Foundational Truth

1. Foundational Truth

Every “denominational religion” began with the recognition and exaltation of the doctrines, theologies, and/or pursuits of men over Jesus.  Well intended, well meaning, or not, the fact is Luther and his followers started Lutheranism, Wesley and his followers started Methodism, the followers of John the Baptist started the Baptists (or Anabaptists), the followers of Peter and his lineage continue as the Catholics, and on and on.

No doubt, ALL professing Christians are supposed to be disciples first! …And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26.   Furthermore, Paul the apostle specifically and expressly discouraged being a follower (i.e., disciple) of anyone other than Christ Jesus, or any doctrine other than His. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1:12-13.  (Paul characterized his own life in Christ as being a “prisoner” of Jesus Christ, and none other. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ,... Philemon 1:1; see also verse 1:9, and Ephesians 3:1.)

As a result, people often highly regard “their church” doctrine as their preferred “flavor” of the Word of God, and yet the doctrines and words of the denominational religions often disagree with the true Word as written in the Bible.  However, when asked, the members of the various denominational religions will often reflexively say, “we all agree as to the basics”, in an attempt to defend the apparent divisions within the churches, yet upon closer inspection their answer is without merit. 

Again, EVERY self-professing Christian must be a disciple and therefore admit the most basic prerequisite of Christianity (discipleship) is forgiveness of sin (including transgressions of God’s will).  All self-professing Christians (as disciples of Christ) agree, salvation unto eternal life is by confession and repentance of sin from the heart.  Even with this being the most basic prerequisite possible and/or conceivable, we know one sect within a denominational religion will declare something as sin (or transgression), while another sect will say the same conduct is not a sin (or transgression).  Therefore, how can there be agreement as to the “basics” if the various denominational religions of Christianity, and the sects thereof, cannot agree on the most basic of all principles? Answer: This is not agreement, but religious proselytism among the sects.  Jesus said is this way: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23:15. 

Moreover, this IS the division by the Word He promised!  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: Luke 12:51.  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  Matthew 10:34.   The Word of God is that Sword!  ...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Ephesians 6:17.  A “one mind and one accord” church today is the collection of true believers sprinkled within the denominations, not all of the congregational members.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Matthew 7:21-23.  

Many of the doctrines and teachings of men and their religion which are highly esteemed by those leaders and followers thereof, yet abominations to God.  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.  Luke 16:15.  God almighty, the one true God and Father of all, never intended men to teach their own doctrine, but to live His.  Even Jesus disavowed a doctrine of His own.  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:16-17 (Emphasis added).  The ONLY doctrine Jesus ever advocated was attributed to the Father, and that doctrine is to DO the Father’s will–as the true spirit of the Word! 

Still, many, “Christians” of the self-righteous religious kind do not like the word “repentance”, even if repentance is His will. Instead of repentance they prefer their own religion espousing an abundant cheap grace doctrine they conveniently call “love” for justification of the sin they wish to retain.   This begs the question: Why does anyone try to avoid repentance and justify their fleshly lifestyle with an interpretation of God’s Word contrary to His will and His actual Word? Why not just confess their own fleshly weakness in truth–why skirt the issue?  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:25-28.

Discipleship IS THE standard of lifestyle for every self-professing Christian! By the leading of the Spirit–the Word and the Holy Ghost as the Spirit of Truth, our body and spirit is owned by God!  (1 Corinthians 6:2-0 mentioned previously).  Our lives are to be lived not of our own strength as if we could do anything of ourselves, or even think we could.  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.   2 Corinthians 3:3-6. 

Accordingly, our lifestyles become amended (altered) by the working of the Spirit in us out of the love we have in our heart for Him to do our Father’s will as Jesus the man  did.  We never corrupt the pure Word, or make it optional to fit our lifestyles, and we never consider the works of Jesus impossible!   But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.  John 5:36.  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. John 10:25.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  John 14:12.

Whenever circumstances arise, we admit our flesh is sinful and messes up, but we repent and move onward rejoicing in Christ!  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:24.

Jesus used the following parable to share this truth.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:3-9; see also Mark 4:2-13.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 13:10-15 (Emphasis added).

Explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus then said:

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  

Matthew 13: 18-23; see also, Mark 4:14-20.

The Spirit is the means for eternal life from God the Father.   The Word in Jesus is of that Spirit and thus the “light” for all mankind to follow in the darkness of this world.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4.  Jesus said He is the light of the world as long as He is in the world. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5.  Speaking to His disciples, Jesus also said: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Matthew 5:14-15; see also Luke 11:33. 

The Old Covenant/Testament and also the Word, albeit a covenant (promise) for a different time, says the spirit/will of man in each person, including Jesus, is the candle of the Lord.  The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Proverbs 20:27.   Reconciling John 1:4 (above) and Proverbs 20:27 (previous), the Spirit is the fire (i.e., light). I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? Luke 12:49.  (Those that believe the Old Testament Word also believe the prophets, also believe they spoke of the coming of Christ, and should believe Jesus–the Word and will of God in Spirit for all mankind, is that Christ.)

Jesus brings mankind this “fire” (light) of the Spirit. The Word then, as the spirit of the man Jesus is also the candle of Jesus the man and the candle of the Lord God. The candle of Jesus Himself is, of course, lit by the fire of God by the Spirit for all mankind starting with Himself as a begotten son/Son.  As a “lit candle”, the spirit/will of Jesus being the Word (John 1:1 and 1:14), the Word is that light for the spirit/will of all people individually (including Jesus) who would live forever through Him by that Word.

Thus, just as we light candles of a birthday cake by passing one flame to another, He literally passed the Word as the gospel (“good news”) to us (the first disciples) and we then share it with others.  In so doing, the Spirit (of the Word) as His will ignites the spirit/will of man in each of us as believers if we receive Him out of love for, and of, Him by appreciation (knowledge through understanding) of who He is!