JESUS: THE LINK OR THE ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER 3
JESUS: THE LINK OR THE ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER 3
“MY FATHER HAS ENTRUSTED EVERYTHING TO ME [Jesus]. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, AND NO ONE TRULY KNOWS THE FATHER EXCEPT THE SON AND THOSE TO WHOM THE SON CHOOSES TO REVEAL HIM.”
Matthew 11:27 (NLT)
"JESUS said to him, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME [Jesus]."
John 14:6 (NKJV)
• We have seen some people coming up with some Teachings that the epistles written by the foundational Apostles and Prophets are not genuine and authentic, and should not be believed or followed. Some even say these epistles are errorneous!
- The epistles were given by the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
11 DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I [Paul] WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOSPEL MESSAGE I PREACH IS NOT BASED ON MERE HUMAN REASONING. 12 I RECEIVED MY MESSAGE FROM NO HUMAN SOURCE, AND NO ONE TAUGHT ME. INSTEAD, I RECEIVED IT BY DIRECT REVELATION FROM JESUS CHRIST" (Galatians 1:11,12 NLT). - And these epistles were written under the inspiration of God:
16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED [given by divine inspiration] AND IS PROFITABLE FOR INSTRUCTION, FOR CONVICTION [of sin], FOR CORRECTION [of error and restoration to obedience], FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 SO THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE AND PROFICIENT, OUTFITTED AND THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK" (2 Timothy 3:16,17 Amps).
READ: 2 Peter 1:20,21).
• If these epistles were given by the direct Revelation of Jesus Christ, As said by Paul and others; What then makes them different from the teachings taught by Jesus Christ Himself in His earthly Ministry?
- Jesus has already said it before He ascended that there were things He wanted to teach but the Disciples would not be able to handle or comprehend them At the time; so when the Holy Spirit comes, He would teach them to the church—the Disciples of His:
12 “I [Jesus] STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU, BUT YOU CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW. 13 HOWEVER, WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, HAS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; FOR HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT WHATEVER HE HEARS HE WILL SPEAK; AND HE WILL TELL YOU THINGS TO COME. 14 HE WILL GLORIFY ME, FOR HE WILL TAKE OF WHAT IS MINE AND DECLARE IT TO YOU. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. THEREFORE I SAID THAT HE WILL TAKE OF MINE AND DECLARE IT TO YOU" (John 16:12-15 NKJV). - With the Bible passage quoted here, above, how would someone say the Revelation, or Teaching, given to the foundational Apostles and Prophets are erroneous.
- Jesus Christ already said that, through the Holy Spirit, things which could not be taught by Himself; knowing that the Disciples would not be able to comprehend them At the time, would be taught to them after His Ascension—through the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15).
- Thus, whoever comes with any other Teachings, apart from the ones in the canonized Bible, is said to be accursed:
8 BUT EVEN IF WE [Paul himself and his team members], OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL TO YOU THAN WHAT WE HAVE PREACHED TO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, IF ANYONE PREACHES ANY OTHER GOSPEL TO YOU THAN WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED" (Galatians 1:8,9 NKJV). - The epistles are the books written to the church, they are given to the church that we might know how to live—navigate our journey in our new found faith in Christ Jesus.
• Those who criticize and say they would not follow or live by the principles or teachings found in the epistles are guilty of what the Word teaches.
- The core Teachings of Christian living Are found in the Epistles, and these teachings are difficult for some who professed to be believers, to abide with.
- Such so-called Believers want to have their ways. Their lives, the ways they live, are contrary to what they professed to be:
15 EVERYTHING IS PURE TO THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE PURE. BUT NOTHING IS PURE TO THOSE WHO ARE CORRUPT AND UNBELIEVING, BECAUSE THEIR MINDS AND CONSCIENCES ARE CORRUPTED. 16 SUCH PEOPLE CLAIM THEY KNOW GOD, BUT THEY DENY HIM BY THE WAY THEY LIVE. THEY ARE DETESTABLE AND DISOBEDIENT, WORTHLESS FOR DOING ANYTHING GOOD" (Titus 1:15,16 NLT).
READ: 2 Timothy 3:1-5 - Such so-called Believers want to have their way, because they have itching ears; they would not want the truth, and would not want to listen to sound doctrine or teaching, thus, they chose the parts or portions of the Bible to believe and accept, and the ones not to accept or believe:
1 NOW THE SPIRIT EXPRESSLY SAYS THAT IN LATTER TIMES SOME WILL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO DECEIVING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS, 2 SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY, HAVING THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON" (1 Timothy 4:1,2 NKJV). - The ones, the parts of the Bible, that scolded them, they would not want; they said it was not Jesus' Word, It was not taught by Jesus, thus, It was not God's Word and they would not accept it:
3 FOR A TIME IS COMING WHEN PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER LISTEN TO SOUND AND WHOLESOME TEACHING. THEY WILL FOLLOW THEIR OWN DESIRES AND WILL LOOK FOR TEACHERS WHO WILL TELL THEM WHATEVER THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR. 4 THEY WILL REJECT THE TRUTH AND CHASE AFTER MYTHS" (2 Timothy 4:3,4 NLT). - And the Bible says: ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED [given by divine inspiration] AND IS PROFITABLE FOR INSTRUCTION...." (2 Timothy 3:16 Amps).
- How would a group of people now consider a part of the Scripture erroneous, after the hundreds of years of canonisation. God is not an author of confusion or Evil.
- Some said God revealed to them that the epistles are erroneous, How would God Reveal such a thing after hundreds of years of canonisation to someone in the twenty-first century?:
"FOR GOD [who is the source of their prophesying] IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION AND DISORDER BUT OF PEACE AND ORDER. AS [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people)" (1 Corinthians 14:33 Amps).
• God dwells in the Believers, in the person of the Holy Spirit, and His understanding, God's understanding, is gotten through the rapport you have with the Holy Spirit—Who decodes, or expatiates, or gives light, on God's Word, the Bible.
- Let the Holy Spirit tutor you, He explains and interprets the Word of God. And whatever you are taught by the Holy Spirit, go ahead and apply to your life, that is, Practice it (James 1:22,25).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever is contending with your health is rebuked in Jesus' name.
- You will live in health all the days of your life in Jesus' name.
Peace.
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!