By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Matthew 24:5, Did Jesus mean that many would claim to be him?
Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Answer:
That is the TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION and most Pastors and Theologians teach it that way.
I believe what Jesus was saying was that in the last days (Which we are living end) there would be MANY people that WOULD CLAIM to be christians saying that Jesus is Christ, but when you compare what they believe and teach with the Word of God you find this is not so ESPECIALLY when you question them on “What must they do to go to heaven” you find out rather quickly that MOST add works to the Gospel and if they ADD WORKS of any sort to the Gospel they are NOT SAVED.
The Gospel is this…
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
And all a person has to do to be saved is BELIEVE the Gospel.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
In Matthew 24:5 the word MANY can be understood as THE MAJORITY. “The Majority” of the people are sincere BUT they are “SINCERLY WRONG” thinking that they are christians and the truth is that they are NOT even saved themselves and I believe this is what Christ meant when he stated “many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ” and as verse 5 continues to say “and shall deceive many” BECAUSE they themselves are deceived therefore PASSING ON the False Teachings & Doctrines that they are taught and believed unto others deceiving them in the process.
To prove this point, Let’s look at 2 verses where the word MANY is also used.
– Matthew 7:13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.
The word DESTRUCTION means hell therefore this vese says MANY (The Majority of) people are “GOING TO HELL”
– Matthew 7:22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
TAKE NOTE: The majority of people as this verse states TRY to offer God THEIR WORKS as a reason to be allowed entrance into heaven, In Isaiah 64:6 God considers our good deeds as filthy rags. Also take note of NOTHING mentioned here about believing in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and trusting HIS PAYMENT on the cross alone for their sins they just say LOOK God at all my good works that we have done.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (our good deeds) are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
In Conclusion:
Jesus said in John 14:6…
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There is ONLY one way to heaven and that is Faith alone in Christ, He is the ONLY WAY IN.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH