If you love Jesus...

John 14:23-29

Jesus' Good News IS the fulfillment of Law and Prophets.
It is the New Covenant, expressive of God's Will for the children of God.
It is the authority in the lives of those who would be children of God.

"Those who love me will keep MY Word... whoever does not love me does not keep MY words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me."

So many claim the name.
So many claim Jesus as Savior.
So many ignore what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled.
So many reject Jesus as Lord of their lives.

If you love Jesus, you will heed, follow and live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled
in Agape Love and Grace.

PERIOD.

Oh... so you're a church member and claim Jesus for your life and don't know what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us to live in the Gospels?
Maybe it's time for a different church, different teachers.

Christianity is NOT American Civil Religion.
It is not salvation based on merit, self-righteousness in purity or holiness or adherence to the Law.
It is not about personal salvation at all, but ALL about living Agape Love in the world as Jesus did.
PERIOD.

So, you say you love Jesus?
If you love Jesus... well, you know.

Pastor Jamie

To Be Known...

For what are you known?
For what would you LIKE to be known?

Jesus, son of God, identified with humanity.  He took on human life so that we would know that God identifies with us.
Jesus called His disciples to identify with Him.  Living Agape Love was a tall enough order, but now Jesus commanded His disciples to apply Agape Love to the world AS JESUS DID.  God loves us, and we are to love others in the world in the same way that God loves us.  It is Jesus' command.

Then, Jesus gave them the criteria by which others would know that they are Jesus' followers, that they belong to Jesus - that they live that Agape Love in the world.

It was not by the fact that they worshiped Jesus.
It was not by the fact that they praised Jesus.
It was not by the fact that they tithed in Jesus' name.
It is not for being baptized or carrying a big Bible, speaking in tongues or claiming Jesus as personal Lord and Savior that we are known as Jesus' followers.
It certainly is not for being self-righteous, judging or hateful that others will identify us with Jesus.
Jesus' followers are known for living the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for them to live in the world.  That is how EVERYONE is to know that we are Jesus' followers, that is, if you believe JESUS.

This was important to Jesus.  Before He left them, Jesus wanted them to know this one thing, according to John's Gospel.  This is His last wish, Jesus' final instruction to His disciples.  Jesus COMMANDED that any who claim Jesus' name, who would be followers of Jesus imitate Him in how we live Agape Love in the world around us.

So, for what are you known?
For what would you like to be known?

Would you like to be known as a follower of Jesus?
Hmmmm?

Pastor Jamie

Do you have ears to hear?

John 10:22-30

The Temple Cult leaders of His time confronted Jesus.
They would not believe that Jesus was the one sent by God to reform the faith.

They would not believe Jesus' actions because they did not value them.  They were not about healing, restoring people to a good life within their community or empowerment.  They were about misleading the people so that they could have power over them, exploit them for their own material gain and status from their positions.  They did not believe in Jesus or Jesus' Way.  They would not hear what Jesus taught or commanded, or see what Jesus did as an example for the living of Kingdom values in the world.  They did not know Jesus or His Agape Love, or His Grace.  They knew only the empire values they had adopted for themselves, while giving lip service to God.  They knew everything but Kingdom values.  They ignored Jesus as Lord of their lives.

And how about us?  Do we hear what Jesus taught and commanded as authoritative guidance for our lives in Him?  Do we accept Jesus only as Savior and not as Lord of our lives?  Do we hear Jesus' message of Agape Love and Grace and apply it to how we live in this part of God's Kingdom, here and now?  Do we see what Jesus did and emulate that in the world around us with those who God loves, here and now?  Do we give Jesus lip service while ignoring His Kingdom values and, indeed pursue empire values because it provides us with more power, wealth and status, even at the expense of those who God loves?  Is it Jesus' voice that we recognize and follow?  Does Jesus know us because we follow Jesus in how we live His commanded Agape Love in the world as Jesus did?

Do you truly believe that Jesus is the one who was sent by God to guide you in life?
Or do we claim to be people of God, but ignore Jesus, Jesus' Word and Jesus' Way?

Do we have eyes to see?  Do we have ears to hear?
Do we know, love and follow Jesus?  Really?

Is it OUR time of re-dedication, not of the physical temple, but of the temple that is US, as people who live within God and within whom God lives?

Are you listening?  Can you hear me?  Do you have ears that hear?

Pastor Jamie