Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia. More specifically today’s passage of Scripture begins with the first verse of the third chapter and continues through to the seventh verse of the fourth chapter. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, for seeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them” (Galatians 3:1-12).

 

            “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hang with on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or a death thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Galatians 3:13-18).

 

            “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? For forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:19-29).

 

            “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governor until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:1-7).

 

            When you come to this particular passage of Scripture you will find the apostle shifting gears within the epistle written unto the churches of Galatia and speaking of the tremendous truth surrounding justification by and through faith alone. Perhaps one of the greatest truths that is found within all of Scripture is the statement that the just shall live by faith—or more accurately put “the just shall live by their faith.” Upon reading this epistle written by the apostle Paul you will find that at the very heart of it is the declaration that we have not been justified by, through and even according to works in the sight of the living God. The apostle Paul wrote and spoke of the gospel he received from the person of the Lord Jesus Christ through revelation and at the very heart of that gospel is the understanding that we are indeed justified by and through faith alone apart from the works of the Law and even apart from circumcision. In fact it is in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome we first find the incredible reality that we are indeed justified by and through faith and how Abraham was the father of such justification. In the epistle written written unto the saints which were at Rome the apostle Paul appealed to Abraham being justified in the sight of the Law without the Law and even without and apart from circumcision. For the apostle Paul Abraham and his life was a powerful example of the reality that justification does indeed come by and through faith alone and is entirely and altogether separate from the works of the Law or even the rite of circumcision. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for the reality and concept of our being justified by and through faith alone strikes at the very heart and center of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches in Galatia.

 

            If you want to truly understand the words and language that is found within this epistle you must needs recognize and understand that the churches which were in Galatia were infiltrated by false brethren who sought to spy out the liberty they had in the Spirit—a liberty that was offered unto them by the free gift of God through His eternal and only begotten Son Jesus Christ. This is something which we must needs recognize and understand when reading this epistle for from the very beginning of the epistle the apostle Paul writes and speaks of their turning aside unto another gospel. What’s more is not only had the churches in Galatia turned aside unto another gospel but they had also accepted another image and version of Jesus different and apart from the one which was preached unto them by the apostle Paul. Not only this but the churches which were in Galatia had also turned to and accepted a different version and image of the person of the Holy Spirit. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for when we read this epistle we must recognize that these churches had turned aside from the way and had turned themselves unto a false gospel. What’s more is these churches had abandoned life in the Spirit for life in the flesh and a life according to works. The apostle Paul wrote this epistle in an attempt to call these churches back to the truth that freedom and liberty is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. The apostle Paul deliberately and intentionally sought to convey unto the churches which were in Galatia that there was only one true gospel and at the very heart of that gospel is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ—and not only the person of the Lord Jesus Christ but an accurate image and representation of who He was when He walked upon the earth and who He is after being raised from death to life on the third day and ascending unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven.

 

           

I sit here today thinking about the words which are found within this epistle and I can’t help but think about the position these churches which were in Galatia found themselves in. I continue to be utterly fascinated with and by the fact that Scripture doesn’t reveal how many churches were present in the region of Galatia. There is absolutely no mention how many churches were indeed in Galatia nor how involved the apostle Paul was in these churches. What we find within this epistle is words and language that was written unto a group of churches which was present in a region which is in the modern nation of Turkey. What’s more is it is one thing for a single church to turn away and depart from the faith as they follow cleverly designed fables, doctrines of demons, false teaching and a gospel that is entirely different from the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s something else entirely for a group of churches to turn aside and turn away from the faith that is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the free gift of God that is made available unto them unto a false gospel that presents them with a false image and appearance of Jesus of Nazareth. In all reality I am absolutely convinced that at the very heart of our faith and at the very heart of our lives is our understanding and our belief of who the living and eternal God is. Not only this but I am convinced that what we believe about Jesus of Nazareth is indeed one of the greatest truths within our lives for what we believe about Jesus can and does radically shape and alter every area and every fiber of our beings and of our lives. If you want to live your life the way you were designed and intended on living you must needs have and hold to an accurate view and understanding of who the Lord Jesus Christ is—and not only who the Lord Jesus Christ is but also who the living and eternal God is.

 

There is something which we must needs recognize and understand when reading the epistle written unto the churches which were in Galatia and that is that as long as there is the truth there will always be lies and there will always be falsehood and deception. So long as there is the real, the genuine and the authentic there will always be the counterfeit and the fake. If there is one thing the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia proves and demonstrates it’s that while it is indeed true there is a genuine gospel of the kingdom and gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there are and there will be false gospels. What’s more is that when you read the words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew you will find Jesus’ discourse on the Mount of Olives. It would be there at the Mount of Olives Jesus would speak unto His disciples concerning the signs of the times and the coming of the end of the age. As Jesus and His disciples were departing from the Temple the disciples sought to call attention to the great stones used in the Temple building and all the buildings round about. Jesus—in response to the words of the disciples—would emphatically declare that the days were coming when no two stones would be left upon each other. Jesus would speak of days that were coming when the Temple—and not only the Temple but all the buildings and houses in the midst of the city of Jerusalem—would be destroyed and cast down. What we find in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew is indeed powerful language spoken by Jesus concerning the Last Days. This is something we must needs recognize for within this passage we not only find Jesus delivering unto His disciples the signs of His coming and the signs of the end of days but He also provided a powerful word of warning concerning two of the greatest dangers that will be found in the Last Days—the danger of deception and the danger of persecution.

 

It is at this particular point I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which our Lord spoke on the Mount of Olives unto His disciples for these words bring us face to face with Jesus’ knowledge concerning the Last Days. It’s one thing for the apostle Paul to write concerning the Last Days; it’s one thing for the apostle Peter to write concerning the Last Days; it’s one thing for the apostle John to write about the Last Days; it’s one thing for Jude to write concerning the Last Days, however, it is something altogether and entirely different when Jesus Himself speaks of the Last Days. The words we find in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew must needs be carefully understood when reading the words in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia for in this epistle we find the apostle writing about a false gospel—and not only a false gospel but also a false image of Jesus of Nazareth. There were during those days false brethren and even false teachers, false prophets and false apostles who seduced the hearts and minds of men and women away from the truth that is found in the word and gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that they might depart from the faith and turn themselves unto a false gospel that is entirely different from the gospel which the apostle Paul preached and which the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ preached.

 

Having said and written these words I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel written by Matthew. If there is one thing that must be universally understood when reading these words it’s that when speaking of the Last Days the Lord Jesus emphatically declared that they would be days of tremendous dangers, tremendous deception, tremendous persecution and even tremendous of hardened hearts, offense and a love that grows cold within the hearts of men and women. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for when reading the words found within this gospel we are indeed brought face to face with the absolutely powerful truth that the Last Days—days which would begin with the ascension of the Lord Jesus unto the right hand of the Father and the arrival and manifestation of the person of the Holy Spirit—would indeed be marked by tremendous deception as false prophets, false apostles, false teachers and even false brethren would rise up among the churches either perverting the one true gospel of the kingdom or preaching a false gospel. What we must needs recognize and understand is that when we speak about false teachers, false prophets, false apostles and even false brethren we must needs acknowledge that when it comes to the gospel they will either seek to pervert the gospel distorting it with their own doctrines and teaching or they will preach a gospel that is entirely and altogether different. This is something which warrants strong consideration on our part for it calls and draws our attention to the incredible need for us to be on our guard when seeking to understand the tremendous dangers of deception in the Last Days. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew beginning with the first verse:

 

“Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:1-2).

 

“Now as He sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).

 

“And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my Name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:4-8).

 

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:9-14).

 

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains. Let him who is in the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22).

 

“Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:23-25).

 

“Therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the desert! Do not go out; or Look, He is in the inner rooms! Do not believe it” (Matthew 24:26).

 

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (Matthew 24:27-28).

 

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).

 

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:32-35).

 

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of man be.  Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also b e ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36-44).

 

 

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:45-51).

 

The more I read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture the more I am brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding Jesus’ understanding of the Last Days. As you read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you will encounter the tremendous timeline so to speak of what to expect in the Last Days. It’s important to note that Jesus did not give the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man would come again, however, He did give signs to look for and signs which would converge upon and with each other. What’s more is that when you read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you will find and discover the tremendous reality surrounding those things which will lead to the coming of the Son of Man and the gathering of His faithful followers unto Himself. The apostle Paul wrote and spoke in the first epistle written unto the saints which were at Corinth as well as in the first epistle written unto the Thessalonians concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus and yet if you read Scripture there seems to be every indication that the days leading up to the coming of the Son of Man will be days of great trouble, trials and tribulation. In fact when you read the words which are found within the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew you will find our Lord emphatically speaking concerning the Last Days and those days that would lead up to His coming and to the end of the age. The disciples asked the Lord when those things would be which He spoke of, what the sign of His coming would be and what the sign of the end of the age would be. In response to this Jesus would proceed to give them many signs to look for beginning with birth pains and the beginning of sorrows.

 

If you take the time to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you can and will encounter that which Jesus spoke of concerning “the beginning of sorrows”—days and times which will be marked with and by great distress, deception, persecution, offense, lawlessness and the like. What we must needs recognize when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture is that Jesus began His teaching concerning the Last Days with the warning unto the disciples that they take heed that no one deceives them. I am absolutely convinced this is incredibly important for us to recognize and understand for when we seek to talk, write and even speak about the Last Days and the end of the age we must needs take heed and diligently strive and hearken ourselves that no man deceive us. What Jesus’ words suggest and reveal in this particular section of Scripture is that there will indeed be those who can and will seek to deceive you. Perhaps one of the greatest truths found in Jesus’ teaching of the Last Days is that of men rising up to deceive many. As you read the words which are found within this passage of Scripture you will find that immediately after Jesus warned and encouraged them to take heed that no one deceived them He would go on to declare that many would come in His name saying that they were the Christ and would deceive many. Thus Jesus’ words not only suggest that there will be many who will profess and confess that they are the Christ but they will deceive many. Even more than this we find Jesus going on to declare that many false prophets would rise up and would deceive many because lawlessness would bound and because the love many would grow cold. Moreover if you continue reading within this passage of Scripture you will find Jesus goes on to speak of those who would dare say “Look, here is the Christ” or “There” they were not to believe it. Jesus warned His disciples concerning false Christs and false prophets which would rise up during those days and would show great wonders to deceive if possible even the very elect.

I sit here today thinking about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding the rise of many who would come in the name of Jesus and would not only declare themselves to be Christ but there would be others who would rise up and profess that Jesus was in the desert or in the inner rooms. Perhaps one of the greatest truths that is found within Jesus’ words contained within this passage of Scripture is the false image and false presentation of the true image and appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. In all reality I am absolutely convinced that one of the greatest things we as the disciples of Christ and we as the saints of God can do during the days in which we are living is not only study the Scriptures that we might truly know and understand who Jesus is but we must also faithfully walk with and follow the Lord Jesus personally and intimately. Not only this but we must needs be people of revelation from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for it is not flesh and blood that reveals Christ but the Father which is in heaven. When Simon Peter emphatically declared that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of the living God Jesus declared and responded unto him, saying that flesh and blood had not revealed this unto Him but His Father which was in heaven. I am absolutely convinced that if you want to truly be those who know Jesus—and not only know who He is, what He looks like, what He sounds like and His voice—you must give yourselves to being men and women who search and study the Scriptures for they spoke of and revealed Him. If the Law and the prophets revealed the person of Jesus Christ unto those who were present during the days and generation in which He walked upon the face of the earth then how much more does the totality of Scripture reveal the person of the Lord Jesus Christ having the gospels, having the book of Acts, having the writings of the apostles Peter, Paul and John, having the writings of Jude, James and the author of the epistle unto the Hebrews and even having the prophetic revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I firmly believe with all my heart that Jesus’ words which are found in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John must be carefully understood and recognized in this generation. It is in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John Jesus speaks of the sheep and the contrast between the hireling, the wolf and the true shepherd. Within this passage of Scripture Jesus not only declares that His sheep know His voice but He also declares that they will not follow another whose voice they do not know or recognize. This is something we must needs understand for one of the greatest needs we have in this life is to be men and women who know the voice of the Shepherd that when false voices seek to rise up we might recognize and understand them as being false and would flee from them. There is a great need within these days in which we are living to be those who not only recognize the voice of the Shepherd but also know who the Shepherd is and what He looks like. There is not a doubt in my mind that in the days in which we are living there is a great need to be men and women who truly know Jesus of Nazareth personally and intimately. One of the greatest things we can have and hold on to in the days in which we are living is our knowledge and understand who the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is. Jesus spoke unto the Jews concerning the Scriptures and declared unto them how they searched the Scriptures thinking that in them they had life and yet it was the Scriptures which pointed to and revealed the Messiah and Christ who was present among them. There were multiple times within the gospels when it was revealed that what was written in the Law and the prophets pointed men to and revealed the Messiah and the Christ that men and women might needs recognize Him when He finally did arrive and appear.

 

The more I think about the words which are found here in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia and the more I think about the words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew the more I am brought face to face with the reality that in the Last Days there will indeed be many who would come in the name of Jesus and would declare and profess themselves to be the Christ. I have previously written that I don’t necessarily believe there will be many who will come and profess themselves to actually be Christ incarnate or Christ in the flesh but rather there will those who will come in the name of Jesus professing and confessing themselves to be Christ’s and to be followers and disciples of Christ. What’s more is that in the Last Days there will not only be those who will seek to persuade many that they are Christ’s and are followers of Christ but there will be many who will come in the name of Jesus seeking to deceive many by perverting the true gospel, by preaching a false gospel and by painting a false image and picture of who Jesus is and what He looks like. I am absolutely convinced that in the Last Days there is a great need for men and women to possess discernment and wisdom within their hearts and spirits that they might truly recognize who the real, the true and the authentic Jesus of Nazareth truly is. In the Last Days there will be many false teachers, many false apostles, many false prophets, and many false brethren who will come in the name of the Lord Jesus and they will seek to do nothing more than deceive many and turn their hearts away from the true gospel and from the true image of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

 

When we read the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia we not only read of false brethren who crept in to the churches seeking to spy out the liberty they had in Christ but they also sought to bring them into bondage once more. What we must needs recognize is the bondage they sought to bring men and women into was not necessarily a bondage unto sin but a bondage unto the Law of Moses. The more you read the words which are found within this epistle the more you will encounter the tremendous truth that there were those who would enter in among these churches perverting the true gospel which the apostle Paul preached and preaching a different gospel which was not a gospel at all. The sole and underlying purpose for the preaching of this gospel was to entice and draw men and women away from the truth and the simplicity that is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. What’s more is this false gospel was designed to bring this men and women into bondage unto the Law—a bondage that not only leads to religion but also legalism and hypocrisy. The more you read the words which are found in this epistle the more you can and will be brought face to face with the tremendous truth that there were indeed those who were present among these churches who deliberately and intentionally sought to deceive, entice, seduce and draw men and women away from the true gospel and from the one true Jesus of Nazareth. There were false brethren who would creep in among them spying out the liberty they had in the person of the Holy Spirit that they might enslave and ensnare them that they would be brought into bondage unto the Law—and not only unto the Law but also unto circumcision and unto works. Oh this is something we must needs recognize and understand for it calls and draws our attention to how absolutely and incredibly diligently we need to be to possess wisdom, knowledge and discernment in the days in which we are living.

 

I firmly believe that within these days Ins high we are living there are and there will be many who will come in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and will seek to deceive many. I am convinced there will be many who will come in the name of the Lord Jesus seeking to deceive many into worshipping a false image of Jesus which was fashioned and created by men just like the golden calf was fashioned by Aaron in the wilderness and just as the golden calves were fashioned by Jeroboam son of Nebat during the initial days of the divided nation and kingdom of Israel. In the Old Testament you will find that Jeroboam son of Nebat set up two golden calves in the northern kingdom of Israel—one in the north and the other in the south—that men and women would come unto those golden calves and worship “the gods who delivered them out of Egypt” rather than journey unto the Temple and worship the one true and living God. Oh I am absolutely convinced that just as Aaron formed and fashioned the first golden calf in the midst of the wilderness at the base of mount Sinai and just as Jeroboam formed and fashioned two golden calves in the northern kingdom of Israel so also do and so also have men fashioned false images of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such men and women have not only distorted the image of the invisible Jesus but they have also made Him in the likeness of us rather than us being transformed in His image and into His likeness. Such men and women are incredibly dangerous for rather than seeking to encourage and promote our being transformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ they seek to for and fashion a false image of the Lord Jesus Christ that is entirely and altogether separate from what is found in Scripture.

 

It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John—specifically the first and tenth chapters. I would also like to invite you to consider the following words which are found in the second chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Philippian saints as well as the words which are found in the first and second chapters of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Colossian saints. Moreover I would like to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the first and second chapters of the New Testament epistle written unto the Hebrews. Consider if you will the following words which are found in these passages of Scripture beginning with the first chapter of the New Testmaent gospel narrative written by the apostle John:

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehended it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him. Might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the truth Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we be held His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. NO one has even God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:1-18).

 

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward Him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me. I did not. Know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water. And John bore witness, saying, I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34).

 

“Jesus answered and said to him, Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you do not receive our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? NO one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, The Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him s hound not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:10-21).

 

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am. Not the Christ, but, I have been sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is. Fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testified; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:27-36).

 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by namer and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by my own. As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down. My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:1-16).

 

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now receive the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death  through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imported when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from the one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one man’s righteous act the free gift came to call men, resulting in justification to life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:1-21).

 

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if a ny affection and mercy, fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ our Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:1-11).

 

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has deliver us from the power of darkness and converted us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or prcinpliaties or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet not He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was p reached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister” (Colossians 1:9-23).

 

. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the first and second chapters of the epistle written unto the Hebrews before returning to the epistle written unto the Colossians. I am absolutely convinced the words which are found in the second chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Colossians is a perfect segway into that which we find in the epistle written unto the churches which were in Galatia. It is in the first and second chapters of the epistle written unto the Hebrews we find the author writing and speaking of the preeminence of the eternal Christ while also speaking of the marriage of humanity and divinity when Jesus took upon Himself—not only the seed of Adam in the form of human flesh but also the seed of Abraham and the Jewish people. It is absolutely necessary we understand who this Jesus of Nazareth truly was for only to the degree and measure we understand who He was will we be able to discern whether or not what is being preached in our generation is the true gospel. I firmly believe that if we are to truly discern whether or not what we are hearing is the true gospel which is found in Scripture and which was preached by the apostles and early church we need to study the Scriptures as the apostle Paul encouraged Timothy that we might show ourselves approved as workmen who need not be ashamed. It is the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles and we must needs understand the gospel as it was set forth for us in Scripture for we dare not, we ought not and must not preach any other gospel different from what is presented in Scripture. Furthermore we dare not and must not preach another Jesus different from that Jesus which is found in Scriptures and we must not form and fashion Jesus into our own image or into an image that seemingly suits us and our needs and seek to preach that Jesus unto others. There is a great need for us as the saints of God to possess true discernment within our hearts and spirits that we might be able to discern a false gospel when we hear it and even encounter a false Jesus which is entirely different from our Lord who is mentioned in the Law, in the prophets, in the gospels, in the epistles and in throughout Scripture.

 

It is with this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the truth that is found in the first and second chapters of the epistle written unto the Hebrews. The words we find in the epistle written unto the Hebrews not only seek to present us with a wonderful and powerful image of Jesus of Nazareth but it also seems to demonstrate the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is absolutely impossible to read the words which are found in this epistle and not encounter and come face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the person of Jesus and how Jesus is the image of the invisible God who suffered in the flesh, was crucified at the hands of sinners on the cross, was buried before being raised from death to life on the third day and ascended unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. If the Jesus you are hearing about and which is being presented to you did not come in the flesh, did not suffer in the flesh, did not die upon the cross, was not buried in the heart of the earth, did not raise again on the third day, did not show Himself alive over a period of forty days after His resurrection, did not ascend unto the right hand of the Father in the presence of those at the mount of Olives and is not coming back again then I would strongly suggest the Jesus who you are hearing about and who is being preached to you is a false Jesus which is not the Jesus who is mentioned in the four gospel narratives. There is a great need for us to recognize and understand this as we as the saints of God and those who profess to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ must needs be such who recognize that we have indeed been called to hear and know the voice of the true Shepherd and to flee from all others who are not the Shepherd and who even present themselves as the Shepherd. With this in mind I invite you to turn your attention to the following words which are found in the first and second chapters of the New Testament epistle written unto the Hebrews:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are my Son, Today I have begotten you? And again, I will be to Him a father, and He shall be to me a Son? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him. And of the angels He says: Who makes his angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son He says: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter or righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. And: You, Lord, in the b e grinning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak you will fold them up, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not fail. But to which of the angels has he ever said: Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:1-14).

 

“For He has not put the world to come, of w high we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you. And again: I will put my trust in Him. And again: Here am I and the children whom God has given me. Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:5-18).

 

            We must needs recognize and understand the words presented in these passages of Scripture for within them we are brought face to face with the image of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God. The author of the epistle written unto the Hebrews desired their audience to encounter and come face to face with the eternal nature of the Son of God right from the start and then shifted to the Son taking upon Himself the form of human flesh that He might be a faithful and merciful High Priest who is able to succor us in all our trials, in all our troubles, in all out tribulations for we do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. The apostle Paul wrote unto the churches which were in Galatia because there were false brethren and perhaps even false apostles, false prophets and false teachers who were presenting a false gospel that was different than the gospel which he and the apostles preached. The twelve apostles walked with and followed Jesus for three and a half years and were witnesses of His suffering, His death, His burial, His resurrection and ascension and preached a gospel based on their personal encounter(s) and experience(s) with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus and would continue to reveal and show Himself unto Him as He would reveal the gospel he preached unto the Gentiles. The Lord Jesus Christ was indeed the foundation for the gospel the apostle Paul preached and that gospel did not originate with flesh and blood nor did it come from man but from the eternal and only begotten Son of the Father. It is with this in mind I leave you with the following words which are found in the second chapter of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the Colossian saints for these words bring us face to face with the absolutely wonderful reality of who Jesus truly was and warns us that we might guard our hearts and our minds from false gospels, false images of Jesus and that which would seek to deceive, seduce and entice us from the truth and simplicity that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ:

 

“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:1-23)