Good Morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before that, I wanted to share something with you.
Although there are certain things in the New Testament that deal with Spiritual conversations and events that surrounded the everyday life of the Apostles, a lot of the scriptures deal directly with points concerning the eternal salvation of our soul. These are things such as baptism, partaking of Holy Communion, contrition, and turning from sin. There are numerous commands and directives that are given by the Apostles of Christ that we are to follow, such as repentance and reconciliation. For example your dad might tell you what a beautiful day it is, and then he might command you to go get the mail from the mailbox. The first part was conversation, but the second was an order. He might tell you that He is going to run downtown to go to the grocery store, and then he might command you to cut the lawn while He is gone. The first part was conversation, but the second was an order. These are two very important things to recognize in the exposition of Holy Scripture. The entire New Testament was written by God’s Holy Spirit, but there is a difference between conversations and commands.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God’s commands need to be obeyed.
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.
I baptized all six of my children, not because of my own righteousness, but because it is a command of Christ. I provided my children and wife with Holy Communion, not because of my own righteousness, but because it is a command of Christ. Whenever my family was sick I anointed them with oil in the name of the Lord, because it is commanded by Christ. They were always healed, not because of my own righteousness, but because of their faith in the power of Jesus. Submission to the will of God and obeying His commandments, proves our love for Him.
John 14:21, 23-24 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. 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.
In these latter days there are many people who feel that it’s more important to possess knowledge of historical facts from scripture rather than obedience to the commands of God. For example, there are many people who feel that it’s far more important to know the date and the year that the Apostle Paul went into Jerusalem to visit with Peter, rather than walking in charity, holiness and obedience towards God. They have a form of religion that is not concerned with matters of the heart. Instead of focusing on spiritual things, their mind becomes obsessively focused on dates, times and years. Some people become lifted up with pride because they know when the Corinthian Church was started, but at the same time reject the path of submission to the will of God. This kind of knowledge can puff a person up. To know the exact amount of days that Noah was on the ark might be an interesting historical fact, but obeying the commandments of God is far greater. Walking in God’s purpose is far more important than just historical head knowledge. Remember that Jesus picked a simple group of fishermen as His original Apostles. At that point, their knowledge of historical things in the past was unimportant to the things that the Lord was going to teach them. Instead of picking clerics, He chose men who were not religiously trained as other Judaic leaders were. He didn’t choose people wearing priestly robes, but those who wore the robes of simple fishermen.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Remember that the religious Pharisees were scholars of the Old testament, but they had become so steeped in their own religious traditions that it became a stumbling block to serving God from their hearts. The Apostle Paul eventually turned away from it all, in order to obtain the salvation found through faith in Christ Jesus. He understood he couldn’t save himself, and needed to be justified by God’s forgiveness and Grace.
Philippians 3:1-9 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
When we find forgiveness with God, we find a new opportunity to obey Him in faithfulness and love. You will find commandments throughout the New Testament. They were given to the church to obey them for the salvation of their souls. If you have received the grace of God, then it is now your responsibility to move on to perfection, no longer needing to repent of dead works.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
So you see, the Christian life is more than just historical head knowledge. It’s more than exterior religion. It is having an inward change of your heart. People might even know the Bible inside and out, but have not come to the place where they lovingly submit to the will of God from their hearts. It is because they are yet carnal. The Apostle Paul warned that this was going to happen in the church, as it continues even today.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Remember that God allows repentance, so that everyone can turn to the truth, and eventually overcome the sins and temptations of the world. It is so that we can become pleasing to Him. We please a parent through obedience to them. We please a school teacher through obedience to them. We please an earthly dad through obedience to him. Shouldn’t we obey the Father of Spirits and live?
Hebrews 12:9-11 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Are you submitting to God’s purpose and commands in Scripture? God loves you so much that His own Son died to take away your sins. Will you love Him enough to obey Him? Will you focus your attention on the most important thing, serving Him…..
…,.From the Heart.
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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