Artificial Christianity:Exposing True Intent
Journey Through the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Today, we'll revisit the multitudes who witnessed the miracle of feeding the 5000. This encounter reveals profound spiritual lessons. Let's read John 6:22-27.
22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
As noted, these people came looking for Jesus. In doing so, they discovered that both Jesus and the disciples had departed by boat and were now on the other side of the sea. We must applaud their determination. The account states, “They also took shipping” and sailed to Capernaum. We must also applaud the fact that they were “seeking” Jesus.
When they find Jesus, their curiosity about His arrival is met with a more profound truth. Christ shifts the focus from their question to their intentions, highlighting a vital distinction: artificial versus genuine faith.
Isn’t it interesting how many people today seem more focused on their needs rather than fully committing to Jesus? In this passage, Jesus gets right to the heart of the matter. He helps us understand that many people are artificial Christians. That is the heart of today’s message. The question before us this morning is this. Am I truly committed to following Christ or merely a casual observer? How can I know? In our text, Christ gives us the answer.
We will discover that faithful followers of Jesus labor for spiritual rewards, not earthly gain.
Later in October, when we return to chapter 6, we will find further instruction from Christ about genuine followers versus those playing the game.
Let’s start with Christ’s depiction of an...
An Artificial Christian
An Artificial Christian
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
As you can see, Christ didn’t waste any time. He completely ignored the question of when He arrived. Instead, Christ, who sees the true intent of each person’s heart, went straight to the real issue. These people who were seeking Him were not seeking Him because they truly believed Him to be the promised Messiah. They were seeking Him because of the selfishness of their hearts.
Artificial Christians talk the talk but rarely walk the walk when following Jesus.
This is because these people outwardly demonstrated a desire to seek Jesus. Remember, they even hired boats, so that might be with Him. Many people outwardly act like followers of Christ. However, inwardly, they are only out for selfish gain. They look like a Christian. They act like a Christian. They even smell like a Christian. Yet, God sees all things, sees their heart, and knows their true intent. It is amazing how we often think we can hide things from an all-knowing God. Scripture is full of passages that speak the truth that God knows the heart of all people.
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
We all have moments when we think we can keep something hidden from God, right? It’s easy to forget that He sees our hearts completely. But remember, He sees us with compassion and love.
Another characteristic of artificial followers is their motivation.
Artificial Christians are motivated to fulfill only selfish desires.
Again, note what Christ said about these people who were seeking Him. He said they were seeking Him because they ate the loaves of bread and were filled. Their desire was not for salvation. They had no longing to obey Christ. They wanted their tummies filled.
SIDE NOTE: When I was preaching about feeding the 5000, I mentioned that these people experienced the best meal ever. Christ, the Creator of the Universe, fixed a feast that is beyond our ability to comprehend. However, these people were there. They ate it. They tasted bread that melted in their mouths. The fish was cooked to perfection. Some may think that I am being a little facetious, but if you stop and think about it, am I? You see everything God does. He does everything with perfection. I imagine these loaves of bread and fish were delightful. Consequently, these people who ate this meal at the hand of God wanted more. It brought such physical satisfaction that their sinful lusts were stirred within them. Now they were pursuing Christ (what seems like a noble goal) but pursuing Him for all the wrong reasons.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Why are they cast out? They were cast out because their works were artificial. They were motivated for their gain. There was never a moment when they prophesied, cast out devils, and did many wonderful works to please God. Instead, they did it for selfish reasons.
Here is another characteristic of artificial Christ followers.
Artificial Christians follow Him only as long as their lustful desires were fulfilled.
We see this in the great multitudes who followed Jesus. This same multitude of people who hired boats so they might follow Christ to Capernaum were the very same multitudes who later were doing the following.
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
They were the same crowds who later mocked and spat upon Him. Where was their devotion then? What happened to their desire to follow Him then? It was gone. Why was it gone? He no longer satisfied their sinful lusts. Instead, He exposed the true intent of their hearts, and, at that moment, they turned against Him.
Artificial followers of Christ are those who talk the talk but do not walk the walk. They say they love the Lord, but in their hearts, they simply want their sinful desires fulfilled. Many Scripture passages expose this type of Christianity, such as...
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
This last verse is one we often ignore. We justify it by saying that it pertains to the Pharisees, who were hypocrites. Yet, it applies to us even today. It applies to this message. These people following Jesus were not Pharisees but had the same heart. They were pretending to be His disciples outwardly, but inwardly, they only wanted their tummies filled. There was no genuine desire to obey Him. Is it no different today? Indeed, it is not.
While preparing this message, one name kept coming to my mind as an example of an artificial follower. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write two letters to Timothy. Timothy, as you might know, was a young pastor. Both letters were written as instructions to Timothy about how to conduct himself as a faithful pastor and minister for the Lord. In writing the second letter, Paul mentions a man named Demas. What is interesting about Demas is that this was not the first time his name was mentioned in Scripture. The first time is in Colossians 4:14
14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Later, he is mentioned again in Philemon 1:24
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
In both instances, it is implied that Demas is a true follower of Christ. He traveled with Luke. By the way, Luke was used mightily by the Holy Spirit to pen the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Thus, we would assume that Demas, a companion to Luke and other fellow laborers, was a true follower. Was he? Remember, his name comes up again in Paul’s letter to Timothy. It would help to remember that the Holy Spirit pens these words. Yes, the same Holy Spirit who is God knows the true intent of every person’s heart. Note what He says about Demas.
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
You can hear the hurt. You can feel the pain. Demas hath forsaken me. Why did Demas forsake Paul and, ultimately, Christ? He loved this present world. You see, Demas was never a true follower of Christ. Why do I say that? I say that because of what Christ noted about those following Him. They followed Him for the food they ate and how it filled their tummies. They did follow Him because they were truly devoted to Him and loved Him. No, they followed Him for what they could get out of it. And, as long it was satisfying, they followed. However, the minute they were no longer physically satisfied, they turned. Demas left. He left because of his love for the pleasures of this world.
I often wonder how many are playing that same game even now! They are like Demas and the multitude. They are talking the talk. They come to church, smile, and even give a little money in the offering. Yet, the minute they walk out the door into the world, they turn it all off. As soon as they are on the job and around friends who are not believers, they live and act just like them. I cannot help but think that such people are artificial in their desire to follow Christ. They are not genuine. They are playing a dangerous game. Playing the game of artificial faith is risky, as Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21-23.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I encourage you this morning to examine your own life and be honest with yourself. Are you being artificial? Will you admit that it is fun to follow Christ as long as you are getting what you want? An actual test is what you do when you are around unbelievers. At that moment, do you throw off your discipleship like an old coat and don the old sinful nature just to be accepted by your friends? If so, there may be a real spiritual issue. By the way, God knows.
In contrast, we need to understand what it means to be a genuine follower of Jesus. Let’s examine the characteristics of a genuine Christian.
A Genuine Christian
A Genuine Christian
How do I know if I am the real deal? In today’s vernacular, how do I know that I am legit? Let’s look again at Christ’s response in our text for that answer.
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Verse 26 gives us insight into an artificial Christ follower. Verse 27 details a faithful follower of Christ. What are some of those details?
A Genuine Christian labors not for earthly gain but for heavenly rewards.
Christ said the faithful follower labors “not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” The word “meat” here means food. True followers focus on pleasing God and seeking eternal life. Christ explains this in John 6:27. Let's unpack this to understand the traits of a genuine follower.
The word “labor” is a keyword here. Labor is when we exert ourselves either through mental or physical work. Often, that work is for a specific purpose. As noted, some work is all mental. I can tell you that studying and preparing messages is work. I have spent hours preparing messages and Bible lessons. When I was done, I was mentally exhausted. I have also physically labored using my hand and my back. I needed to get my yard back in shape not too long ago. My entire lawn was getting out of hand. The grass needed cutting. The sidewalk and exterior parts of my house needed weeding. My bushes need trimming. So, one pleasant afternoon, I went to it. I was determined that I was going to get everything back under control. So I labored at cutting the grass. I used the trimmer to trim the lawn. I got out the clippers and went to town on the bushes. In the end, I was exhausted. However, I accomplished my goal, and my wife was thrilled.
A faithful follower of Christ's labors. They work at pleasing God. They put in the effort required to obey Him. They know that their labor is not in vain as they work and labor. They stay by the stuff. They do not allow friends and other unbelievers to dissuade them from their purpose. Think about how you work hard at your job or in your studies to achieve a goal. In the same way, true followers of Jesus put in the effort to nurture their faith and deepen their relationship with Him.
What are they laboring for? They are laboring for everlasting meat (food). By the way, it is food that the “Son of man shall give unto you.” In other words, faithful followers are always focused on spiritual things. They desire to see others come to Christ. They welcome opportunities to be witnesses. They long to be obedient in their thoughts, words, and actions. Yes, they may fail, but they cling to the promise of God, such as 1 John 1:9. When they fall, they confess their sin and seek God’s forgiveness. By doing so, they get back on their feet and labor even more. Those are the signs of a faithful follower.
Here is a second indicator.
A Genuine Christian understands how Christ is God’s Seal.
Note the somewhat odd statement by Christ in our text.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Why did Christ mention that God the Father had sealed Him, and how does this indicate a true follower? The answer is simple and found throughout Scripture. It must be noted that God the Father sealed Christ, the Son of man. Remember that any mention of Christ as the Son of man is a reference to His incarnation. He is not only God, but He became man.
When it comes to sealing, there are two primary thoughts. Sealing was for identification and ratification. For example, whenever a king made a ruling, he would seal by placing the seal of his signet ring in wax on the document containing his command. The seal identified the ruling as of the king and, at the same time, ratified it as law. Esther 8:8 is a good example.
8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.
God the Father sealed Christ, the Son of man, in that He authenticated He, Christ, was God and ratified that all men must believe in His Son to attain salvation. Nothing can reverse God’s seal upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, this goes a little further. God places His seal upon Christ. Christ, in turn, places His seal upon each genuine follower.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The seal of each true believer is the Holy Spirit of promise. His presence in your life authenticates God’s stamp of approval that you belong to Christ and thus are part of His family. Additionally, the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life ratifies that you are no longer a slave to sin but a slave to righteousness.
How do I know that I am a genuine follower of Christ? Here is a simple litmus test. Is there a desire within you to please God and obey His commands? It doesn’t mean that you always do. Failure to live for Him can be another proof if you feel guilty about disobedience. Such guilt comes from the Holy Spirit. Which, by the way, is an excellent sign that you are a genuine follower of Christ. Your desire to obey, your labor to obey, and your guilt when you fail are all generated by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s seal upon you.
Here is the caution! If you talk the talk when at church or around other believers and then, when you are around unbelieving friends, you simply change your tone and act it out without guilt or remorse, there is a strong possibility you are an artificial follower of Christ. That is the essence of this message.
Conclusion
Conclusion
After understanding these traits, it’s time for self-reflection. Are we genuinely following Christ or artificial followers seeking personal gain? Let’s examine our hearts honestly. Are you a person who has one hand in church and one hand in the world? Are you trying to serve yourself and Christ? You cannot serve two masters. You cannot say you are seeking Christ when you know that all you want is the pleasures of this world. No, a faithful follower of Christ labors for spiritual rewards, not earthly gain. A genuine follower of Christ is both outwardly and inwardly dedicated to Him. A true follower of Christ has the Holy Spirit within them, producing the desire and ability to do the will of God. You may not be a genuine follower if that desire is not there.