"4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Mt. 24:4-5
This verse is usually taken to be talking about false Christs, but it is not. It is actually describing a false salvation gospel - Christ is saying that many shall come IN HIS NAME saying that I (Jesus Christ) am Christ. In other words, they will uphold Christ yet at the same time deny his true sayings and thus preach a false salvation gospel to the masses. This false salvation gospel will cause the way of the truth to be evil spoken of, as said the apostle Peter:
" But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Pet. 2:1-2
This false salvation gospel that the apostle Peter prophesies of will cause many (i.e., the majority) to follow it and the REAL gospel of Jesus Christ will be evil spoken of. A "heresy" is in fact an "opinion." As we look out over the wreckage that styles itself modern Christianity today, we see numerous denominations all with different opinions. Is the Holy Spirit divided against itself? Evidently so. Of course, these are the false teachers that Peter was describing. Modern christianity has a false salvation gospel.
Yet more proof:
"20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." Lu. 13:20-21
Many modern christian commentators believe that this is referring to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not. It is referring to a false salvation gospel that works its way through the entire church until the entire church is following a false salvation gospel. The meaning of the parable is thus:
Leaven = false doctrine
Hid = brought in secretly (see Jude 3-4, 2 Pet. 2:1-2)
Three measures of meal = good doctrine from the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Till the whole was leavened = till all the good doctrine was out of the church.
The proof of this interpretation is found in the fact that leaven is always a negative symbol in the NT. We are shown what it means:
"6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Mt. 16:6-12
Christ uses leaven here of false doctrine, and it is exactly what he is talking about in Luke 13:20-21 as well. Paul also uses leaven of false doctrine/sin:
"6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:6-8
"7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Gal. 5:7-9
Thus, the parable in Lu. 13:20-21 is referring to a false salvation doctrine that comes in and deceives the entire church. Only a few will escape its deception - many shall follow their pernicious ways and speak evil of the way of the truth (see 2 Pet. 2:1-2).
One final point:
"29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Ac. 20:29-30
Paul warns the church at Ephesus (from Miletus) that after he leaves men will arise (even from among the elders) who will preach a false salvation gospel. This was over 1900 years ago! If it was dangerous over 1900 years ago, how much more now in our own day, 1900 years later?
So we begin to see the real truth. Modern christianity is a false, worldly, carnal religion, teeming with false prophets who deny the true sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are also many other verses that one could quote to prove this fact (such as 2 Tim. 4:3-4, etc.).
This is a very dangerous time for real Christianity - we have many enemies both inside and outside of the church.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Mt. 24:4-5
This verse is usually taken to be talking about false Christs, but it is not. It is actually describing a false salvation gospel - Christ is saying that many shall come IN HIS NAME saying that I (Jesus Christ) am Christ. In other words, they will uphold Christ yet at the same time deny his true sayings and thus preach a false salvation gospel to the masses. This false salvation gospel will cause the way of the truth to be evil spoken of, as said the apostle Peter:
" But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Pet. 2:1-2
This false salvation gospel that the apostle Peter prophesies of will cause many (i.e., the majority) to follow it and the REAL gospel of Jesus Christ will be evil spoken of. A "heresy" is in fact an "opinion." As we look out over the wreckage that styles itself modern Christianity today, we see numerous denominations all with different opinions. Is the Holy Spirit divided against itself? Evidently so. Of course, these are the false teachers that Peter was describing. Modern christianity has a false salvation gospel.
Yet more proof:
"20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." Lu. 13:20-21
Many modern christian commentators believe that this is referring to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not. It is referring to a false salvation gospel that works its way through the entire church until the entire church is following a false salvation gospel. The meaning of the parable is thus:
Leaven = false doctrine
Hid = brought in secretly (see Jude 3-4, 2 Pet. 2:1-2)
Three measures of meal = good doctrine from the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Till the whole was leavened = till all the good doctrine was out of the church.
The proof of this interpretation is found in the fact that leaven is always a negative symbol in the NT. We are shown what it means:
"6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Mt. 16:6-12
Christ uses leaven here of false doctrine, and it is exactly what he is talking about in Luke 13:20-21 as well. Paul also uses leaven of false doctrine/sin:
"6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:6-8
"7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Gal. 5:7-9
Thus, the parable in Lu. 13:20-21 is referring to a false salvation doctrine that comes in and deceives the entire church. Only a few will escape its deception - many shall follow their pernicious ways and speak evil of the way of the truth (see 2 Pet. 2:1-2).
One final point:
"29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Ac. 20:29-30
Paul warns the church at Ephesus (from Miletus) that after he leaves men will arise (even from among the elders) who will preach a false salvation gospel. This was over 1900 years ago! If it was dangerous over 1900 years ago, how much more now in our own day, 1900 years later?
So we begin to see the real truth. Modern christianity is a false, worldly, carnal religion, teeming with false prophets who deny the true sayings of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are also many other verses that one could quote to prove this fact (such as 2 Tim. 4:3-4, etc.).
This is a very dangerous time for real Christianity - we have many enemies both inside and outside of the church.
