Jesus is Redeemer, Savior and Lord to me.
I must therefore, as a Disciple, follow what Jesus, Fulfiller of Law and Prophets, taught, commanded and modeled, as we have that in the Gospels.
Jesus is my authority on the Will of God.
So, over the past twenty or so years, I have been focused on living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, because I believe that Jesus' Central Teaching in the Gospels, the living of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other - even stranger and enemy) is what Jesus wants of me in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
It amazes me still that people who confess Jesus with their lips and profess to be followers of Jesus, ignore what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, especially the living of Agape Love in the world.
I will address that further on my next installment.
The FIRST GOSPEL WRITTEN...
in the FIRST CHAPTER,
offering the FIRST public WORDS of Jesus in the Gospel Genre has Jesus making an IMPERATIVE STATEMENT... the first of MANY... a command (do this/don't do that)...
"The time is FULFILLED, and the KINGDOM OF GOD has come near;
REPENT, and BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS." Mark 1:15
It was an announcement by Jesus...
THIS IS IT, FOLKS... what you have been waiting for...
The FULFILLER of Law and Prophets, the Messiah is here...
The KINGDOM OF GOD is what Jesus represents and brings...
This is GOD'S WILL... so, LISTEN UP... here it is...
John had prepared Jesus' way by telling people to repent for the forgiveness of sins.
It was time to start afresh. John's repentance was key for the followers of Moses and Elijah.
Jesus COMMANDS (Imperative Mood)...
REPENT - metanoia in Greek - CHANGE YOUR MIND
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
(so that your Words and Actions will be different)
Indeed, we would have to change our thinking to comply with His next command -
BELIEVE IN THE GOOD NEWS
If we believe in God, if we believe in Jesus as Son of God, Messiah, or even if we believe
Jesus to be a messenger of God...
If we believe Jesus is the LOGOS... the Word made Flesh...
Then we must believe in His MESSAGE... His GOOD NEWS...
Throughout the Gospels, we have Jesus telling His followers that to BE His followers they must "abide in MY words" and "keep MY commandments", along with other, similar teachings. The Good News is JESUS' Good News - Jesus OWNS IT... it is God's WILL for God's people who live in the New Covenant of Grace in Agape Love.
It was time to let go of the salvation by merit according to the Law and Prophets...
It was time to welcome Jesus as the Giver of God's Grace and Mercy...
It was time to let go of the check-list mentality of keeping ten commandments...
It was time to embrace Jesus' Law of Agape...
It was time to let go of counting others as worthy, unworthy or less worthy...
It was time to see our need and theirs for GRACE in Jesus...
So, you say you believe in Jesus...
as Redeemer, Savior and Lord?
But do you believe in Jesus' GOOD NEWS?
Do you believe that Jesus' teachings, commands and examples are to be followed?
Do you live by Jesus' Law of Agape Love?
Do you believe that you need to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled?
Do you believe that to be right with God, you must follow His example and teachings?
I know you worship and praise Him. Did Jesus once ask for that in His Good News?
Did Jesus command tithes in order to please God?
Did Jesus teach intolerance of anyone, even those who do not believe in Him or those who broke the Law of Moses?
Did Jesus model hatred of ANYONE? Violence toward anyone? Discrimination of anyone?
Yes, we must repent... change our minds, our thinking, if we want to follow Jesus.
He COMMANDS it.
I believe that Jesus' Way is a better way for the whole world, particularly the world around me when I live it. I believe that to be faithful to Jesus is to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled in His Good News. I believe in it. Do you?
Pastor Jamie
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