A Different Spirit

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted —you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (Matthew 10:34) 

Some in the church have succumbed to the temptation to mix enterprise, academia, and lofty-sounding "wisdom" with the simple message of the Gospel. While many are drawn to these sideshows for a time, nothing can satisfy the soul but Jesus. Every man must come to God through the atonement, the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ -- there is no other way. Their attempts to soften the Gospel produces weak Christians who don't know the Lord or walk in the power of His Spirit. Yet, the Lord knows those of us who are dedicated to Him and His Word, and we do not receive a watered-down Jesus fit for public consumption!

The peace that Jesus brings is not peace as the world understands it. Jesus is the dividing line between all that God accepts and all that He rejects. The sword Jesus speaks of is the Gospel which separates believers from unbelievers, saints from sinners, light from darkness, and life from death. The sword is the Cross, which separates the children of God from the children of the devil, and those who go on to fullness in Christ from those who are complacent. Our walk with Jesus will make us very few friends in this world, but it will make us true friends of God. 

Let's Pray - Precious King, please forgive us for sharing a compromised message, which isn't the Gospel at all. May we boldly proclaim Jesus and nothing else. Amen.