Matthew 28:16-20
These are final instructions. This is what Jesus wants.
First, we must acknowledge that JESUS is THE AUTHORITY - Savior, Fulfiller of the Law and Prophets, Redeemer and LORD of our lives... that is, IF you claim Jesus... remember the "you cannot have two masters" thing?
OK, now that Jesus has said WHY we must listen to Him...
Go... Imperative (Command)... don't open up a shop and sit, even with the doors open more than just one hour a week, even though you advertise with signs, flyers, radio, TV, billboards, CD's, books, Facebook, Twitter, etc., etc.... Go out there... you know, in the real world...
Make Disciples... mathetes... student/followers of Jesus - you know of what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for His followers to live... don't just worship and adore, praise and tithe Him, as Jesus never asked for or commanded that... teach others what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, and get them to live what Jesus taught, commanded and followed... and
Baptizing them... inclusion into the community of believers... not conditional inclusion... not only if they are holy or pure enough... not only if they are adults... not only if they think just like you... like Phillip on the road, even those who are sexually different and excluded by the Law of Moses (Acts 8)... INCLUDE THEM... invoke the Holy Spirit in their lives, in Jesus' name... INCLUDE them... and...
Teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded YOU... NOT the Law and Prophets, but Jesus' fulfillment of them... NOT just what Paul wrote that you agree with... NOT just what you have heard your "preachers" say... what JESUS taught, commanded and modeled... Jesus, who repeatedly refers to keeping HIS commands, abiding in HIS Word... obey Jesus... there is NO other judge... no other Redeemer, Savior or Lord, that is, if you claim His name...
and Remember (that) I am with you always, to the end of the age. Yes, it is meant as a comfort... and YES, it is meant as ACCOUNTABILITY...
I hear Jesus saying, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)
So many who think they are sheep will find they are goats, at least according to what Jesus says determines our salvation. (Matthew 25:31-46)
It is not about our purity or holiness, not about our righteousness, not about our adherence to the Law of Moses, not about our being better than someone else... Jesus says... yes, Jesus... LORD... that it is about LOVING GOD and NEIGHBOR (even stranger and enemy - Luke 10) as we love OURSELVES... not about Worship or Praise or Adoration or Tithes... we are worthy only because Jesus makes us worthy... righteous only in HIS righteousness... why we must have Grace and DO have it given, freely, unconditionally... not because we have earned or merited it, but because we NEEDED it... God's Love is Great... so is ours supposed to be... teach others to be disciples of THAT Jesus...
Pastor Jamie
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