Sunday, April 28, 2013

Who sent you?

Dusty idea is have we forgotten who sent us?

Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.  (John 7:16)

Jesus is explaining to the Jews in the temple that the things he was saying and teaching were what his  Father had sent him to teach and say. Jesus had a purpose and you could recognize who sent him, if not before the cruxifiction and resurrection, certainly during and after those events. This is an example for us today. If you find yourself supporting a doctrine or teaching not taught by Christ, who sent you? When we teach do we have the same attitude that Jesus had? Can we say, "my teaching is not mine but his that sent me?" 

If we're going to be Christ-like we need to adopt his attitude found in John 7:16. If you decide to carry out the great commission as it is called, will you do what Christ commissioned you to do?.

"The Gospel" is an over used term that has lost its original meaning through misuse. It's misuse includes things that Jesus never taught. Perverting the gospel isn't a new thing though...

I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 
(Gal 1:6-7)

Paul explains again the good news or gospel to the Christians at Corinth.
Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; 
(1Cor. 15:1-4)

Back to the point of this blog, what instructions did Christ leave us? If we are to follow his example of John 7:16 then we need to find out what he said to do. We need to have the doctrine of him that sent us, not our own. Not what we think it ought to be. Not what makes sense to human beings.

What greater sway can we have than Jesus' own words, and what words could we hear that would be powerful enough to preempt His will?

And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. 
(Matt 28:18-20)

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. 
(Mar 16:15-16)

and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 
(Luke 24:46-47)

The first Gospel sermon was preached by Peter in Jerusalem. Here is the record of what the hearers of that sermon asked and what Peter's answer was.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 
(Acts 2:37-41)

Looks like Peter taught what he was sent to teach. We can see who sent him, can other people tell who sent you, when what you teach is placed along side what Christ told us to teach? 


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