Return to Jesus and Him Crucified

It is interesting to study when the different books of the Bible were written. For many years, we have read the Bible through yearly. The past year, we read and studied the different books more in line with when and why they were written. This process has opened our minds and hearts to God and His truth in a new measure.

The book of Ezekiel was written when many of the people of God had forgotten God and His Word and had turned to other things. To help draw them back, God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision of a New City and a New Temple. In the early Church, when Christians were turning to other things, God began to speak through the Apostle John. The writings of John, including his gospel, are the last writings of the Bible. Through John, God gave a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ.

Today, as warned by the Apostle Peter and others, much of the Church has fallen far from God, His truth, and His purposes. Many Christians have chased an Old Testament prayer that did not even use the name of Jesus. Others have and are chasing various new fads that come along, such as certain driven activities and purposes. Have we moved so far from God and His truth that we cannot recognize error from truth? I heard an interesting statement this week, “For every Christian who still drinks, there are a hundred who follow heresy.”

There are so many sincere, dedicated Christians who have left their first love to follow the clever teachings of some man, woman, or denomination. The majority of Christians would not be deceived by teachers of witchcraft and the occult, but there are many who are being deceived by teachers disguised as ministers of righteousness. Some of these teachers are the wolves in sheep’s clothing mentioned in Matthew 7:15-20. You will know them, not by their gifts, but by their fruit. Then we have sincere, well-meaning ministers who have gotten off track and are themselves deceived as they are deceiving many others. They will use the Word of God and mention Jesus Christ, but their basic message is far from Jesus and Him crucified.

There are few modern writers who get my attention. Most who touch my heart have gone on to be with the Lord. Some who have gone on left truth on tapes or CDs. This morning I was blessed by listening to Dr. Adrian Rogers as he was ministering on Truth or Consequences. He reviewed what has happened in our schools and society since 1963. He put much of the responsibility on politicians and professors, but he really got my attention when he got to the pulpit.

False teachers do not always know they are false. They are deceived people who are deceiving others. They pat you on the back, eat meals with you, tell you some truth about Jesus and His Word that actually helps you, but their little leaven spoils everything. Regretfully, some are giving much leaven and little, if any, truth. The people seem to like it so!

I am still looking for and praying for the real to come forth. The real will be preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If you are in any way aware of the need for a new revelation of Jesus and His cross, cry out to God and study the writings of John. Also consider the witness of the Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV): And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

I say again, you will know them by their fruit! Pray for ears to hear, and then listen to see if those you are following are preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

There are many definitions of a disciple. I will close with this one: A disciple is one who is born again because of Jesus and His cross, one who denies self, takes up his cross daily, and follows Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Luke 9:23).