Discerning Genuine from Counterfeit Christianity
Genuine Christianity produces Courage
Counterfeit Christianity produces Insecurity
Genuine Christians are focused on Christ
Counterfeit Christians are focused on Self
Genuine Christianity results in Joy
Counterfeit Christianity results in Bitterness
Slide
Have you ever met someone who claimed to be a Christian, but their conduct made you wonder what it was that they truly believed?
One of the biggest turn offs for myself, and I am sure for many, is the apparent hypocrisy of those who claim to be Christians, but their lifestyle does not match their profession.
Now the reality is that we are all hypocrites to some degree because none of us are without sin.
But also true is that when a person puts their trust in Jesus as Savior, they are changed, and those changes WILL be evident in a persons’ life over the course of time.
It is impossible to come to Christ and not be changed.
So while we all can have areas where Christ is not done with us yet and continues to grow us and mature us, we will be different than we were.
And those differences will be visible over time.
The Bible tells us that Genuine Christians bear fruit and Jesus tells a parable that teaches us that we will be able to recognize false teachers by their fruit or their lack thereof.
So, today, we are going to learn how to discern the difference between Genuine Christianity and Counterfeit Christianity as we continue in our series in Acts called “The Church Unleashed.”
Slide
We are going to be reading in Acts 8:2-25 and see 2 men who claim the name of Christ with one of them being a Genuine Christian while the other is a Counterfeit Christian, at least at the time this story occurred. We will learn some things that are true about the Genuine and the counterfeit that will help us recognize where we are at in our own lives as well as in the lives of others.
So let’s see what we can learn as we read God’s word.
A quick background
Stephen has just been stoned to death by the Jews in Jerusalem and it goes on to say in
Acts 8:2-25
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."
25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Pray
Ok, so here we have Philip & Simon, two men whom, from the perspective of an outsider, initially may both be thought to be a person that God was doing something through. But as we shall see, One was a Genuine Christian, while the other, though he professed Christ as Savior, was a Counterfeit Christian.
I believe that for 2 reasons.
First, because of his actions and
Second, because of Peter’s words to him when he offered to buy the ability to impart the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:20-21, 23
Slide
20“May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry because your heart is not right before God…23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
Peter, speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, exposes the truth about Simon. His heart was not right before God and he was captive to sin.
While a Christian can still sin, a Christian has been set free from sin and has had his heart washed and cleansed.
Whether he became a real believer later, I don’t know, but at this point, I believe he was a counterfeit.
Transition
Ok, so what are some things we can see about Philip and Simon’s life that can help us to discern Genuine Christianity from Counterfeit Christianity?
I think one of the things we see here is that
Genuine Christianity produces Courage
Slide
Acts 8:1-5
Consider Philip for a moment and the courage he exhibits.
One of the guys you serve with has just been killed for proclaiming the good news of life through Jesus, and all the Christians are now being persecuted and you are forced to flee your home.
Sounds like a good time to lay low and be inconspicuous. Blend in with the crowd a little and maybe you won’t face the same fate as Stephen.
But that is not what Philip does.
Instead, it says he went to Samaria and “proclaimed Christ there.”
Philip was filled with the same Holy Spirit that Stephen had that gave him courage in the face of persecution, of suffering and of death.
In fact, this is what we see throughout the Scripture.
Men and women who have been changed, strengthened with courage to face whatever came there way.
Now, understand to have courage does not mean that you are not afraid.
Courage is do what is right in spite of being afraid.
Apply to today
There are times we are going to be confronted with things that are scary.
But as we grow and trust in the Lord, the Holy Spirit gives us courage to move forward in spite of being afraid.
Slide
2 Timothy 1:7 - for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power…(ESV)
Apply
Today, we continue to see people overcome fear with courage and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Missionaries
Missionaries that leave their home and travel to foreign countries to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In some countries, that can be quite dangerous. In the middle east in Africa.
Last fall, someone that our own Jeany Schmitt who ministers in Guinea knew well, was killed as they went out trying to help people to combat Ebola. They are given courage though because while there is risk in this life, God has removed the eternal risk for us. That allows us, as we grow in Him, to walk in courage.
Baptism
For some situations, while they are not life or death, they can still be scary for us.
For instance, for those getting baptized in this day and age, it can be scary.
It is scary to be in front of people, scary to speak in front of people and to be the focus of people’s attention.
But people take this step by the power of the Holy Spirit knowing that is what the Lord wants them to do and they overcome their fears with the courage of the Holy Spirit.
Transition
On the other hand, while we see that Genuine Christianity produces courage,
Counterfeit Christianity often produces Insecurity
Slide
Look at Simon.
Before professing Christ, he worked at getting people’s attention on him through his magic tricks trying to get people to think he was somebody. Even after he professed Christ, there was no change. He wanted the ability to lay hands on people and have them receive the Holy Spirit because without abilities to amaze people He felt like nothing.
Counterfeit Christianity is about the person feeling like they are somebody because of their own insecurity. It does not bring about courage to do what God wants.
The person has to keep telling himself or having other people tell him how great he is because this person is not receiving the affirmation of God or from the Spirit that He is doing what the Lord wants.
Jesus says in
John 14:27
Slide
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Genuine Christians will experience a peace and assurance from God.
Now there are times that even those who are Genuine Christians will not have peace, but that has more to do with God growing us to be mature.
A Peace from the world, however, only leads to insecurity and the need to constantly be affirmed by the world.
The peace from God, that someone who is a Genuine Christian has, surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). This is a peace and security that someone who is a Counterfeit Christian, a person that has a
a faith that is in name only,
a faith that only makes a verbal profession of Christ but it is not a heart belief and is not real,
does not and will not have.
Simon, does not have peace from God.
He only has the peace from the world, which is no peace at all, but only insecurity.
But he was Baptized?
But the text says Simon believed and was baptized.
Acts 8:13 says
Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
His belief was not a true belief. His was a belief in name only.
We only know that because we see the outcome and we see Peter with His gift of discernment telling us that. We won’t always know if a person is a Genuine or Counterfeit Christian.
Philip didn’t know that Simon’s faith was false when he baptized him.
But we see here that Simon wanted to be around Philip all the time. He wanted to learn how those miracles were done so that He could do them and have the false security of other people’s affirmations.
The only security that is eternal is the security of being in the Lord’s grip, being His follower.
Transition
So Courage comes with a True Faith, and Insecurity with a False Faith.
But another difference between a Genuine and Counterfeit Christians has to do with the object of our faith.
Genuine Christians are focused on Christ
Counterfeit Christians are focused on Self
Slide 5
Listen to the difference between Philip and Simon in what they did to live out their faith.
Acts 8:4-5 - Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.
Acts 8:9,
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great,
And after Simon professed a belief in Christ, what does he want? He says to the Apostles
"Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Acts 8:19
Someone who is a Genuine Christian points the things that are accomplished through them back to Christ.
Someone who is a Counterfeit Christian wants things that they do to point to them. “Look at me! See how great I am.”
Philip was proclaiming the name of Christ.
Simon was seeking to exalt himself.
The Apostles point to Christ
Throughout the book of Acts we see the Apostles and others pointing to Christ for the great accomplishments that are done through them.
In Acts 3:6, Peter heals the Crippled beggar
Slide
6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
When Paul and Barnabas where in Lystra, they healed a man that was crippled. The people came out thinking they were Zeus and Hermes and were going to sacrifice to them
Acts 14:14-15
Slide
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.
They are pointing people to Christ and away from themselves!
However, those who are Counterfeit Christians have themselves as the object of their faith.
They may talk about Christ, but it is to gain something for themselves.
They want to exalt themselves, not Christ.
Apply
This is a vital discernment ability.
If you are speaking with someone or attend a church where the pastor or leaders are preaching in ways that are pointing to them versus pointing to Christ, get away from that person or get out of that church.
That is not a place you are going to grow in Christ.
Instead, you may be getting sucked into a cult like situation, because that is what we see in every cult situation. There is always a leader where it is all about him, not Christ.
Genuine Christians are going to be focused on Christ and be pointing you to Christ.
Counterfeit Christians are going to focused on self and be seeking your attention on themselves.
Transition
Finally, we see a difference in the results in our life of Genuine Christianity vs. Counterfeit Christianity.
Genuine Christianity results in Joy
While
Counterfeit Christianity results in Bitterness
Slide
Look at what happens when Philip proclaims Christ in Samaria.
Acts 8:5-8
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
There was great joy as people began to respond to Christ and experience not only the miraculous healings, but salvation through Christ.
But take a look at Simon.
He professes Christ, but it is not real and when Peter rebukes him, He says to Simon in
Acts 8:23 - I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
Joy in the Lord accompanies Genuine Christianity.
Proverbs 10:28
Slide
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
There is a joy in being in relationship with the Lord. True relationship, not just some name only relationship which is no relationship at all.
Counterfeit Christianity comes to nothing and leads to bitterness of heart and great disappointment.
Jesus speaks of this Counterfeit Christianity in Matthew 7 when he is talking about fruit.
Slide
Matthew 7:15-23
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Slide
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Counterfeit Christianity leads not only to bitterness of soul, but eternal separation because the person is not a Christian.
Conclusion
Slide
Do you recognize yourself as a Genuine Christian or have you believed in a Counterfeit Christianity, A Christianity that is about you?
Paul tells us to
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?
Are you focused on the things you do?
“Hey, look at me! Look at what I have done. I, I, I, instead of Lord, you have done it all. I bow at your feet because without you I can do nothing!
Genuine Christianity is all about Jesus, period.
Genuine Christianity strengthens and enables you to overcome fear and take courage to do what the Lord is leading us to.
Genuine Christianity does not exalt yourself, but humbly recognizes that Jesus is the power behind anything you or I can do.
Genuine Christianity leads to joy and real life even as we give our life for Him.
He who loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)
If you are examining yourself and unsure if you can discern Genuine Christianity in you, then drop the counterfeit. Come before the Lord and repent of your pride, of your idolatry of yourself and find real life in Christ.
Glorify and exalt Him with your life and experience the joy of life that only comes from Genuine Christianity.
If you need Christ, turn to Him in repentance and confess your belief, your true Belief in Him as the absolutely only way to salvation.
Romans 10:9
Slide
if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Let Him transform you and strengthen you to live your life for Him and experience Genuine Christianity.
Let’s pray
Acts 8:17 they received the Holy Spirit. Apparently in this unique case, where the gospel was first moving beyond the bounds of Judaism, the Lord sovereignly waited to give any manifestation of the full power of the Holy Spirit (cf. vv. 15–16) until some of the apostles themselves could be present (Philip was not an apostle), and therefore there would be no question at all that the Samaritans had received the new covenant empowering of the Holy Spirit in the same way that the Jewish Christians had. This would show that the Samaritans should be counted full members of the one true church, the new covenant community of God’s people, founded and based at that time in Jerusalem. It would also guarantee that the Samaritans, who for many generations had been hostile toward the Jews, would not establish a separate Christian church or be excluded from the church by Jewish believers. The Spirit was given only at the hands of the apostles, to show convincingly to Samaritan and other later, non-Jewish leaders of the church that both Jews and non-Jews who believed in Jesus now had full membership status among God’s people (see Rom. 11:13–24; Eph. 2:11–22).
Acts 8:18 Simon saw that the Spirit was given. Since this was outwardly evident to Simon and no doubt to others as well, there must have been some outward manifestation of the Spirit. This may have been speaking in tongues, prophesying, or both (see10:46; 19:6), and it was an evident sign to the apostles that the Holy Spirit had fallen on the Samaritans in a similar way to what had happened to the apostles and those with them at Pentecost. offered them money. Simon was acting in character, because magicians often exchanged secrets for money.
Acts 8:21 Neither part nor lot is OT language for having no share in something (see Deut. 12:12; 14:27), and this seems to indicate that Simon has now disclosed the condition of his heart and that he did not truly belong to the people of God. The strong language in Acts 8:23 also seems to class Simon as an unbeliever (but see note on v. 13).
