 From the Editor |
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Coming of Christ
Foretold in the ProphetsWho is Jesus?Roman OccupationMiracles of ChristThe Death and ResurrectionWhat Does Jesus Expect From Me? |
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Prophecy Fulfilled!By You: PoetryExpect a MiracleJesus Christ’s MissionSimple WordsExercise Method May Have Spiritual Application |
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Simple Words
By Jeff Reed
Moses told the children of Israel, “the Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15). He was prophesying of an individual who would come over 1400 years later whose words needed to be heard. That person was Jesus.
There are many hundreds of millions who claim to follow Jesus today, but the vast majority refuse to hear the things He spoke. It is astonishing, because they say their religion is based solely upon Him. Jesus speaks to those people in the gospels when he says, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:15). | |
There are a great number of things Jesus spoke that contradict what many people have been taught. The words of Jesus give an entirely different perspective about life and death, how to live, and how to serve God. What we are about to examine may be shocking to some and anger others, but they are the simple words of Jesus Christ.
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If we claim to follow Him and worship Him, shouldn’t we also pay attention to the things He said. Jesus, giving instruction to His disciples on a mountain top told them, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18). This is very simple to understand. Jesus said the law will not pass away as long as we have heaven and earth. Look around you. Is there any doubt that heaven and earth are still here? The only logical conclusion is that God’s Law as presented in the Old Testament is still in effect. The vast majority of professing Christians are not listening to Jesus when they disregard the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. There are churches that practice idolatry by worshiping statues and images. There are entire denominations that promote homosexuality and the murder of unborn children. These people need to hear Jesus’ words. Speaking of His burial and resurrection Jesus says, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). The majority of Christendom and even most scholars refuse to hear what Jesus is saying. They teach that after Christ was crucified, He was buried late on Friday and resurrected a day and a half later on Sunday morning. Jesus clearly said he would be “three days and three nights” in the grave. It is simple to understand. Who are you going to believe? In the most quoted, but least listened to scripture Christ says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Again, most professing Christians ignore this easily understood statement. They think if you don’t have faith in Christ you will burn forever in fire. Jesus simply says you will perish. Perish means to suffer complete ruin or destruction. We often use the word when we talk about food. Perishable food will not last forever. I once purchased a cantaloupe and put it in a plastic bag in the bottom of my refrigerator. I forgot I had bought it and several weeks passed. I was cleaning out my refrigerator and found a bag of liquid where the cantaloupe had been. It completely perished! Most professing Christians also erroneously believe the reward for having faith in Christ is going to heaven. Christ simply states He will give His followers eternal life. He teaches He will resurrect His followers in the future, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). Unfortunately, most people do not. Jesus also made clear statements about what having faith in Him is all about. Someone once asked Him what they needed to do to have eternal life. He responded by saying “if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). Is Jesus teaching salvation by works? No, He is teaching that having faith in Him is a way of life. It is a total commitment. Faith in Christ is expressed by obedience to Him. It is that simple. This is contrary to evangelicals who teach all one needs to do to be saved is to accept Jesus in their heart. It sounds pretty, but doesn’t agree with scripture. They don’t pay attention to Jesus’ simple words. It is important we listen to what Christ has to say to us. His words are encouraging, challenging, enlightening, and life changing. They are in opposition to the very fabric of this corrupted world. If we are truly Christian, we must live our lives by everything He has to say to us in the gospels and the rest of His Word. i | |