Are You Following the Real Jesus—or a Counterfeit?

[bdavidc]

Jesus said plainly in John 10:26, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” These are not the words of a motivational speaker or a gentle religious guru, they are the words of the Lord Himself, dividing between those who truly belong to Him and those who do not. Many claim belief, yet Scripture makes it clear, not all belief is saving faith. The line Jesus draws here is sharp. It reveals that real faith goes far deeper than mental agreement or emotional excitement. It is about belonging to Him.

In John 3:15-16, Jesus promises eternal life to those who believe in Him. But the kind of belief He speaks of is not casual acknowledgment. It is a personal trust, a complete surrender to the One lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness, crucified for the sins of the world. This kind of belief changes everything. It is not intellectual curiosity or admiration for His miracles. In fact, John 6:23-26 shows us that many followed Jesus simply because they wanted more bread. They had seen the miracles, they had been amazed, but they were not drawn to Him, they were drawn to what He could give them.

Others saw Jesus as a political solution, a possible liberator from Rome. Mark 15:32 records the mockery of the crowd, “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” They wanted a Messiah on their terms, a powerful ruler who would crush their enemies, not a suffering servant who would die for their sins. They believed in a version of Jesus, but not the one sent by the Father. They did not recognize Him because their hearts were not His. They were not His sheep.

This is why Galatians 1:3-4 and Philippians 2:5-8 are so vital. They remind us who the true Jesus is. He gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world. He made Himself of no reputation, humbling Himself to the point of death on a cross. This is the Jesus we must believe in, not a mascot for our political ideals, not a genie who fixes our problems, but the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Many today still fall into the same trap. They believe in a Jesus of their own imagination, a Christ made in their image, one who tolerates sin, affirms their desires, and requires no repentance. But Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Saving faith is marked by submission, trust, and obedience. It is to believe in the Jesus of Scripture, and to follow Him wherever He leads.

So ask yourself, do you believe in Jesus because of what He can do for you, or because of who He truly is? If He leads you through suffering, persecution, or hardship, will you still follow? If not, then maybe the problem is not with your faith, it is that you may not be one of His sheep.

But the good news is this, Jesus is still calling. And all who hear His voice and come to Him in repentance and faith will be saved. Not by works, not by heritage, but by grace. Believe in the true Christ, the crucified, risen, and returning King. Anything less is not saving faith. It is a counterfeit. And eternity is too high a price to gamble on the wrong Jesus.