Jeremiah 23:31-32 - CHRIST’S CARE ENSURES FALSE PROPHETS CAN NOT PERVERT GOD’S ELECT

23:31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

23:32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

Christ himself personally declares condemnation for false preachers, for all who falsely claim to speak for God (and say, He saith). In truth God sent them not nor commanded them. True Gospel preachers are sent and commanded to preach by Christ. They speak for Christ. They declare exactly what Christ gives them, exactly what every one of Christ’s prophets preached from the beginning - they preach Christ. The preaching of the Gospel is effective to God’s elect. The elect hear, turn away from / abandon all self-confidence, and put all their trust (their faith) in Christ’s righteousness.

The false preachers declare meaningless fluff (prophesy false dreams), rather than the Gospel. Their message is perverted useless man-made nonsense. They declare that man’s self-righteousness is relevant to God, that it has meaning, significance, or merit before God. These people know nothing about Christ. Do not waste time trying to salvage something useful out of their speeches - “hearken not unto their words”.

Christ guards his people from false gospels. The elect persevere in Grace because Christ keeps them. The lies of false prophets will not affect the elect (they shall not profit this people). The liars will not gain traction amoung the elect. They can not and will not lose hold of Christ. His Grace, his free undeserved gift, is their only hope. Christ protects his sheep from the lies of works-religionists.

By Ray Bennetts