I have a question.
Jesus speaks of "false prophets" (where "prophet" refers to those who speak for God) "who come to you in sheep's clothing" (Matt 7:15). Now, what's that about "sheep's clothing"? Clearly, they come among us looking like us. Jesus says, "You will recognize them by their fruits" (Matt 7:16, 20). So, there will be those who claim to speak for God and look just like one of us. The way you can tell that they are not is by their fruits.
Paul speaks of "false apostles" (where "apostles" refers to those who are God's messengers) as "deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ" (2 Cor 11:13). He says that "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light" (2 Cor 11:14), "so it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (2 Cor 11:15). He concludes, "Their end will correspond to their deeds" (2 Cor 11:15). So, there will be those who come to us as messengers from God. They are deceitful. They look just like apostles of Christ. They are not. They are apostles of Satan in disguise. How can we tell which is which? We can tell by their deeds.
John writes about "antichrists" (plural, opponent of the Messiah) (1 John 2:18-20). He says, "They went out from us," which is interesting because the suggestion is they were with us. John says, "They were not of us." John says, "If they had been of us, they would have continued with us." John concludes that they went out "that it might become plain that they all were not of us." So, there will be those who oppose the Messiah among us. We won't notice at first. But we will be able to tell. How? They leave. They desert us. Their departure from the truth (1 John 2:20) will be a clear indication that they are not Christ-followers, but Christ-opponents.
Three biblical examples. One question. Why are we not allowed to actually use any of this information? We are not supposed to question whether a person is saved or not. The criterion (the single reference point to evaluate a claim) is "Did they say they were?" If they live flagrantly sinful lives, it doesn't matter. If they deny the truth, it doesn't matter. (Note: There is a fundamental difference between not knowing the truth or even being misguided and denying the truth.) If they defend sin, it doesn't matter. If their deeds don't line up with their claims, it doesn't matter. We aren't allowed to go there. "Be gracious. Don't be judgmental, especially among the saved." Why? Why can't we engage the claims from Jesus, Paul, and John in these matters? Is it not important for the person in question to know if they're saved or in trouble? Is it not important for God's people to know that these people are genuine or falsies -- false prophets, apostles, teachers? I'm just wondering.
7 comments:
My Sunday School Teacher was talking about the "falling Away" that will occur in the end times. His point is that even born again believers will fall away.
so what does this falling away really mean? does it mean that false Christians will eventually remove their sheep's clothing? if that is the case, then it really means a purging of the counterfeit. but if we were to make the case that born-again believers fall away, then the whole of eternal security, God's immutability, and power to save to the utmost, is at stake.
Well, of course, if it means that believers leave the faith, then there is indeed no eternal security, no perseverance of God for the saints, no way to know for yourself until the Judgment. But at that point it won't matter because Jesus will have been proved false when He said "No man can snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:29) (where He apparently meant "except, of course, for any man") and Paul was foolish when he said, "I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (Php 1:6). So we got that going for us.
These are great questions.
On the one hand, I tend to balk at making definitive claims about anyone's salvation because ultimately we don't know for sure about others.
On the other hand, Jesus seems to be suggesting that we are equipped to make those kinds of judgements and to act on them.
I appreciate you pointing out that this isn't about people who aren't or don't claim to be believers, but those who do make that claim.
What I tend to do/think is, "Hey, there is this, this, and this going on in your life. Scripture says that. So, could it be that there is a problem here?" I'd prefer them to ask the "Am I actually saved?" question. But for too many we aren't supposed to look at any of it.
there is a difference between "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" and "Am i actually saved?" the latter question needs to be resolved as a one time confession of faith, whereas the "working out" part is a never ending matter of state. but to the falling away question; what does that really mean? we see that for children of God to fall away, created a huge contradiction. so does it mean something else?
Yes, it means something else
I agree, that’s the preferred option.
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