Good News vs. Fake News
We live in an age where we are constantly bombarded by news. How can we decipher between fake news and good news? There have been false teachers since bible times. In Jude, the second to last book of the Bible, warns us and calls out false preachers. Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jude 1:3-4
Jude was warning the people in his letter about false teachers among them. We also need to be on our guard from false teaching. 1 John 4:1 warns us, My dear friends, many false prophets have gone out into the world. So do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. False teaching can be dangerous to people now and can also lead them down a road that is not good for their eternity! We have to read the Truth of God, so we know what His Word says. We look to scripture to see if it lines up with what we are being taught.
Fake News:
Follow Jesus and you will have health, wealth and life will be easy.
There are many ways to get to heaven.
I can follow Jesus, love others, and I don’t have to change anything in my life.
I am a good person so I don’t need Jesus.
Good news:
John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.
A great quote by A.W. Tozer, “Any wrong idea of God is bound to give us a wrong idea of ourselves” which means when we have a view of God that is false, we see ourselves in a wrong light. The One true God who created us in His image to be in relationship with Him, and because sin entered the world separating us from our Father, He loved us so much that He sent his One and only Son Jesus to come to earth and pay the penalty for our sins so we could be in relationship with Him and spend eternity with God. Jesus came to be the King of a new Kingdom! Opposite of what the world offers. Jesus offers new life in Him. The world offers money, power and popularity. Worldly pleasures can seem attractive but will leave you empty. Only our Creator who created that empty void inside us, can be the only One who fills us! If Jesus is our creator why would any worldly pleasure fill us up?
Until Jesus comes back, there will be false teachers and fake news all around us. 1 Peter 5:8Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow.
We should live a life transformed, seeking personal holiness and a Kingdom focused lifestyle. Let’s spread Good News! Point people to the TRUE NEWS, the Good News of Jesus Christ!