Sermon: False Prophets and the Three Confessions
Text: Matt 7:15-21-23 & Ro 8:12-17
Occasion: Trinity VIII
Who: Mark Woolsey
Where: Providence REC
When: Sunday, July 29, 2007
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Intro
Before I start, I do want to say I must be absolved from any responsibility for a possibly poor sermon today. That must sit squarely on Josh�s shoulders. While I was in the middle preparation yesterday, Josh called me with some questions. That took a valuable 5 minutes from my work, and I think it only fair to lay blame where blame is due! ;-)
Long ago an obscure priest/monk from northern Europe journeyed south to Rome. He was an idealistic man who was greatly concerned with ideas concerning salvation, heaven, etc. When he arrived in Rome he quickly realized this was not the place he had anticipated. Traveling from the edges to the very epicenter of Christianity, he anticipated a holiness and spiritual vitality that greatly exceeded his experience back home. In this he was sorely disappointed. Not only was he struck by the town�s great moral laxity, he traced this fault directly back to gross spiritual error. Saint Peter�s chair was preaching heresy and practicing perversion! He began writing about what he saw as the great problems of the faith, especially concerning how one gains a right standing with God. All of this was in opposition to much of the church hierarchy of the day. He rose to such prominence that some of the most famous and learned bishops of the day replied to him in writing, attempting to refute his arguments. Nevertheless, our monkish friend gained many followers and became a sizable force in the church. Needless to say, the Pope at the time was not happy with this turn of events and set about to punish this rascal. He managed to escape, finding refuge among powerful like-minded friends. Rome and the Pope�s opposition continued to grow until worldwide meetings of bishops and other clergy were called to deal with his teaching. Eventually the Council of Orange condemned him. He was excommunicated. To this day Rome stands in opposition to what this man taught. In fact, this man�s teachings became the most condemned in all of the church. Who was this man?
If you answered Martin Luther, you would be 180 degrees wrong. Our mystery man preceded Fr. Martin by more than 1000 years. In fact, Luther and Rome agree on his condemnation. This great traveler, preacher, Roman ex-communiqu�, and, I hate to admit, proto-"Anglican", was the British monk, Pelagius.
II. Pelagius
Many of you may not be familiar with this name, but it is actually one of the most infamous names in all of church history. Just as there are angels and archangels, so there are heretics and arch-heretics. Pelagius was one. Other than Arius, I don�t know of any others. More church councils condemn this man and his teachings than any other in the history of the church. St Augustine was his greatest opponent, and occasioned some of his greatest writings. Today, the greatest insult we Calvinists can lay on a person is to call him a "Pelagian". The eight letters of the word are like two "four-letter" words back-to-back.
In fact, when Calvinist fathers get together to talk about �man-things� without the womenfolk around, the conversation goes something like this:
Calvinist 1: �So when he made his final offer for the house what�d you say?�
Calvinist 2: �I said, �That�s a pile of pelagian! I wouldn�t take that pelagian offer if you doubled it!��
Like 17th century New England witch-hunters, Reformed folk are continually finding "Pelagianism" in much of what passes for Christianity today. For example, Charles Finney, the great 19th century evangelist and hero of the likes of Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, can really be categorized as nothing other than an out-and-out Pelagian. And if we can�t tie the albatross of full-throated Pelagianism around our opponent�s neck, we�ll call him semi-pelagian, as we do many so-called evangelicals today. And we are right. Some of the greatest "Christians" of history were Pelagian, and most of today�s faith is no better than semi-pelagian. And yet this much-maligned name comes down to us from a man whose life was full of good works. His disciples were noted for their piety and care for the poor. What was so dangerous about this man? Listen to some of what he taught:
1. Children are born innocent. IE, sin is not counted against us until some kind of "age of accountability".
2. If we are damned, it is because of our own sin, not Adam�s.
3. Ought implies can. If God says we ought to do something, then He must have already given us the ability to do it. Anything else would be unfair. An earthly example of this would be that no father worthy of the name spanks his 2-year old son for getting a calculus problem wrong. He�s much too young to be expected to perform at that level.
In fact, some of you may think, well, what�s wrong with these three points? They sound right to me. Pelagian! If you have accepted these points, then you have opened your door to a sheep, only to be devoured by a ravenous wolf. Like Little Red Riding Hood, you see grandma�s gown, not the evil wolf underneath.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep�s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Mat 7:15)
Pelagius was a false prophet.
But what makes a false prophet? What are his marks by which we can know him? Can there even be false prophets today since few even claim to be a prophet at all, and those who do for the most part are patently flakey? I mean, how many of you would even be caught dead associating with some street prophet who stands on the big city street corner trying to attract a crowd? Is that all we have to be afraid of? Is Jesus� point moot?
III. True Prophets
To beware of a false prophet, one must know what that is. And since all evil is a perversion of the good and not a self-existent thing, a false prophet can only be understood when a true prophet is known. So what is a true prophet? Here is an excellent description given by David Chilton in �Days of Vengeance�, pp 81 � 82:
The chief mark of the Biblical prophet was that he had stood in the presence of God and the angels during the sessions of the heavenly Council (cf. Isa. 6:1-8; Ezek. 1-3, 10), thereby becoming its authoritative spokesman to God�s people (cf. Jer. 15:19). The essential difference between the true prophet and the false prophet was that the true prophet had been taken up by the Spirit into the Cloud to take part in this assembly:
Thus says the Lord of Hosts:
Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.
They are leading you into futility;
They speak a vision of their own imagination,
Not from the mouth of the Lord�.
But who has stood in the Council of the Lord,
That he should see and hear His Word?
Who has given heed to His Word and listened? �
I did not send these prophets,
But they ran.
I did not speak to them,
But they prophesied.
But if they had stood in My Council,
Then they would have announced My words to My people,
And would have turned them back from their evil way
And from the evil of their deeds. (Jer 23:16 � 22)
The prophets not only observed the deliberations of the heavenly Council (cf. I Kings 22:19 � 22); they actually participated in them. Indeed, the Lord did nothing without consulting His prophets (Amos 3:7). This is why the characteristic activity of the Biblical prophet is intercession and mediation (cf. Gen 18:16-33; 20:7, the first occurrence of the word prophet in Scripture). As members of the Council the prophets have freedom of speech with God, and are able to argue with Him, often persuading Him to change His mind (cf. Ex 32:7-14; Amos 7:1-6). They are His friends, and so He speaks openly with them (Gen. 18:17; Ex 33:11, II Chron 20:7; Isa 41;8; John 15:15). As images of fully redeemed Man, the prophets shared in God�s glory, exercising dominion over the nations (cf. Jer 1:10; 28:8), having been transfigured ethically (cf. Is 6:5-8) and physically (cf. Ex 24:29). They thus resembled the angels of heaven, and so it is not surprising that the term angel (Heb mal�ak, Greek angelos) is used to describe the Biblical prophet (cf. II Chron 36:15-16; Hag 1:13; Mal 3:1; Matt 11:10; 24:31; Luke 7:24; 9:52). In fact, the archetypical Prophet in Scripture is the Angel of the Lord.
If Chilton is right about what constitutes a true prophet, then how could there be any true prophets today? This should make it easy to identify any false prophet � since there are no true prophets today, anyone who claims to be one must be a false prophet. Unfortunately, it�s not that easy. For one thing, there are prophets today, and I don�t mean those who go around in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. In fact, I�ve got several with me today. Would you like to meet them? Pastors Robert and Paul would you please say, �Hi� to everyone? Thanks. But wait a minute, you say. You�ve never heard them prophesy? What, do you sleep thru their sermons? The chief mark of a prophet is that he speaks God�s word to us as if it were God Himself speaking. We tend to think of a prophet as someone who tells the future � and there are times that that is what a prophet does. But that is not the prophet�s job description. Sometimes he has to do that in order to carry out his primary duty of announcing God�s word to us. But fundamentally, a prophet is God�s mouthpiece to His people. God has something to say to us, He tells the prophet what that is, and commands him to deliver that message.
Now don�t get me wrong. I�m not suggesting we start addressing our pastors as Prophet Robert or Prophet Paul. Nor do I recommend that we equate their sermons with Scripture. There is a basic difference between Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah, and Agabus over against Robert and Paul. The former were prophets in name and function; they were elevated to a special plane and gave us sacred, infallible Scripture. Paul and Robert, on the other hand, err and make mistakes. In fact, just last week, when Robert said� ;-) Nevertheless, when our pastors speak from the pulpit, they do speak God�s word to us. They prophesy. They function as prophets to us.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Ro 10:17)
How do they speak God�s word to us?
Every time they quote Scripture, it is God� word to us. Every time they speak on His behalf, it is His word to us.
Take this example: Every week in our liturgy we confess:
We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly
repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
and then what do they say? They announce to us:
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People these are not idle words, nor are they bland �niceties�. These are God�s words to us, spoken by the mouth of our pastors, to give us comfort and assurance of the forgiveness of sins. This is heavy. If they get it wrong, they are damning us with false comfort. If they are right, then in some sense they save our very souls. Do you see how important it is to hear a prophet today? Your eternal life hangs on this.
If this is an example of a true prophet, then what is a false prophet?
IV. False Prophets
A false prophet is someone who lies to you in God�s name. In our Gospel passage today they are called wolves in sheep�s clothing. They are not simply those that teach wrong things about God, although that is included. They speak God�s word, but twist it in such a way that what you hear as God what is not Him at all. They either add to what God has said, or they take away.
Consider our friend Pelagius with whom we opened this sermon today. When he claimed that �ought implies can�, he seemed to be talking sense. Yet that very phrase will cut you off from Christ. How? If you can do all that you need to do, who needs Christ? Christ becomes at best our example of what we ought to do, not our savior from what we cannot avoid. Romans tells us that God justifies not the righteous, but the guilty. If you are not guilty, you are not covered by God�s grace.
Matthew Henry would have us distinguish between hypocrites and false prophets. Hypocrites are goats in sheep�s clothing. They have the trappings of faith, but they do not live it. They profess faithfulness but practice faithlessness. Generally those around them can see right thru them. Their error is their own; when they die, they don�t take others with them. A false prophet on the other hand is a wolf in sheep�s clothing. They curse not only themselves but many around them. A person who lives a lie damns himself; a person who preaches a lie damn all who follow.
Generally, false prophets are not ahead of truth; they�re behind it. Luther noted that Jesus� warning against them comes at the end of his discourse of the sermon on the mount. In Acts 20 Paul warns the Ephesian elders
that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (Acts 20:29-30)
Peter�s warning against false prophets comes at the end of his life:
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (II Pet 2:1-2)
V. Identifying False Prophets
How can we guard against these who would destroy us from within? Jesus said,
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. (Matt 7:16-18)
This fruit comes in many �flavors�, but I believe one of the most important is the very thing being preached. Jesus is instructing us to judge these false prophets against the revealed Bible itself. Of course, this presupposes we know enough to be able to judge for ourselves whether what we hear is true or not.
Read the Scriptures daily, even if it�s only 5 minutes. It�s amazing how much you can read if you�re just consistent day in and day out. If you start this you will have many questions about what various things mean. Seek out a trusted teacher or clergyman and ask them to these questions. Be faithful in the attendance of church services where good preaching and the sacraments are a regular fare. Do not think that if you avoid all services and thus simply hear no preaching that you can therefore avoid the devil�s lies. Martin Luther said:
Whoever will not hear God, will have to hear the devil. (Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, Vol 6, p340)
When the sermon is preached, is the preacher telling you about yourself, or about God? Is it about how to have a better life, or is it about what God has done? What are you instructed to depend upon � something you have done, such as your works or your response, or your repentance, or are you instructed to depend upon Christ alone?
You can recognize a false prophet when you hear someone say,
You are saved by grace thru faith by Christ according to the Scripture, to the glory of God.
What�s wrong with what I just said? I�ll say it again:
You are saved by grace thru faith by Christ according to the Scripture, to the glory of God.
There�s just one small problem with this. I�ve left out one small word. The word is �alone�:
You are saved by grace ALONE, thru faith ALONE, by Christ ALONE, according to Scripture ALONE, to the glory of God ALONE.
When the prophet leaves out this one little word, you can know he is leading you astray.
VI. The Three Confessions
Lest you think I�m being overly dramatic about the necessity to guard against false prophets, consider the verses in Matthew that immediately follow the ones we read today. Just after warning us about false prophets, Jesus switches to the judgment seat at the last day. He tells us of two confessions. The first is uttered by many being judged:
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? (Matt 7:22)
What could be more comforting than to know that God has used you to work miracles? Perhaps you have prayed and seen others healed. Perhaps you have preached and seen others repent. Looks like you are on quite solid ground. Maybe you�re not perfect, but you certainly measure up better than most. Yet just after this confession by the people, what did Christ confess?
I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! (v23)
This has got to be one of the most awful verses in all of Scripture. We have done all we can, and our reward is everlasting damnation, torment, and burning.
Allow me, as a hopefully true prophet, to recommend to you that on that last day you not mention anything about how well you have done. It will not go far. I would recommend nothing other than admitting your wretched state, and then claiming Christ�s work alone on your behalf. Indeed, briefly turning to our Epistle reading today, we hear the one confession that will save us:
Abba, Father (Ro 8:15)
Why this and nothing else? Because in it we are not claiming we have done anything of merit before God. Instead we are confessing that God has adopted us as sons, placing us in Christ where we are covered by His blood.
VII. Eucharist
Indeed, I call all who can hear me to be covered by His blood. Believe the good news that Christ died for your sins. In His death He has provided food for your soul. Come, eat the bread and drink the wine, and know that the True Prophet has spoken a very good word for you.
This is the word of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Soli Deo Gloria!
