Discerning Truth in a World of Deception

In 2 Corinthians 11:4, the Apostle Paul issues a sobering warning:

“For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.”

These words, penned nearly two thousand years ago, resonate with urgency still today. False teachers, peddling distorted versions of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the gospel, continue to infiltrate the church and spread around the world. Like Eve in the garden, many are swayed by a mix of truth and lies, failing to discern the counterfeit. The Word of God teaches us that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). He loves and lives to deceive.

For the church to fulfill its mission and for the gospel of the kingdom of God to continue to advance, it is crucial that we maintain a healthy and biblical view of Jesus, the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit. Many are the distractions in our day. Many are the lures that pull us away from quality kingdom work. Too few are the Christians anchored in God's Word and sound, robust theology. The longer I live, the more evident it becomes that Christian passivity is a key component that permits the enemy to propagate his falsehoods. To stand firm, remain faithful, and take ground for Christ, we Christians must determine, with love for the Lord, to labor diligently in knowing and making known the authentic Jesus, the true Spirit, and the biblical gospel. Only in this way can we spot the fakes. In this post, we'll explore the biblical Jesus in contrast to some common false Jesuses. We'll also briefly explore a biblical comprehension of the gospel in contrast to numerous false gospels. For the sake of brevity and time, we'll share just briefly on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Lord willing, we’ll explore this critical topic further in the future.

The Biblical Jesus: The True Savior

The Jesus of Scripture is the eternal Son of God, fully/truly divine and fully/truly human, the second person of the Trinity (Jn. 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9). He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Col. 1:16-17), sinless, and the only way to the Father (Jn. 14:6). His life, death, and resurrection accomplished salvation for God's elect [1][2], offering forgiveness and eternal life to those who repent and believe (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 10:9). He is a victorious King. He is actively reigning at the Father’s right hand to subdue His enemies and put them under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25-27, Ps. 110:1, Mt. 22:44, Eph. 1:20-22) or transform them into His friends and faithful servants through Spirit's work of regeneration. He makes all things new (Rev. 21:5). He will return to judge the living and the dead. This Jesus demands our wholehearted devotion, calling us to joyfully take up our cross and follow Him (Mt. 16:24) as we live for His glory and honor in all of life.

Yet, as Paul warned, many proclaim “another Jesus,” crafting versions of Him that suit human desires or cultural trends. These false Jesuses are idols of man's imagination. They distort His nature, mission, and message, leading people astray and keeping them slaves to sin and Satan. There are too many to count, but let’s examine some of these counterfeits that are common in our day.

False Jesuses: Man-Made Counterfeits

1. The Jehovah’s Witness Jesus: This Jesus is a created being, not divine, demoted to a lesser god or angelic figure. Scripture refutes this, and affirms the deity of Christ: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). A created Jesus cannot save, for only God has the power to atone for sin. In Scripture, we see that Jesus was worshiped as God (Mt. 28:17, Mt. 14:33, Jn. 9:38, Jn. 20:28, Heb. 1:6, Rev. 5:13-14). Though He could have, He never told His disciples to cease worshiping Him because He knew it was what they were supposed to do - worship God.

2. The Roman Catholic Jesus: Often depicted with sentimental imagery like rosy cheeks, a glowing heart, and submissive to Mary (often imagined to be forever a baby in her arms) this Jesus is more like a cultural icon than the sovereign Lord. While Catholic doctrine affirms Christ’s divinity, extra-biblical traditions, such as elevating Mary as a co-mediator (mediatrix), obscure the biblical truth that “there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Roman Catholics typically pray only to Mary, believing that she can then go to Jesus for them. Ironically, many Roman Catholics (at least in Italy) are full of doubts about God, Jesus, the Bible, and the church, yet they have full confidence in Mary, aka la Madonna...

3. The Mormon Jesus: In Mormon theology, Jesus is the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father, a created being who progressed to godhood. This Jesus provides atonement through works and LDS ordinances, not faith alone. The Bible, however, teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not works (Eph. 2:8-9), and Jesus is eternally God (Heb. 1:8, Jn. 1:1-2, Jn. 8:58, Col. 1:16-17), not a created being who earned divinity.

4. The Woke Jesus: This culturally reimagined Jesus of modern times is a "social justice" warrior, championing progressive causes like racial equality or inclusivity while ignoring the reality of man's depravity and need for spiritual salvation. This Jesus affirms all lifestyles, rejects moral boundaries, and prioritizes social activism over sound doctrine, repentance, new birth, and salvation. Yet, the biblical Jesus calls all to repentance (Lk. 5:32), upholds God’s moral law, saves souls, and transforms lives which in turn become salt and light that does indeed transform society, but not in the sinful, liberal, man-centered, "progressivist" way.

5. The Loser Jesus: This Jesus is weak, defeated, or simply irrelevant. He's a tragic figure who died unintentionally and whose resurrection has little real-world impact. Far from the Bible’s portrayal of a triumphant King who conquered sin and death (1 Cor. 15:55-57) and currently reigns and rules, this Jesus is powerless to transform lives or renew the world. He's on the defense, recalculating what to do while still trying to figure out what went wrong in the first place...

These false Jesuses are popular and loved by many who are living only according to the flesh; not yet born from above (Jn. 3). They are seductive because they blend partial truths with lies, appealing to human desires for comfort, affirmation, or cultural relevance. They cannot save, however, for they are not the true, Sovereign Jesus of Scripture.

Who is the Jesus that you worship? Do you know and live for the true Jesus or is yours a Jesus of man's imagination?

A Different Spirit: Counterfeit Spiritualities

Paul also warns of a “different spirit” that leads people away from the Holy Spirit. The true Spirit glorifies Christ, convicts of sin, and produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and more (Jn. 16:14; Gal. 5:22-23). In contrast, false spirits deceive. As Jonathan Edwards noted so well in Religious Affections, genuine spiritual experiences align with Scripture and transform lives toward holiness, not chaos or self-indulgence.

False spirits manifest in various ways:

• Charismatic Extremes: Some charismatic movements promote spirits that lead to unbiblical behaviors: laughing uncontrollably, rolling on the ground, or ecstatic displays devoid of the Spirit’s fruit. While the Holy Spirit can inspire fervent worship, He never contradicts Scripture or fosters disorder (1 Cor. 14:33).[3] That would be contrary to the nature of God.

• Worldly Spirits: A spirit that mimics the world’s values (pride, selfishness, or moral compromise) lacks the holiness of God’s Spirit. 1 Timothy 4:1 warns of “deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” that lure people from the faith. Though evil spirits can be daunting to discuss, Christians are soldiers of Christ (2 Tim. 2:3-4) and they must understand the work of the evil one to walk faithfully with God and fulfill their purpose. We are called to not be ignorant of the evil one's schemes (2 Cor. 2:11), but to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21).

One of the primary ways that God the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers is to sanctify them towards holy living. Do you know the true Spirit of God? All true believers are born of the Spirit. Many claim to be right with God, yet they are not actually born of God. How do you know that you are truly born again? If you are not sure, let me encourage you to make this a matter of utmost importance.

A Different Gospel: Twisted Messages

The true gospel is simple yet profound: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, offering salvation to all who repent and believe (1 Cor. 15:3-4) while He actively reigns and rules over all His creation according to His sovereign will and the expansion of His Kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24). Yet, false gospels abound, each distorting the truth:

1. Prosperity Gospel: This gospel (very common in the US) promises wealth and health as rewards for faith, reducing Christianity to a transactional scheme. It's true, generally speaking, that when Christians apply God’s Word to all of life and live obediently to Christ, they prosper in the long run. The rooted Christian doesn't treasure money, but he does seek to increase his assets and use money and resources responsibly for the advancement of the Gospel and the discipling of the nations, starting first and foremost with providing for his own family. Scripture, however, also calls believers to suffer for Christ (Phil. 1:29). We are not promised wealth and health in this life. The prosperity preacher says we are and he takes money from the poor while promising them financial increase if they give to him in faith. Many lives have been destroyed by this false gospel. Many mission groups have propagated this false gospel to Africa. I meet African believers in Italy all the time that confirm this.

2. Poverty Gospel: The opposite extreme, this gospel demonizes material blessings and glorifies suffering as the only path to godliness. Yet, God gives both trials and blessings for His purposes (Job 1:21). Being poor or destitute doesn't make one more holy. Many live in poverty while being full of pride and every form of vileness. There is nothing wrong with having riches. In fact, they are necessary for the sending of missionaries and the advancing of the gospel around the world. Jesus spoke a lot about money for good reason.

3. Woke/Social Activist Gospel: This modern gospel redefines sin as systemic oppression (such as racism or economic inequality) and salvation as social liberation through activism, prioritizing political and cultural change over Christ’s atoning work. It embraces universalism and moral relativism, ignoring Jesus’ exclusive claims like: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6). This culturally reimagined Jesus champions progressive causes like racial equality or inclusivity while ignoring the reality of man's depravity and need for spiritual salvation. It affirms all lifestyles, rejects moral boundaries, and elevates social activism over sound doctrine, repentance, and new birth. Yet, the biblical Jesus calls all to repentance (Lk. 5:32), upholds God’s moral law, saves souls, and transforms lives which in turn become salt and light that does indeed transform society, but not in the sinful, liberal, man-centered, "progressivist" way.

4. God is Love (Only) Gospel: By focusing solely on God’s love, this gospel neglects His holiness, justice, and wrath. Romans 1:18 reminds us that God’s wrath is revealed against unrighteousness and all those who suppress the truth about God. He does welcome sinners, but he doesn't tolerate ongoing sinful practice. He disciplines His children in love (Heb. 12:6). Because God is loving and holy, He also deals justly with sin. In fact, Scripture teaches that all who still suppress the truth (Rom. 1:18) are actively living under God's just wrath (Jn. 3:36).

5. Moralistic Gospel: This reduces faith to self-help and moral living, ignoring the need for heart transformation through Christ. It’s a hollow spirituality that cannot save. Ultimately, it seeks only to make people live outwardly decent lives.

6. Works Gospel: This teaches that good deeds earn salvation, contradicting Ephesians 2:8-9, which declares salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Roman Catholicism and Jehovah Witness's fall into this category, as do many other religions. Rather than focus on what Christ fully accomplished on our behalf, they focus on what man must do to try and get to God.

7. New Age Syncretism Gospel: Blending Christian language with mysticism, this gospel promotes ideas like manifesting or universal consciousness, denying Christ’s exclusive role as Savior.

8. Legalistic Gospel: This emphasizes rule-keeping over grace, burdening believers with a yoke Christ came to lift (Gal. 5:1). This gospel focuses on do's and don'ts. It's closely associated and overlaps much with the works gospel.

9. Fire Insurance Gospel: This reduces salvation to a one-time prayer, ignoring the call to lifelong discipleship (Lk. 9:23) and living for the glory and honor of Christ. Proponents of this gospel encourage people to simply pray the sinners prayer to get right with God and not go to hell. Many say the prayer without any comprehension of what they are saying and how salvation actually works. Sadly, it leads to many false converts and gives them a false assurance of salvation.

10. Self-Help Gospel: This focuses on personal empowerment, turning Christianity into a tool for self-fulfillment (self-help) rather than surrender to Christ.

The Call to Discernment

Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 11:4 underscores a timeless truth: evil flourishes when Christians grow passive. We are to learn from Paul to be active, not passive, in our living for the sake of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:23). After twenty centuries of theological development, many believers still remain ignorant of basic Christian teachings, making them vulnerable to deception. To combat this, let us apply ourselves to:

1. Know the Biblical Jesus: Study Scripture diligently to understand Christ’s nature, work, and teachings. Regular engagement with God’s Word and sound theology equips us to discern truth from error (2 Tim. 2:15).

2. Test the Spirits: As 1 John 4:1 urges, “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” We must resist living by our feelings and instead be sure to compare spiritual experiences and teachings to Scripture (faithfully exegeted), ensuring they align with the Holy Spirit’s character revealed in the whole counsel of God's word.

3. Cling to the True Gospel: Anchor yourself in the biblical gospel of grace through faith in Christ’s finished work. Let us reject any message that adds to or subtracts from this truth. All false gospels are not of God and cause for anathema (Gal. 1:6-7).

4. Understand Common Falsehoods: Familiarize yourself with prevalent false teachings, from prosperity gospels to woke ideologies, so you can recognize and refute them wherever they pop up.

5. Live Purposefully for Christ: Passivity breeds deception, just as 'idle hands are the devil’s workshop. Actively pursue a life of worship, obedience, and true Christian living, loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk. 12:30).

Anchored in the Truth

The proliferation of false Jesuses, spirits, and gospels is no small matter. Like the Corinthians, we are prone to “put up with it readily enough” if we are not vigilant. Satan’s strategy, a little truth mixed with lies, remains effective, but it is no match for the rooted disciple armed with the truth of God’s Word. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and clinging to the true gospel, we can recognize quickly and stand firm together against deception. Let us strive to know the biblical Jesus so intimately that no counterfeit can sway us. As Jesus Himself said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). May we live purposefully for Him, discerning truth in a world of lies. May we see a revival in the work of missions too that leads to faithful missionary endeavors that are able to confront all the falsities. SDG

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Written by Jesse Schreck | founder, director, and missionary church planter in Italy with Practical Missions Cohort

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Footnotes

1. John 10:11, 15, Ephesians 5:25, John 17:9, Acts 20:28, Romans 8:32-34 ↩︎

2. Particular Redemption is often known as "Limited Atonement". Dr. Gregg Allison defines it like this:  "The position that Christ died with the intent of actually and certainly saving only the elect. Biblical support includes affirmations that Christ died for the elect (Rom. 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:14–15), a particular group of people—his sheep (John 10:11) and church (Eph. 5:25). Theological support appeals to agreement within the Trinity: those whom the Father purposed to save are the same people for whom Christ came to die and the same people to whom the Spirit applies salvation. The elect alone are in view. Limited atonement stands opposed to unlimited atonement and disagrees with the multiple-intentions view." -- Allison, Gregg R.. The Baker Compact Dictionary of Theological Terms (p. 151). (Function). Kindle Edition. ↩︎

3. A few recommended resources for understanding charismatic practices -- - Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship by John MacArthur, - God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies by Costi Hinn,

   - Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield↩︎