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Watch Out that You Are Not Deceived
Luke 21:8

 

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas

Twenty-Sixth Sunday after PentecostNovember 17, 2013

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Our text is from today’s Gospel Reading.  Jesus says, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.”

It should not surprise us when a false prophet arises or that false prophets can attract many followers.  Over and over again, the Bible warns us about false prophets and tells us they will have many followers.  Already 1900 years ago, the apostle John wrote, “Many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  Peter says, “There will be false teachers among you. . .  Many will follow their shameful ways.”  Jesus warns us, “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” 

How is it possible for false prophets to attract a large number of followers?  Jesus puts it this way: “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  The Bible teaches salvation by faith in Christ alone.  He died on the cross as payment for our sin; on his account the sins of the whole world are all forgiven.  He forgives all your sins.  Simply believe in him, trust in him and you shall be saved. 

But salvation by faith alone seems too easy.  It is appealing to our human reason and our human pride to think that we can and must do something ourselves to earn our salvation.  That is the one doctrine all false prophets have in common: salvation by works, putting your faith not in Christ, but in yourself.  That is the allurement of the false prophets: the idea of earning your own way into heaven.

How can we recognize false prophets?  Paul says in Galatians, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”  So in order to recognize false prophets, first of all check their teachings against the Gospel of Christ.  Are they teaching salvation through faith in Christ alone, apart from works?  If that’s not what they’re teaching, then have nothing to do with them.

And don’t be fooled by the sheep’s clothing!  Jesus says, “Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”  False prophets often try to pass themselves off as true disciples of Christ.  They may talk about Jesus, they may use the Bible.  don’t be fooled by the sheep’s clothing; inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  As Paul says in 2nd Corinthians, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”

What about the zeal of false prophets’ followers?  Sometimes it seems that it’s the false prophets’ followers who are the most zealous, the most dedicated, the most convicted to their cause.  Paul says in Galatians, “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. . .  It is a fine thing to be zealous, provided the purpose is good.”  don’t be won over or even impressed by the zeal, dedication, and conviction of false prophets’ followers.  Their zeal, dedication, and conviction is not a sign that they are following the truth. As Paul says in 1 Timothy, “They do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.”

And don’t be fooled because false prophets quote from the Bible.  Remember that when Jesus was tempted by the Devil, the Devil himself quoted Scripture.  Familiarity with the Bible and the ability to quote Scripture are not sure signs of a true prophet; the Devil himself quotes Scripture.

“Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.”

Amen.

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