You Make This People Trust in a Lie

by Terry Wane Benton

Text: Jeremiah 28:15

Jeremiah confronted some popular teachers of his time and rebuked them for getting people to trust in lies. It has happened since the Garden of Eden that people trust in lies. There are plenty of preachers willing to give false assurances.

Religious leaders can be bought, or they can sell a teaching that makes people feel better about themselves even when they need to do some serious repenting.

He Gets Us

“He gets us” is often bent to mean “He gets our desire to keep our favorite sins, and He accepts that we are committed to not repenting of this particular sin.” “All must repent” is the true message of the real Jesus (Luke 13:3-5), while men peddle another Jesus who accepts you without repentance. The real Jesus came to save us from sin, not to save us while remaining in our favorite sin.

He Loves Unconditionally

“He loves us unconditionally” is used to mean “He accepts us unconditionally.” Therefore, repentance is not required or expected. Love is not the same as acceptance. We love our children while not accepting them favorably when they steal, bully, curse, or engage in disobedient behavior. Love disciplines and demands change. It does not accept into a favorable relationship that which is sinful and unrepentant (II Peter.3:9; Isaiah 59:1f). If we refuse the goodness of His love that calls for repentance (Romans 2:2-8), then we establish no relationship with His love. We are trying to claim His favor and fellowship on our terms. It doesn’t work that way. Repentance is turning from our sinful standard to God and His holy standard. God’s love is what wants the relationship, but lack of repentance keeps us out of His favor and fellowship. False teachers talk of “unconditional love” as if God accepts all people unconditionally. See the various sins people must abandon to be saved (I Corinthians 6:8-10).

There is no such thing as unconditional salvation! Don’t make yourself or others “trust in a lie.”