Another Jesus?

Many people are talking about Jesus today. On the surface, this might seem exciting to some. But in light of the Bible, Christians should be very cautious when someone starts talking about Jesus. For a long time, I thought it was great anytime a person would name the name of Jesus. Today I am wary, and I listen carefully to the Jesus they are describing. This is because I now understand that the Bible teaches that a person can believe a false gospel.

Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Paul clearly says here that the Galatian Christians had turned from the true gospel they had received to a counterfeit gospel. It is a little confusing in English, but it helps to understand that there are two different Greek words used in these verses which are both translated another in English. In the first phrase ("...unto another gospel..."), Paul used the word heteros, which means 'another of a different kind.' In the second ("Which is not another..."), he used the word allos, which means 'another of the same kind.' The importance of what Paul is saying here is underscored by his next statement:

Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Paul also speaks of another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel in his second letter to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Paul used the word heteros (another of a different kind) to describe "another spirit" and "another gospel" (similar to Galatians 1:7). But for "another Jesus," he used the word allos (another of the same kind). So he is literally saying someone could preach another Jesus of the same kind, but they would receive a different spirit (not the Holy Spirit) and accept a different gospel. And we know that there is only one Jesus (John 14:6, 1 Tim. 2:5). So any "Christ" which produces a different spirit and gospel is not Jesus Christ but antichrist. This is why it is so important to understand what the gospel is and is not. Interestingly enough, the Greek prefix anti- can mean "against", but it also means "in the place of" or "instead of." So "another Jesus" could be one that stands "in the place of" the true Jesus -- that is one that stands "in the place of" Christ, or "anti-Christ."

We often picture an antichrist as some malevolent character with the number 666 emblazoned on his forehead. Now I do believe that there will be a specific man (the son of perdition, the man of lawlessness, the beast, etc. -- often referred to as the Antichrist) who will try to set himself up "in the place of" Christ. But 1 John speaks of many antichrists and the spirit of antichrist. This is a very broad topic (one I hope to cover in detail later), but suffice it to say that anything that we place in the stead of Jesus Christ is antichrist. This should really sober us up. We can even come under the umbrella of antichrist if we are trying to do something that only the Messiah can do -- if we are trying to pay our own debt of sin. That is why we cannot be saved by "the works of the law." (Gal. 2:16)

Going back to the subject of "another Jesus," the cults definitely fall into this category. One way I would define a cult is a group whose doctrines pervert the person of Christ or His redemptive work (or both). Many cults, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, teach that Jesus is a created being and that His death on the cross does not atone for our sin. Mormons teach that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers, and the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus is Michael the archangel. Now to the Bible believing Christian, these should be obvious examples of "another Jesus." But there is a more subtle "Jesus" that is often preached, even by those who should know better. I'm talking about presenting Jesus correctly in person, but misrepresenting His work. All the time, I hear pastors inviting people to "begin a relationship with Jesus" or to "believe in Jesus." The problem is that they never tell people why they should trust Jesus. Absent from their message is mankind's problem of sin. We have offended a just and holy God, and His wrath already abides on us (John 3:36, Romans 1:18, Romans 5:9, Eph. 5:6, Col. 3:6, 1 Thess. 1:10, Rev. 6:15-17).

We must place our faith in Jesus Christ, not only who He is, but also what He did. So what did He do? When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) On the cross, Jesus Christ bore our sins, and His soul became an offering to God for the sin of the world. (Heb. 9:28, Isaiah 53:10-12, Eph. 5:2, Heb 10:10) The Word of God is perfectly clear that we cannot approach God on the basis of our works; only by our simple faith in Christ and His finished work on Calvary's cross can we be justified, sanctified, and redeemed. (Rom. 3:28, 1 Cor. 6:11, Heb. 10:10, 14, 1 Pet. 1:18-19, Gal. 3:13)

A sobering realization, in the light of these passages and others, is that we cannot take away from what Christ did on the cross, nor can we add to it. And I think the most common error is that of adding to Christ's work of atonement. Romans 11:6 is very clear that grace and works are mutually exclusive; Romans 4:16 says that our salvation comes through our faith, so that it may be by grace. In other words if we expect God to do anything based on something we have done, it cannot be by God's grace because (in our eyes) we have earned something, and grace is unearned, unmerited favor.

Romans 4:3-5 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

So if we say we place our faith in Christ and Him crucified, yet we try to merit something from God at the same time by our own works, then we frustrate God's grace because we are essentially saying that what Christ did was not enough.

Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

I think we can draw the conclusion, then, that to trust in our own efforts aimed at pleasing God and earning something from Him is to believe in "another Jesus." Please realize just how important it is to place our faith in the correct Jesus, the one described in the Bible.

Philippians 3:8-9 ... I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.