B-A-C
Loyal
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 12,067
John 1:1; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
An old familiar verse, most Christians know this verse. It is a core verse of Christianity.
Lately I've heard a lot of Christians saying things like, I don't pay attention to the Bible, or I don't pay attention to doctrine. I just have a relationship with Jesus.
The Bible doesn't really apply to me, only people of another time, only Jews, or only legalists. I have to admit this concerns me.
If Jesus is "the Word", and we say we know Jesus... isn't that really the same thing as saying we know the Word? Now maybe we don't have to be expert theologians that knows the etymology of every Greek and Hebrew
word in the Bible. But we should know some of it. We should be growing in it.
James 1:21; Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
I've talked to many Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, Antimonians, Christ-Scientists and others over the years that are convinced they know Jesus. They will tell you they have a relationship with Jesus.
If you want to get technical even Satan, Judas and the Pharisees all had relationships with Jesus. (Not great relationships to be sure, but they knew each other).
It seems that saying things like "I don't need the Bible, I don't need a church, I don't need doctrine, I don't need theology" has become an excuse for not being obedient to God/Jesus.
Most of us never hear God audibly speak to us. But He speaks to us through His Word. How do we know Jesus? We know His words, what He did, what He taught, and what He believed.
The Bible says His sheep know His voice. What does that mean? We hear an audible voice saying "Here, sheepy sheepy". No, most of us know His voice through the Bible.
If you're not being obedient to the Word, you don't really know Jesus. You might think you do... but the Bible says you're a liar.
1Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1Jn 2:4; The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1Jn 2:5; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him
I've heard people say things like "God is OK with me being a homosexual, I have a relationship with Him". really? "Jesus is OK with me having an adulterous affair, I have a relationship with Him". You don't say.
Matt 5:27; “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
Matt 5:28; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt 5:29; Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matt 5:30; And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
We say we know Jesus. The Bible says the sheep know His voice. In the passage above His voice is saying some sexual sins are not allowed, if you keep doing them where will you end up? "Your whole body to be thrown into hell".
The Jesus I know, the voice I know says some things are wrong and there are consequences for doing them. Especially sexual sins. If the voice you're hearing says He is OK with these sins, maybe it's time to check which voice you
are hearing.
2Cor 11:13; For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
2Cor 11:14; No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2Cor 11:15; Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
All these people saying it's not about the Bible, or doctrine, or the teachings of Jesus... don't really know Jesus, even though they say they have a relationship with Him. He never knew them.
Matt 7:22; Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
Matt 7:23; And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
An old familiar verse, most Christians know this verse. It is a core verse of Christianity.
Lately I've heard a lot of Christians saying things like, I don't pay attention to the Bible, or I don't pay attention to doctrine. I just have a relationship with Jesus.
The Bible doesn't really apply to me, only people of another time, only Jews, or only legalists. I have to admit this concerns me.
If Jesus is "the Word", and we say we know Jesus... isn't that really the same thing as saying we know the Word? Now maybe we don't have to be expert theologians that knows the etymology of every Greek and Hebrew
word in the Bible. But we should know some of it. We should be growing in it.
James 1:21; Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
I've talked to many Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, Antimonians, Christ-Scientists and others over the years that are convinced they know Jesus. They will tell you they have a relationship with Jesus.
If you want to get technical even Satan, Judas and the Pharisees all had relationships with Jesus. (Not great relationships to be sure, but they knew each other).
It seems that saying things like "I don't need the Bible, I don't need a church, I don't need doctrine, I don't need theology" has become an excuse for not being obedient to God/Jesus.
Most of us never hear God audibly speak to us. But He speaks to us through His Word. How do we know Jesus? We know His words, what He did, what He taught, and what He believed.
The Bible says His sheep know His voice. What does that mean? We hear an audible voice saying "Here, sheepy sheepy". No, most of us know His voice through the Bible.
If you're not being obedient to the Word, you don't really know Jesus. You might think you do... but the Bible says you're a liar.
1Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1Jn 2:4; The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1Jn 2:5; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him
I've heard people say things like "God is OK with me being a homosexual, I have a relationship with Him". really? "Jesus is OK with me having an adulterous affair, I have a relationship with Him". You don't say.
Matt 5:27; “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
Matt 5:28; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt 5:29; Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matt 5:30; And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
We say we know Jesus. The Bible says the sheep know His voice. In the passage above His voice is saying some sexual sins are not allowed, if you keep doing them where will you end up? "Your whole body to be thrown into hell".
The Jesus I know, the voice I know says some things are wrong and there are consequences for doing them. Especially sexual sins. If the voice you're hearing says He is OK with these sins, maybe it's time to check which voice you
are hearing.
2Cor 11:13; For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
2Cor 11:14; No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2Cor 11:15; Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
All these people saying it's not about the Bible, or doctrine, or the teachings of Jesus... don't really know Jesus, even though they say they have a relationship with Him. He never knew them.
Matt 7:22; Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
Matt 7:23; And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
