To keep his citizens from traveling to Jerusalem to worship God, King Jeroboam invented a new religion (1 Kings 12:25-33). While this new religion looked similar to the one God prescribed, it was wrong. It was a counterfeit religion!

How do we avoid counterfeit religion? How do we get the real Christianity that is promoted in the Bible?

Get the real gospel.

  • Paul was disappointed with the Galatians because they had been deceived into believing a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Sadly, many today are being deceived in the same way.
  • There is only one true gospel. This gospel comes from God and is fully sufficient!
  • Throughout the gospel, we are warned against accepting “new” revelations from God (1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:1; 2 John 9; Jude 3).
  • It matters what we believe about the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
  • It matters if we obey the gospel and worship in the way God commands (John 4:24).
  • It matters if we grow in our knowledge of the gospel (2 Peter 3:16). This is the only way we will be able to recognize a counterfeit “gospel.”

Get the real church.

  • Jesus promised to build a church (Matthew 16:18). The church would be a universal body of believers and saved people. It would be brought into existence through His redemptive work at Calvary (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:23).
  • Jesus would possess this church and be its head (Ephesians 1:22-23).
  • The church is also called “the body of Christ.” There is only one body (Ephesians 4:4).
  • The one body worships the Lord’s way and does His prescribed work.

Get the real salvation.

  • “Faith only” is counterfeit salvation!
  • Real salvation starts with believing the truth about the identity of Jesus (Acts 2:36; John 8:24; 14:6).
  • It requires repentance and turning away from sin (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31).
  • It requires confession of Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10).
  • It requires baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 47; 22:16; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Ephesians 4:5).

Get real love for Jesus.

  • Real love for Jesus is rooted in obedience to His will (John 14:15; Matthew 7:21-23).
  • Submission to God’s will requires believing the one gospel, being a member of the one body, and submitting to the one right plan of salvation.
  • It requires sacrificing and putting Him first in every aspect of life.

Conclusion:

Are you part of the real Christianity or a counterfeit?