From the earliest time of man in the garden there has been a temptation to put on a form or appearance of godliness but deny the power, in other words, to live as a hypocrite where Christianity is a show, rather than a changed life relying upon the power of God. The temptation to do things “our way” was seen in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:1–5 (ESV) — 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Therefore, it should not surprise us that we may see an appearance of godliness around us today but as we investigate it, there is a denial of the power of God.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) — 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Even in churches, there is a denial of the power of the Word, the power of the preaching of the Gospel, the power of the Spirit of God in regeneration, and even the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ in ruling over the earth, just to name a few. Powerless religion is what you could call it because it has the appearance of godliness but avoids the power that God has placed in the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation of His people.
How do people fall for a false gospel? We know they are deceived by Satan, himself, but there is more. They are prey to deception because the deception appeals to the corrupt nature of man.
2 Corinthians 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Consider the following scriptures:
2 Timothy 3:2–4 (ESV) — 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
If man is determined to live in the pleasures of the world while playing at Christianity, they will miss the mark every time. The Gospel is not appealing to the natural man. In fact the Bible tells us that the gospel is repulsive to the natural man who cannot even understand it unless God so chooses to open their eyes.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) — 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
2 Corinthians 2:15–16 (ESV) — 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV) — 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (ESV) — 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Romans 1:16–17 (ESV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
What can we deduce from the scriptures above?
To try to make the Gospel palatable for people is to water it down, which is to disempower the Gospel, and all that God has said. Truly to turn away from the simplicity in Christ is to be content with a mere form of godliness when you need every bit of the real thing, not just part. Jesus taught the need to adhere to the pure word of God, following His words for the benefit of those who would seek to be His followers, those who enjoy assurance and power to live in this life, and exceedingly great reward in the life to come.
John 5:39 (ESV) — 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) — 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The admonition when confronted by powerless religion is to just turn away and to that I appeal to you as Jeremiah appealed to the people of old and sadly the people responded that they would not. I hope that is not the case with you.
Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV) — 16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
Check out our PowerBreak Podcast wherever you download podcasts or from our website: www.bobbrubaker.com
