Just because someone goes to church and carries a bible with them does not mean that they are a Christian. A counterfeit looks like the real thing but its not.
Parable of the wheat and the tares: Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servant of the household came and said unto him, Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? From where does it now have tares? He said to them an enemy has done this. The servants said to him, shall we go and gather them up? But he said, No; lest while you gather up the tares you up root the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:25
How can we tell the counterfeits from the true Christians? This is not always an easy task. I have known church members for years, believing that they were dedicated Christians, only to find out later that they were counterfeits. Just because someone goes to church and carries a bible with them does not mean they are Christians. Remember a counterfeit looks like the real thing, but it’s not.
There are certain basic beliefs that may help to determine whether one is a Christian or a counterfeit. The first belief is that one is a sinner and is continuing to be a sinner. The second basic belief is that Jesus Christ is the God man and is the savior of the world. These are basic beliefs, but believing this does not save you. Satan also believes that Jesus is the God man and is the savior of the world.
The main question is where is your faith? What are you trusting in for your salvation? I had a friend who was a Lutheran. I was talking to him about Christ when he said, “You don’t have to worry about me being saved Bob. I have been confirmed by the Lutheran church.” This is a typical example of a person who is trusting in their confirmation for salvation. Another good example is those who believe that the church will save them. It is important for some people to be a member of a church for salvation. In the Pentecostal religion, many Pentecostals are trusting in their emotional experiences or speaking in tongues for salvation. Many other religions teach that you must do good works for salvation, so they are trusting in their good works. Many times when you ask someone how they know for sure that they are saved, they will respond to a place or date that they invited Jesus into their heart or when they made a decision to become a Christian. The problem with this is it was their work that saved them. Anything that we do whether it’s a prayer or making a decision is a work. We do not become Christians by what we do we become Christians because of what Christ has done. Many believe that when they were baptized that saved them. Some believe that Jesus is their example and if they follow his example that will make them a Christian. Jesus did not come into the world to show us the way, he is the way. I have found that many of the above will reject the historical gospel of Jesus Christ for their salvation when it is presented to them making them counterfeits. If salvation comes to us because of what we do or by what we have become then Christ lived and died in vain. To put your faith and trust in anything other than the work and person of Jesus Christ can make you a counterfeit. Most of the above do not know or understand the gospel that saves nor do they care to know it. According to the bible they are lost and are counterfeits. The apostle Paul said, “If our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” 2 nd Corinthians 4:3.
There is a proper way to believe and have faith and the Lord has revealed the way of salvation in the scriptures. The trouble is that many want to believe what they want to believe regardless of what the scripture says. These people are the counterfeits. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that enters not by the door into the sheepfold but climbs in some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1. Later he said, “I am the door of the sheepfold.” There is only one way to be saved and there is only one gospel. It is our responsibility to know how we are saved, and we should never trust our souls to the teaching of a man. God has revealed the way of salvation in the bible. Seek it out for yourself and know what you believe. Be sure that it is compatible with the scriptures. There is a way that seems right unto a man but the end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12.
In the Old Testament concerning the tabernacle and the holy of holies and the ritual of the sacrifices, the priest had to do every thing exactly like they were instructed by the Lord or they died. So we have been instructed about how we should believe and have faith. There is no slip shod method for having faith. There is no question about what the gospel is. Every thing is in the book and all one has to do is read it and believe it. Jesus said, “Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few there be that find it” Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus is the strait gate. Only by faith in him and his work, (the gospel) can one be saved.
Aaron had two sons; Nadab and Abihu. They were appointed by the priest to make fire offerings to the Lord. This was very serious business and had to be done exactly like they were instructed. The scripture says that they made an offering of fire unto the Lord that was not according to the way that it should be done. It was called “strange fire” and the Lord told them not to do it their way. They did it their way anyway. The bible says that this angered the Lord and that fire went out from the Lord and devoured them both and they died before the Lord. Leviticus 10:1 Strange beliefs, salvation according to your way, strange and false doctrines and strange religions are the same as strange fire. The Lord didn’t want it then and he doesn’t want it now.
There are many false teachers today that are counterfeits. The apostle Paul said, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And it is no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 nd Corinthians 11:13-15. The apostle Peter calls them “false prophets that teach damnable heresies and that many will follow their pernicious ways and with feigned words will make merchandise of you” 2 nd Peter 1:3. The counterfeits do not know or understand the gospel of grace that saves so their teaching is usually man centered. 90% of the teaching in the churches today is about the Christian life and how to live it. This is Satanic because it turns people’s eyes into themselves. We are all sinners. There is no help in and of our selves. The work of the spirit is to point us to Christ and to glorify him. The spirit does not speak of him self, nor will one who possesses the spirit. John 16:13. Satan wants you to be ineffective and ineffective you will be if you look to yourself for strength, direction or salvation. Christ is our only strength and our only hope.
Twice in the 7 th chapter of Matthew, Jesus says, “by their fruits you will know them” (Christians). The counterfeits don’t produce any fruit, how can they? They don’t really teach or know the gospel that saves as they have another gospel or no gospel. Jesus said, “Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Not every one that says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my father which is in heaven.” (The will of the father is to believe in Jesus and his gospel) “Many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and in your name cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then I will say to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23.
The gospel reveals who is a real Christian and who is not. Real Christians embrace the gospel. To them it is the wonderful words of life and freedom. The counterfeits are more interested in what they can do to make themselves more pleasing to God by their good works or by their pious Christian lives. They are under the law and will be judged by the law. In reality they are in denial of the gospel. God does not accept our righteousness because we don’t have any. We are sinners.
The gospel is about Jesus Christ, his life, his death, his resurrection, his position at the right hand of God. The gospel calls into question all that we think and do as Christians. It is the deciding factor as to who is a real Christian and who is a counterfeit. There is only one gospel and there is only one way to believe and have faith.
The apostle Paul said, “That if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9. There is no room for any kind of strange fire here. We must know beyond a shadow of a doubt how and what the Lord wants us to believe and have faith in for our very souls depend upon this.
The gospel is a very simple message. Christ has saved us by doing for us that which we are not capable of doing for ourselves because we were dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1. By his righteous life he has offered everything to the Godhead that the law requires. He did this in our name and on our behalf just like we did it ourselves. When Christ lived, we lived in him and our humanity was in him. He is the new Adam and representative of the human race. Romans 5:12-21. We are saved by his work and not our own. In his crucifixion, he took our old Adamic nature and put it to death. Our old life of failure is buried in Joseph’s new tomb. When Christ died we died with him. The apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ nevertheless I live.” Galatians 2:20. The sin problem has been dealt with and Satan has been defeated. Romans 6:1-7. When Christ came out of the tomb we came out with him. Romans 6:5. This is not rocket science but the simple message of the gospel. This is what the Lord wants you to believe and have faith in. What about my Christian life some ask? Colossians chapter 3:1 says, if you have been risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Verse 3-4. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. This is where your Christian life is at. It is in a very safe secure place. If your life is in heaven with Christ you should act like it. Why? Because we are complete in him. Play your position. Colossians 2:10. Too much is made out of the Christian life. We have nothing to glory in and we have nothing to offer the Lord. If the apostle Paul, who was the world’s greatest Christian, referred to himself as a wretched sinner, where does that leave you and me? Christ has done it all. Knowing this, how should we now live? The apostle Paul said, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” The Christian life is a life of rest. We rest in what Christ has accomplished for us. Hebrews 4:5-11.
Perhaps after reading this you have discovered that you are a counterfeit. If that is the case, my mission has been accomplished. The Christian life is a life of repentance. We are called to turn away from error and embrace truth. Jesus said that he is the truth. Study to know him and what he has accomplished in your name and on your behalf.
If you would like to respond to this article e-mail bpate33@charter.net
For more information about the gospel visit: www.theapostlesdoctrine.com