How can we discern false Christs as warned in Matthew 24:23? Context of the Warning “At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you in advance.” Jesus’ Test for Authenticity • His return will be unmistakably public: “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:27). • It will be visible to every eye: “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7). • It will be bodily, just as He ascended: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go” (Acts 1:11). • Therefore, any claim of a secret, localized, or purely spiritual appearance contradicts Scripture. Key Signs of False Christs • Offer a hidden or exclusive location (“He is in the wilderness” or “in the inner rooms”). • Promote new revelations that undermine or add to the completed canon (Galatians 1:8). • Demand personal allegiance above loyalty to the written Word. • Exalt themselves rather than glorifying the risen Lord (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). • Display counterfeit miracles that draw attention to the messenger instead of the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). Reliable Ways to Discern • Measure every message against Scripture; God’s Word is the unchanging plumb line (Acts 17:11). • Test the spirit behind the claim: “Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:1–3). • Examine the fruit—sound doctrine produces holiness, not chaos or moral compromise (Matthew 7:15–20). • Confirm that the gospel presented is the biblical gospel of grace through faith, not works or secret knowledge (Ephesians 2:8–9). • Seek counsel from mature believers and church leadership; isolation makes deception easier (Hebrews 13:7). Guarding Our Hearts • Cultivate daily familiarity with the real Christ through consistent Bible reading and obedience; experts spot counterfeits by knowing the original intimately. • Stay alert but not anxious—false claims lose power when we rest in God’s promises (Philippians 4:6–7). • Engage in corporate worship and sound teaching; truth reinforced in community fortifies discernment (Colossians 3:16). Living in Watchful Confidence • Expect His return, but refuse sensationalism. • Proclaim the gospel faithfully, knowing deception thrives where truth is scarce. • Keep eyes fixed on “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). |
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