Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many of you may enjoy watching sports or some other type of athletic competition and in many of these events, there are certain rules that need to be obeyed. For an example, in basketball, there can only be five players per team on the court. They must score before the shot clock expires. They must dribble in order to advance the ball down the court. And of course, you must score more than your opponent to win the game. Not abiding by the regulations and restrictions results in certain punishments and penalties.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
If the rules of basketball were not diligently followed and obeyed, then it really wouldn’t be the game of basketball. Likewise, when the teachings and commands in scripture are not followed and obeyed, then it’s not Christianity. To live our faith and eventually obtain the prize of eternal life, requires submitting to the teachings of our faith and playing by the rules
2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
To abide in the teachings of Christ is to continue to obediently follow them. We have been provided with a spiritual handbook, teaching us what we can and cannot do. The Christian life begins when we are baptized by submersion, putting to death the old sinner that we were in our past, and then rising out of the water to begin a new life. We begin to take steps in a new direction, guided by the truth of God’s Word. Through humble submission to its precepts, our lives can undergo a complete transformation, from a sinner into a saint.
To abide means to submit to, and accept without question. As an example, when you enter a classroom, you need to abide by the teachers’ rules. They might instruct you that you must raise your hand before speaking and to remain in your seats until being dismissed by the bell. In certain homes, some parents may have a rule that you must first get your homework done before playing any games. To abide is to obey their rules, which pleases them. In order to become pleasing to God and inherit the prize of eternity, we must abide in biblical truth. It is a sin not to abide in the doctrine of Christ. To abide by His teachings means not only to remain in them, but to continue to obey and follow them, resulting in overcoming the sinful nature and walking in the light.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Christianity is more than just claiming to believe, it is about acting on what you believe in. It is about obedience and submission to biblical truth. Those who reject that are liars.
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 2:3-5 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. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
The Lord Jesus shed His precious blood at the cross so that we could have forgiveness with God, a gift of His grace, so that we can become the person that He wants us to be. Being converted and transformed is a prerequisite to obtain paradise, and those who think otherwise are only deceiving their own hearts. This is what the Apostle James warned.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
To abide in the doctrine of Christ, is to submit to His teachings. A doctrine is a set of beliefs or teachings that are taught and accepted by a particular group. For a Christian, our doctrine is found throughout the teachings of the New Testament, which were handed down to us by the Apostles and disciples of Christ.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The disciples were commanded by Christ to teach others to observe the things that He had commanded them.
Matthew 28:19-20 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.
True discipleship is proved through continued faithfulness to God’s Word.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
These teachings as a whole, form the structure of our faith, and is the doctrine of God.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
To obtain eternal life requires obediently doing God’s will.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
It is through our obedience that we remain in God’s love.
John 15:10 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.
John 14:23-24 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.
There are many who profess the Christian faith, but do not abide in the doctrine of Christ. They wholeheartedly reject numerous passages of scripture, which only proves that they are not of God. They are not to be received into your home and need to be avoided.
Romans 16:17-18 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Many people will quickly profess to be Christian, but that really doesn’t make them one. If they really don’t abide in the teachings of God’s Word then they are living their lives outside of salvation. We have been given an eternal playbook, containing commands and instructions that need to be followed if we want to win the prize of eternal life. It’s going to require that each of us are….
…..Playing by the Rules
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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