Opposing Gospels
Devotional
The gospels of the world are competing for our attention. They promise to fulfill our needs, they offer to save our souls, but worldly gospels will always be incomplete and insufficient. There is only one gospel that is the true way to salvation, only one that grants everlasting freedom, joy, and peace. And that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Seek to follow the One who lives and preaches truth.
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.” 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath.
JOHN 7:14-22
Questions:
- Share about a time when you’ve been exposed to a teaching that seems true but is not from God?
- What impact, if any, did tha tteaching have on your life? Explain.
- Jesus indicates it is possible to discern who instructed him by his life and teaching. Is it possible for others to discern in your life and teaching that God has instructed you? Explain.
- In your own words, how would you sum up Jesus’ teaching on “judgement” in this passage?
- In what areas of your life can this group help you come to “right judgments?”
Practice The Way of Jesus:
As we seek to use right judgment, we should continually seek to root out the false teachings that compete for our attention and affection. This week, identify the 'false gospels' that tempt you and consider how you can push back against those teachings with Jesus' teachings.