Millions of people claim to be Christian—followers of Jesus Christ. Yet their beliefs, practices and lifestyles differ greatly. Jesus said His true followers are “called, chosen and faithful.” How can we discern who His true disciples are?
“Those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).
Jesus Christ exclaimed, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven [that is, the Kingdom of God, who is in heaven], but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
His warning should cause all of us to carefully consider our religious beliefs and assumptions. Why? Because many who claim to be His followers, who claim to have done great deeds in His name, will be rejected by Him. He will tell them, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).
Today we are faced with hundreds of religious groups, each claiming to be Christian and regarding itself as possessing that special something that gives it God’s stamp of approval.
How, then, can we distinguish the authentic disciples of Christ, who really are doing the will of the Father, from those who call Jesus “Lord” but neglect or refuse to do God’s will?
Today we are faced with hundreds of religious groups, each claiming to be Christian and regarding itself as possessing that special something that gives it God’s stamp of approval. Most groups that profess to be Christian represent themselves as having a “calling,” as being the “chosen” of the Lord. Even many non-Christian religious groups regard themselves as divinely chosen.
No matter how we look at it, the religious scene is confusing. No wonder millions are suspicious of all religion. Is it possible to sort the truth from this puzzling religious hodgepodge?
Indeed, it is—if we are willing to take an honest look at the facts and accept the truth as revealed in the Scriptures.
Jesus Christ is real. He was resurrected. He is alive. And His impact on the world has exceeded that of any other man who has ever lived!
Most people are familiar with the name Jesus Christ. But how many know what He taught? What was His mission? What makes His true followers different? Who truly represents Him?
Jesus said, “I will build My church.” The Greek word translated “church” in the Bible is ekklesia, meaning an assembly or, more precisely, “a calling out” or “called-out ones.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words notes that ekklesia is “from ek, ‘out of,’and klesis, ‘a calling’ (kaleo, ‘to call’),” and “was used among the Greeks of a body of citizens ‘gathered’ to discuss the affairs of state, Acts 19:39” (1985, “Assembly”).
The book of Hebrews describes this body of believers as “the general assembly and church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23). Paul describes it as “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Dangers of deception
Jesus warned that “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14).
Should we be surprised? Most people simply ignore Jesus’ words when they don’t agree with them. Nevertheless, Jesus tells those who wish to be His true disciples that they must “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matthew 7:13).
Even if one becomes a disciple of Christ, he is still in danger of being swept back into the clutches of Satan, the archenemy of all who would be godly. The apostle Paul expressed his concern for those who had been converted to Christianity under his ministry:
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, New International Version).
Paul was amazed that people could so easily turn from his teachings to believe a fraudulent gospel, to embrace a deceptive spirit and even accept a counterfeit conversion and Messiah. Satan is the master deceiver. Far too many people are easy prey, even after they have embraced God’s truth. They are enticed by persuasive teachers hawking a counterfeit righteousness.
Paul continues: “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NIV). No wonder so many varieties of beliefs falsely labeled “Christian” are taught under the name of Jesus Christ! His name serves as a mask for religious philosophies and doctrines that didn’t originate with Him or His apostles!
Jesus warns us: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matthew 7:22-23). The practice of lawlessness can negate all good deeds.
Disobedience is the way of man apart from God…
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