Hi Jim My name is Justin. I accepted Christ into my life last year at around this time, but since then I’ve had many many many doubts…even sometimes my mind was worried “what if Jesus is really satan?” and I would get scared and other times I would have atheistic bouts that lasted days. Throughout the year, many miracles have happened and even recently a prophet prophesyied to me that I would become a great man of God and lead many to Christ; he said this and then said a Scripture that I was thinking about all day, signifying that the prophecy was from God. But the thing is, I doubted Christ again yesterday in my mind…Is it normal for a Christian to doubt Jesus(’s existence, messiahship, etc). And also, if I’m not saved, how come God still cares about me enough to give me miracles and answer my prayers from time to time? I’m just really confused and I don’t understand. Was I saved in the spirit ever since the first day I accepted Christ, and my fallen soul (mind, brain) is only confusing me? I’m very confused, but you seem to know lots about this, and you’re not religious or a universalist so I trust you. i just remembered that I asked God the other night the real, deep down reason why I truly doubted, and even the deep down reason why sometimes I slipped into a mentallity that questioned whether or not Jeuss is really satan trying to deceive people into rebelling against a religious god (i know; there’s no end to what the flesh can come up with!)…I think God could have put you into my life to tell me…i’m not sure, but i dont think its any coincident that i found your website today and your answers are really deep and go to the true cause behind people’s problems, i’ve found. God bless you Justin

Hello Justin,

You want to know what I think about your doubts that Jesus could be Satan? I think it’s a valid question in view of how so many religious Christians present Jesus. Are you familiar with Paul’s words to the Corinthians?

For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully 2 Corinthians 11:4

What if the Jesus you have been questioning is the same kind that Paul called “another Jesus”? This OTHER Jesus is just like the OTHER gospel mentioned by Paul in Galatians 1:6. No, there really isn’t another Jesus or a different good news, but I’m telling you right now that many who preach the good news of Jesus are talking about something other than the real one. I am wondering if perhaps you are reacting against the many false religious projections of Jesus. I discovered that I had many such false ideas of Jesus hanging around for years that kept making me doubt God as well. I was actually doubting the Santa Claus kind of god that had attached itself to my beliefs of Christ.

I’ll be honest with you, as far as prophets go I don’t put much stock into what they say. I’m not saying that what he said to you isn’t true, but it’s probable that he tells many others the exact same thing because it fits in with what he wants to see happen. I had almost the exact same thing said to me, and to tell you the truth I failed miserably as a soul-winner. I did not become the Billy Graham that a few assured me I would. Then again, in recognizing my failure I came to see more of the incredible reality of Christ as my life. My whole religious Christian life was all about doing, not being. I could quote verses like…

I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13

…but I really didn’t have the faintest idea what that could mean. I approached it as if it meant I can do all things FOR Christ, because that’s what I was trying to do. The name of Jesus was always being spoken, but I slowly began to see that it had less to do with him and more about the things that were connected with him. About him, but not him. I hope that doesn’t sound too metaphysical, it’s not meant to be. It has to do with that which is professed to be, rather than what really is.

On top of all this, you have a lifetime of doubts that are popping up to warn you against the insanity of believing in that which you cannot see. If you are in Christ you are simply in Christ, however the many things you have stuffed or stifled away are going to have to be dealt with as they pop up. The letter of Corinthians I mentioned had to do with a group of people that Paul loved. His letters dealt with the human logic and rationale that made them do a lot of stupid things and think a lot of insane thoughts. Nevertheless, he continued to speak to them as those who believed in Christ, encouraging them to see beyond the limitations of their fleshly perceptions. Religious Christianity is all about fleshly perceptions, perceptions that are cloaked in spiritual appearances, but are nonetheless fleshly. You and I are stuck in this place where all around us the world compares one with another based upon what can be seen. It is right here that we are learning not to trust appearances and claims. It is right here that you and I hear God calling us to that which cannot be seen. This is the faith that cannot be shaken because it is not built upon things that can be shaken. Don’t despair if the truth of Christ seems insane to you, but instead be glad that you will not try to make his truth fit within the boxes that seem sane according to what can be seen … for you are learning through this trying time that Christ does not make sense to the natural mind that keeps trying to understand him.

Jim