BEWARE OF ANOTHER JESUS
By Rev. Samuel Arimoro
Main Text: 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Key Verse: “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” — 2 Corinthians 11:4
Supporting Texts: Matthew 24:4-5; Matthew 7:15-20; John 10:1-5; Acts 4:10-12; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 1:9-11; Colossians 2:8-10; Hebrews 13:8-9; Revelation 2:1-5
Description: Believers must discern and reject every distorted presentation of Jesus Christ that contradicts Scripture and draws them away from the true Christ and His gospel.
INTRODUCTION
The name of Jesus is central to Christianity, but not every message that mentions Jesus represents the Jesus revealed in Scripture. There can be teachings that use the name of Christ while presenting a distorted understanding of His person, character, work, authority, or gospel. Therefore, believers must know the Christ of Scripture and remain firmly established in the truth.
Paul expressed his concern to the Corinthian church because false teachers were attempting to influence believers away from their sincere devotion to Christ. He warned that they could preach “another Jesus”, another spirit, and another gospel. The danger was not merely that the teachers used a different vocabulary; their message could corrupt the believers' understanding of who Jesus truly is.
The warning remains important for the Church today. We must not accept every message simply because it contains the name of Jesus. Christ must be known according to Scripture, His gospel must be preserved, and every teaching must be tested against God's Word. Spiritual discernment is therefore essential for remaining faithful to Christ.
1. KNOW THE JESUS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE
The best protection against a false presentation of Jesus is a clear biblical understanding of who He is.
a. Jesus Is The Son Of God (Matthew 16:15-17) — Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This truth is foundational to Christian faith.
b. Jesus Is The Word Made Flesh (John 1:1, 14) — Jesus is not merely a religious teacher. He is the eternal Word who became flesh and dwelt among humanity.
c. Jesus Is The Only Saviour (Acts 4:10-12) — Scripture teaches that salvation is found in Christ and that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
d. Jesus Is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11) — God has highly exalted Christ and given Him the name above every name. Every tongue shall ultimately confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Biblical Example: When Jesus asked His disciples who they believed He was, Peter gave the correct confession: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-17).
2. RECOGNISE HOW ANOTHER JESUS IS PRESENTED
Another Jesus can appear attractive because the message may still use Christian language. Believers must therefore examine the substance of what is being taught.
a. Another Jesus Distorts Christ's Identity (2 Corinthians 11:4) — Any presentation that contradicts the biblical revelation of Jesus must be rejected.
b. Another Jesus Can Deny Christ's Deity (1 John 4:2-3) — Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Teachings that deny His true identity must not be accepted.
c. Another Jesus Can Remove The Cross (1 Corinthians 1:18) — The cross is central to the gospel. Any message that removes Christ's sacrificial work from salvation presents a distorted gospel.
d. Another Jesus Can Redefine Discipleship (Luke 9:23) — Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. A message that presents Christ without discipleship is incomplete.
Biblical Example: Some people in Galatia were being influenced by a message that altered the gospel Paul had preached. Paul strongly warned them against accepting a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
3. TEST EVERY TEACHING BY GOD'S WORD
Believers must develop spiritual discernment rather than accepting every sermon, prophecy, teaching, or spiritual experience without examination.
a. Test The Spirits (1 John 4:1) — John instructed believers not to believe every spirit but to test them because many false prophets have gone into the world.
b. Search The Scriptures (Acts 17:11) — The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to determine whether Paul's teaching was true.
c. Compare Every Message With The Gospel (Galatians 1:8) — Even if a message comes from an impressive spiritual personality, anything that contradicts the true gospel must be rejected.
d. Hold Fast To Sound Doctrine (Titus 1:9) — Christian leaders must hold firmly to the trustworthy Word so they can encourage believers and refute error.
Biblical Example: The Bereans did not reject Paul's message blindly, nor did they accept it blindly. They searched the Scriptures and examined his teaching carefully (Acts 17:10-12).
4. BEWARE OF ANOTHER SPIRIT
Paul did not only warn about another Jesus; he also mentioned another spirit. This demonstrates the need for discernment concerning spiritual experiences and influences.
a. The Holy Spirit Glorifies Christ (John 16:13-14) — The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth and glorifies Jesus rather than drawing attention away from Him.
b. The Spirit Confesses Christ (1 John 4:2) — Genuine spiritual influence acknowledges the biblical truth concerning Jesus Christ.
c. Spiritual Manifestations Must Be Tested (1 Corinthians 14:29) — Even prophetic utterances should be carefully judged within the order and truth of Scripture.
d. Do Not Be Controlled By Fear Or Confusion (2 Timothy 1:7) — God has given believers the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not spiritual bondage and confusion.
Biblical Example: Paul encountered a spirit-possessed slave girl who spoke words that appeared to recognise his ministry, but he discerned the spiritual source and commanded the spirit to leave her (Acts 16:16-18).
5. REJECT ANOTHER GOSPEL
The gospel cannot be changed to accommodate human preferences. The good news of salvation through Christ must remain intact.
a. Salvation Is By Grace Through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) — Salvation is God's gift and cannot be reduced to human achievement.
b. Christ's Death And Resurrection Are Essential (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) — The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are central truths of the gospel.
c. There Is One Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9) — Paul warned strongly against any message that presents a different gospel from the one originally proclaimed.
d. Do Not Add Human Requirements To God's Grace (Colossians 2:20-23) — Human regulations cannot produce the spiritual transformation that comes through Christ.
Biblical Example: Paul confronted the Galatian error because some were being persuaded to add requirements to the gospel of grace. He defended the sufficiency of Christ and the true gospel (Galatians 2:16; 5:1-4).
6. GUARD YOUR HEART FROM SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
Spiritual deception often begins subtly. Believers must therefore remain watchful and rooted in truth.
a. Satan Uses Subtlety (2 Corinthians 11:3) — Paul compared the danger facing the Corinthians with the serpent's deception of Eve.
b. False Teachers Can Appear Innocent (Matthew 7:15) — Jesus warned that false prophets can come in sheep's clothing while inwardly being destructive.
c. Do Not Be Carried Away (Ephesians 4:14) — Spiritual maturity protects believers from being tossed about by every changing teaching.
d. Continue In The Truth (John 8:31-32) — Continuing in Christ's Word establishes genuine discipleship and freedom through truth.
Biblical Example: The serpent approached Eve with a subtle question that challenged God's Word, eventually leading her into disobedience (Genesis 3:1-6).
7. KEEP CHRIST AT THE CENTRE OF YOUR LIFE
The antidote to false presentations of Christ is not merely knowing what is wrong but developing a deep and genuine relationship with the true Christ.
a. Know Christ Personally (Philippians 3:8) — Paul considered knowing Christ to be of surpassing value above every other achievement.
b. Abide In Christ (John 15:4-5) — Spiritual fruitfulness comes from remaining connected to Jesus.
c. Keep Your Eyes On Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) — Believers must continually look to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of their faith.
d. Let Christ's Word Dwell In You (Colossians 3:16) — God's Word must richly inhabit the believer's heart so that Christ's truth shapes life and conduct.
Biblical Example: The early believers continued steadfastly in apostolic teaching, fellowship, prayer, and the breaking of bread, remaining anchored in the truth they had received (Acts 2:42).
8. REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE TRUE CHRIST
Knowing the truth must lead to steadfastness. Believers must refuse every influence that seeks to separate them from Christ.
a. Hold Fast To Your Confession (Hebrews 10:23) — Christians should hold firmly to their profession of faith because God who promised is faithful.
b. Continue In The Faith (Colossians 1:23) — Believers are encouraged to remain grounded and settled rather than moving away from the hope of the gospel.
c. Contend For The Faith (Jude 1:3) — Christians have a responsibility to preserve the faith once delivered to the saints.
d. Remain Faithful Unto Death (Revelation 2:10) — Christ calls His people to remain faithful even when faithfulness involves suffering.
Biblical Example: Paul remained faithful to Christ through persecution, imprisonment, hardship, and opposition, eventually declaring that he had finished his course and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
CONCLUSION
The warning against “another Jesus” is a call to spiritual discernment and biblical faithfulness. Not every message that uses the name of Jesus presents the Jesus revealed in Scripture. We must know Christ according to God's Word, understand His gospel, recognise the work of the Holy Spirit, and test every teaching against Scripture.
Do not allow deception to corrupt your devotion to Christ. Keep Jesus at the centre of your faith, remain grounded in the gospel, test spiritual teachings, and reject anything that contradicts God's Word. Know the true Christ, follow Him faithfully, and hold firmly to the faith until the end.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, reveal Jesus Christ more deeply to me through Your Word, in Jesus name.
2. Lord, protect my heart and mind from every spiritual deception, in Jesus name.
3. Father, give me discernment to recognise every distorted presentation of Christ, in Jesus name.
4. Lord, keep me firmly established in the true gospel, in Jesus name.
5. Father, deliver me from every false teaching that can draw me away from Christ, in Jesus name.
6. Lord, help me to distinguish the work of the Holy Spirit from every false spiritual influence, in Jesus name.
7. Father, give me grace to search and obey Your Word continually, in Jesus name.
8. Lord, keep Jesus Christ at the centre of my faith, service, and ministry, in Jesus name.
9. Father, strengthen me to remain faithful to Christ in every trial and temptation, in Jesus name.
10. Lord, preserve me in the true faith until the end of my Christian journey, in Jesus name.
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
1. You shall know Jesus Christ more deeply and walk faithfully with Him.
2. Every deception designed to draw you away from Christ shall fail.
3. Your mind shall be protected from every false doctrine and spiritual deception.
4. You shall recognise every teaching that contradicts the truth of Scripture.
5. You shall not be carried away by another gospel or another presentation of Christ.
6. The Holy Spirit shall continually guide you into truth and glorify Christ in your life.
7. Your faith shall remain firmly rooted in the Word of God.
8. Jesus Christ shall remain at the centre of your life, family, calling, and ministry.
9. You shall stand firm in every season of trial, temptation, and spiritual opposition.
10. You shall remain faithful to the true Christ and finish your Christian journey in faith and victory.
