Defending the Truth examines cults
A Different Jesus / A Different Gospel
by Michael W. Matkin
Since the earliest days of the birth and development of the church, the apostles, especially Paul, were faced with
the task of defending the true gospel and the true identity of Christ. Two thousand years later this battle
continues as the modern church is confronted with the dilemma of a perversion and distortion of the saving
gospel and the person of Jesus Christ.
It is the Christian’s duty and obligation not only to identify another (counterfeit) Jesus being preached, but to
expose and rebuke this counterfeit gospel and its teachers as well. Due to the lack of discipline of many
Christians to put forth an effort and devote time to Bible study and in depth research of Gods word, it is of no
surprise to encounter errors resembling early perversions of Gods word and revelation of Jesus Christ. In his
epistle to the Galatians Paul was aggressive in refuting the errors of a different gospel being introduced. As I
have said before, Satan is not spending his time and efforts on the bars, strip clubs and casino’s. He owns
them. His efforts are focused on the church. It is of the greatest importance to fully grasp and understand that
Satan is the primary culprit behind all cult systems and organizations no matter how closely they resemble the
true church (the real church). The slightest variation from the gospel and identity of Christ is no gospel at all.
The less attention drawn to any slight variation (perversion) of a “different gospel” or “different Jesus” the easier
the deception. Christians must also understand and be aware that just as Satan masquerades as an angel or
messenger of light so do counterfeit ministers and disciples. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself
into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into
ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works". (2 Co 11:13-15). In appearance
they seem to be ministers or ambassadors of Christ, but in reality they are workers of Satan.
Now we must exercise discernment before engaging in polemics or theological war. Christians should be
concerned with causing unnecessary division with in the body of Christ, however we should not stand silent
when essential doctrines are being challenged. The person of Jesus Christ is essential in the Christian faith.
When who He is, His true identity, the person of Jesus Christ is altered even slightly the entire message of the
gospel is diminished at best if not entirely eradicated by the distortion. In short, a different gospel is no gospel
at all and is rendered meaningless.
Let’s examine some contemporary examples of “another Jesus” we face today.
• The Jesus of the Jehovah’s witness. Jehovah’s witness believe Jesus is a created being, the first creation of
God, not God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. They believe Jesus was the archangel Michael that was
transformed from an angelic being to that of a perfect man.
• The Jesus of the Mormons. The Jesus of the mormons is an abstract distortion beyond Christian reasoning.
Their Jesus was the spiritual brother of Lucifer before his earthly incarnation. He was also the husband of Martha
and the Mary’s making him a polygamist as well, in order to justify their own sexual immorality. They also believe
the Father and the Son both have a spirit and a physical body, distorting the Trinity and creating multiple deity’s
in the process.
• The Jesus of Christian Science. The Jesus of Christian science is nothing more than a revived form of
Gnosticism. They deny Jesus came in a physical body of flesh and blood. 1Jn 4:3 "says and every spirit that
does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist,
which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world". Harsh words indeed! It doesn’t get any
more direct than that. Christian science claims a faith of peace by denying hell (to ease conscience) as well as
denying the Trinity and the person of Jesus Christ.
Throughout history a “different Jesus” and a “different gospel” have been preached without fail. And today
nothing has changed as we find a different gospel and a different Jesus being preached, even with a Biblical
undertone and under the Christian banner, in the name of Christianity. The church now finds herself faced with
obstacles such as word faith, positive confession and prosperity theology to name but a few. To learn more
about the underlying deception of these aberrant teachings refer to my article
Deception in the Church.
by Michael W. Matkin
Since the earliest days of the birth and development of the church, the apostles, especially Paul, were faced with
the task of defending the true gospel and the true identity of Christ. Two thousand years later this battle
continues as the modern church is confronted with the dilemma of a perversion and distortion of the saving
gospel and the person of Jesus Christ.
It is the Christian’s duty and obligation not only to identify another (counterfeit) Jesus being preached, but to
expose and rebuke this counterfeit gospel and its teachers as well. Due to the lack of discipline of many
Christians to put forth an effort and devote time to Bible study and in depth research of Gods word, it is of no
surprise to encounter errors resembling early perversions of Gods word and revelation of Jesus Christ. In his
epistle to the Galatians Paul was aggressive in refuting the errors of a different gospel being introduced. As I
have said before, Satan is not spending his time and efforts on the bars, strip clubs and casino’s. He owns
them. His efforts are focused on the church. It is of the greatest importance to fully grasp and understand that
Satan is the primary culprit behind all cult systems and organizations no matter how closely they resemble the
true church (the real church). The slightest variation from the gospel and identity of Christ is no gospel at all.
The less attention drawn to any slight variation (perversion) of a “different gospel” or “different Jesus” the easier
the deception. Christians must also understand and be aware that just as Satan masquerades as an angel or
messenger of light so do counterfeit ministers and disciples. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself
into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into
ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works". (2 Co 11:13-15). In appearance
they seem to be ministers or ambassadors of Christ, but in reality they are workers of Satan.
Now we must exercise discernment before engaging in polemics or theological war. Christians should be
concerned with causing unnecessary division with in the body of Christ, however we should not stand silent
when essential doctrines are being challenged. The person of Jesus Christ is essential in the Christian faith.
When who He is, His true identity, the person of Jesus Christ is altered even slightly the entire message of the
gospel is diminished at best if not entirely eradicated by the distortion. In short, a different gospel is no gospel
at all and is rendered meaningless.
Let’s examine some contemporary examples of “another Jesus” we face today.
• The Jesus of the Jehovah’s witness. Jehovah’s witness believe Jesus is a created being, the first creation of
God, not God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. They believe Jesus was the archangel Michael that was
transformed from an angelic being to that of a perfect man.
• The Jesus of the Mormons. The Jesus of the mormons is an abstract distortion beyond Christian reasoning.
Their Jesus was the spiritual brother of Lucifer before his earthly incarnation. He was also the husband of Martha
and the Mary’s making him a polygamist as well, in order to justify their own sexual immorality. They also believe
the Father and the Son both have a spirit and a physical body, distorting the Trinity and creating multiple deity’s
in the process.
• The Jesus of Christian Science. The Jesus of Christian science is nothing more than a revived form of
Gnosticism. They deny Jesus came in a physical body of flesh and blood. 1Jn 4:3 "says and every spirit that
does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist,
which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world". Harsh words indeed! It doesn’t get any
more direct than that. Christian science claims a faith of peace by denying hell (to ease conscience) as well as
denying the Trinity and the person of Jesus Christ.
Throughout history a “different Jesus” and a “different gospel” have been preached without fail. And today
nothing has changed as we find a different gospel and a different Jesus being preached, even with a Biblical
undertone and under the Christian banner, in the name of Christianity. The church now finds herself faced with
obstacles such as word faith, positive confession and prosperity theology to name but a few. To learn more
about the underlying deception of these aberrant teachings refer to my article
Deception in the Church.
A Different Jesus
WWW.DEFENDINGTHETRUTH.ORG
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |