BIBLE
DIGEST - Number 70
(Revised) May 1997
WHAT IS "ANOTHER JESUS"?
By Allon Maxwell
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"Do not
believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for
many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit
of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This
is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now
it is in the world already." (1 John 4:1-3) John is
reflecting the words of Jesus in the Olivet Discourse, just a few days before
His crucifixion. There He left a final warning, valid for all disciples in
all ages, about "false Christs and false prophets"
who would lead many astray. (Matthew 24:24) Paul also
refers to the same thing, using the term - "Another Jesus".
(2 Corinthians 11:4) The false
apostles of this "different Jesus" continue to clamour for our
attention, appearing in the form of "angels of light", and seeking
to lead us astray from the truth, It is a matter
of life and death that we should know how to identify and reject them. THE NAME There are many
men in this world whose name is "Jesus". It is common in South
America, for instance. Variations such as "Joshua", are also
common. They have many
different fathers. They have many different shapes and colours. They have
many different personalities. They believe many different (and often totally
incompatible) philosophies. They practice many different ways of life, with
many different moral standards. Most important
of all, none of them is the Son of God ! It is not the name
alone, which identifies the real Jesus ..... is it? The identity of
the real Jesus can be confirmed by three main things: 1. WHO IS HIS
FATHER? The
"different Jesus" of the Trinitarian creeds does not really
have a father! (Think about it.) Of course, that
will be challenged by those who follow him. However, it takes only a very
little logical thought to decide that although the word is
used, it does not mean the same as it does for all other men! It is a simple
fact that this different Jesus has no beginning. He was
not brought into existence by the choice of his father. Instead, He is said
to have existed co-eternally with his father. He is said to
have entered this world as a divine being, with a divine mind and nature,
clad in a human body. That is not
what the word "son" means when applied to a man! The truth is
that when it is used about Jesus in that way, it denies the real meaning of
what it is to be a Son. The Jesus of
the Trinitarian creeds is not, and never can be, a real Son of God. This different
Jesus defies all logic! But his "apostles" hide behind words like
"divine mystery", "received by faith", etc., to conceal
the faulty logic. And all who reject the logic are declared to be
"heretics", for ever beyond the pale of salvation. 2. WHO IS HE? The
"different Jesus" of the Trinitarian, creeds is not and never can
be a real man. This also will
be challenged. However it is not hard to see that here too, words are used
about Jesus, which do not have the same meaning as they do for other men! For this Jesus,
His "conception" and "virgin birth" are merely a means by
which a pre-existent god is given the appearance of a man,
whilst maintaining all the eternal powers and attributes of a god! No matter how
you dress it up, or attempt to conceal it behind such words, this Jesus is
not, and never can be, a real man. No other man
has ever existed eternally before he was born. No other man was ever born
with an infinite mind in a human body. The real
Jesus is completely man, just like other men. He did not come
to earth from some pre-existent state. He had a beginning. He began His
existence at His birth, as all other men do. He was born
with nothing that is not common to all other men. He began with nothing, as
we all do. He is truly a
Man, in every sense of the word. THAT is of
supreme importance! Our own "new birth" experience of the REAL
obedient manhood for which we were created, depends on our FAITH that a REAL
man has shown us not only that it is possible, but also how to achieve it. 3. WHAT
DOES HE SAY? Those two
things above, seldom stand alone. It is not only the theology which makes
this "other Jesus" different. That is far too simplistic. Almost universally,
the major difference about this pre-existent Jesus, is that he says DIFFERENT
THINGS to those taught by the REAL CHRIST described in the four Gospels. His words
are different. And because they are different, they are
destructive of real faith. The character
of the God he reveals is different. The Gospel he
preaches is different. (For more about this see Bible Digest no 69 -
"What Is A Different Gospel?) The
"obedience" he requires of his disciples is based on different
standards. If you doubt
that, just compare the Sermon on the Mount with what is said by that
"other Christ" of the Mainstream Churches! Here are just a
few examples of the differences between what is said by the Real Christ and
the counterfeit Christ. Peacemakers The Real Christ
says, "Blessed are the peacemakers", (Matthew 5:9) and "Resist not evil"
and "Turn the other Cheek" (Matthew 5:39)
and "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44). The different
Christ approves of war makers, who prove their hatred for their enemies by
the terrible things they do to them. Adultery This different
Christ approves of both divorce and remarriage, in circumstances which the
real Jesus has plainly labelled as adultery. Responsibility
For Sin The most
destructive of all the different things said by the different Jesus, is that
the nature of man is inherently corrupt by physical descent from Adam; and
that men are powerless to obey because of some fault inherent in the nature
with which we are born into the world. It is essential
to the concept of morality and justice that mankind is held accountable for
his own free will choices to obey or disobey. Beware of
anything which allows people to reduce their own responsibility for sin. That includes
the Catholic doctrine of "Original Sin", (or one of its Protestant
variations) or "The Devil made me do it" (or the Pentecostal
variation "I was demon possessed"!). It includes
also any "Cheap Grace" Gospel which divorces Grace and Faith from
Works in order to diminish our personal responsibility to exercise that fruit
of the Spirit called "self-control". Obedience The bottom line
is what is said about obedience to God. The Real Christ
says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after
righteousness". (Matthew
5:6) But the
different Christ says "That is Legalism! All you need is Grace." No man has
truly repented from sin until he has identified his sins by name, been
convicted of his need for change, and entered into a covenant with God to
forsake his sin and live for righteousness. And no man can
hunger and thirst after righteousness if he does not know what it is! The Real Gospel
of the Real Christ has much to say about the standard of righteousness for
which we must hunger and thirst, in order to be filled. That is the
goal of the "Blessing of Abraham", which is central to the mission
and Gospel of Jesus. "God, having raised up his servant, sent
him ...... to bless you in turning every one of you from your
wickedness." (Acts
3:26) |