He has to share his glory with the mortal human Mary. His death alone was not sufficient enough to fully atone for all sins.

[6:04] So there is need for man to suffer punishment in purgatory. In order that they may become fully purged of their sin. And therefore pure enough to be acceptable enough to enter heaven.

[6:18] And he has sacrificed again and again every week. Even though the Bible says he was sacrificed once and for all. Never to be sacrificed again.

[6:29] Because mortal human priests supposedly have incredible power to call him down from heaven. And magically turn him into a cracker and wine.

[6:42] The Roman Catholic Jesus. His sacrifice was insufficient because you still have to merit your own salvation. Perhaps instead you may choose the emergent church.

[6:54] The liberal church Jesus. The liberal church Jesus. He's a hippie like figure. Who no longer considers the Bible to be a final authority. He questions the very scriptures.

[7:06] He justifies homosexuality. He no longer differentiates between sheep and goats. And tears and wheat. And truth and error. And light and darkness.

[7:17] The broad way and the narrow way. He warmly welcomes various religious traditions and mystical practices. His motto is. His motto is. Come as you are.

[7:28] And you can stay that way too. Because only Pharisees would tell you otherwise. The emergent church Jesus. He never mentions your sinfulness.

[7:40] Or his holiness. He just emphasizes having a good time in church. With a rock and praise band. And he boasts of a fun atmosphere for kids.

[7:51] And he believes that music reaches people in a way that the gospel can't. And he has a relevant message from the latest Hollywood movie. And he offers free coffee and donuts in the lounge.

[8:06] The emergent church Jesus. The liberal church Jesus. Perhaps you may quantify the charismatic word of faith Jesus. The word of faith Jesus.

[8:17] This Jesus suffered in hell. He took the nature of Satan while on the cross. He was the first man to be born again. Making Christians into little gods.

[8:28] And his message is to show you by example. How to prosper. By sowing a financial seed of faith. And he confirms your salvation.

[8:38] By such outward expressions as being slain in the spirit. And speaking in tongues. He says that if you don't accept these strange doctrines. Then you're just not anointed enough.

[8:49] One of these preachers John Evansini says. Jesus had a nice house. A big house. It doesn't say that in here does it? And Jesus was handling big money.

[9:02] So said John Evansini. And Kenneth Copeland says. Satan conquered Jesus on the cross. And took his spirit to the dark regions of hell. The Bible Jesus was conquered by Satan on the cross.

[9:17] Brothers and sisters. Don't follow that one. Perhaps you may want to follow the new age Jesus. The new age Jesus. He's a great teacher. An enlightened spiritual master.

[9:28] An ascended master. One of many. An example for humanity. In fact anyone can be a Christ. Or tap into the Christ.

[9:40] We've known people like that. Who talk about Christ. But it's not the Bible Christ. It's not the Bible Jesus. This new age Jesus. This new age Jesus. He does not believe in sin.

[9:51] Holiness. Or redemption. And he's accepting of all religions. All religions. Because he himself. Is just one of many paths to enlightenment.

[10:05] And you may choose. And you may choose. The new age Jesus. The new age Jesus. You may choose. To follow the kingdom now Jesus. The kingdom now Jesus.

[10:17] He says. That he has died to restore man's dominion. And he can't come from heaven. Until man makes the earth right enough.

[10:28] For him to return. The kingdom now Jesus. You may like to follow the Muslim Jesus. The Muslim Jesus.

[10:39] A sinless prophet. At least they're saying he was sinless in the Quran. Something. They got something right. A sinless prophet and teacher. Though not as great as Muhammad.

[10:51] He was born of a virgin. But was not the true. Was not the son of God. The Muslim Jesus. Did not atone for anyone's sins.

[11:03] Although he was himself sinless. And is one of those who are near to God. The Muslim Jesus. Did not die on the cross.

[11:17] There's always the seeker friendly politically correct Jesus. The seeker friendly politically correct Jesus. He is a sanitized. Multi-faith. More palatable Jesus. He makes no demands.

[11:29] And he has no exclusive claims. He gives a sugar-coated gospel. That acknowledges many alternative ways to salvation. And he's careful not to offend anybody.

[11:40] He teaches us by his example. How to get along with each other. Friends. We've been talking tongue in cheek really. To reflect on those as we've covered. The Mormon Jesus. The Jehovah's Witness Jesus. The Roman Catholic Jesus.

[11:51] The Liberal Church Jesus. The charismatic word of faith Jesus. The New Age Jesus. The Muslim Jesus. The seeker friendly politically correct Jesus. There are many versions of Jesus. At the end of the world. Maybe he'll be just a whole package wrapped together. The anti-Christ.

[12:02] The anti-Christ. The anti-Christ. The anti-Christ. Basically really a standing in the place of Christ. He's got the sense of that. The anti-Christ. Basically really a standing in the place of Christ. Basically a standing in the place of Christ. Basically a standing in the place of Christ. Basically a standing in the place of Christ. Basically a standing in the place of Christ. Basically a standing in the place of Christ. Basically a standing in the place of Christ.! Basically a standing in the place of Christ. that here's another version of Jesus Christ.

[12:38] Maybe he'll be the Messiah that the Jews are still looking for. You know, they missed it the first time. Maybe he'll be the Muslim Jesus coming back to earth.

[12:54] The Mahdi. They believe in the Antichrist too, the Muslims. The Antichrist will be another imitation of Jesus.

[13:08] And many will follow him, many will be duked by him. They'll be swept along by his lies, by his promises, by his offer of world peace and calm and tranquility.

[13:23] He'll bring great signs and wonders. He'll be top of the pops. Jesus, the Antichrist, another version. Friends, these are days we need to be alert.

[13:34] As our Lord says, one of the features of the end days will be false Christ. Is your Jesus the real one?

[13:47] The real one? Or a false one? I know there was a popular program some while back, Will the real so-and-so stand up?

[13:58] I don't know what it was called, but you had to guess which was the right one, as they were all kind of acting to be a particular person, and giving different clues and hints and you had to tell which was the right one.

[14:10] Will the real Jesus Christ stand up? And he'll be here. He'll be in the Word of God. That's how you'll recognize him. As you interrogate what he says, his claims, that which is said about him, doesn't measure up with his biography, the four witnesses' accounts, his very Word, the Word of his mouth, the Word of his Scriptures.

[14:38] The real Jesus, the real Jesus, he is not a created being. Colossians 1 tells us that by him were all things made, whether visible, invisible, thrones, dominions, powers, all things were created by him and for him.

[14:58] Colossians 1.16 And he claims to be God. He says, I and my Father are one. He says, I am.

[15:09] He is the mighty, the sovereign, the almighty, the holy, the king of kings, the lord of lords, the chief, cornerstone, the alpha, the omega, the beginning, the end, the son of God, the first and the last.

[15:26] God in the flesh. A completely sufficient saviour, eternally existent. And he came and bled real blood and died a real death, a sacrificial atoning, once for all death.

[15:44] He says, come unto me. He says, come, whosoever will, let him drink.

[15:55] Come. Will you come to him? The real Jesus. He was born of a virgin. He shed his precious blood for man's salvation. He died on a rugged cross and he took up that life again.

[16:09] He broke the chains. He took the keys of hell and of death. He removed the sting of death. He is the prince of peace, the great physician, the way, the truth, the life, the only way, the exclusive way.

[16:35] He is the Jesus of the Bible and he is worthy to receive honour and glory and majesty and power and dominion and might. Have you accepted an artificial counterfeit Jesus?

[16:51] As people say, oh, I accepted Christ. I've made a commitment to Christ. Is it the real Jesus Christ?

[17:02] Is it the one who bled and died for your sin? Have you trusted him for his grace and mercy? Is it the one of whom it says, there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved?

[17:17] One name. The name Lord Jesus Christ. His name is Lord. Lord, there is none other like this man.

[17:28] He is extra special, the God-man. Man and God. The fullness of the Godhead. dwelt bodily in him.

[17:40] And his name brings comfort and peace to our hearts. He is Lord. It means Master. Is he that? Jesus.

[17:51] His name is Lord Jesus. Jesus. It means Saviour. Saviour. It means the Lord of salvation. The angel in Matthew 1 says, for he will save his people from their sins.

[18:05] This name comes to us from heaven. The angel declared in Matthew 1, you shall call his name Jesus. It was a special name. The name of Jesus.

[18:15] It came from heaven to us. For he shall save his people from their sins. Without Jesus, there is no salvation. The name of Buddha cannot save you.

[18:29] The name of Mohammed does not bring salvation. The name of Krishna does not bring salvation. The name of Mary does not bring salvation.

[18:41] There is none other name whereby we must be saved. This name is the sweetest name. The name that is above every other name.

[18:53] The name that brings hope. And for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall, shall, shall be saved. It's a promise. His name is Lord Jesus Christ.

[19:07] Christ, a Christian, is someone who accepts and obeys the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The word Christian is used so loosely and glibly.

[19:20] Christian nations, Christian countries, they're not Christian at all. Christian, a Christian, a Christian is one who's trusted Christ for his salvation.

[19:36] Lord means Master, God. Jesus means Saviour. He saves us from our sin by dying on the cross. He forgives us our sin when we come to him and call on his name.

[19:49] And Christ, the Messiah, our King, he sent to us our Saviour, our Deliverer, our Christ, the Anointed One. Have you trusted him?

[20:01] Friends, he's risen. He is not here. He has risen. He's conquered death and hell and he can live in your heart by faith. Let us pray. Father God, we praise your name.

[20:14] We love, Lord, your scriptures and our fellow sipping today for the truth of your gospel. Help us, Lord, to be discerning that we may not be misled by another spirit, another gospel, another Jesus.

[20:28] Help us, Lord, to discern where those that might be preachers of righteousness it seems and yet just frauds and imposters. Help us, Lord, to be aware and alert of the deceptions that we know, we tell by your scriptures, Lord, that there will be other Christs and that we need to be very careful and very alert that we're not being swept along with the lies of the cults but instead adhere to the truth of your word.

[20:58] Strengthen each one, Lord, we pray. Help each one that they might know personally that step of faith of letting go and giving it all into your hands letting go of life lived for self and let your spirit enter in.

[21:21] Lord, let your light penetrate that darkness, that life and life and that deadness, Lord, that we might be saved, that we might know what it is to live and breathe and have our being in you.

[21:34] Lord, that you would be glorified. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you.