Don’t Fall for This All-Too-Common Deception on Easter Sunday

What a joyous week this is as all of Christendom rejoices in the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Son of God, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

But did you know that there is “another Jesus” that the Scriptures warns us about? In fact, the Bible teaches that many of those who think they are Christians will be following the wrong Jesus this Easter Sunday—a very serious error because the “other Jesus” cannot save them from their sins.

The “other Jesus” is a cultural concoction of form, ceremony, idolatry, sin and deception. He is whitewashed on the outside, but inside, he is filled with dead men’s bones (Matt. 23:27-28).

In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, the Holy Spirit warned that people would be teaching “another Jesus” (“Jesus” means “Savior”).

But I fear that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve through his trickery, so your minds might be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might submit to it readily enough (2 Cor. 11:3-4).

The Nature of Deceivers

In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, the Holy Spirit warns of men posing as “angels of light” who come to deceive:

For such are false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Such hirelings fill the pulpits of an astonishing number of churches, preaching immorality, selfishness, unbelief, greed and even worse. They are tares (weeds that look like wheat) among genuine wheat (Matt. 13:24-30).

Not only do many follow a different Jesus, still others mislead many by proclaiming that they are the Christ—meaning “the anointed one”. In the “Olivet Discourse,” Jesus warned of “false Christs” who would deceive many:

“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … Then many will fall away … And many false prophets will arise and will deceive many” (Matt. 24:4-5, 10-11).

And in 2 Peter 2:1-3:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their judgment, made long ago, does not linger, and their destruction does not slumber.

The Scriptures reveal a Jesus who is the Creator of the universe (Col. 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:10; Revelation 4:11, 10:6); who is God (Exodus 3:14-15; John 1:1, 14; 8:57-59, 10:33; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:3,8); and the one and only Savior (Acts 4:12). He is the one who hung on that cross 2,000 years ago and rose from the dead to prove that He is God.

He was endowed with a brilliant understanding of the Scriptures from a very early age, calling the temple in Jerusalem His Father’s house (Luke 2:46-49). He told the religious leaders of His day, “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

In other words, knowing Him correctly, following Him faithfully and worshipping Him truly are critical to being saved. To worship and follow another person is not the same and will not save you, even though you call him Jesus.

The real Jesus reaffirmed the entire Old Testament (Matt. 5:17-20) even to the tiniest of letters and punctuation points. Yet, He did not condemn those who struggled with sin, provided they believed in Him, repented of their sins and followed Him. In fact, He came to die for them so they could be with Him in heaven.

Being God and the only Savior given to men by God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6) and being sinless (John 8:48; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15, 7:26; 1 Pet. 1:19, 2:22; 1 John 3:5), His death on the cross was the only means by which we could be saved. He paid the penalty for the sins of anyone who would follow Him.

Overturning the Tables

There are all kinds of cults, religions, liberal denominations and special interest groups who have created another Jesus and who bow down to him (or her, in some cases). The real Jesus warned that if we do not believe that He is the one He claimed to be (God, Savior, Creator, upholder of righteousness and so forth), then our worship is not for Him but rather for a powerless facsimile that can save no one.

Salvation and heaven are at stake in this matter of biblically sound doctrine, with its call to surrender to the true Savior of the world. You can read about His “way of escape” in what is affectionately called “The Romans Road” (Rom. 3:10-18, 23-24; 5:1, 8; 6:23; 8:1; 10:9, 13). Then respond to His invitation during this Holy Week to enjoy eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven. {eoa}

Dr. David Kyle Foster (., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; ., Trinity School for Ministry) is the author of Transformed Into His Image and Love Hunger and is the founder/director of Pure Passion Media (). Read more of his take on sexual sin and brokenness in his newest book, The Sexual Healing Reference Edition.