THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST
(By Jay Yeager)
When God took human form (John 1:1; 14; Philippians 2:6-7), there came into the world a teacher unlike any other mankind as ever known (John 7:46). There would be nothing ambiguous about the teaching of Jesus Christ, He spoke as one having authority (Matthew 7:28-29). Those not self-absorbed with protecting their own position and influence (John 11:47-48) heard the Son of God gladly (Mark 12:37).
The second member of the Godhead (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9) experienced both human life (Matthew 1:18) and human death (Romans 5:6; 8; 10). Because of His life, Jesus was uniquely qualified to be a compassionate mediator between God and man (Hebrews 4:15; I Timothy 2:5). Because of His death, He became a Saviour to all those who would obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9). His words will be the standard by which the world will be judged (John 5:22; 12:48; Acts 17:30-31); therefore, the New Testament of Christ ought to arouse the interest of ever thoughtful person. The following is a very small part of what Jesus came to reveal.
Jesus taught the reality of forever
Jesus revealed the certainty and grandeur of heaven to those who faithfully serve Him (John 11:25-26; 14:1-3; Matthew 25:21; 23; 46; Revelation 21:1-27), the certainty and horror of hell for the unfaithful, indifferent and rebellious (Mark 9:43; 45; 47; Matthew 25:24-30; 46; Luke 19:14; 27). A note for the more serious students of the scriptures: There are three different words translated “hell” in the King James Version. Gehenna (eternal hell) occurs twelve times (Matthew 5:22; 29; 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15; 33; Mark 9:43; 45; 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6). Tartarus occurs once (II Peter 2:4). Every other time you come across the word “hell” in the New Testament it should be translated Hades.
What is Hades? Who will be there? Will we know each other after death? Three questions generally asked in a discussion of life after death. Jesus gives us the only view we have of Hades in Luke 16:19-31, an in so doing, He answers those three questions.
What is Hades? The unseen realm of the dead. 2. Who will be there? With rare exception, Elijah (II Kings 2:11) and Enoch (Hebrews 11:5) for example, all will be there in one compartment or the other, awaiting the second coming of Christ. In fact, Jesus went into this realm the three days His body was in the grave ((Luke 23:47; Acts 2:27; 31; John 20:17). Will we know each other after death? Yes! These verses reveal that there is: memory, identity and recognition after death.
Jesus taught us about prayer – both acceptable and unacceptable
1. The model prayer (Matthew 6:9:15; Luke 11:1-4). The model prayer is just that, a model. It would be unscriptural to pray this prayer today for two reasons. One. The kingdom has come (Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9; Hebrews 12:28). Two. Vain repletion is thoughtless prayer (Matthew 6:7).
2. Be persistent in prayer (Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 7:7-11).
3. The empty prayer of the self righteous (Luke 18:10-14).
Jesus taught us that salvation involves more than accepting Him
1. Hearing is indispensable in God’s plan of salvation. The word of God is the only source of faith (Romans 10:17), it is the truth that will set us free (John 8:32; 17:17).
2. Belief (faith) is absolutely necessary. Without faith nothing else would matter (Hebrews 11:6). Moreover, Jesus made it crystal clear that believing in Him is vital to one’s salvation (John 8:24; 14:6).
3. Repentance is a universal command (Acts 17:30) that requires a change of heart that leads to a change in life (Matthew 21:28-31). Salvation can never be realized without genuine repentance (Luke 13:3; 5).
4. Confession, like faith, is unto salvation (Romans 10:10. Jesus made it clear that confessing Him here and now is mandatory to having Him confess us there and then (Matthew 10:32-33).
5. Baptism, despite the denial of so many, is necessary in order to obtain salvation. No faithful proclaimer of the gospel will ever say or imply that one is saved, and then is baptized. For a number of reasons: A. Jesus connected baptism to salvation (Mark 16:15-16). I would be ashamed to say I was a preacher of the gospel and then attempt to avoid the words of the Saviour. B. Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:28; 22:16). C. Baptism puts one into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27).
Jesus taught that the freedom to choose is a responsibility
1. The rich farmer (Luke 12:16-21). “I” and “my” can be deadly words. All that we have belongs to God (Psalms 24:1). Forgetting God in life can, and will, lead to a terrible end. We never want to hear, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall these be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20).
2. The two builders (Matthew 7:24-27). The wise builder heard and did; the foolish builder heard and did not. Are you a hearer and a doer? Or a hearer only? (James 1:21-25).
3. There is a cost involved. To love Jesus above even those closest to us in life (Matthew 10:34-39; Luke 14:26-33). Have you counted the cost?