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Who Will
Follow Jesus?
by Joe Andrasik; e-mail - - jandras777@juno.com
Who are you following?
Have you ever wondered why there are so many religious groups who call themselves Christians? They practice many methods of worship. All believe they are Christians. When Christ died on the cross, he prayed to our Father in heaven; Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:20-23. Is it as though our Savior's prayer has failed, or is it in reality mankind who has failed to follow the will of GOD? The Old Testament is full of examples of Israel following after other gods. Jeremiah the prophet, explains GOD complaint. My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: Jeremiah 50:6. Has mankind changed so completely since our Savior returned to heaven after his death on the cross? Paul the apostle wrote the church in Ephesians 4:4-6; There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. If it is true that there is only one body of Christ, the church, then how does someone know that he is following GOD's will? Perhaps the Word of GOD can tell us the true path to follow. It has not changed. It continues to call sinners to eternal life in Christ. Our Savior reminds us in Matthew 7: 14; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Jesus asks, will we listen closely to what GOD has to say? Peter the apostle speaking to the Jews reminded them of the proclamation GOD made regarding his Son in Acts 3: 22-23. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Is not Jesus worthy of our close attention ?
How should we listen to men who teach?
Paul warned the church at Corinth for following the teaching of any one man versus another. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Are we so different today, or is this the reason for all the division in the Christian world? Paul explained what going beyond the Bible causes in the church; 1 Corinthians 4:6. Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. Even today men follow the teachings of other men because they are appointed leaders in the church, excellent speakers, or they are considered to be men with good hearts. No other men ever had more authority than the apostles of Christ except Christ. Paul warned the church at Corinth not to choose one apostle's message versus another apostle's message. Paul commended the Jews at Berea for their questioning of his New Testament message in Acts 17:11; These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Notice! The Bereans returned to the Word of GOD to determine if Paul was telling them the truth. Are we so trusting
(or foolish ) that we will trust our eternal life to the wisdom of other men? Perhaps mankind today lacks the faith that Jesus Christ so urgently wanted us to have. If we really believed the message of Christ, we would study his Word as if our life depends on it. (It does.) We should not be so ready to take the word of other men even though we may trust them. They may have trusted others who are not so worthy of trust. We have no way of knowing. Jesus tells us by what standard we shall be measured in
John 12:46-48; I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Worship and revere GOD only!
People in religious groups through out the ages have chosen to worship, and pray to other men, women, their spirits, angels, and even lifeless idols. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, explains in Matthew 4:10; For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. Even today men readily bow their knee before other men as if they were GOD. The apostle Peter would not let Cornelius bow his knee before him in reverence. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." Acts 10:25-26. Today men use spiritual titles such as Father, or Reverend. Jesus condemned such practices. Matthew 23:5-12 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi. "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Some men even believe they have the authority to change the Word of GOD. No man has ever had the authority to change the meaning of the Word of God. 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.
John 14:23-24. It is as complete and unchanging as his love for us. Jesus teaches us how to pray in Luke 11:2. When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. God gave no other directions and man should not assume he can pray to the spirits of other men and women.
What about Man Made Worship to GOD?
Is worship offered from a good heart, even though it is not according to GOD's Word, acceptable to GOD? Jesus explained to the Jews why it was not proper to worship GOD in a way designed by man. 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. Worship offered some other way than that taught specifically by the New Testament is worth nothing to GOD. GOD knows those who love Him. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, GOD's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 1 John 2:3-5
Who will you follow? If we truly want to follow Jesus we will follow the Word of GOD. We will not be mislead by others who teach without insuring it comes from the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only one worthy to be followed.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16:16.
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