The trouble with this verse

I think it's always essential to look at the context of any remark.

Jesus is talking about false prophets; I think we could also apply this to false teachers/preachers.

The false prophets/teachers will plead that they prophesied, cast out demons, and did miracles in Jesus' name but that will be to avail.

I can think of some today who might fit this category: Oneness teachers, for one. Word of Faith for another. I can think of even specific people who are famous and have made false prophecies and claim to heal people but their doctrine is heretical.

 

What's the challenge? In every age there have been frauds. That's what Jesus is saying ... It is something we would do well to remember around here. Not everyone who claims to be a follower of Christ actually is.

 

That's one of my favorite passages of scripture. I love to contrast it with Matt. 25's sheep and goats. In one people are saying "Didn't I do good works" and the other the sheep say "When did we do this"

A few of quick points...

1. Not all miracles are from God. Notice the Lord never said You didn't do miracles, but he said i never knew you.

2. Works won't save.

3. Not everyone who claims Jesus name is one of his children. Many are decieved. I realize this almost every time I discuss salvation with people.

Contrast with Matt 25 and we see that while works don't save. They happen. The true christian can't help but have them. They may not be even noticed. This also goes along with james writtings on works as well as the parable of the sower and Christ Vine and branches from John 15

 

Thinking...

I got all excited and didn't address the OP. Sorry.

What is it that you find challenging? I have always found this one very clear. But I know I have found verses challenging and discovered that others understood it well.

Do you have a specific question about it?

 

The first thing that popped into my mind when I read the OP was Pharaoh's magicians duplicating many of God's miracles through Moses. Since satan appears as an angel of light, many miracles that seem to be from Him parallel to those of Pharaoh's magicians. Something along this line are so called stigmata's

 

The first thing that came to my mind is some very "conservative" homeschool families. They are very cleaned up on the outside but the Spirit of God is not there.

By the way, I am a "conservative" homeschool Dad.

Gal. 3:5 "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?"

I think this verse includes the meaning of dunamis found in II Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Other greek words could have been chosen were Paul thinking of wonders (teras) and signs (semeion).

We see people around us and they appear to have everything together and are supposedly "great christian families". However, many are merely being made perfect in the flesh and may sadly here those dreaded words you quoted from Jesus.

 

I agree. It's interesting that the ability to counterfeit is limited, though. The magicians duplicated the first 2 plagues but could not duplicate the 3rd. They told Pharaoh that it was "the finger of God."

Also, we see "false miracles" in Revelation done by the false prophet, I believe.

 

Good questions! Some of these folks who gossip and such are just spiritually immature, others are intentionally creating strife. How can you tell them apart? Time will reveal. Jesus said that we can tell his disciples by their love for one another. Some folks just don't have any love. BUt you must be careful discerning them. Time will tell.

The problem is that too often we put these people in leadership positions because we are so desperate for workers. We need someone to teach that SS class and they voluntee so now we have one who is either immature, or unsaved, teaching our children. How about we just wait till God gives us a worker before we fill the position?

I worry more about the spiritually proud. It seams some make a declaration of faith, but everytime they open their mouth all you here is how they don't drink, don't do this, don't do that. The fact is they don't do anything. They don't love. They don't show compassion. They don't show faith or humbleness. No servanthood at all. Is their faith in Christ or in their self righteousness?

 

Ahh... but what about movies????

and dancing?

 

Self deceived is what I was getting at.

 

The passage is about false prophets/teachers, not believers in the pews who may not be believers.

If one is preaching false doctrine (really bad stuff that is clearly against the Bible), it doesn't matter how many charities they help or start.

As for people who seem to be believers but who are not, I think Jesus addresses them in Matt 13 as the tares:

There are disagreements on this passage, however. But that's another topic for another thread on another day.

 

And why you can't find no girlfriend, neither. [FONT=verdana,sans-serif] [/FONT]

Ed

 

HP: Deception is what it is, i.e., deception. Can you imagine even for a minute the depths of deception this verse depicts? To stand before a Holy and Just God on the day of judgment, not one, not two or a few, but MANY will stand believing they should have rights to their inheritance, trying to convince God Himself of their hope of eternal life! Now they were obviously fully convinced that they were right with God to stand before God and try to gain entrance. Just the same, the confidence they had, the security of the hope they had was found to be faulty and based on faulty assurance.

A simple answer to this verse leaves far too much in question. What I would like to know if in fact deception is a possibility for any or all of us and why. Does the possibility that one of us could be of that ‘many’ spoken of? What can we do in the here and now to prevent us from being deceived? How can one be certain that their hope is not a false hope and their assurance not in reality a false assurance? Is faith in ones faith a solid and safe hope to stand on? What place if any does our conscience play in our assurance of our final standing before God? Scripture certainly has somewhat to say about this subject. What do you think? How is one directed to make their calling and election certain?

 

ThinkingStuff,

There are lots of people out there who by *all outward appearences* are christians, and who *appear* to be in ministering in the name of Christ.

Some of them can be found in the wee hours of the night on some cable channel *seeming* to be performing miracles and healing people.

Robert Tilton
W.V. Grant
Peter Poppoff
*Master Prophet* Bernard Jordan
*Pastor* Kerney Thomas

Etc, etc etc.

These people are phonies and con men who are engaging in "get rich quick" schemes, manipulating people to send them lots and lots or money.

Phony *Prophecies*, phony *revelations", phony *miracles*, etc etc. And they do it all "in Jesus name".

3 of those 5 have been exposed, and the others will in time.


These people simply never were children of God.


:godisgood:

 

HP: First, I do not believe it is in keeping with the rules of this board to not only question the salvation of others, but especially to flat count them out of the Kingdom. None of us are God. From what I understand that is simply not the purpose of this list. Possibly a moderator could enlighten us as to how the rules apply to such remarks.

Your remarks appears to me to be a very narrow interpretation of this verse. Do you suppose that there might possibly be some what we might call, ‘normal professors’ within that numbers of deceived?

HP: What does that matter? They certainly were fully convinced they were saved otherwise they would not have the boldness to stand before God as they obvious will trying to convince God that they know Him. Does the possibility exist that any of us could be of that number of the deceived? Is our only assurance today based on our faith in our faith? What solid evidence can one point to in their life that will make their calling and election certain?
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: