Tag Archives: Following Christ

God The Trinity

According to the Holy Bible, there is only one God, one Creator of all. The God of the Christian is both ONE and THREE. The Apostle wrote:

(1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NKJV) For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), [6] yet for us THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, OF {preposition ek} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and we for Him; and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH {preposition dia} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE.

Word Study: God the Father is the PLANNER and DIRECTOR of the Godhead. The Apostle emphasizes this with the phrase “OF {preposition ek} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS”. The preposition1 ek used with God the Father shows that the Father is the Source, the First Cause of all things. We have life because the Father planned it, and ordered its execution.

Word Study: God the Son is the AGENT or CHANNEL of creation. The Apostle emphasizes this with the phrase “THROUGH {preposition dia} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS”. Though the Father planned and authorized creation, this plan went through Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24), Who intercedes for us with the Father (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1). The Apostle explained His relationship in the Trinity in the text:… Continue reading

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The First Command Of Jesus Is REPENT

Salvation Begins With REPENT

In our text today we’re going to look at Jesus’ first public sermon, His first command to us all. This public proclamation is found not just here, but in

(Mark 1:14-15 KJV) … Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.

Illustrative Opening: “REPENT”. You don’t hear this word much in modern preaching. By magic of the Internet I heard the late Pastor John MacArthur tell about a road trip he took one time. As he was driving, he saw a small sign that said “Handmade Quilts for sale, next home on the right”. John said, “My wife loves handmade quilts, so I decided to stop and see if I could buy her one”. Pulling into the driveway, he went up to the house, rang the door bell, and a woman came to the door. He explained he was interested in her handmade quilts. Inviting John in, the woman went in the back and – according to him – “Brought out the ugliest quilt I’ve ever seen”. He said, “The woman began to explain that this quilt was her pride and joy, years in the making. Every significant event in her life she saved a scrap of cloth, and sewed it into this quilt. And she was proud of it. What could I say? It’s like someone showing you an ugly baby. What can you say but, ‘Well, that’s a baby!’”. John told her that he’d like to look at another quilt, that this particular quilt “was the wrong color”. The lady responded, “Why, it’s EVERY color!” But she brought out another quilt, and he did end up buying that one.

But this wasn’t the end of the story. The woman’s husband was sitting nearby while this was going on, and all around him were religious books. Some were Mormon, others Jehovah’s Witnesses, several from Prosperity Preachers, then books from the Unity Network along with Universal Unitarianism and Billy Graham. John looked at the man and said, “You have quite a collection of books there”. The man replied, “Yes, and there’s GOOD IN ALL OF IT”…. Continue reading

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The Beautiful Command Of Christ

Listen to the Master’s Voice. Do as He says. Love one another. Jesus commanded us:

John 13:34-35 (KJV) A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, That YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another. {35} By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

As children of the King, we are to love sacrificially as He loved. We do not love the world nor the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15). But we do love our neighbors, and want the best for them.

We LEARN of Christ by studying His Word. We LIVE Christ. We walk where the Master directs. We are yoked to Him. We do as Jesus did. We hear His Words, then we put His Words in action. We DO what His yoke directs us
to do. We do not walk and live blindly like the
heathen, following the whim of the flesh, but we walk in the Word of our Master. We put on His yoke, and walk differently than the heathen. We walk as God’s own children, for we are God’s own children, born again by faith in Christ Jesus. Continue reading

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The Mysteries Of The Kingdom Of God

(Matthew 25:13-19 KJV) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. [14] For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man traveling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them His goods. [15] And unto one He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to His several ability; and straightway took His journey. [16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents. [17] And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two. [18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his Lord’s money. [19] After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?

One of the marks of Jesus’ teaching was that He taught by parable. The disciples asked Jesus “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”. That’s a great question. Jesus gave His disciples a very clear answer. He said:

(Matthew 13:11-13 NKJV) Because IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but TO THEM IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN. [12] For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. [13] Therefore I SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES, because SEEING THEY DO NOT SEE, and HEARING THEY DO NOT HEAR, NOR DO THEY UNDERSTAND.

The difference between the Christ follower and the casual follower is that BOTH heard Jesus’ parables. But the lost person never hung around and asked Jesus what He meant. … Continue reading

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Being Little Children In Eternity

Matthew 18:1-6 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

How Can I Be “The Greatest”?

Opening: In America, people have gone “social media” crazy. Young people go about with smart phones, dancing and acting foolish, so that their video and fame might go “viral”. Everyone wants to be famous on earth. I heard a phrase the other day where they said Jack Nicklaus (the Golden Bear) was the GOAT in golf. The man is 86 years old. When I heard that, I thought “How disrespectful to call him an old GOAT”. Then I found out that GOAT stands for GREATEST OF ALL TIME. He is – in golf. Nicklaus won 18 Major Championships, 73 PGA Tours, and was a runner up in major championships 19 times. So in golf he is the GOAT.

But what about Heaven? Will Jack be famous in Heaven? And let me ask you, Have you thought about Heaven?

In our text today the disciples came to Jesus. That very day Jesus had been to the Mount of Transfiguration. They heard the Father say, “This is My Beloved Son – HEAR HIM!” (Matthew 17:5). When Jesus came off the mountain, He cast a demon from a child (Matthew 17:18). Jesus paid a Temple Tax by having the disciples catch a fish – and find a gold coin in its mouth (Matthew 17:27). … Continue reading

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Hearing Jesus Through The Scripture

John 17:1, 13-17 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee … 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I HAVE GIVEN THEM THY WORD; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THY TRUTH : THY WORD IS TRUTH.

I have been amazed at the number of Christians who tell me that they have never heard the Voice of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus said:

(John 10:27-28 NKJV) My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME. [28] And I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

And we are told in Romans 8:14 (NKJV), “For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE THE SONS OF GOD”.

The Christian follows the voice of Christ. The Christian is led by the Holy Spirit of God. If you say, “I have never heard the Voice of Christ” then either Jesus is a liar or you are in an abnormal place. You may be saved, you may not be saved. But if you’re saved, you hear the Voice of Christ.

How do we hear the Voice of Christ? We must first hear the Word of God, the Voice of God. Before Jesus went to Calvary He prayed first the wonderful prayer of John 17. In that prayer Jesus said, … Continue reading

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The Second Parable To Simon

(Matthew 18:21-23 KJV) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. [23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Introduction

Last Wednesday we examined a parable that Jesus spoke to Simon the Pharisee. Tonight we’re looking at another parable spoken to a Simon. This time it’s Simon Peter, one of Jesus’ hand picked Apostles.

Jesus had just finished binding the effectiveness of prayer to the necessity of unity with one another in the Kingdom of God.

The Church represents the Kingdom of God on the earth. The Bible says that the Christian is one who is …

Colossians 1:13 (AP) DELIVERED from the power of darkness, and is TRANSLATED INTO THE KINGDOM of GOD’S DEAR SON

When a person is saved by faith in Christ, God moves them into His Kingdom. The Holy Spirit comes to live inside you. Jesus said:… Continue reading

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The First Parable To Simon

(Luke 7:40-43 KJV) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. [41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. [42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? [43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Usually when our Lord spoke Parables (spiritual truths taught through earthly events), He spoke to crowds.

– The Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) was to a crowd.
– The Parable of the Two Sons was spoken to a crowd, but addressed to chief priests and Pharisees (Matthew 21:28-32).

To my knowledge there were only four times that Jesus spoke a parable directed to just one person. I may be wrong – if I am, let me know. I’m always learning, too.

The are two parables addressed to someone named “Simon”. Tonight we’ll look at the parable addressed to a seeking Simon. Next Wednesday we’ll look at a parable addressed to a saved Simon. Both parables deal with forgiveness and self righteousness, both very important concepts in the Bible…. Continue reading

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Parables On Prayer

(Luke 18:1-6 KJV) And {Jesus} spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; [2] Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: [3] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. [4] And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; [5] Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. [6] And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Jesus, Though God, Made Prayer A Priority

We studied this morning about our Lord Jesus. He is not just a Man, not just a Teacher. Jesus is God Incarnate, God in the Flesh. Jesus is the manifest Word of God:

(John 1:1-3, 14 KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE. … [14] And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This is a mystery to us that God can become Man. Paul wrote, “God was MANIFEST IN THE FLESH” (1 Timothy 3:16), and “In Jesus dwells ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD IN BODY FORM” (1 Colossians 2:9).

God became Man – Perfect Man – to show us how God expects His creation to live. What did Jesus show us? The need to pray. Continue reading

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Why Did Jesus Come?

If you ask a follower of Islam, “What is the main reason Muhammad came?”, they will quote the Quran, saying: “to call people from idolatry to worship Allah alone” (Quran 112:1).

If you ask a follower of Hinduism, “What is the main objective of Hinduism?”, they will quote their sacred texts. “The Bhagavad Gita teaches that attaining God frees a person from repeated birth and death (8:15-16) by bringing you into union with the ultimate reality” (Brahman/god. See Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10).

If you ask a follower of Buddhism, “What is the primary purpose of Buddhism?”, they will tell you “To attain nirvana, which liberates you from suffering, desire, ignorance, and the cycle of rebirth” (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, Dhammapada 203).

But if you ask a follower of Jesus Christ, “Why did Jesus come to this earth? What is the primary purpose of the Christian?”, many of the people you ask will answer from a standpoint of self-centeredness. When I ask, “Why are you a Christian?” many will say one of these two statements:

1. So I can go to Heaven and not hell. (Future blessing)
2. So that God can heal me and make my life better. (Temporary blessing)

It’s certain that the Christian will not go to hell. Jesus said:… Continue reading

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