Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture

Tag: Scripture

  • Get Your Head in the Game

    This morning, we emphasized the importance of being like Mary, not Martha, and denouncing the treachery of Judas.

    Judas was a constant companion of Christ, together with the eleven apostles. In contrast, Mary would only be able to hear Jesus when He was at Bethany. While Jesus taught both the apostles and Mary, Mary had the right attitude and focused on His teachings whenever possible. She absorbed His words deeply (Luke 10:39). Could Mary have understood that Jesus’ discussion of His death referred to His fulfillment of the Jewish Passover? (Read Luke 9:22; Luke 9:44; Luke 18:31-34; Luke 24:26; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31-32; Mark 10:33-34; 1 Corinthians 5:7) Was that the reason behind her act of anointing His feet and wiping them with her own hair? Bear in mind, Scripture’s context has it days before the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus responded to Mary’s devotion by saying, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.” 

    Scripture recounts Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet with a pound of expensive ointment. While the ointment undoubtedly cost a significant amount, it held no financial value for Mary, as she perceived Jesus as far more precious. In contrast, Judas, despite being a constant companion of Jesus Christ, failed to recognize His worth. He prioritized the monetary value of the expensive ointment over Jesus. Christians should reflect on their priorities and ensure that they align with God’s will. In other words, “Get your head in the game”. Ecclesiastes 3:1 emphasizes that there is a time for every human activity under heaven. However, amidst the constant busyness of life, we often find ourselves preoccupied with trivial matters. In fact, Jesus Himself even admonished, stating, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).

    To clarify, Christ Jesus is not teaching us to despise our loved ones; rather, He was emphasizing the importance of loving Him above all else. Keep in mind that the passage was in the context of Christ Jesus sending out His apostles to proclaim the Gospel. So, Christ Jesus is actually teaching us that nothing should hinder or distract us from sharing God’s Word. Similarly, if we truly care for our loved ones, we ought to let them know God’s Word, not compromising ourselves in the hope of getting their favor. Ultimately, Ecclesiastes concludes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

    Know that Jesus Christ is far more precious than any material thing or other pursuit in this world. Even our loved ones would perish if they were not in Christ Jesus. As mentioned in Psalms 37:4-5, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act” (Psalms 37:4-5).

    Incidentally, Psalm 37:5 was the passage inscribed on the penholder my son gifted me. Perhaps I can say my son, guided by God’s Word, led me to Christ Jesus, even after his passing. I, too, was once consumed by life until God intervened through the death of my only son, allowing me to hear His Word.

    Do you yearn for your loved ones to embrace the faith of Christ? Paul admonished us to emulate his example, as he follows Christ’s (1 Corinthians 11:1). What did Christ exemplify for Paul to follow? Jesus Christ remained steadfast and exclusively spoke and obeyed God’s Word.

    We can only encourage people to enjoy basketball if they also understand the rules. Likewise, we cannot expect them to follow along if you’re too busy playing a completely different game with them altogether. So follow Jesus Christ and His Word, trust Him. Perhaps, by His grace, our loved ones would also find Christ and His Word.

    So, Paul admonished, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes fairly and according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). Life itself is a competition, but anyone who hopes to be in Christ Jesus must compete in His rule—that is, in His Word.

    For reference, our passage this morning starts at John 11:55 and continues until 12:8.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • The Teachings of Jesus Christ is Life and Spirit (John 6:63)

    Our study this morning is from John 15:15-18.

    “The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man [Jesus Christ] has learning, when He has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on My own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of Him who sent Him is true, and in Him there is no falsehood.”

    So, how do we know that we are learning from Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, not from men? The teaching should always be in sync with the Scripture. Unlike today, a lot of Christian doctrines are misaligned, opposing each other.

    Example: Christians teach that at the moment of death, believers would go to heaven, and yet they also say Jesus has yet to return. However, Jesus, in John 14:6, said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Christ beforehand also said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, WOULD I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU? AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN AND WILL TAKE YOU TO MYSELF, THAT WHERE I AM YOU MAY BE ALSO.” (John 14:1-3)

    We all know forty days after Jesus’ resurrection [Acts 1:3], He ascended to the Father, thereby fulfilling His promise to prepare and return to take the believers to be with Him in heaven. So, if the Christian teaching today is correct, and He has yet to return, then no one can go to the Father at the moment because Jesus promised and made clear He alone is the way to the Father, and He would return to take the believers to heaven. In other words, before Jesus’ return, heaven should be off-limits to us.

    That truth is reinforced by Hebrews 9:28: “So also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME, NOT TO BEAR SIN, BUT TO BRING SALVATION TO THOSE WHO ARE WAITING FOR HIM.”

    Christians today aren’t the only ones waiting for Christ’s return. The contemporaries of Paul and Peter, Christians before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, were waiting as well. See passages below.

    “so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Co 1:7)

    “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Php 3:20)

    “For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1Th 1:8-10)

    Paul and his generation of Christians were waiting for Christ’s return. Peter made clear however, the return of Christ Jesus and His salvation would be consummated in his generation. See 1Peter 1:10-13.

    “CONCERNING THIS SALVATION, the prophets [OT prophets] who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours [Peter’s contemporary Christians] searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when He [God] predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. IT WAS REVEALED TO THEM THAT THEY WERE SERVING NOT THEMSELVES [OT prophets] BUT YOU [Peter’s contemporary Christians], in the things that have now been announced to you [Peter’s contemporaries] through those who preached the good news to you [Peter’s contemporaries] by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. THEREFORE, PREPARING YOUR [Peter’s contemporary Christians] MINDS FOR ACTION, AND BEING SOBER-MINDED, SET YOUR HOPE [Peter’s contemporary Christians] FULLY ON THE GRACE THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU [Peter’s contemporary Christians] AT THE REVELATION [or appearing] OF JESUS CHRIST.”

    Peter, therefore rightly reiterated Jesus’ Word and promise. See Matthew 16:28. “Truly, I say to you [Peter and his fellow apostles], there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

    Unless perhaps, the then apostles of Christ are still alive today – similar to the conspiracy theory about Elvis Presley being alive still and in hiding somewhere 😝.

    If somebody promised to meet you at a specific time then stood you up, what do you make of that person? Trustworthy or not? Oh, maybe you would say perhaps he has a legitimate reason for being remiss of his word? But that can’t be true with Christ Jesus. The promised great prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15-22; Acts 3:22-23; Acts 7:37.

    Do you understand the implications of such teaching? Asserting that Jesus Christ is yet to come; contrary to the claim of the Scripture. It opposes the very Word and promise of Christ Jesus. Therefore, futurist preachers today are actually – perhaps unknowingly but still by inference – saying Jesus failed in His Word and promise. The renowned, actually it should be infamous, C.S. Lewis said perhaps Jesus was hallucinating so He said those words to His apostles. Lewis even said, “Matthew 24:34 is the most embarrassing verse in the Bible” because Jesus promised to return to the generation of His apostles, but He did not. [https://www.behindthegospels.com/p/surprised-by-cs-lewis-the-most-embarrassing]

    I don’t know about most Christians, but I would always adhere to Jesus Christ and His infallible words. It cannot be that Christ remised on His Word. Rather, if the Bible says one thing and the contemporary teaching opposes it, the Bible being infallible would mean it is always right. It’s our Christian duty to study the Bible until we have reconciled with God’s Word, discerning the truth. If modern Christian teaching does not stand up to the scrutiny of Scripture, then it ought to be disputed and corrected – even if it would invite attacks from critics because they insist on their truth.

    Let me forewarn everyone though, back in the garden of Eden and with the temptation of Jesus Christ, it was the devil who had twisted God’s Word. No wonder, therefore, the unbelieving Jews opposed Christ’s Words, so Jesus refers to them as children of the devil (John 8:44-45). Certainly, we would not want to be in opposition to God’s Word.

    In conclusion, Scripture said,

    “He [Jesus Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times [last days] for the sake of you [Peter’s immediate audience or readers] who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” (1Pe 1:20-25)

    Scripture made clear, that no one was mysteriously born again, but by the unchanging imperishable Word of God. Would you rather trust in man’s teachings or only the Word of God? Seek and discern the source of your learnings. Was it from man’s imagination or the diligent and careful study of God’s Word? Truthful teaching of God’s Word should always adhere to, not oppose, clear and straightforward teachings of the Scripture.

    Jesus Christ said, “The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63)

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!