Another Jesus

Another Jesus

“For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it.” V. 4.

What kind of people were they who came with “another” Jesus”? We read about them further on: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” Vs. 13-15. It is obvious that such people did not have the spirit, the gospel, and the same Jesus with which Paul had come to Corinth. The amazing thing was that they had no objection to bearing with them. The consequences of such an attitude of mind were, of course, much sin and no spiritual growth.

Such preachers who disguise themselves as servants of the Lord are not comfortable when it comes to being obedient, or walking in Jesus’ steps, or partaking of the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, being conformed to His death. Phil. 3:10. They are more comfortable with a Jesus who was obedient in our stead, who suffered and died in our stead, a Jesus “who has done everything so that we shall do nothing.” For them it is important to make Jesus as “glorious” as possible, which to them means that He did not partake of flesh and blood like we and that He was not tempted as we are either—in other words, a completely different Jesus than the One the apostles proclaimed. Heb. 2:14-18, 4:15-16, 5:7-10.

In our days there are hundreds of Bible schools that train preachers to proclaim this other Jesus, and consequently they come with another gospel. In other words, we can say that the main subject these Bible schools teach is how to come in the guise of a servant of righteousness and please people. They learn to use their natural talents for eloquence and acting. No one asks them if they have victory over sin. It matters only if they are talented, especially if they are good speakers, and have an attractive appearance.

The fruit of such an attitude of mind, of such a gospel and such a Jesus is much division, many religious groups, and much sin. Many fall into adultery and also live in sin. That is why, quite often, you can hear them say, “Don’t look at me, look only at Jesus. God sees us through Jesus, and His blood covers us.” Besides that they like to sing: “Under the blood, under the blood. Come and lay down your burden at the foot of the cross,” etc.

Paul could see this development coming, so he wrote, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” 2 Tim. 3:1. Then he continued to write how they will have a form of godliness, yet deny its power, living in their sins. They will turn their ears away from the truth, turning to myths, and heap up to themselves teachers, because they want to have their ears tickled. 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 4:1-4. He could not have described the development of another Jesus and another gospel more aptly, such as we see it in our days.

Paul worked in a completely different way. He had received the apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among the Gentiles to the glory of God. Rom. 1:5. “That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. . . . For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient.” Rom. 15:16, 18. Concerning Jesus the apostle also wrote, “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him . . . .” Heb. 5:9. Peter also wrote, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Pet. 2:21-24.

Here we can see the spirit, the Jesus, and the gospel, with which Paul and the apostles came. 1 John 2:3-6. What is the fruit of it? Being set free from sin indeed and becoming a servant of righteousness indeed! Rom. 6:17-18, 22. The fruit of the true gospel is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21. In other words, never a division. But where do you find faith in the gospel today? Jesus also wondered if He would find it when he returned. Luke 18:8. Jude felt constrained to write and exhort to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Vs. 3-4.

This crowd of preachers speaks very much about grace, not as a help to come to victory over sin, but only as a pardon. Yet God be praised that even today there are servants of the Lord who let the light shine so that those who love the truth can be saved and can obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 2:13-14.