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How Christians Will Be Tempted to Betray Jesus

How Christians Will Be Tempted to Betray Jesus

Loyalty to or betrayal of Jesus is not primarily about doctrine, public attestations, denominational affiliation, or religious observances—it is about the methods we practice in how we live and treat others. Whose character, methods, principles, and law are the basis for our actions and conduct: God’s or Satan’s? Jesus said,

The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:20, 21 NIV84).

As we approach the second coming of Christ, many Christians are focusing on doctrinal purity, knowing the right facts of Scripture, and are worried about being deceived. It is certainly true that Satan deceives with false doctrines, and much of the history of Christianity is a fight over which sect has the truth, who has the right explanation for various Bible texts. But this has resulted in the fragmentation of the body of Christ; currently, there are over 41,000 different groups.[1]

I am suggesting that Satan’s greater deception is getting Christians to adopt his false methods and principles, regardless of doctrinal purity. Consider those religious leaders who crucified Christ; their primary issue wasn’t that they had a different Sabbath, Bible, feast days, or dress code than Jesus. What was different was their methods and principles. They were driven by fear and survival drives and, thus, accepted the methods and principles of this fallen world, which is might makes right, survival of the fittest, the strongest survive, those with power win. For them, right governing is those having the most power forcing others to comply; for them, justice is found through law and order enforced by judicial oversight. And what did those religious leaders do? Their fear of losing their power, position, reputation, and station led them to hold a tribunal in which they bribed witnesses to lie in order to convict Jesus through their legal system and then kill Him. Because by their methods and motives, “it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:50 NIV84). The ends justify the means.

This Bible account contains a powerful lesson for us today. The Jewish leaders who rejected Christ did not do so because of a disagreement over a list of doctrines. They did so because they hated His methods of truth, love, and freedom. They hated Jesus’ compassion, His grace, His forgiving of sinners, His healing of the unclean, His method of Sabbath observance, and His treating women and foreigners as having equal value as human beings. They hated His shift away from behavioral and doctrinal rules to character development based upon godly methods and principles.

As we approach the second coming of Christ, Satan will not limit his attacks upon the saints to false doctrines. It will not simply be a question of whether one claims faith in Jesus, observes a day of worship, or practices a certain method of religious ceremony. The final test will be about whether we maintain loyalty to Jesus by being like Jesus in the methods we practice in how we live and treat others! When at the second coming the King separates the sheep (saved) from the goats (lost), He specifically tells us what makes the difference. He says to the saved:

Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:34–40 NIV84).

The final question will not be over some doctrinal issue or religious observance but over loyalty to Jesus Christ and His design law of love. The questions will be: Has God’s law been written upon our hearts (Hebrews 8:10)—or has the law of sin and death (survival of the fittest) been solidified into our characters? Are we like Jesus in character, method, motive, and principle such that we uplift His name, His character in how we live—or are we like Satan in character, that despite what doctrines we proclaim, we practice his methods of coercion and force and prefer his principles of power over others?

Are we the type of people who, while claiming to be followers of Jesus, would use the power of our position to intimidate, coerce, or pressure people to violate their consciences? What if it were to “save lives”—perhaps even an entire nation? Isn’t it better for one man to die for the people than for the nation to be destroyed? Isn’t it better for a few healthy, symptom-free employees to be forced to take a medicine they don’t want than for the business to be fined, closed, or for people to die?

Satan’s final deception will be along these lines: Attacking the saints with a false allegation that threatens our reputations, livelihoods, status, or income—all designed to incite fear and our desire to survive, to protect ourselves, to protect our reputations, to lash back, to attack and destroy the enemy who is falsely accusing us. We will be tempted with anger, resentment, and a desire to take revenge, to “punish” our enemies. However, if we do that—even when the other party is in the wrong—whose methods are we practicing, whose kingdom are we advancing, whose character are we forming? Thus, Paul advised:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. … If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:14, 20, 21 NIV84).

And Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43–48 NIV84).

The war between Christ and Satan, good and evil, isn’t primarily about the right list of doctrines; it is about methods, motives, and principles. Do we have the love of God in our hearts and minds? Are the design-law principles of God the basis of our actions so that we love our enemies and pray for those who abuse us? Or do we retaliate and seek to enforce human “justice” upon our enemies and only use God’s methods when dealing with issues that arise within the church?

When we are wronged, what happens in our hearts and minds if we retain resentment, bitterness, anger, or a desire for payback against those who have wronged us? And what happens if we justify those desires by seeking payback through human law and human justice? Have you seen the various groups fighting around the world for greater political power in order to enforce their version of what is right upon others? And what is happening to the people who do this? What is happening in such communities? Do you see the destruction that comes when we seek to achieve our understanding of righteousness through the methods of imposed law and coercive enforcement?

But what happens to our characters if we choose to accept Jesus, choose to reject fear and survival drives, and, instead, choose to bless those who persecute us and to love our enemies? 

The final deceptions will certainly include doctrinal falsehood, but avoiding those falsehoods will not be sufficient to avoid joining Satan’s camp. The final issue will be centered upon who we love and choose to identify with—Jesus or the false messiah, Satan impersonating Christ. And we make that choice when we choose the methods and principles that we practice in how we live and treat others. Do we choose Jesus and experience God’s design law of truth, love, and freedom written into our inmost being so that we choose to love and trust God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourself—or do we choose Satan by loving self the most and allowing the fear of losing what “self” values (money, power, station, reputation, etc.) to cause us to use the methods of this world, imposed laws, with coercive enforcement upon others to ensure “justice” is done?

As the events leading to the second coming of Christ continue to unfold, many will be deceived because they are looking only for doctrinal falsehood or religious persecution; they fail to recognize that the real issue is the methods we choose to apply in how we live and treat others.

Don’t be deceived, choose Jesus, keep your eyes fixed upon Him, and live His methods in all you do.  


[1] https://www.learnreligions.com/christianity-statistics-700533

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Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

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I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

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I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

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Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

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Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

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[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

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I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

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I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

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I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

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