Is Jesus still Relevant?

[B-A-C]

This may seem like a silly question coming a Christian on a forum called Talk... "Jesus".

But I am somewhat amazed by the number of people here saying things like Jesus was only sent to save the lost sheep of Israel.
Jesus was just a stop gap between the old testament and the new testament.
The teachings of Jesus don't apply to Gentiles at all, and never did.

Where did this nonsense come from? I am convinced .. it is Satan.

Jesus isn't a transition between the testaments... He IS the new covenant!!
Jesus isn't just the savior of the Jews, He the SAVIOR of the whole world!!

The word Christian seems to be a enigmatic word to the world, even to those who call themselves Christians.
It seems lately the world has a better idea of what Christians should be than some people who call themselves Christians.
Christ...."ian". Christian comes from the word Christ. Christ, Messiah, anointed one. The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the ... Jews?
No the Whole World!! Who is Christ? Jesus of course. The word Christian mean Christ "like"... a "follower" of Jesus.

Have you ever played follow the leader?
When the leader jumps, you jump. When the leader sits, you sit. When the leader runs, you run. When the leader spins, you spin.
There are a lot of people these days claiming to be followers of Jesus, but they don't "follow" Him in any way.
They say none of His teachings apply to them. They were for another time, another place, another people.

Jesus gave the 11 disciples something called the "Great Commission". But it wasn't just for them.

Matt 28:16; But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
Matt 28:17; When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
Matt 28:18; And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Matt 28:19; "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Matt 28:20; teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Even after Jesus was resurrected... "some were doubtful". Wow!! How could you doubt what is right before your eyes. And yet... even today,
some are doubtful. Jesus said go make make "disciples" (followers) in ALL the nations. Not just Israel, but ALL the nations.
Jesus also says here.... teach "them to observe ALL that I have commanded you". Not just some of it, not just part of it.
Not just the parts I like. Not just to the Jews. But teach ALL of it, to ALL the world. Make them into disciples (followers)
followers of Jesus. Be like Jesus. Act like Jesus. Do the things Jesus did. Follow the teachings of Jesus.

Otherwise you have no business calling yourself a Christian.

John 10:4; "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:27; "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

His sheep... "follow" Him. They follow the leader.
But there are some here on TalkJesus, who say they don't have to follow Jesus. They don't believe anything He said applies to them.
But then.. maybe they aren't "His" sheep.

Luke 9:23; And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Who are you following?

 

[B-A-C]

1 Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 Jn 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;

If you're not keeping the teachings of Jesus, and you say you're a Christian.... the Bible says you are a liar.

 

[Dave M]

If you're not keeping the teachings of Jesus, and you say you're a Christian.... the Bible says you are a liar.

Yes I think the world has some believing that is just a carnal Christian, wonder where that term came from, I can not seem to find it in the bible

 

[Sue D.]

I looked up and found in Got Questions.org -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 -- worldly / fleshly. There's a Greek word "sarkikos' which means 'fleshly'. And the article shares 1 John 1:8 that no one is sinless and every time we sin we are acting carnally.

So -- the word carnal is Not found in Scripture. But fleshly is.

 

[Sue D.]

The idea is that a believer is Supposed to be growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. But we're going to have some ups and downs along the way.

 

[Dave M]

I looked up and found in Got Questions.org -- 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 -- worldly / fleshly. There's a Greek word "sarkikos' which means 'fleshly'. And the article shares 1 John 1:8 that no one is sinless and every time we sin we are acting carnally.

So -- the word carnal is Not found in Scripture. But fleshly is.

It basicly comes down to life style, when we are born again we will no longer have a life style of sin, we wont want to. Now I think the sins will be more of accidents or unintentional. And if we do sin we are convicted right away and repent.

It is a process of maturing and growing, and yes there will be ups and downs, but if you say your are born again and have sex outside of marriage for 20 years, I would have to say that does not line up with what the bible teaches as being born again according to my understanding.

 

[Sue D.]

Dave M. -- who said anything about having sex outside of marriage for 20 years.?

 

[Dave M]

Dave M. -- who said anything about having sex outside of marriage for 20 years.?

I am using a example of what I see as being one the most common lifestyles of people who claim to be christians, that are living and practicing sin,

 

[Sue D.]

Oh, okay -- I understand what you're saying. Affairs are common place with Christian families Now as 'before' it was only among non-Christian people.

I DO remember many years ago up in Iowa -- a Large Baptist church that I grew up in. All of a sudden a wife of one of the popular ushers in church / maybe he was a deacon. She left him and divorced and got together with a banker. It was like WHAT?! They were a young couple in their late 20's or early 30's. Well -- I don't know that it started as an affair -- but it Was the 1st divorce in that church.

Part of that is Possibly that Biblical morality isn't being taught any more. The Ten Commandments are not in school any more. And Possibly the homosexual lifestyle. Couples want to experiment as a side-line To marriage. Possibly both men and women get married for the sake Of and then have their 'friend' on the side. And possibly that couples don't get married for Biblical reasons -- and divorce is too messy / expensive -- so the spouses have their friends on the side.

Churches usually Don't practice church discipline. If they Did -- there wouldn't be many people Left in the churches. The purpose Of church discipline is to identify when ungodly activity is being practiced -- approach the person -- get them restored To fellowship. But often times the person leaves. Too embarrassing to stay. And people tend to be judgmental rather than forgiving.

And congregations don't Want to hear about 'sin'. And there are more and more pastors without congregations. Some of that is because with all the communities / people being displaced because of fires, storms, tornadoes -- people have to relocate.

So ya. people Do start living in a carnal / fleshly way Because they aren't in God's Word very much. Not being taught Bible. In the end times -- people will want to have sermons that 'tickle' their ears -- feel good things. It becomes an up-hill, unpopular Stand for Christianity / Biblical ethics , morality.

 

[Dave M]

drunkness is the other most common way of life I see among people claiming to be Christians, but the bibles says they are not Christians, seems these people are not getting into heaven if they live life getting drunk and having sex outside of marriage. This is almost common practice in america a culture in itself, I lived this lifestyle for a long time, and always thought I was saved but according to the bible I was not saved at that time I was on the way to hell. People need to here this message

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.