Not all who teach God’s word in theological classrooms and seminaries really believe the words that they are teaching. In fact, such teachers have influenced some to lose their faith and turn away from the paths of Christ. How, then, can one teach the Bible and the tenets thereof without actually believing all contained therein? Unfortunately, such a faith is sometimes seen as extremist, but Jesus did not come to teach a middle-of-the-road, half-committed, cherry-picked doctrine. His approach was complete and absolute, so where do we stand in comparison to His teachings?
Jesus, On His Identity
Jesus did not come merely professing to be a philosopher or a good man. He did not settle for merely being a respected Rabbi. He did not call Himself a disciple or a spiritual son of God. No, in Luke 4, when reading from the book of Isaiah to the assembled congregation, Jesus claims to be the Messiah spoken of by that prophet. This passage is about one who would bring great change to God’s people, one who would have miraculous powers, and Jesus tells them that those words are fulfilled in Him. These claims would anger the crowd and turn them against Him, but Jesus never backs down from His claim that He was the Messiah who would reach out to both Jew and Gentile.
John 8:58 records Jesus calling Himself, “I AM.” This is a direct reference to the way Jehovah addressed Himself to Moses in the burning bush. Moreover, Jesus claims, “I am the bread of life. “I am the light of the world.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the resurrection and the life.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “I and My Father are one.” Where some theologians would call Jesus a teacher of moral platitudes or social reform, Jesus calls Himself God in the flesh. He claims to be more than a good man. He claims to be the source of salvation and eternal life. Matthew 16:24 −25 records Jesus telling His followers to completely deny self to follow Him.
If Jesus was just a man, then He was egotistical to an extreme, and He was a complete fraud. Otherwise, He was the Son of God and savior of the world. There is no real middle ground between those two. Therefore, if we say we believe in Him, then we completely dedicate ourselves to Him and His teachings.
The Inspiration of Scripture
Again, there are many who teach the Bible as a collection of good ideas with parts that are no longer applicable and other parts that can be dismissed entirely. John 12:46-48 has Jesus equating His words with God’s words; rejecting one rejects the other. Then, in John 14:16, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will bring all of His words to remembrance, so they can accurately teach others, and we see this promise begin to be fulfilled in Acts 2. The apostles’ teachings were Jesus’ teachings, and II John 9 says the only way to abide in the Father is to abide in the doctrine of Christ. This would include the words in the gospels as well as the words spoken and written by His apostles. II Peter 1:3 simply concludes that God’s divine power has granted all knowledge pertaining life and godliness.
The Faith We Proclaim
When it comes to the name we wear – that of Christians, or those who belong to Christ – how can we proclaim that identity without wholly believing in Christ and refusing to live His will. That name is our identity at all times in all places, worn in good conscience and in complete faith. Matthew 12:30 records Jesus saying we are either entirely for or against Him, and He warns us against trying to serve two masters in Matthew 6:24.
We do not have to listen to the world or to disenchanted teachers to lose our faith; we can do that by looking at God’s word and doing nothing. We cannot simply play at being Christians. We cannot be content with simply being good people. We cannot be content with simple morality. If we would be complete, we should deny self, change to what Christ would have us be, leave behind all that separates us from God, and follow Christ.
lesson by Tim Smelser
Jesus, On His Identity
Jesus did not come merely professing to be a philosopher or a good man. He did not settle for merely being a respected Rabbi. He did not call Himself a disciple or a spiritual son of God. No, in Luke 4, when reading from the book of Isaiah to the assembled congregation, Jesus claims to be the Messiah spoken of by that prophet. This passage is about one who would bring great change to God’s people, one who would have miraculous powers, and Jesus tells them that those words are fulfilled in Him. These claims would anger the crowd and turn them against Him, but Jesus never backs down from His claim that He was the Messiah who would reach out to both Jew and Gentile.
John 8:58 records Jesus calling Himself, “I AM.” This is a direct reference to the way Jehovah addressed Himself to Moses in the burning bush. Moreover, Jesus claims, “I am the bread of life. “I am the light of the world.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the resurrection and the life.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “I and My Father are one.” Where some theologians would call Jesus a teacher of moral platitudes or social reform, Jesus calls Himself God in the flesh. He claims to be more than a good man. He claims to be the source of salvation and eternal life. Matthew 16:24 −25 records Jesus telling His followers to completely deny self to follow Him.
If Jesus was just a man, then He was egotistical to an extreme, and He was a complete fraud. Otherwise, He was the Son of God and savior of the world. There is no real middle ground between those two. Therefore, if we say we believe in Him, then we completely dedicate ourselves to Him and His teachings.
The Inspiration of Scripture
Again, there are many who teach the Bible as a collection of good ideas with parts that are no longer applicable and other parts that can be dismissed entirely. John 12:46-48 has Jesus equating His words with God’s words; rejecting one rejects the other. Then, in John 14:16, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will bring all of His words to remembrance, so they can accurately teach others, and we see this promise begin to be fulfilled in Acts 2. The apostles’ teachings were Jesus’ teachings, and II John 9 says the only way to abide in the Father is to abide in the doctrine of Christ. This would include the words in the gospels as well as the words spoken and written by His apostles. II Peter 1:3 simply concludes that God’s divine power has granted all knowledge pertaining life and godliness.
The Faith We Proclaim
When it comes to the name we wear – that of Christians, or those who belong to Christ – how can we proclaim that identity without wholly believing in Christ and refusing to live His will. That name is our identity at all times in all places, worn in good conscience and in complete faith. Matthew 12:30 records Jesus saying we are either entirely for or against Him, and He warns us against trying to serve two masters in Matthew 6:24.
We do not have to listen to the world or to disenchanted teachers to lose our faith; we can do that by looking at God’s word and doing nothing. We cannot simply play at being Christians. We cannot be content with simply being good people. We cannot be content with simple morality. If we would be complete, we should deny self, change to what Christ would have us be, leave behind all that separates us from God, and follow Christ.
lesson by Tim Smelser
