Luke 13: 28 - 29.
And I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This was spoken by Jesus late in his earthly ministry. We had looked at this passage already as part of the study on the broad and narrow road; at that time we were looking at regular people rejecting Jesus Christ and His message. Now we are looking at this same passage from the stand point of rejection of Jesus from the religious leaders. If you have read the Bible both Old and New Testaments, you will have read about false teachers, and prophets before. These people were responsible for leading the people away from God. There is consequences for this behavior. To whom much is given much is required. The Religious Leaders of Jesus day were no different, just like the common folks, they had to make a decision concerning Jesus. They unlike the common folk, had the Scriptures to refer to, to help to make this decision. They chose not to accept Jesus and will pay the full price for their unbelief. Part of this price is watching others, non Jews taking the places at the feast that they should have had. They lost their seats when they rejected Jesus. These people studied the Scriptures to be found worthy to teach, but instead applied the teaching according to their own understanding, and not God's. This is why they were rejected. It is important to keep the faith, all of it. Not just parts that you are comfortable with. God's Word is God's Word! And Jesus told us to keep it! Where will you be at this feast? Going in? Or on the outside looking in? It is up to you where you end up. Only you can change you.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
344th Post Jesus on Harsh Words for the Religious System - New Subject - Introduction.
This next series of Bible passages, will deal with Jesus and the disconnect between Him, and their understanding of the Scriptures. It is important to understand, that the Sadducees and the Pharisees did not understand Scripture in the same way as Jesus. The Old Testament says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3: 5 - 6. Jesus was preaching the very same message that was given to the people by Moses. The religious leaders mentioned above were supposed to be teaching the people this same information. If the message is the same, then why is there a disconnect between the religious leaders and Jesus? This is a very good question, these leaders should have been at the head of the line of believers in Jesus and what He taught. The truth was that they were His greatest opposition, and worked together to cause His death. If this is true, why don't Christians hate the Jews? This also is a good question. If you are a Christian and hold no annomosity against the Jews, it is because you know that it was sin that caused Jesus to be crucified, their sin combined with ours. Paul tells us "that while we were still in our sin Jesus died for us." Christians need to remember that Jesus was born a Jew and God held the Jews in a position of Promise. This did not change when the religious leaders caused the death of Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not just Jews and Christians. To be included, all you have to do is believe that Jesus died for you, and you will be saved! If you have not made this decision, the time is now!!
Friday, July 22, 2011
343rd Post Jesus On Admonitions & Exhortations Con't. - Charging His Disciples Con't. - John 20: 21 - 23.
John 20: 21 - 23.
Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room after Jesus has been raised from the dead. Jesus has just entered the room with the doors and the windows locked, without someone opening a door or a window to allow Him to enter. Jesus is commissioning the disciples to carry on His work. The last part of this passage seems a little strong. You have to remember that Jesus was calling them to grow the Church. This is the second time Jesus used this word. The first time was when he placed his hands on Peter and said "upon this rock I will build this Church." Notice Jesus did not use the word Temple. The Church did not have to meet in the Temple in Jerusalem anymore. Why is this? The Temple and its rituals pointed to the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfilled those rituals, so it was not necessary to continue to worship there. The disciples were given the power to forgive, or not sins. How is this possible? Belief that Jesus came and died for your sins, and was raised as acceptance for that sacrifice is what is required for your sins to be forgiven. If you have asked your sins to be forgiven, but do not believe that Jesus Christ died and rose for your sins, you are still in your sin!
Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room after Jesus has been raised from the dead. Jesus has just entered the room with the doors and the windows locked, without someone opening a door or a window to allow Him to enter. Jesus is commissioning the disciples to carry on His work. The last part of this passage seems a little strong. You have to remember that Jesus was calling them to grow the Church. This is the second time Jesus used this word. The first time was when he placed his hands on Peter and said "upon this rock I will build this Church." Notice Jesus did not use the word Temple. The Church did not have to meet in the Temple in Jerusalem anymore. Why is this? The Temple and its rituals pointed to the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfilled those rituals, so it was not necessary to continue to worship there. The disciples were given the power to forgive, or not sins. How is this possible? Belief that Jesus came and died for your sins, and was raised as acceptance for that sacrifice is what is required for your sins to be forgiven. If you have asked your sins to be forgiven, but do not believe that Jesus Christ died and rose for your sins, you are still in your sin!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
342nd Post Jesus On Admonitions & Exhortations Con't. - Charging His Disciples Con't. - John 15: 9 -15 Con't.
John 15: 9 - 15 Continued 3rd post.
Jesus tells His Disciples that they are no longer servants, but friends. Servants don't know what the master is doing or thinking, they only do what he says, blindly following orders. Jesus tells the disciples that they have been elevated to a higher position, friends. As friends, they are more in formed to what the plans and duties are. Jesus adopted us. What does this mean? We are not related by blood, but we are part of the family through adoption. At the time of Jesus, adopted children could not be disowned by the adopted parents. This means once you are adopted, the parents had to keep you as part of the family. The parents could disown their own natural children, but could not do the same for their adopted family. See the symbolism here. You are not blood relations, but you are treated with the same perks as a blood relation. Plus you could not be cast out. That's pretty good. Some church's teach that you and Jesus are of the same family, meaning blood relations. Clearly this is not what the Bible teaches. This is why it is important to keep your nose in the Bible, and to continue to read it. The Bible is the Word of God and is Truth!! To know the truth, you must read the Bible.
Jesus tells His Disciples that they are no longer servants, but friends. Servants don't know what the master is doing or thinking, they only do what he says, blindly following orders. Jesus tells the disciples that they have been elevated to a higher position, friends. As friends, they are more in formed to what the plans and duties are. Jesus adopted us. What does this mean? We are not related by blood, but we are part of the family through adoption. At the time of Jesus, adopted children could not be disowned by the adopted parents. This means once you are adopted, the parents had to keep you as part of the family. The parents could disown their own natural children, but could not do the same for their adopted family. See the symbolism here. You are not blood relations, but you are treated with the same perks as a blood relation. Plus you could not be cast out. That's pretty good. Some church's teach that you and Jesus are of the same family, meaning blood relations. Clearly this is not what the Bible teaches. This is why it is important to keep your nose in the Bible, and to continue to read it. The Bible is the Word of God and is Truth!! To know the truth, you must read the Bible.
341st Post Jesus On Admonitions & Exhortations Con't. - Charging His Disciples Con't. - John 15: 9 - 15 Con't.
John 15: 9 - 15 Continued 2nd post.
Jesus went on to say that just as He had kept His Father's commandments, Jesus abides in His love. Jesus is telling His disciples, that just as Jesus kept His Father's commandments, the disciples are held to those same teachings. Jesus did not come into the world to give us a new teaching. It looks new, because the Old Testament was taught by men, and they were leaning on their own understanding of the Word of God instead of God's. This is due to our sinful nature. You can see the disconnect today as our church's profess things that Jesus clearly did not teach. Wide is the road that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way of truth, and few find it. Jesus mentions love a lot in this passage. But look at the type of Love Jesus is talking about. Jesus was to go to the cross in a few hours. Why was Jesus going to die?? Adam broke God's law in the Garden of Eden, allowing sin to come into the world. Jesus had to die according to God the Father's Law. Jesus being perfect, would be the perfect sacrifice needed to save the people from their sins. This is what the Old Testament Sacrament of Passover symbolizes. This is what Jesus means when He tells the disciples, greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends. Love means more than sharing good feelings, Jesus was going to endure the pain of the cross and death for our salvation. Jesus knew the cost, and paid it willingly, and happily. We are to remember this and live our lives in the same way. This gives the term living for others a new meaning. We are to die if need be for our friends. Are you ready to do that?? That is the goal.
Jesus went on to say that just as He had kept His Father's commandments, Jesus abides in His love. Jesus is telling His disciples, that just as Jesus kept His Father's commandments, the disciples are held to those same teachings. Jesus did not come into the world to give us a new teaching. It looks new, because the Old Testament was taught by men, and they were leaning on their own understanding of the Word of God instead of God's. This is due to our sinful nature. You can see the disconnect today as our church's profess things that Jesus clearly did not teach. Wide is the road that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way of truth, and few find it. Jesus mentions love a lot in this passage. But look at the type of Love Jesus is talking about. Jesus was to go to the cross in a few hours. Why was Jesus going to die?? Adam broke God's law in the Garden of Eden, allowing sin to come into the world. Jesus had to die according to God the Father's Law. Jesus being perfect, would be the perfect sacrifice needed to save the people from their sins. This is what the Old Testament Sacrament of Passover symbolizes. This is what Jesus means when He tells the disciples, greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends. Love means more than sharing good feelings, Jesus was going to endure the pain of the cross and death for our salvation. Jesus knew the cost, and paid it willingly, and happily. We are to remember this and live our lives in the same way. This gives the term living for others a new meaning. We are to die if need be for our friends. Are you ready to do that?? That is the goal.
340th Post Jesus On Admonitions & Exhortations Con't. - Charging His Disciples Con't. - John 15: 9 -15.
John 15: 9 - 15
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. Many people in the Church today, ask what am I to do? Or they just come to Church on Sunday, looking to be entertained, and then go home and continue with their life as usual outside of Church. Clearly, this is not what Jesus wanted the Church to become. Jesus starts out saying as the Father loved Me, so I have loved you. Jesus goes on to say if you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love. Jesus is telling the disciples they must keep His commandments, not just listen to them. They are to make them a part of their lives. This is what the word abide means, to remain. I will continue next post.
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
This was spoken by Jesus in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. Many people in the Church today, ask what am I to do? Or they just come to Church on Sunday, looking to be entertained, and then go home and continue with their life as usual outside of Church. Clearly, this is not what Jesus wanted the Church to become. Jesus starts out saying as the Father loved Me, so I have loved you. Jesus goes on to say if you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love. Jesus is telling the disciples they must keep His commandments, not just listen to them. They are to make them a part of their lives. This is what the word abide means, to remain. I will continue next post.
Monday, July 18, 2011
339th Post Jesus On Admonitions & Exhortations Con't. - Charging His Disciples Con't. - John 4:35 - 38
John 4: 35 - 38.
Do you not say, "There are still four months and then comes the time for harvest"? Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: "One sows and another reaps." I sent you to reap that which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.
This was spoken by Jesus very early in His earthly ministry. Jesus had not yet called all of his disciples yet. The setting for this passage takes place at the well in Samaria, after Jesus had talked to the woman, Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah. She ran into the town and told the leaders that she may be talking to the Christ (Messiah). The people were coming up the road from the town to meet Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowd coming up to meet Him, is when He tells the disciples to look at the fields. You have to remember that when Jesus walked the earth, farming was the major industry in that part of the world. When Jesus told His disciples about reaping they would think about actual farming instead of the harvesting of souls that Jesus was talking about. That is why Jesus mentions the part of four months away from harvest. Jesus clearly teaches here, that there is a time lapse between when people are exposed to the truth, and the time they decide to make a decision to follow. We seem to have forgotten that, and we try to sow, water and harvest all in one meeting. It can work that way, but I don't think that is the message Jesus is trying to show here.
Do you not say, "There are still four months and then comes the time for harvest"? Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: "One sows and another reaps." I sent you to reap that which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.
This was spoken by Jesus very early in His earthly ministry. Jesus had not yet called all of his disciples yet. The setting for this passage takes place at the well in Samaria, after Jesus had talked to the woman, Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah. She ran into the town and told the leaders that she may be talking to the Christ (Messiah). The people were coming up the road from the town to meet Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowd coming up to meet Him, is when He tells the disciples to look at the fields. You have to remember that when Jesus walked the earth, farming was the major industry in that part of the world. When Jesus told His disciples about reaping they would think about actual farming instead of the harvesting of souls that Jesus was talking about. That is why Jesus mentions the part of four months away from harvest. Jesus clearly teaches here, that there is a time lapse between when people are exposed to the truth, and the time they decide to make a decision to follow. We seem to have forgotten that, and we try to sow, water and harvest all in one meeting. It can work that way, but I don't think that is the message Jesus is trying to show here.
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