By Nick
Bibile
Text:
Acts 4:13–21
Many people would disagree with this question. They would say, “I do not hate Jesus.” Even many false religions claim to respect Jesus. Yet Scripture reveals a deeper truth: the majority of people reject the true Jesus of the Bible while embracing a false version of Him.
The reality is this: there is another “Jesus” that people gladly accept—a Jesus of human imagination, not the historical Christ revealed in Scripture. This false Jesus is not from heaven, but from the deception of hell.
The Apostle Paul warned about this very danger:
2 Corinthians 11:4 – “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.”
Paul exposes the existence of “another Jesus”—one not preached by the apostles, one not revealed in the Word of God. This false Jesus is a satanic counterfeit, designed to deceive the world. Satan’s greatest weapon has always been deception.
This false Jesus is loved by many because he never confronts sin. He never warns of God’s wrath. He never calls people to repentance. He loves people while leaving them in rebellion. He compromises with sin, agrees with every lifestyle, affirms every religion, and never demands holiness.
This false Jesus fits comfortably into the opinions of fallen man. He does not offend. He does not judge. He does not call for surrender. And because of that, the world loves him.
But this is not the Jesus of Scripture.
In fact, many who claim His name do not truly belong to Him.
Matthew 7:21–23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…”
Many will speak His name, preach in His name, and even perform religious works in His name—yet Christ will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
This should cause every soul to tremble.
In Acts 4:13–21, we see Peter and John standing before the high priest, rulers, elders, and religious leaders. These men commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Why?
Because the true Jesus threatens false religion, human pride, and satanic darkness.
The world does not mind a false Jesus—but it hates the true Christ.
This spiritual conflict did not begin in the New Testament. It began in Genesis.
Genesis 3:15 – “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
This is the first gospel promise.
From the seed of the woman would come the Messiah—Jesus Christ. There would be enmity between the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. Christ would crush the serpent’s head, though Satan would bruise His heel at the cross.
From the beginning, this conflict has been visible:
Cain murdered Abel
Ishmael opposed Isaac
Esau opposed Jacob
Pharaoh oppressed Israel
Prophets were persecuted
Christ Himself was crucified
Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus. The religious leaders plotted His death. They rejoiced when they crucified the Prince of Life.
This hatred continues today.
Jesus never promised worldly acceptance. He promised persecution.
Mark 13:13 – “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Luke 6:22 – “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you… on account of the Son of Man!”
True Christians are hated because they bear the name of Jesus.
Stephen was stoned to death because he loved Christ more than the religion of his day.
Nero began severe persecution of Christians around A.D. 64. Believers were tortured, fed to wild beasts, crucified, and burned alive to serve as human torches while Nero rode in his chariot.
Peter was crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded.
Under Emperor Diocletian in A.D. 303, an official decree was made to destroy the Scriptures and slaughter Christians. This became known as The Great Persecution.
Justin Martyr wrote:
“Though beheaded, and crucified, and thrown to wild beasts, and chains, and fire, and all other kinds of torture, we do not give up our confession…”
The more Christians were persecuted, the more the gospel spread.
Later, men like Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin persecuted and killed millions, many of them for the sake of Christ. Queen Mary I (“Bloody Mary”) burned 288 Protestants because they refused to deny the true gospel.
These were not criminals. They were not rebels, thieves, or murderers. They were faithful believers who loved the true Jesus.
This remains true today.
Those who preach a soft, compromised, worldly Jesus are often celebrated.
But those who preach repentance, holiness, obedience, and the Lordship of Christ are hated.
Why?
Because there is a war between two kingdoms:
The Kingdom of God, ruled by Christ
The kingdom of this world, ruled by Satan
This battle will continue until Christ returns in glory to judge His enemies and establish His eternal reign.
Many people do not hate the name “Jesus”—they hate His authority.
They want salvation without
surrender.
Heaven without holiness.
Forgiveness without
repentance.
A Savior without a Lord.
But Jesus does not allow that.
John 14:15 – “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:24 – “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”
If our opinions, desires, and lifestyles contradict Scripture, then we do not truly love Jesus.
This is the great question.
Do you have the false Jesus—or the true Jesus of the Bible?
Do you have a Jesus who comforts you in sin, or a Jesus before whom you fall in repentance?
Do you have a Jesus who approves of worldliness, compromise, entertainment without conviction, and friendship with the world?
Or do you know the Christ who said:
John 12:25 – “Whoever loves his life loses it…”
Do you follow a Jesus who requires no discipline, no prayer, no holiness, no cross?
Or the true Christ who said:
Matthew 16:24 – “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Do you have the Jesus of religion—or the Jesus of true relationship and lordship?
Paul said:
1 Corinthians 16:22 – “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.”
This is not casual Christianity. This is eternal truth.
We preach Jesus Christ—
God incarnate.
The
eternal Son made flesh.
The One whose blood was shed for
unworthy sinners.
The One who conquered sin, death, and
hell.
The One who rose bodily from the grave—not as a spirit,
but in glorified flesh.
The One who is seated at the right hand
of the Father.
The One who will return in power and glory.
He will destroy every false
kingdom.
He will judge all who followed a false Jesus.
He
will receive those who loved Him, obeyed Him, and endured for His
name.
And He will reign forever with His true people.
So I ask you again:
Which Jesus do you have?
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