Pentecost 2, 2011
Matthew 7:15-29
“Watch Out!”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Faith] “is centered on Jesus Christ and His role as creator and redeemer. He is not only the center of worship, He leads the Church personally through revelation. (Quoted from: http://www.mormonbeliefs.org/mormon_beliefs/mormon-beliefs-who-is-jesus-christ)
The key to knowing God is found in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In fact, Jesus promises us: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:31, 32. (Quoted from: http://www.watchtower.org/e/20090201/article_01.htm)
[Our beliefs are] based on the Bible, and [we] follow the teachings and ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, the virgin birth, the crucifixion, the resurrection and ascension of Christ Jesus, and so on, are all central to our theology. (Quoted from: http://christianscience.com/questions/questions-christian-science-faq/)
Would you agree with all of these statements? Do they sound Christian? “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:15-23)
Our text tells us to Watch Out! for false prophets! They will look and sound like faithful Christians…but they are not. Listen again as I add a little back into the quotes that you have already heard:
“Mormons are Christians. Mormonism is centered on Jesus Christ and His role as creator and redeemer. He is not only the center of Mormon worship, He leads the Church personally through revelation to His prophet (the President of the Church) and by giving the authority to church priesthood-holders to act in His name. (Quoted from: http://www.mormonbeliefs.org/mormon_beliefs/mormon-beliefs-who-is-jesus-christ)
But they also believe that: “It is true that many of the Christian churches worship a different Jesus Christ than is worshipped by the Mormons or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Seventy Bernard P. Brockbank, Ensign, May 1977, page 26)
The LDS also teaches that men can become Gods. This phrase was coined by fifth LDS President Lorenzo Snow. In June of 1840, Snow declared, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." (Quoted from: http://mrm.org/lorenzo-snow-couplet)
The key to knowing God is found in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In fact, Jesus promises us: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:31, 32. (Quoted from: http://www.watchtower.org/e/20090201/article_01.htm) Yet, Jehovah’s Witnesses also proclaim: “The Trinity is not a teaching of Jesus or of the early Christians.” (Quoted from: http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050422/article_02.htm)
Why do you call yourselves Christian? Because Christian Science is based on the Bible, and Christian Scientists follow the teachings and ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, the virgin birth, the crucifixion, the resurrection and ascension of Christ Jesus, and so on, are all central to Christian Science theology. (Quoted from: http://christianscience.com/questions/questions-christian-science-faq/)
But Christian Science also proclaim later on the same web page: Do you believe that Jesus is the same as God? No. But Christian Scientists do believe that Jesus stands alone in his mission and purpose as the promised Messiah. Christian Science teaches that Jesus embodied the divinity of God but that he himself was not Deity—in keeping with Jesus’ own words that he was not the Father, and that God, the Father, alone should be worshiped. (Quoted from: http://christianscience.com/questions/questions-christian-science-faq/)
As you confessed last week in the Athanasian Creed “the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.” And “whoever does not believe [this] faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.”
So how do you know where the true Church is found or how do you know a false church? A false church is one that denies the truth of the Holy Trinity. It is a church that focuses on salvation by your own works. On the other hand the True Church is found where the Gospel is purely preached and the Sacraments are administered rightly! (AC VII 1b The Church) It is where Christ and His work of salvation is proclaimed correctly and the body and blood of Christ are administered rightly.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
My brothers and sisters in Christ the rock which we speak of is not this building, it is not you or me…it is Christ alone. Our faith is built on Christ Jesus. Our faith is built on the fact that Jesus is God and Lord. Our faith is built on Jesus who suffered and died for our salvation. Our Faith is in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This loving God of ours does not leave us to guess what to believe but gives us His Word. Through Scripture we know where the true Church is found. Through Scripture we may test the Spirits.
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2a) God continues to speak to us through His Son as recorded in this Book; the Holy Bible. By God’s grace the Bible has stood through the test of time. Here you find God’s plan of salvation for you. Here you hear of God’s love for you. Here you find Gospel; that Christ died for your salvation. Here you find the truth of God.
May the Holy Spirit ever keep us in God’s Word and the Sacraments as we pray: “In these last days of sore distress grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness. That pure we keep, till life is spent, Thy Holy Word and Sacrament.” (Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide. The Lutheran Hymnal 292, v.2) Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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