Gal 2:4
…except for some so-called Christians there—false ones, really …. NLT
- There are false Christians. What Marks a false Christian? Does a false Christian know that they are a false Christian?
- A false Christian must be marked by his or her fruit, or the lack there of. (Matt 7:16) John 10:25 says that they (his works) bear witness. What do your works bear witness of?
- God, please fill me with love like yours and a desire to please you. I don’t possess in myself what it takes.
- We all make mistakes. In Gal 2:11, Paul begins by telling how he had to confront Peter for his hypocrisy, yet he is not in any way calling him a false brother.
- We are human, and we will make mistakes. The righteous get back up Prov 24:16. Don’t let condemnation rob you of your confidence in Christ. Go let your fruit declare your love for the Lord. Matt 12:33; John 14:15; 2 John 6
Ezek 20:39
39 “As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: If you insist, go right ahead and worship your idols, but then don’t turn around and bring gifts to me. Such desecration of my holy name must stop! NLT
- God was sick of their hypocrisy. Make up your mind. If you will serve God – that is great – but if not, STOP fooling yourself. Rev 3:15-16; James 1:22; Half hearted worship doesn’t impress God. Decide today whom you will serve (Josh 24:15) and serve them with all your heart, but whatever you decide know what it is, where it takes you, and what is the cost.
- Doing life your way may cost less today then serving God, but it has a different outcome in the end. Some things are worth the price.
Luke 6:46
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
- We can not claim to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus if we will not obey His Word.
- A Hypocrite is someone who claims to be a Christian but their life does not show it.
- Many non Christians remain non Christians because they don’t see the point in changing when so many self professed “Christians” don’t live their life any differently. The challenge is to obey God or don’t say you’re a Christian, because otherwise you are giving Christianity a bad name.
- Jesus tells us in the next couple scriptures what happens when you make Him the Lord of your life and what happens if you are a faker.
Hos 7:14
14 They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me. ESV
- They were not after God but after grain and wine. Gashing themselves was common practice of Baal Worship 1 Kings 18:28. They were not out to serve God, but themselves. Their god was themselves and their own stomachs Phil 3:19. Are you after God or an easier life? God or a genie? Matt 15:8; Mark 1:12-13;
- Where did the “easy life” Christianity start? Who said it was going to be easier? I agree that God is smarter than me and I know that He loves and has a great plan for me. I know in the end He knows what is best for me, but I know that will include making some rough choices. I know that though it won’t be easy it is worth it. I know that I have decided I want to live for Him whatever the cost. So often we find that there are “fair weather” Christians because they think it is suppose to be easier. They just want God’s help to do life their way. When God’s way looks tough and another way looks easier the “fair weather Christians” will take the easy way. There are always short cuts. I think that most temptations are shortcuts or “easy ways out”. Doing it God’s way is work, but in the end it’s worth it. Short cutting in the end costs us greatly. Are we living for God or trying to just get God to help our living?
- Prov 28:9; Matt 20:20; 1 Tim 6:5; 1 Peter 3:7;
Luke 20:47
47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” ESV
- It is the hypocrite that upsets God the most. They are those who pretend to be on one side but live for the other. James says people deceive themselves. Are your actions consistent or are you just deceiving yourself.
