Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? 12 False Christs Quotes

“What makes a church a church is not a mission statement, its polity, its tax-exempt status, its programs, the building, the celebrity-ness personality of the pastor, or the piety of the parishioners. No, may this never be, for these are all fallible marks—man-centered. Rather, the church is defined as anywhere the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered to believers.”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs

“Sin is not canceled out by living lawfully.”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs

“Keep in mind that the Law does reveal sin, but it does not absolve it. (See Romans 7:7–12 where Paul explains that he would not know sin if it wasn’t for the Law.) The Law does show what godly living looks like but it cannot motivate it, as we know from Galatians 3:21b, “For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.” That belongs to the blessed and divine Gospel! The Gospel absolves. The Gospel forgives. The Gospel justifies. The Gospel sanctifies.”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs

“Regarding Christianity, we are justified for the sake of Jesus Christ. In the eyes of the Father, the reality is that we are not guilty, but completely righteous; it is as if we have never sinned. Keep in mind, though, that we cannot be justified before God by our own strength, merit, or works. Rather, this justification is delivered to us personally through the Word and Sacraments and received through faith.”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs

“We do not follow the real Jesus as an example in order to earn or sustain salvation, but rather, we look to Jesus’ example to know love as stated in 1 John 3:16: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:21 talks specifically about following in the footsteps of Jesus’ cross—that we are to bear our crosses of suffering in this life.”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs

“Ideally, the altar and the flag, the state and the church, are two different realms in which we live. They both must be sharply distinguished, while also affirming that they do not contradict. They both find their origin, operation, and essence in the Lord. They work harmoniously, side by side. They are two separate kingdoms—two realms—but ultimately servants of the real Jesus Christ. (See Romans 13:1–2 where Paul states that governing authorities have been instituted by God.)”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs

“A false christ who is primarily for helping our children get on the honor roll, a false christ who is mainly for helping us run our businesses, or is chiefly for improving our marriages and sex lives, is powerless to deal with the real and most important issue of all: our sin. What this all means is that we are saved by the real Jesus, we are also sustained by the real Jesus, and we grow in the real Jesus (see Hebrews 12:1–2). Jesus is not a means to joy, wisdom, and peace; rather, Jesus is our joy, wisdom, and peace.”
― Matthew R. Richard, Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Twelve False Christs