The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.“

We see a parallel command from Jesus in Mark 16:15-17 where he commanded, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.“

These two passages and Luke 24:46-47 combined make up what we today sometimes refer to as the ‘Great Commission’.  Matthew, Mark and Luke have this as the last recorded commandment Jesus gave prior to His ascension back to heaven.  There are a lot of things in the words of Jesus here that are significant to our lives as Christians.  Jesus had completed His earthly ministry, had been rejected by His own people.  He had been crucified and had arisen from the dead and had spent the last forty days or so appearing to those who were believers in Him and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

Jesus was done teaching on the earth.  It was time now for Him to return to Heaven and rule over the coming kingdom of God which was due to be revealed in about 10 days.  The scriptures do not record any long parting speeches.  There is no record of any long and tearful goodbyes.  There is no evidence of any long discourses between Jesus and those whom He had been His constant companions for the past three years or so. 

There are many definitions of the word commission.  In this context, the word ‘commission’ means an authoritative order, charge, or direction.   Jesus finished up His earthly stay with directions regarding what His disciples were to do from that time forward in His absence from the physical realm.  He also gave them words of comfort which would serve to let them know that even  though he was not physically there, He would always be there with them in a way which would continue to sustain, uplift and comfort them until such time that He would return.  So for the remainder of this lesson, we are going to look at the ‘Great Commission’ of Jesus Christ and we will see that it is a relevant today as it was the day it was spoken by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The Great Commission, as the saints of all ages have consented to call it, constitutes the marching orders of the Lord’s church for that day and on until that great day of the Lord which marks the end of man’s walk on this earth.  It is unlikely that many passages of similar length are more filled with divine truth than are these final words of Jesus before He left this earth. The Great Commission contains within its words many distinctive doctrines of the faith that is in Christ Jesus. These words are exactly what one should have expected, and far more, from the lips of a supernatural, divine Savior, at point of His departure to the eternal world of the spirit, and uttering one last comprehensive face to face command to his disciples with an application for all generations to come.

1. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven…”  Power here is speaking of authority.

This supports the divinity of Christ. If these words had been spoken by a mere man or any other created being, they would be nonsense. Therefore in this statement Christ lays claim to His status as a member of the Godhead.  There is no way God, the Father is going to hand over all the authority in heaven to a mere man.  Jesus Christ was standing on the earth when He made that statement, but He was much more than just a man in order to make such a statement.   

Ten times in the Greek New Testament, Christ is actually called God (see John 1:1; 20:28; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 1:8; also Colossians 2:9 and John 14:9).  Let’s look at some of these. 

Acts 20:28
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  We all know that it was Jesus Christ who shed His blood on Calvary thereby being the one who purchased the church with His own blood.  But here the inspired text referred to Him as God. 

Philippians 2:5-6
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”  Before leaving Heaven and coming down here to earth, Jesus was in the form of God. 

Hebrews 1:8-9, This is God the Father doing the talking here, “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.“

When God the Father calls His Son, Jesus Christ God in the inspired record, not once but twice, you can be assured that Jesus Christ is God.  These and all the rest of the scriptures which refer directly to Jesus Christ as God leave no doubt whatsoever that Jesus Christ was in fact one of the three members of the Godhead which are individually identified later on in the Great Commission. 

And as if this was not enough to convince one of the deity of Christ, let us consider the many passages in which Jesus Christ laid claim to attributes of deity, as for example when he said, “Before Abraham was, I am!” The thought with this statement is one of eternal existence without beginning or ending.   Christ is God come in the flesh. That is the central meaning and message of Christianity.  Anything less than this regarding Christ would be blasphemous.   I say this because there are those within the so called religious community who claim Jesus Christ as their savior, but deny His deity.  They claim among many things that Jesus Christ is a created being just like the angels and Satan.  Such a belief flies in the face of scripture and lessens the Glory of God in many ways not the least of which calls God a liar when He Himself referred to Jesus Christ as God.

2.  “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”  In earth.

The authority of Christ is supreme.  Ephesians 1:19-2:1, “and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Jesus is reigning supreme in heaven and on earth.  Jesus is a king, reigning right now in heaven over the church which is His spiritual kingdom. He will continue to reign until all his enemies have been put under foot, notwithstanding, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:24,25).

3.  “Go Ye“

The disciples were instructed to go.  That does not mean to set in services and wait for visitors to show up at the assemblies.  It means Go and carry the message to the lost.   Evangelism is the heartbeat of the church.  Without those to carry the gospel to the world, the church will fade from existence and souls who might have been saved will be lost. 

God gave man the responsibility of spreading the word.  It has been entrusted to us.  God has left this up to us.  This is an overwhelming responsibility when you think about it.  Jesus died and gave His life for the church, and then left it up to us to tell the world about it.  The congregation here in Granby is here because someone evangelized.  I am grateful for this congregation.  I want to see it continue to be a light in this community.  I would like for it to be here a hundred years from now.  But without evangelism, it will eventually cease to exist.  How do we make sure it’s here for others in the future?  We “Go Ye“.

4.  “Go ye therefore and make disciples”   The KJV reads, “Go ye therefore, and teach“

Teaching, as a prerequisite of discipleship, is evident as one of the basic principles of the faith.  Infants cannot be taught, and therefore, in the true view, they cannot become disciples until they are old enough to be taught. The Great Commission is clearly opposed to infant church membership.  Christians don’t just happen, they must be taught and taught correctly.  Christians are not born, they are “born again“.  Infants and small children are not lost, therefore they are not dead in sin.  Those who are not dead in their sin do not need to be reborn. 

5. “Of all the nations”

Here is the world-wide missionary program of the church. Here is the world-wide brotherhood of all nations and races in Christ. God made of “one” all the families of the earth (Acts 17:26), and that universal kinship and brotherhood appear in the Great Commission. No limitation or abridgment is permitted. All the nations … not merely all “the English-speaking nations” or “all the white nations,” but all the nations! 

Galatians 3:26-29, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“

All Christians, regardless of race or color are brethren in Christ.  There is no room in the heart of any faithful Christian for racial bigotry or prejudice. 

6. “Baptizing them“

Baptism is an essential step in the making of disciples.  Jesus chose to specifically mention it here.  It is understood that with the command to baptize others is the requirement to be baptized.  Mark’s account says in 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved“.  If nothing else appeared in all the Bible relative to the ordinance of baptism, Christ’s mention of it in this circumstance would have been more than sufficient to bind it upon all people for all time to come.

There is a great difference of opinion among the denominations as to the necessity and mode of baptism in the life of a believer.  The baptism of the Great Commission cuts through all this and clearly identifies the one baptism which is in effect today.  The baptism of the Great Commission is the one that can be submitted to and obeyed by the believer.  The baptism of the Great Commission is the one that can be administered to others by mankind.  Ephesians 4:5 says there is only one baptism.  That baptism can only be the baptism of the Great Commission and that is the one which is an immersion and resurrection in water. 

It was the mission of the early church to baptize believers, therefore that mission continues today.  Baptism is an essential and necessary step in the evangelizing process of the world.  Baptism is an essential and necessary step for becoming a Christian. 

7. “Baptizing them Into the name”

This means Baptized by the authority of and identified with.  Ephesians 3:14-16, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named”  All who have been baptized with the baptism of the Great Commission are identified with God as His children, as His special people.  Our association is no longer with the world and the things therein.  Our association is now with God and the things not of this world.

8. “Of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit“. Here is the doctrine of the Trinity. Although not stated in the Scriptures under that terminology, the doctrine of the Trinity is nevertheless a true one, and appears throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The pronouns for God in Genesis are plural, as in “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26).  In the New Testament, the doctrine of the Trinity appears in this passage, and at Christ’s baptism (Matthew 3:16) which reads, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  In this context we have God the Son on earth having just been baptized.  We have God the Holy Spirit descending upon God the Son like a dove and we have God the Father speaking His approval from heaven.  Three separate persons, one nature, so united in purpose and direction that they are one. 

9. “Teaching them to observe all things”  The perpetual mission of the church as a teacher is implicit in these words. Here is the necessity for indoctrination and grounding all the disciples in the Savior’s teaching. Here is the divine authority for the Bible School, the house meeting, the mid-week service, the evangelistic campaign, and whatever else may be useful in carrying out the divine injunction to teach the baptized to observe all that Christ commanded. 

This is how baptized believers are grounded in the truth.  This is how babes in Christ are fed, nurtured and brought to maturity. Jesus did not stop with His instruction to baptize.  The responsibilities with discipleship are more far reaching than just making Christians.  The responsibility of the church does not stop there.   We are to follow up with teaching.  And what we are to teach is summed up by Jesus in words that are all inclusive of His whole life of teaching.  The instructions were to teach new Christians to observe everything:

10. “Whatsoever I have commanded you” … This establishes the identity of the true doctrine of Christ.  It is what Christ commanded, nothing else.  The most important identifying characteristic of genuine Christianity is that it is “of Christ.” The true faith was “first spoken” by him (Hebrews 2:3), and not by any other: Whatsoever was not first spoken by the Lord and confirmed by those who heard him can have no valid claim as a part of Christianity.  Not even the Holy Spirit came to reveal new truth to the apostles but to “bring all things to their remembrance” (John 14:26; 16:13). In practical fact, this limits true Christianity to what is taught in the New Testament, for that is the only book that contains the authenticated teachings of the Master. With the death of the last of the apostles who heard and confirmed to others what Jesus taught, the revelation of God’s true will for mankind was concluded. Many passages in the New Testament make that crystal clear. People are commanded not to go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6); the apostles gave all “things that pertain” to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3); the true faith was “once for all” delivered to the saints (Jude 3), recorded by “inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

In the light of this, how much of present-day religious practice and doctrine is useless?  Baptizing of babies, countless innovations in the worship, the doctrine of purgatory, penances, redemption of penances, and literally scores of other doctrines, devices, and presumptions of men, all which are identified as forming a part of Christianity, but it is not so. Christ taught none of those things.  They were not first spoken by him, and they were not revealed by the apostles.  We can look back and know who, when and where manmade innovations and practices were introduced into the church and brought into the the worship and practice of Christianity.  Jesus said on one occasion in Matthew 15:8-9, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.“

If something was not first spoken by Jesus and revealed by the apostles or other inspired writers, then it must be rejected.  It cannot be a part of the faith. 

11. “And lo, I am with you always”  This teaches the providence of God for His church. God has not wound up his universe, or his church, and left them to run of their own accord leaving them to their fate.  He “upholdeth all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Christ promised to be with his disciples always.  A concerned and loving God always watches over the members and activities of His people. 

Telling His disciples He would be with them always was also going to be a great comfort for them because He was about to ascend into Heaven and they needed to know that He was with them, even if they could not see Him.  Jesus was about to leave them behind on earth, but they needed to know they were not being abandoned.  The application for us today is the same.  Even though we cannot see Jesus Christ, we know from the Great Commission that He is with us.  He is with His church.  He is reigning His spiritual kingdom from the right hand side of God the Father and He is with us still and will be with us until the end of this age and beyond. 

12. “Even unto the end of the age.”   The King James translates this as the end of the world.  This is the doctrine of the final destruction of the entire material creation, specifically of the earth and all that is in it and the heavens, meaning everything not on the earth itself. The apostle Peter elaborated on this (2 Peter 3:1-13). This creation is destined to be burned up.  The means by which this will be accomplished is not certainly known. 

In the light of Christ’s word in the Great Commission, and in view of Peter’s words on the same subject, the end of this world is certain. “No man knoweth the day nor the hour” (Matthew 24:36). The conclusion that thoughtful men should derive from these considerations is well stated by Peter who said, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace” (2 Peter 3:14).

Mark 13:32-37
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
NKJV

Going back and looking at the great commission as a whole, we see the commands:  Go, Make disciples, Baptize and Teach obedience.  Who are we supposed to baptize and teach?  All nations. 

Jesus was giving His disciples the farewell instructions of how to proceed with the spreading of the gospel and the growth of His kingdom.  His work on earth as a flesh and blood man was finished.  He was passing the responsibility of discipleship and the continuation of Christianity to mankind.  We are commanded to Go, Make disciples, Baptize and Teach obedience.  That is how mankind is converted to Christ.  That is how Christians are made.  That is how the church, the body of Christ, lives, thrives, grows and continues on this earth. 

We cannot add anything to this, we certainly cannot take anything away from it.  If mankind fails to ‘go’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will not continue.  If mankind fails to ‘make disciples’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will vanish from the face of the earth.  If mankind fails to ‘baptize’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will cease to exist.  If mankind fails to ‘teach obedience’ as commanded, the church of the new testament will be replaced by the churches of men. 

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A Sound Mind

Sin involves a corruption of the mind. The word of God, in the mind of Eve, was replaced with a lie: “Ye shall not surely die.” Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtly, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

Many have destroyed their minds with the use of alcohol, while other have become addicted to prescription drugs. Millions have embraced the theory of unity in diversity or some other erroneous philosophy, and in so doing have allowed their minds to be corrupted. Countless members of the church across the land who once were grounded and settled in the faith are now heard saying: “Well, I don’t know what I believe.” False philosophers from the newsstand, bar stool or pulpit will destroy one’s mind and his faith.

Pure Christianity never turned anyone into a “basket case.” The belief and practice of the teaching of Jesus is the best prescrip8on in the world for a wholesome mind. Paul wrote to Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love and of a SOUND MIND.” (2 Tim. 1:7)

The Bible records many examples of those whose minds were settled and composed when truth was accepted and obeyed. Jesus said of the lost son, “He came to himself,” he came to see his real condition and need. When he returned to his father all was well (Lk. 15:11-32). The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing, after he learned and obeyed the gospel (Acts 7:8:26-30). Saul quit praying and fasting and he was baptized upon learning the truth from Ananias (Acts 9:1–‐18). The next verses say, “And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogue, that he is the Son of God (Acts 9:19-20).

Truly the faithful child of God has nothing to be ashamed of, nor should he be afraid. Rather he should fill his mind with the precious truths of the Scriptures and live life to the fullest every day. Peter wrote: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).

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The Purity of the Congregation

The congregation consists of those that are members of a local church. A local church is made up of a plurality of Christians that have volunteered to work together at a certain location to carry out their God given responsibilities to worship and work to glorify God – cf., John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth (ASV).  Each congregation when having reached its maturity will consist of elders and deacons with the membership – cf.,

Philippians 1:1, “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (ASV):

Among those qualities, that the membership of each congregation is to develop is purity of life. Now, this purity includes a number of things that each Christian ought to possesses in their character, please note the following reference:

PURITY (Grk. hagneia, “cleanness”). Freedom from foreign mixture, but more particularly the temper directly opposite to criminal sensualities, or the ascendancy of irregular passions; chastity (2 Cor 6:6; 1 Tim 4:12; 5:2).

(From The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)

PURIFICATION, PURIFY, PURIFYING

A. Nouns.

1. katharismos NT:2512 is rendered “a cleansing” (akin to No. 4, above), Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14; in Heb 1:3, RV, “purification.”

2. katharotes NT:2514, “cleansing,” Heb 9:13. See CLEAN, C, No. 2.

3. hagnismos NT:49 denotes “a ceremonial purification,” Acts 21:26, for the circumstances of which with reference to the vow of a Nazirite (RV), see Num 6:9-13.

B. Verbs.

hagnizo NT:48, akin to hagnos, “pure” (see CHASTE), “to purify, cleanse from defilement,” is used of “purifying” (a) ceremonially, John 11:55; Acts 21:24,26 (cf. No. 3 above); 24:18; (b) morally, the heart, James 4:8; the soul, 1 Peter 1:22; oneself, 1 John 3:3.

2. katharizo NT:2511, “to cleanse, make free from admixture,” is translated “to purify” in Acts 15:9, KJV (RV, “cleansing”); Titus 2:14; Heb 9:23, KJV (RV, “cleansed”). See CLEAN, B, No. 1.

(From Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

PURE and PURITY

As these words apply to the quality of character that Christians ought to possess. We have no problem understanding that they refer to morally, sexually, and spiritually clean. There are a number of passages of Scripture that refer to pure and purity by simply using the term white, as “dressed in white robes” {Rev. 7:9} and “riding on white horses” {Rev. 19:11-14}. White in these passages and others indicates purity.

In these passages in the Book of Revelation, many of them refer to Christ or to heavenly personages. Purity is a quality that every Christian ought to seek so that they can truly claim to be “imitators of the Divine Nature” (i.e., of Christ) – cf., 2 Peter 1:2-4,

Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. ASV

MORAL PURITY:

One of the areas that many Christians neglect  is  moral  purity.  Now,  moral purity

refers to the actions that we perform in our interactions with others. In whatever area that we may find ourselves dealing with other people we must display moral purity. If I am involved with another person in any business enterprise, I must always pursue honest, equitable, and fair practices. I must not seek to gain advantage through unchristian tactics. It is never morally right to take unfair advantage of another person in any activity. Fairness itself is an action that all Christians ought to pursue, note the following Biblical references:

Proverbs 1:3, To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity; ASV

Proverbs 2:9, Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, (yea), every good path. ASV

2 Corinthians 6:13, Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto (my) children), be ye also enlarged.

Colossians 4:1, Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. ASV

MAINTAINING PURITY BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE:

The Christian that desires to maintain purity of the mind with regard to the opposite sex must be conscious of the teaching of the Bible on the subject and conform thereto. Part of the problem of maintaining purity in this area may be attributed to a failure to control the desires. We know that God teaches the Christian to maintain self-control as a quality of acceptance, please note the following Biblical references:

Acts 24:25, And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me. ASV

Galatians 5:23, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ASV

2 Peter 1:6, and in (your) knowledge self-control; and in (your) self-control patience; and in (your) patience godliness;

CONSIDER THIS:

The apostle declared that one of the problems that he experienced as he desired to live the pure life was self-control. Paul even left us instructions about how to gain the advantage in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage (K.J.V., under subjection) lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected” {ASV}.  We would do well to imitate the apostle’s attitude toward taking care of the body’s desires.

PURITY AS WE INTERACT TOGETHER WITH THE UNSAVED THAT ARE IN THE WORLD:

We must surely understand the importance of showing those in the world that we are pure of speech, actions, and inclinations. To influence the people around us for good we must always maintain purity in their presence as if we were in the presence of the Lord in the congregation. Many passages found in the teaching  of the Lord teach  this fact, notice Matthew 5:13-16,

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do (men) light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ASV

CONCLUSION:

It is imperative that those of us that are serving God develop purity in all areas of life.

Ø      We must develop purity in the family relationship.

Ø      We must develop purity in our relationship to the government.

Ø      We must develop purity in our relationship with other Christians in the congregation.

Ø      We must develop purity in our business and social relationships in society generally.

Ø      We must develop purity as we interact with those people we work with in whatever place we work to provide a living for our family.

IN ALL ACTIVITIES, WE SHOULD LIVE PURE LIFESTYLES.

THERE IS NO TIME FOR THE CHRISTIAN TO LIVE OR ACT IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT UPRIGHT

OUR FUTURE ABODE DEPENDS UPON OUR LIVING A PURE AND WHOLESOME LIFESTYLE WHILE WE ARE HERE IN THE PHYSICAL BODY.

WE MUST CORRECT OUR SINS AND FAILURES SOON AS THEY ARE KNOWN, AND REPENT OF ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WILL HINDER US.

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Why Denominations?

QUESTION: “If there’s only one God and only one Bible, then why are there so many different churches or denominations?”

Excellent question! And certainly a question which those who have been ‘soured’ on religion in general have every right to ask. In fact, it’s a question that makes perfect sense – no matter how you slice it or why one asks it. “If there’s only one God and only one Bible, then why are there so many different churches or denominations anyway?”

This is a question very deserving of a common sense, scriptural answer, because certainly we know from even a peripheral reading of the New Testament that that’s not the way God intended for it to be, nor is it the way things were in the first century, between 33 A.D. when Christ established His church (Matt. 16:18-19) on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-47), and the writing of Revelation by John, somewhere near the end of the 1st century. During that time the Scripture unequivocally shows us that there was but one church in existence. That church was (and still is) the body of Christ, and there was (and still is) only one (Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4-6).

During that same first century, all the ‘churches’ (that is to say, local congregations of the same, one, exclusive, New Testament church over which Jesus alone was Head – Eph. 1:22-23) all taught the same things (1 Cor. 4:17, 7:17, 11:16, 16:1). It wasn’t like it is today with a different “church” on every corner, all with their conflicting and contradictory doctrines and dilemmas. Instead, if there was a church meeting in a town, it was a church of Christ; if there were several meeting, they were all churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)! And any question a sincere seeker asked was bound to receive the same answer because all the congregations of the one N.T. church/body/kingdom of Christ, were expressly, exclusively, and unequivocally committed to the apostles’ doctrine only (Acts 2:42), as they recognized that the apostles alone both had and delivered by divine authority, the very commandments of God Himself (1 Cor. 14:33-38; 1 Thess. 2:13, 4:1-8; 2 Tim. 1:13).

Divisions (or denominations) of loyalty down into groups following certain men and their doctrines, instead of only Christ and His, were boldly and thoroughly condemned (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Conversely, unity was achieved by simply standing together as one, faithfully and exclusively following the absolute truth of God’s Word alone just as Jesus had prayed for (John 17:6-23; Phil. 1:27-2:2). For 200 years or so thereafter there was but the one church Jesus had built as seen established, evidenced, and in existence in the N.T. Scriptures.

Emperor Constantine later (313-337) began instituting and implementing departures from the apostle’s doctrine that soon led to the faulty foundation of the Catholic Church being laid, and it wasn’t until 1517 that the first major protestant denominations began to be built by mere mortal men (Matt. 15:7-9), based on their own faulty and biblically-contradictory doctrines which they had developed in the dark recesses of their own hearts and minds – a practice which was certainly nothing new, and which God never had, or ever will approve of (See 1 Kings 12:25-13:10 with 2 Kings 17:20-23; Jeremiah chapters 5-7, 23, and etc) These new-fangled denominations and their doctrines did not even resemble the church of Christ as seen in Scripture in many cases. But many are those Biblically ignorant and uninformed today who have fallen prey to these countless counterfeits. People today are actually stunned to learn, that in fact none of the modern-day Protestant denominations (i.e. divisions) are more than 500 years old!

Bottom Line? There is one God, one faith, one Lord, one baptism, and one body/church, according to God (Eph. 4:4-6). Want to learn more about the Lord’s one N.T. church as established and experienced in Scripture; the same one the apostles worked and worshipped both with and in?  Come and see and check us out. Ask for a study. Ask questions. We’re easy to find, both in town and in The Book (Acts 2, Rom. 16:16).

Posted in Doug Dingley | Tagged , | Comments Off on Why Denominations?

Do You Have a Right Relationship With God?

Many have been the times I have heard people say that obedience to God is not as important as our relationship with Him.  People believe that God knows their heart and that if they have love for God in their hearts then His grace will somehow make up the difference between obedience and disobedience.  I have spoken with people who say they have their own relationship with God and that they do not have to attend the assemblies of the saints or seek God’s will through His word and live in obedience to that will.  The purpose of this lesson is to examine the various characteristics of our relationship with God and to determine what the word of God teaches about our relationship to God.

According to Paul in Timothy 3:16-17, the scriptures are inspired, meaning they are given under the direct supervision of God.  They are profitable for a number of things such as doctrine, reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness.  Taken as a whole they are able to thoroughly equip mankind for all good works.  So with that in mind, we are going to examine what the word of God says about having a right relationship with God.

There are several characteristics of a relationship with God mentioned in scripture.

1)  We have the relationship of love.  We are commanded to Love God in Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” And God is said to love us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Now does this mean an emotional type of love that we have in our hearts, or does this mean a love which manifests itself in action?  Let’s consider the words of Jesus as recorded in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Jesus went on in this very chapter to expound greatly on the concept of an obedient love.  John records this for us in John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”  Then Jesus went on to say this in verses 23-24, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”

So we see here that our love for God must be accompanied with obedience to His will.  Lack of obedience indicates a lack of love on our part.  So from the words of Jesus as recorded by John, our relationship of love for God is built on the foundation of our obedience to Him.  according to the words of Jesus as recorded in scripture, when there is no obedience, then there is no love.

2)  We have the relationship of friendship with God:  In John 15:15 we have the words of Jesus recorded as teaching, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”  Jesus considers us His friends.  Backing up one verse to 14, Jesus teaches us what we must do in order to be considered His friend, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”  So we see here that our relationship of friendship, like our loving relationship with God is dependant upon obedience to His commands.

Abraham was called the friend of God.  We can learn about that in James 2:21-23, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God“.  Abraham’s friendship was built on his obedience to God.

Where there is no obedience, there is no love.  Likewise where there is no obedience, there is no friendship with God.

3) We have a family relationship with God:  One one occasion while teaching, Jesus mother and His brothers had come to see Him.  When Jesus was told they were there waiting to see Him, He replied with these words, ”

Matthew 12:46-50
“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.  But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!”

Jesus went on to say, “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”  Jesus taught that those who are obedient to God are more His family than His own flesh and blood relatives.

4)  We have a relationship with God as His children:  Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus“.  John wrote in 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name“.   And of course, this makes God our Father.  Jesus affirms this relationship in Matthew 23:9, “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Obedience to God is just as vital an element of this relationship as any of the others.  Let us consider the words of John in 1 John 3:10, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”  Those who are not obedient do not get any benefit from the family relationship we have as the children of our spiritual father.  Paul pronounced the wrath of God upon children of disobedience in Ephesians 5:6, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

Those who are obedient and do righteousness are the children of God.  John taught this in 1 John 3:7, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”

Those who are not obedient to the will of God are therefore not the children of God, rather, they are the children of the devil, being children of disobedience.

5)  Christians have a Fellowship relationship with God: 1 John 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

But, John wrote in 1 John 1:6, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth“.   Walking in darkness is the opposite of walking in the light.  Jesus had this to say about walking in darkness and light, ” I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Those who claim to be in fellowship with God, but are not following after Jesus, walking in the light and living obediently, are not telling the truth.  They do not have the fellowship with God they claim to have.  Therefore the Christians fellowship relationship with God is dependent completely upon their obedience to His will.

6) Christians have a bondservant relationship with God:  Several Christians in the first century affirmed this in writing.  Paul referred to himself as a bondservant in Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1 and Titus 1:1.  Paul referred to Epaphras as a bondservant in Colossians 4:12 and Timothy as a bondservant in Philippians 1:1.   Peter referred to himself as a bondservant in 2 Peter 1:1.  Jude and James both did this in the first verses of the epistles written by them as well.

Concerning the bondservant relationship we have with God, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:15-17, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.”  Peter taught his readership to conduct themselves like bondservants of God.

Paul, while giving instruction to earthly bondservants, had this to say concerning this relationship we are to have with God, “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5-6).   Our bondservice must come from our hearts, meaning it is our desire to have this relationship with God, and as such, we are obligated to conduct ourselves in the same manner towards God as an earthly bondservant is obligated to his master here on earth.

The word “bondservant” comes from the Greek word “doulos” which literally means either a slave or a bondservant.  A bondservant is a person bound in servitude to another human being as an instrument of labor.  Sometimes someone who owed a debt they could not pay would offer themselves as bondservants until such time as the debt was satisfied.  This is the relationship which several inspired writers claimed to be in towards Jesus Christ.  In every case mentioned, the same Greek word, “doulos” was used.

Scripture teaches us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and as a consequence of that are dead in their trespasses (Colossians 2:12).  Paul taught in Ephesians 2:5 that those who are dead are made alive together with Christ.  This was accomplished through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross when He shed His blood for the sins of mankind.  With His death, Jesus Christ satisfied the death penalty each and ever accountable individual owes for their transgressions.  There is a penalty associated with sin.  This penalty is death (Romans 6:23).  Jesus paid that penalty at great personal cost and thereby placed us in the position of owing Him our very lives.  While Jesus paid this sin debt for all, Christians are not free to live their lives as they see fit.

Because of what Jesus did on the cross for all mankind, a debt which we can never repay has been paid for us.  We owe our lives to Jesus Christ.  This is a debt we can never repay.  Christians are called to offer their bodies a living sacrifice to God in Romans 12:1.  Sacrifices are required to be of the free will nature.  Therefore Christians are called to offer their lives as bondservants to Christ.  Being made free from the sin which enslaves us and kills us, we willingly offer ourselves as bondservants to Jesus Christ.  This relationship of a bondservant to Christ is described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:22-23, “For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant. Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.”

A bondservant remains in voluntary service until one of two things occurs.  Either the debt is paid or the bondservant dies during the period of time required to satisfy the debt owed.  Since it is the Christians’ very life which is to be offered as a living sacrifice it is understood that the cost of salvation can never be fully repaid to Jesus by mankind.  There is simply nothing mankind can do, either collectively or individually that can repay what it cost Jesus to offer us salvation.  There is no way we can take Jesus off the cross or make it unnecessary for Him to have been there.  We cannot repay what Jesus gave up for us.  The only thing we have to offer in return for Jesus’ amazing gift is a lifetime of willing, grateful and obedient servitude.  Such is the bondservant aspect of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are literally to be in voluntary bondage to Christ Jesus and as such, we are obligated to conduct ourselves as true bondservants.  True bondservants serve their master obediently and faithfully for the duration of their bondage.  In the case of  a Christian, this term of service is for life.

7)  As bondservants of God, naturally we have a Master.  Matthew 23:8-10, “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”  Our Master in the bondservant relationship is Jesus Christ and we see the reference here to God as the Father which speaks to the family relationship we have.

Another term in scripture for “Master” is the word “Lord“.   In Luke 6:46, Jesus is recorded as asking, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”  Jesus is asking why someone would acknowledge Him as their Lord and Master but not obey Him?  When we do not obey Jesus, He is not our master.  Jesus taught in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other…”  Those who claim Christ as Lord but do not obey Him do not have the right to call Him Lord.

8)  The relationship of knowing God.  This means knowing His will, His love, His mercy and His nature.  John wrote concerning this in 1 John 2:3-6, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him“.  According to John, anyone who claims to know Christ but is not obedient to Him is a liar and has no truth in Him at all.  John goes on to say starting in verse 5, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked“.

If we do not know God, then it is reasonable to conclude that He does not know us.   Jesus wrote in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity“.

How is your relationship with God?  Is your relationship with God according to scripture?  Are you an active participant in your relationship with God?

1)  Do you love God,    You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
2)  Are you a friend of God?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
3)  Are you in fellowship with God?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
4)  Are you a child of God?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
5)  Is God your Father?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
6)  Is Jesus your Lord and Master?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
7)  Do you know God?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.
8)  Does God know you?  You can answer that by asking whether or not you are obedient to Him.

Is your relationship built on obedience or is it built on an emotional state?  Do you love God the way God says He wants to be loved in scripture, or do you love God the way you want to love Him?  Are you an obedient friend of God, or is your friendship with God a one way friendship?  Is your fellowship with God based on obedient service to Him?  Are you an obedient child of God or are you a disobedient and rebellious child?  Are you a faithful and obedient bondservant of Christ or do you serve God your way?  Do you know God, does God know you?

Romans 6:16-18
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

We all yearn for and seek a relationship with God.  We love Him so much for what He did for us.  We recognize that nothing we can ever do could earn us a relationship with Him.  This relationship is offered because of God’s favor, because of His grace.  God loved us enough to send His Son to die for our sins.  Jesus loved us enough to willingly offer Himself as a sacrifice for us.  He died at our hands so that we may be saved.  We can’t repay that debt.  We don’t deserve what He did for us.  We can’t do anything to merit such love and sacrifice in any way.  But what we can do, is honor the sacrifice and love that God demonstrated on our behalf with the love and sacrifice of ourselves back to him.  Paul wrote in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Christ died for us, let’s live for Him.  He is our Lord and master, let us be obedient bondservants.
God is our Father, let us be His obedient children.
God loves us so very dearly, let us love Him both in heart and in service.
Jesus wants to be our friend, let us be obedient friends to Him.
Jesus wants to know us, let us seek His will and obey Him so that we can know Him.

Do you have a relationship with God?  This is a question every accountable person must ask.  A one way relationship with God is not good enough.  You may have a relationship with God in your own mind, but if you are not obedient to His will, your relationship with God is not right.  Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”  If your relationship with God does not include obedience, Jesus says not only do you not have a relationship with me, I don’t even know you.

Do you have a relationship with God?  The bottom line is, if you are not obedient to God, then you do not have the relationship God says you need.  If you are not obedient to God, you do not have the relationship God wants.   There are many facets of our relationship with God and every single one of them is dependant upon obedience to His will.  If we take obedience out of our lives, then we do not have a relationship with Him.  Our obedience to God is the foundation for every characteristic of our relationship with God.

Do you have a relationship with God?  Have you heard and believed the gospel?  1 Corinthians 15:1-5, “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Do you have a relationship with God?  Have you obeyed the gospel?  2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, “…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power“.  Those who do not obey the gospel do not have the right relationship with God.

How does one obey the Gospel?  The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the gospel, therefore when we obey Jesus, we obey the gospel.

Do you have a right relationship with God? John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  Have you obeyed the command to believe in Jesus Christ?  If you have then you are one step closer to having the relationship God wants.  If you have not obeyed that command, you are “condemned already” (John 3:18).

Do you have a right relationship with God?  Have you repented? have you turned from your sinful life and committed yourself to living a life of righteousness? Jesus said in Matthew 4:17, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand“.  And in Luke 13:3, Jesus taught, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  If you have not repented, then you do not have the relationship with God that he expects.  According to God’s word, you are not His friend, you do not love Him, neither do you know Him and you are not His child and He is not your father.

Do you have a right relationship with God?  Have you obeyed the command to confess Jesus as the Son of God before men?  Jesus taught in Matthew 10:32-33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”  If you have not confessed Jesus as the Son of God before men then you have not obeyed Jesus Christ.  You do not have a right relationship with God.  You are not Jesus’ friend, you do not love Him, neither do you know Him and you are not His servant and He is not your Master.

Do you have a right relationship with God?  Have you obeyed the command to be baptized?  Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Jesus told Nicodemus that “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  If you have not obeyed the command to be baptized, then you have not been born of water and of the Spirit.  You are not in the kingdom of God and you therefore do not have the relationship with God that he expects.

Do you have a right relationship with God?  Are you living the life of a Christian in faithful obedience to God? Are you abiding in Jesus Christ?  Jesus taught in John 15:4-6, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”  Jesus went on later in the same context to teach how to abide in His love, John 15:10-11, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”  If you are not keeping Jesus’ commandments, then you are not abiding in His love.  You therefore do not love Him, you are not His friend, he does not know you, you are not His servant, He is not your Master, you are not His child and He is not your Father.

Do you have a right relationship with God?  If you realize that you do not, you should know that you can.  A relationship with God is offered to “whosever will” Revelation 22:17 teaches, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely“.  Peter taught in 1 Peter 1:22-23, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

God wants to have a relationship with you.  He wants you to love Him, he wants you to be in fellowship with Him, he wants you to be His child, He wants to be your Father.  God made the first step towards the relationship He wants when He offered us a means of reconciliation and salvation through the cross of Christ.  We have a role to serve if we want to have a relationship with God that is good and right.

A right relationship with God starts with obedience from the heart.  Your right relationship with God is maintained by obedience from the heart.  And your relationship with God depends on obedience from the heart.

Hebrews 10:22-23
“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

 

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