An Introduction:
I will be posting more than just one per day, as noted in the body of the following text. Just keep in mind that this was originally intended to be daily series for study, not just for the casual reading.
Instructions given by Jesus
While I am studying and rethinking some of my posts in the Commandments of Jesus thread, I would like to add something to edify the leaders of the Body of Christ, something to consider for possible self examination. Perhaps even to make some adjustments in one’s thinking and/or for spiritual correction.
If one does not know, understand and put into practice the teachings of Jesus Christ, and obey His commandments, how then can one be a 'true disciple' of Jesus, or even a student of one of His appointed apostles/disciples?
So the question is: How many instructions in righteousness (commandments, aka Torah) of Jesus are recorded in the N.T,? How many do you know and which ones do you teach? Remember, instructions coming from the mouth of Jesus were not suggestions – they were orders to be obeyed.
Most Apostolic/Pentecostal preachers and teachers do rather well with four or five Pauline and book of Acts doctrinal statement, but after that they generally dry up and start substituting instructions of men on how to look, talk and act ‘holy’, according to someone’s personal convictions, ideas, or activities, thinking that that will somehow make them acceptable unto God. Well kids, that is a wasted effort, according to Jesus.
Keep this in mind, "IF A MAN LOVE ME, HE WILL KEEP MY WORDS."
John 14:23. Not your words, not the words of your teacher, and not the word pined by men in some how-to book. Not good ideas, not rules and regulations created by men for men, nor by any plans, programs or activities. Not pious words or statements of faith/belief. None of these things are of any value unless and until one actually does what Jesus commanded them to do. To do - not think about, not to give mental assent to, or even to confess with one’s mouth, but to do, to perform, to accomplish, to obey.
As a reality check, Jesus gave over 145 specific instructions to His disciples to live their lives by. Without looking in your Bible, can you list twenty of these instructions?
Now granted, some of those instructions were given only to the disciples that accompanied Jesus during His earthy ministry and do not apply to everyone today. If even half of His instructions were for specific people, events or for particular defined times, that would still leave well over 70 general instructions that every disciple of Jesus should be following right now, today.
So, don’t you think it is past time that we moved on from preaching and teaching the “… doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”? Want to be like Jesus? Then one must live like Jesus, to live our lives according to His instructions, plans and purpose. Don’t ya’ll think that might just be a novel concept worth trying? But I can tell you right now that if one should start actually living according to the commands of Jesus they will pay a heavy price for that decision. So count the costs.
Even so, why not stop playing church or doing church, or just going through the motions of holding church; let’s start being the church, aka the functioning body of Christ on earth - as He intended.
Now, that prospect may scare some and upset many. But, the question is, "Are you serious about becoming a disciple of Christ?" or a disciple of men?