The Certain Growth of Both True and False Christianity - 4/6/2025 Sunday Sermon

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The Certain Growth of Both True and False Christianity - Matthew 13:24-43

The different branches of Christianity are like that air-conditioner unit – great when working biblically, but troubled by holes that arise in the unit. Some sin and false teaching problems are like bigger holes that reveal problems quicker, but even little problems cause eventual trouble. In today’s parables Jesus warns us to expect this troublesome reality.

Matthew 13:24-43

In Matthew 13’s parables of the Kingdom, Jesus reveals that His spiritual kingdom will grow between His first coming and His return to set up a physical kingdom. In the ‘church age’ we are now in local churches become spiritual ‘embassies’ of the coming Kingdom.

Last week we studied the Parable of the Sower. The Parable of the Sower shows 4 different responses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Parable Jesus urges us to make sure we truly understand repentance and faith as we crown Jesus the King of our life and go on to bear fruit as His subject.

The Parable of the weeds in the field - V. 24-30, 36-43

So far we have learned that God is actively working in the world to bring people to Himself, and Satan is actively working to keep people lost.

Here we read that Satan has another strategy to keep people lost – outward forms of religion without the true new birth in Jesus experience. Verse 38 says the Devil is the one who sows the weeds among the wheat.

The Greek word for weeds/tares is zizanium. Scholars believe Jesus was referring to darnel (lolium temulentum), a poisonous weed that bears a close resemblance to wheat right up until the ears of grain appear. It is actually called “false wheat” by those who have had to deal with it.

The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

These verses do not mean there is not a place for church discipline – in Matthew 18 we will see that there is. But it should serve as a rebuke to the growing number of zealous Christians who spend more time ‘weed-eating’ then they spend sowing, planting, and watering wheat.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” - Matt. 19:28

In the parable of the weeds, Jesus makes clear that outward forms of Christianity will include both true and false Christians. Make sure that Jesus really is your Lord and Savior.

The Parables of the mustard seed & the leaven - V. 31-33

Some take both parables to illustrate the phenomenal growth of true Christianity; Some take both parables to illustrate the phenomenal growth of false Christianity; And many, like me, take the first to illustrate the phenomenal growth of outward forms of Christianity in churches and denominations, and the second to illustrate the pervasive inward growth of false teaching in those churches and denominations.

What Jesus said in the parable of the mustard seed has become true – the few dozen people gathered around him as He gave the great commission in Matthew 28 have grown to over 2.4 billion people on earth.

In the parable of the leaven, Jesus is warning about how false teaching will also be a formidable problem as outward Christianity grows.

Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” - Matthew 16:6

Evangelical beliefs include those who testify of the new birth in Jesus and who believe the Bible is totally trustworthy and is our final authority.

Jesus told us that false believers and false teaching would proliferate even as true Christianity grew. So don’t be surprised and don’t be Barney Fife as you interact with others. But do keep personally growing in grace and truth, and speak the truth in love to others.

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#Religion #Guest Speakers #Dr. Danny Campbell #Christianity