TITLE: “The Fruits of the Gospel”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning is the Gospel lesson just read, Jesus’ warning against false prophets, and the words, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

In 1936 the Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany. Maybe you’ve heard of it, and a few of you might even remember it. This was the crowning opportunity for Germany to show of its might and power and civilization before the world. And they did. Berlin glowed with technology and power, the power of a nation preparing to go to war. The world looked on in wonder at everything that Germany had accomplished in a few short years. It made many pause. But there were rumors. Rumors of Jews being sent to concentration camps. Christian pastors and people persecuted for the faith. It was all there, but it couldn’t be seen to the naked eye. The world peeked in on the Germany of the Olympics, but it would be years later when the world would see the truth of what was really going on. Appearances can be deceiving.

You walk into a church. They have a nice cross on the wall, they use a hymnal not that different from ours, and at first glance it seems like it’s just like our church. So you listen to the sermon, and you hear about how it doesn’t matter really what you believe, as long as you’re sincere. Or, God is going to make sure everyone goes to heaven, no matter what they believe. It looks like the church you grew up in perhaps, but appearances can be deceiving.

This is what our Lord is warning the disciples and us about today. He is warning about what he calls a false prophet. So what is a prophet, and what is this warning about? A prophet is someone who has been sent by God to preach His Word. The office of prophet was really an Old Testament office. Some of the more famous prophets were Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi. The last of the Old Testament prophets was John the Baptist. He pointed the finger at Jesus and said to the world, Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The word prophet, though, can also be used of any preacher of the Gospel. So we see in the Old Testament, in Paul’s words to the pastors in Ephesus from the Epistle, and in our Gospel lesson the warning against false prophets, false preachers who do not proclaim the Word of God rightly.

Now if there are true prophets, then that means there must be false prophets. There are some who preach the truth of the Gospel, and there are others who seek to ensnare the unsuspecting Christian with false words. To me, what is most disturbing about Jesus’ words is that these prophets will come to us and they will appear like sheep. These false prophets will look like, act like, and to a certain extent even sound like the real thing. They will appear to be from God.

Think of the myriad of “Christian” preachers and writers and speakers we are exposed to every day. Whether it be on television, a bestseller novel, the Prayer of Jabez, the Left Behind series of books, or even visiting a family member or friend’s church, we are all exposed to a huge number of different Gospels and versions of the truth. How is the Christian to make sense of it all?

One answer would be to say it doesn’t matter. As long as they are Christian, that’s what’s important. All of this other doctrinal stuff is just what theologians argue about. As long as you’re sincere, you can go to church where you want and even believe what you want. Make your own choices. Now this view is tempting, because it fits so nicely with the spirit of our age. The problem with this view is that it simply is not biblical. Beware, Jesus says. He doesn’t say, Be tolerant. Beware. Words mean things, my friends. I sometimes think we have a view of Christianity that is basically this: as long as someone says that they are Christian, then they must be Christian. But this doesn’t fit with Jesus’ words. Jesus warns us against letting our guard down. He warns against the false prophets who will come in sheep’s clothing. What does that mean? That means that the false prophets don’t come from outside. It’s easy to see that a David Koresh or Jimmy Jones are false prophets. But what about the church and the preacher that looks so similar to ours, yet is so very different in what they teach and hold to be true?

By your fruits, you shall know them. What Jesus is talking about here is doctrine. What do they actually teach? Remember, the Christian faith is about Christ. So when we are called on to determine whether something is true or false, we go to the Word of God. This is the fountain of life and the living voice of the Gospel. When we talk about truth and falsehood when it comes to the church, we go to the heart of the matter. Is salvation by Christ alone? Does the preaching hold up Jesus Christ, or does it focus on our own works of the Law? Is Jesus’ body and blood truly present in the Lord’s Supper? Does Baptism save? Do they have Absolution, that is, the forgiveness of sins? These questions, and others, get at the heart of the matter. No matter how amazing the preacher, no matter how enthralling the Christian book or movie, if it doesn’t hold up Christ alone for salvation, then it is not from God.

Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. These are Jesus words. So what is the will of the Father in heaven? The will of the Father in heaven is that you believe in the one He has sent. In other words, the work of God and the will of God is that you trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. That is how you are saved. It’s not what you do, it’s not the miracles or how much you prophecy in His name or cast out demons. These things do not save. Only faith in Christ saves.

So the only thing that gets you into heaven is to do the will of God by believing in Jesus. How is this faith created and sustained? It’s created by the Word of God as it is given right here. It is created by Baptism, and held together in Him by the Lord’s Supper. That is the fruit that gives life.

Now about this time, the Lutherans are probably asking themselves, okay, pastor, we get it. Now where’s the Gospel in all of this? The Gospel in our text is this. Jesus Himself is the true prophet. He is the Lamb who was slain. He is the one who allowed Himself to be slaughtered by the wolves, so that you will not be harmed. He has promised that the gates of hell itself will not prevail against His Church. We are the sheep of His pasture. Jesus is your Good Shepherd, who guards and protects you from all harm of both body and soul.

By your fruits you shall know them. God does provide faithful pastors and preachers to give His flock the very best things of salvation. This is His great promise to all His children; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

So rejoice! Your salvation is in God’s hands, not your own. He has promised to give you the faith that will save you. And give it He does. Think of the wonderful gifts that He has given you! He has given you a Church as a place of refuge. He has given you a pastor to preach Christ’s word of forgiveness. He has washed you and made you white in the blood of the Lamb. He gives you His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, and draws you into His heavenly mansions.

Jesus warns us of the false prophets who come into the world. We are to be eternally vigilant in guarding the truth of God’s Word. It doesn’t stand or fall on us, though. Christ Himself keeps watch over His people, and will guard you against false teachers who would draw you away from the Gospel He gives you the truth of His Holy Word to sustain you all the days of your lives. This is the comfort that can only come from Him. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.