The devil comes as an angel of light and presents himself as Jesus. He has ensured, that many Christians have created a false image of Jesus Christ that doesn’t correspond with the Jesus of the Bible. This counterfeit Jesus or fake Jesus, who is created, is the Jesus of this world aka the new age Jesus, who tolerates and accepts everything, including sin. Because they say, Jesus is love and He loves everyone, including sinners, who persevere in sin. And so they have created a counterfeit Jesus that produces counterfeit Christians.
Jesus in other religions and philosophies
There are other religions and philosophies that confess Jesus. However, they don’t confess Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah; their Saviour and Lord. They don’t consider Jesus as the living Word, Who was made flesh and dwelled among the people. But they consider Jesus as a historical person, a prophet, a humanist, a spirit, an energy force, or a spiritual master, who has been enlightened and has done many good works on earth.
In these religions and philosophies, we see the spirit of the antichrist; the spirit of this world, who is working in the unbelievers; the children of disobedience, who belong to the generation of the fallen old man and don’t confess Jesus as the Messiah and as Son of God, Who was made flesh for the redemption of the old carnal man.
Unfortunately, this spirit of the antichrist is not only working in the lives of unbelievers but also in the lives of many people, who claim to be believers.
A counterfeit God
It’s just like the scribes and the Pharisees, who looked so pious and righteous before the eyes of man. They thought that they possessed the truth and the love of God and served God. But in reality, they had created their own image of God, made their own rules, and served the devil instead of God.
They taught the scriptures to the people and gave them commandments, but their own works didn’t line up with their confessions. They didn’t know the will of God and His heart. They played the role of something, which they were not. They exalted themselves and only did the works in the presence of people to be seen by the people and to receive honor of the people.
These religious leaders shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against those, who were searching. And they made their converts, twofold more sons of hell, than they were (Matthew 23:3-15)
Jesus even called the religious leaders blind guides and whited sepulchers, because their outward appearance looked beautiful and righteous, but on the inside, they were full of dead men’s bones, uncleanness, full of hypocrisy, and iniquity (Matthew 23:16-28)
You would think, that the Scribes and Pharisees, who were learned in the Scriptures and knew them so well, would have been happy when they saw and met Jesus. Because they would recognize Jesus as the Messiah and would see the fulfillment of the Scriptures coming to pass.
But although they knew the scriptures so well, their mind was blinded and their heart was darkened. Because Jesus said to them and the rest of God’s people:
And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And you have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him you believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them you think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And you will not come to Me, that you might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in My Father’s Name, and you receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe My words? (John 5:37-47)
Why do you not understand My speech? even because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you believe Me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: you therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God (John 8:43-47)
A counterfeit Jesus
There are many Christians, who have created, just like the Scribes, Pharisees, and many of God’s people, a counterfeit God and a counterfeit Jesus, whom they serve and they possess a counterfeit spirit; the spirit of this world.
This counterfeit Jesus, whom they’ve created has a lot of similarities and resemblances to… themselves
Christians form an opinion on what Jesus considers good and evil, according to their own opinion and their feelings and emotions. What they consider good, this counterfeit Jesus also considers good. And what they consider evil, this counterfeit Jesus also considers evil. But because the mind of many Christians is still like the world and is not renewed with the Word of God, they consider the things of this world as good and therefore they allow, approve, tolerate, and accept the sins and iniquities and reject the commandments of God, Jesus, and His Kingdom (Read also: The commandments of God vs the commandments of Jesus Christ).
This counterfeit Jesus is a copy of the old man and the god of this world, who always agree with people, and approves and tolerates everything, including sin, that represents the will and the works of the devil, who is the god of this world.
Because this counterfeit Jesus is created by themselves after their image, this counterfeit Jesus is a copy of themselves and represents the will and opinion of man that is formed by the wisdom and knowledge of this world.
The counterfeit Jesus versus the real Jesus
Now, let’s have a closer look at the differences between the counterfeit Jesus and the real Jesus Christ.
The counterfeit Jesus, who is represented and preached in many churches has a lot of similarities with the new age Jesus, who is also created in the human mind; by human philosophies and revelations from the soul.
The counterfeit Jesus is a good person, who has done good works on this earth. He approves all things, including sins and iniquities.
The counterfeit Jesus loves everyone, including sinners, and has relationships with sinners, who keep living in sin. According to this counterfeit Jesus, there is no need to change. You may be and stay who you are and live like the world. You don’t have to remove the sins from your life. Because Jesus accepts all sinners, just the way they are. He leads men to the universal love and energy, that according to them, represent God and from this so-called love of God (in reality new age love), all things are approved and tolerated.
This counterfeit Jesus follows the trends of this world and represents the will of the world, which is, in reality, the will of the devil. Therefore, this counterfeit Jesus is also a friend of the world.
The real Jesus Christ; the Word, is a righteous Person, Who has walked on this earth in the righteous love of God and walked according to the will of God (John 4:34, 5:30).
Jesus loves righteousness and hates sin; the will and works of the devil. Jesus didn’t come to compromise and allow the works of the devil, but Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He came for the redemption of fallen man and to redeem man from the power of the devil.
The real Jesus loves people, but He doesn’t love the sinful nature of the old man. Jesus reveals the sins in people’s lives and testified of the evil works of this world. He brings sinners to repentance and He hangs out with those, who have repented of their sinful lifestyle, have put away their sins, and have become a new creation in Him (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32).
The true Jesus Christ says, that if you don’t lay down your own life and if you are not willing to die to the flesh, you will not be able to follow Him. Therefore, a change and putting off the old man with his sinful nature is essential, if you want to follow Jesus.
Those, who are not willing to lay down their old life, are not able to follow Jesus. We read that Jesus commanded multiple times to sin no more (i.e. John 5:14, 8:11).
Jesus represents the will of God and is an enemy of the world because Jesus testifies that the works of the world are evil (John 7:7). Those, who will follow the real Jesus Christ; the Word will become, just like Him, an enemy of this world and will also be persecuted by the world (Jn 15:20, James 4:4)
Counterfeit Christians
It is not surprising, that this counterfeit Jesus, who is being praised and received by so many people, including the world, produces counterfeit Christians. These counterfeit Christians have the name ‘Christian’, but they live just like the world. They trust and rely on the wisdom and knowledge of this world. They do the same works as the world and keep living in sin and iniquity. These counterfeit Christians don’t change, but they adjust the words of God to their will and the lust and desires of their flesh. They remain the old man and keep living after the flesh in sin and iniquity.
Because they have filled their mind with the knowledge and wisdom of the world, they have the mind of this world. They think like the world and live like the world. That’s why they accept and tolerate the things, that the world approves, but are an abomination to God.
They don’t know the Word, but build their faith upon the wisdom and knowledge and false teachings of other scholars and rely on other people’s faith. They always need other people in their lives and depend on them, instead of God.
Because of the fact, that they walk on the path of this world, they also bear the same fruit as the world. They don’t experience joy, gladness, and peace, But they experience a lack and are unhappy, unsatisfied, and murmur and complain. They feel miserable, depressed, tired, and weary of life. They are jealous of others, envious, negative, unforgiving, and always searching for abundant wealth and happiness.
They are still the old man, who is led by his senses, emotions, feelings, knowledge, and wisdom, opinion and mainly focused upon the signs and wonders and enrichment of self in this world, instead of being focused upon their salvation, sanctification, and the things of the Kingdom of God.
When the seventy disciples of Jesus went out in His Name and saw that the devils obeyed them through His Name, they returned with joy. Despite the fact, that Jesus also rejoiced in spirit, He said to them, that they shouldn’t rejoice that the spirits were subjected to them, but they should rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Lu 10:17-24). Because how many of those people, whom they’d set free repented and were saved?
The angel of light performs signs and wonders
Jesus knew, that the devil comes as an angel of light and presents himself like Jesus and also performs signs and wonders. Just like his servants, who present themselves as servants of righteousness but in reality, are not, and also do signs and wonders. Look at the magicians of Egypt; the wise men and the sorcerers of Egypt, who imitated the signs and wonders of God, to a certain level (Exodus 7, 8, 9)
That’s why Jesus warned His disciples of false Christs and false prophets, who will deceive many, by performing great signs and wonders. The signs and wonders will look so godly and so real, that it looks like they are coming from God, and could even deceive the very elect, if possible
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24, Mark 12:22)
Another Jesus
But there is actually nothing new about this message. Because Paul also spoke and warned about these things in his time. Paul warned the believers of another Jesus, who was being preached, another spirit, and another gospel, that isn’t a gospel.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 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 Colossians 11:3-4)
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-7)
Paul was a spiritual man and discerned good and evil, and real from fake. He had an encounter with the real Jesus Christ, Whom he persecuted and had become the new man, who walked after the Spirit. Paul had a relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. He spent many hours in prayer, the Word, fasting, and spoke in new tongues, to edify himself. Paul walked after the Word and the Holy Spirit, and despite all the drawbacks, obstacles, resistance and persecution of people, he stayed loyal to Them.
Because Paul spent so much time with Them and was focused on the things of the Kingdom of God, instead of the things of this earth, he was able to discern the real from the fake and to see in the spirit the spiritual dangers and hazards. Paul discerned and saw correctly.
How to discern real from fake?
There is a lot of counterfeit in the world, like money, paintings and other art objects, clothing, watches, purses, and other accessories, (technical) equipment, etc. It is often very hard to discern real from fake, especially if you don’t have any knowledge. If you don’t have any knowledge about the original and don’t know what the original looks like, then you can easily be fooled when someone tries to sell you a counterfeit. You might think, that you have bought the original but in reality, you have bought a counterfeit, that has no value.
It’s the same with Christians. Everyone can say, that they are Christians and visit a church, but that doesn’t make them Christians. The world and the believers, who walk after the flesh may believe they are, but that’s because they don’t know the Word.
Only the born-again Christians, who walk after the Spirit and have a relationship with God, Jesus; the Word, and the Holy Spirit will be able to discern real Christians from counterfeit Christians.
As long as Christians live like the world in sin and iniquity, their actions and works prove that they don’t know God’s heart and His will and don’t belong to Him. They can do all kinds of humanitarian works and perform signs and wonders and speak wonderful godly words, but if they don’t produce fruit weighing as much as the repentance they profess and don’t line up with the Word and the will of Jesus then they don’t mean a thing and have no value.
Jesus says: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:21-23)
‘Be the salt of the earth’
