“Watch
Out that You Are Not Deceived”
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.” Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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