Do You Believe What Jesus Believed?
#3
To express one’s favor toward Jesus Christ is not uncommon. The real test of belief in Jesus Christ is accepting all He said and translating that truth into your life consistently.
In this series I’ve noted cases where belief in Christ might be claimed, but without full confidence in what He said. Not just what He said (in the red letters) recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. He also spoke through his chosen apostles (see John 14:25,26). The question is important: Do you believe what Jesus believed and revealed? It is all written in the New Testament.
What Did Jesus Believe About Divine Authority?
Sadly, the concept of divine authority doesn’t have much of a place in common religious thought or in popular religious institutions. More typically, the idea is “it doesn’t really matter what you do in religion,” so long as it is directed to God and Christ is named.
There is this pragmatic, outcome-centered approach to religion, that says about worship and the work of the church: Whatever! It’s all good.
The question that struggles to be heard is – What is good in the sight of God? Let’s acknowledge divine authority and let God tell us what is good in His sight. What does He want us to do? Belief in Christ always means obedience.
Jesus was very clear about obedience to God. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’.” (Matt. 7:21-23)
Jesus is called “Lord,” by many who downplay what He believed and said. He once said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) Do you believe what Jesus believed and said? Is He your Lord in the daily reality of your response to Him?
Brother Warren,
This is an excellent approach to all questions. Thanks for the series.
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