"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

A Different Jesus, Spirit, And Gospel (11:4)

INTRODUCTION
  1. In 2Co 11:1-4, Paul expresses his grave concern for the brethren in Corinth...
    1. With a godly jealousy, he is fearful their minds may have been corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ - 2Co 11:1-3
    2. With a touch of irony, perhaps even sarcasm, he refers to their seeming willingness to put up with someone who might teach "another Jesus", "a different spirit", even "a different gospel" - 2Co 11:4
      1. He most likely has reference to "Judaizing teachers"
      2. These were Jewish believers in Christ who taught Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses (cf. Ac 15:1-29; Ga 2:1-5)
  2. The problem Paul faced is not unique to his day and age; even today...
    1. There are people who teach a "Jesus" different than the One revealed in the Bible
    2. Many claim to be led by the "Spirit", who in fact may heeding a different "spirit"
    3. What is often proclaimed as the "gospel", has been altered in its message so as to be different than the gospel proclaimed by the apostles of Christ
  3. The danger of leaving "the simplicity that is in Christ" is very real, and so I wish to...
    1. Identify how some actually preach "A Different Jesus, Spirit, And Gospel"
    2. Briefly review what the Bible teaches about Jesus, the Spirit, and the gospel of Christ

[Let's begin with the idea of...]

  1. A DIFFERENT JESUS
    1. A DIFFERENT JESUS AS PREACHED BY SOME TODAY...
      1. Some "non-Christian" religions, of course, teach a different Jesus
        1. That Jesus was at best simply a good man or teacher (e.g., Judaism)
        2. That Jesus was at best a prophet of God (e.g., Islam)
      2. But some professing "Christian" religions also teach a different Jesus
        1. That He is a created being (Jehovah Witnesses)
        2. That He is a god among many gods (Mormons)
        3. The "Jesus Seminar" has sought to redefine who Jesus was, by stripping Him of many of the teachings and miracles attributed to Him in the Bible
    2. THE TRUE JESUS IS THE ONE REVEALED BY HIS APOSTLES...
      1. As eyewitnesses who spent time with Him, only they are qualified to testify as to who Jesus was - cf. Ac 10:39-41; 2Pe 1:16; 1Jn 1:1-2
      2. Their testimony, as recorded in the New Testament, reveal Jesus to be:
        1. The Christ, the Son of the Living God - Mt 16:16
        2. The One who was with God, and was God - Jn 1:1-2
        3. The One in Whom all the fullness of God dwells bodily - Col 2:9-10
        4. The One Who died for our sins and rose from the dead, as foretold in the Old Testament scriptures - 1Co 15:1-4
        5. The One Who teaches that many will be lost, and requires an obedient faith - Mt 7:13-14,21-23; 28:20

        [In truth, the only reliable historical record that we have of Jesus is the New Testament, written by those who either knew Jesus intimately, or were personal acquaintances of His apostles. If we desire to know the "true" Jesus, it is to them we must turn!

        As we continue, consider some thoughts related to...]

  2. A DIFFERENT SPIRIT
    1. MANY PEOPLE PROFESS TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT TODAY...
      1. It is quite common to hear people say, "The Spirit led me to do this, believe that..."
        1. They believe the Holy Spirit leads through impressions, intuition, etc.
        2. They believe the Holy Spirit is so leading people in all the denominations
      2. Yet these same people teach conflicting doctrines
        1. Some believe the Spirit tells them pray to Mary; others say the Spirit tells them that is blasphemous
        2. Some believe the Spirit confirms to them that Joseph Smith is a prophet, others are convinced the Spirit tells them he was a false prophet
        3. In one highly publicized case, one church said the Spirit led them to sell their church building at a set price; but another church wanting to buy the building said the Spirit told them the price was too high!
        -- We can appreciate the wisdom of John's admonition to "test the spirits" - 1Jn 4:1
    2. THE TRUE SPIRIT IS THAT WHICH INSPIRED THE APOSTLES...
      1. Who was to guide them into all the truth - Jn 16:12-13
      2. Who did not lead them through impressions that could be misinterpreted, but through audible and sometimes visual means that could be confirmed miraculously
        1. Note that the Spirit "said" to Philip... - cf. Ac 8:29
        2. Note that while Paul's "impression" was to go one way, the Holy Spirit made it clear where He wanted them to go - cf. Ac 16:6-7
        -- I.e., the Spirit did not, and does not lead people in ways that might be confused with impressions or wishes of the human spirit
      3. The Spirit led the apostles into "all" the truth
        1. Paul had proclaimed the "whole counsel of God" - Ac 20:27
        2. Peter had been given "all things that pertain to life and godliness" - 2Pe 1:3
        3. The faith was "once for all" delivered unto the saints - Jude 3
      4. The Spirit "confirmed" the completed revelation by signs and wonders - He 2:1-4
        1. Therefore our task is to "give the more earnest heed" to those things revealed by the Spirit through the apostles and prophets of the New Testament
        2. Or as per Jude, to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered" - Jude 3
        -- We can "test the spirits" by comparing them with the revealed and confirmed Word of God, for that is how the Spirit speaks to us today!

      [So much religious confusion is the result of people listening to their own "human spirit", when what we need to do is return to that Word of God which the Spirit revealed in the first place!

      Finally, it saddens me deeply to say that many sincere people are teaching...]

  3. A DIFFERENT GOSPEL
    1. MANY PEOPLE PROCLAIM A DIFFERENT GOSPEL TODAY...
      1. Two extreme views of the gospel are often preached
        1. Salvation by works (i.e., we are saved by meritorious deeds)
        2. Salvation by faith alone (i.e., obedience not required)
        -- Actually, these two extremes are simply over-reactions against each other
      2. To illustrate, consider the subject of baptism
        1. Some teach that baptism without faith saves
        2. Others teach that faith without baptism saves
        -- Jesus taught that both faith and baptism saves - Mk 16:16
      3. As we seek to proclaim the true gospel, we need to remember that any change results in a "perverted gospel", against which Paul warned - Ga 1:8-9
    2. THE TRUE GOSPEL IS THAT WHICH THE APOSTLES PROCLAIMED...
      1. Their gospel contained "facts to believe", such as:
        1. Jesus was crucified for our sins - 1Co 15:1-3
        2. He was raised from the dead - 1Co 15:4
        3. He is exalted as Lord and Savior - Ac 2:33-36
        4. He is coming again to execute judgment and be glorified - 2Th 1:7-10
      2. Their gospel also contained "commands to obey" (cf. 2Th 1:8; 1Pe 4:17; in which we learn the gospel must be "obeyed"); such commands include:
        1. Believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God - Ac 8:35-37
        2. Confessing your faith in Jesus as Lord - Ro 10:9-10
        3. Repenting of your sins - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
        4. Being baptized for the remission of your sins - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 22:16
        5. Remaining faithful to the Lord until death - Mt 28:19-20; Re 2:10
      3. And their gospel contained wonderful "promises to receive", including:
        1. The remission of sins - Ac 2:38; 3:19
        2. The gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38; cf. Jn 7:37-39; Ac 5:32
        3. The gift of eternal life - Ro 6:23
CONCLUSION
  1. The warning against receiving "A Different Jesus, Spirit, And Gospel" is a timely one...
    1. There are literally thousands of different denominations, teaching conflicting doctrines
    2. Many have developed doctrines that are distinctly different as it relates to:
      1. Who Jesus is
      2. How the Spirit reveals His truth to us
      3. What constitutes the gospel of Jesus Christ
  2. Who, and what, is the true Jesus, Spirit and gospel? - cf. 2Co 11:4
    1. The true Jesus is the One the apostles preached
    2. The true Spirit is the One received by the early Christians, Who guided them into the truth which is fully and completely revealed in the pages of the New Testament
    3. The true gospel is that one proclaimed by the apostles and received by the early church
  3. Brethren, be careful lest "your minds...be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ"!
    1. Satan would love to deceive us like he did with Eve
    2. He has his own "ministers of righteousness" working in his behalf - cf. 2Co 11:13-15

The only way to avoid being deceived is to be like the Christians in Jerusalem who "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." (Ac 2:42). Whose doctrine are you heeding?