Scams, Counterfeits, & Outright Lies
January 26, 2025 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Jesus (of the Bible) is the only way to Heaven and Eternal Life.
Focus Passage: Galatians 1:6-9
Supplemental Passage: Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 NASB)
Introduction: I have this app that comes with my AT&T service on my mobile phone that blocks potential fraud calls and alerts me to potential scam calls. As I receive numerous notifications like this through the day, I thought, “wouldn’t it be nice if people had the same kinds of alerts about God! Then I thought, “Well, we do. It’s called the Bible.” Unfortunately, most people don’t or won’t read the Bible well enough to know what is true and what is a scam. Too often, it is either unscrupulous preachers wanting your money or the devil wanting to keep your soul.
I. Scams
a. Prosperity “gospel”
b. Name it and claim it
c. “Send in your faith seed of $1000”
d. "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (Matthew 7:15-16 NASB)
II. Counterfeits
a. Islam
b. Mormonism
c. Buddhism
d. A host of others, through the ages, who have claimed to be the way to God
e. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB)
III. Outright Lies
a. Be good
b. Do good
c. Go to church
d. Keep the 10 Commandments
e. Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NASB)
f. Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 NASB)
Application/Invitation: (speaking of the Berean Believers) Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11 NASB)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32 NASB)
Do you know God’s Word well enough that you have an automatic “Scam Alert” or “Fraud Alert”? Commit yourself to His Word!
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 NASB)
