Why should all Christians follow the Christ?

Texas · Kitten Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 135 Location: Ontario

Why should all Christians now follow the Christ?

Most are familiar with the composite sign of the presence of Christ in Matthew 24 Mark 13 Luke 21. My intention now is to focus attention only on what Jesus had to say about the prevelence of false prophets during that particular time period, and the shroud of spiritual darkness that would be hovering over all of the Nations, because of their influence. It should be noted that none of these false prophets had received any appointments to office from the Christ; they were all self appointed, and they would stand in shocked surprise when they learned that. So too, would their many adherents. The Prophet Isaiah words it thusly: "For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples ... then speaking about Jesus, ... 'but the LORD shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and his glory will be seen on you." [Revelation 21:2,3]

Now, would the entire World see the Christ in Kingdom Power as he illuminated this earth?, for now spiritual light would begin to shine; and understandably so since Jesus was the light of the World. As worded in John 8: 12 ... 'I am the light of the World, no follower of mine shall wander in the dark; he shall have the light of life.' [JB] Notice this point! Jesus said 'no follower of mine' ... So these ones would not be followers of any of the Religions of this World, they would serve only the Christ. This point is highlited for us at John 12:26 where it says this: "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." So, only those Jesus considered to be his sheep would be the ones who served him, because they listened only to his voice. [John 10:1-5] But what about the rest of the World? Would they not see this great light shining during the presence of Christ? Certainly the opportunity was there for them to see it. Why didn't they see it? Let Jesus explain: "In a little while the World will see me no longer, but you will see me; because I live, you too will live; then you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me and I in you." [John 14:19]

Many times throughout the Christian Greek Scriptures Jesus gave his Apostles and disciples the command to follow him; and they did so! By extension those commands apply to all today who profess to be Christian. He told them to 'come to me.' That meant for those under the Mosaic Law to abandon that way of worship in favor of following the Christ. So too, we today whatever Religion we are associated with, we must abandon that way of worship, in favor of following and serving the Christ. {John 12:26] [Mark 10: 21] [Matthew 19:21] [Luke 18:22]

Who today would be more qualified to teach us the Bible than the Christ himself? There is no one on this earth now who could do that as it would be done by the Christ. In Matthew 11:28-30 he tells us, "Come to me, all whose work is hard, whose load is heavy; and I will give you relief. Bend your necks to my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and your souls will find relief. For my yoke is good to bear, my load is light." [JB]

Notice the instruction given there by Jesus? He said, 'Learn from me.'

He didn't tell us to go to any appointed faithful slave class, because none were appointed. He was the one leader, and one teacher in the first Century, those position are still occupied by him, and him alone. [Matthew 23:8-10

Each Christian today must come to recognize the superior position occupied by the Christ, for he is over all! Aside from his Father Jehovah he is second in authority, and all must bow to that position of authority held by the Christ. The following verses of scripture will highlite this point.

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God." [John 13:3] " The Father loveth the Son and has given all things into his hands." [John 3:35] "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all." [John 3:31] "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church." [Ephesians 1:22] : [KJ] "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ" ... [1 Corinthians 11:3] "For the husband is head of the wife, even as Christ is head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body." [Ephesians 5:23]

"And he is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence." [Colossians 1:18] [ASV] So according to that, Jesus position surpasses that of any man on this earth. He it is, is in the superior position, with only his Father greater than he. So what better teacher and leader could we choose to teach us his Fathers word? But as a teacher there is something else that Jesus can do for us that no man could ever accomplish by human means or any other means. The first thing is reported on in Matthew 13: 10,11 in these words: in part, ... 'it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." So Jesus has the power to cause us to know these sacred secrets. There is more! Luke informs us just what that is, at Chapter 24:45 where we are told: "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." [Luke 24:45] Now, the question arise; what Religious Leader on this earth today could accomplish those two feats? There is none! That is why no Relgious Body on this earth now, could assume the position of Teacher and Leader of God's People. That would be entirely impossible!

It should be made mention now, that there is a Religious Body on this earth today that professes to be, "God's Channel" "God's Organization" they profess to have the anointed remnant in their midst, and claim they are appointed by God, as a "Faithful Slave Class." Of course, as I have shown, the only one who really is appointed is the Christ himself, because he is the only one who qualifies to take on that responsibility. The Bible itself shows their claim to being appointed is false, because the appointments to any kind of oversight only come when the Christ takes over earths affairs as a ruling King. Two scriptures in the Revelation account will back up what I say as the truth. One is found at Revelation 2:26 where we read: "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him I will give power over the Nations."

That scripture does not have to be explained, it is self explanatory. The next scripture makes the point even more clear, for it states: ... "The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our LORD and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever ... And the Nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the Saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth." [Revelation 11: 15,18] [KJV]

Those two scriptures show beyond a shadow of a doubt that no appointments come until the end. They do not come at the beginning as is claimed by the Religious Body in question. I should also have mentioned that this organiztion in question professes to be 'the way of the Truth' but the Bible also shows that up for the lie that it is! How does it do that? With the following words of Jesus himself: ... "I am the WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." [John 14:6] [KJV] So, if we 'come' to the Christ as commanded, if we also obey his command to, 'Follow me', and we are following only him, then it can be said, we are walking in the way of the truth. No one could do that by following any man made Religion. There is yet one more thing we are to do that is essential for gaining God's approval, and I will let Jehovah himself tell you what that is. At Luke 9:35 it is written: "A voice came from the cloud. It said, "This is My Son, and I have chosen him. Listen to him." [Matthew 17:5] [Mark 9:7] So if we come to the Christ, if we follow the Christ, if we listen to the Christ, we will eventually gain the knowledge of Jehovah, and his Son that will put us on the road that leads to everlasting life. [John 17:3] [KJV]

For far too long Religious Christendom has pictured the Christ, either as a pathetic figure hanging on a cross, or as an infant babe lying in a manger. At one point that proved to be true, but that has not been the case for all the time he has been pictured as thus. Do they forget that at the age of twelve Jesus was in the Temple amazing the religious leaders with his knowledge and understanding? [Luke 2:43-47] Do they forget that he chose and taught the Twelve Apostles? [Luke 6: 12-19] That he taught multitudes who followed him? [Luke 19: 37,38] Last, but not least, that he ascended to a glorified position to his Fathers right hand and given control of the Holy Spirit; by which, we all now benefit? That he is now poised to take his position as Jehovah's chosen ruling King of this earth? [Acts 2:33] [Matthew 28:16-20] [Luke 24:50-53] [Acts 1:6-11] So, what mental picture should we all have now of Jesus? We view him as Jehovah's future ruling King, now, and since the first Century, Glorified at his Father's right hand, in control of the Holy Spirit. Now, how do we all benefit from that Holy Spirit employed in our behalf?

The Apostle John will enlighten us on that point, for he stated: "But the comforter, which the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to unto you." [John 14: 26] He continues: "Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he shall show you things to come." [John 16:13] So, from his heavenly vantage point, by means of the Holy Spirit, Jesus can teach us all things, and bring back to our minds everything that he has said to us in the written word, even going so far as to teach us about things to come. This begets another question! What body of religous leaders today could equal a teacher such as Jesus is? I answer! There is none!

Some might now be wondering; how do we obey the Command to come to the Christ, to listen to, and to follow him? They may reason, he is not on this earth now, so how do we follow all of that direction? Why, it's really quite simple, for we merely follow the example set by Moses, spoken about in Hebrews 11: 26,27 where we learn this: "Esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." Coupled with that, we do as did those of the heavenly calling, who "followed the Lamb wherever he goes." So, with the 'eyes of our hearts enlightened' we see the one who is invisible and we follow him with our eyes, minds and hearts right into the heavenly realm where Jesus sits glorified at the right hand of his Father, and receive of our spiritual feeding from the hand of the Christ. [Ephesians 1:18] [Revelation 14:4]

In conclusion then, we remember some of the last words to his faithful Apostles: ... "and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the World." [Matthew 28:20] but, "When the Son of Man Arrives, will he really find the faith on earth?"

So, in his glorified position at his Fathers right hand, the Christ sits waiting for all Christians of the World to follow the commands to 'come to, 'follow, and 'listen' to him. It is my intention to follow those commands to show my faith in Christ. [Acts 24:24] [Luke 18:8] Should not that be the intention of all Christians?

So, now, why should all Christians follow the Christ? The answer to that John helps us to appreciate, when he penned the words of Jesus. "If any man SERVE ME, let him FOLLOW ME; and where I am, there shall also my servant be; if any man SERVE ME, him will my Father honor." [John 12:26] It should be remembered that we cannot serve the Christ by attending any of the spiritually impoverished Churchs of Christendom. We will not be honored by Jehovah by doing that, because we cannot serve the Christ by disregarding the commands to follow, and listen to only the Christ.

Please do not miss this one final point in the statement made by Jesus here at John 12:26. He said: ... "and where I am, there shall also my sevant be" ... We know that Jesus is in the heavenly realm, so that is where his servants will have to go to serve him. Earlier I pointed out exactly how they would do that. We recall what Paul told us about the worship of the Nations. He said: "The things that the Nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to be sharers with the Demons." [1 Corinthians 10:20,21] Now would Jesus have a sharing with the Demons by being found among the Churchs of Christendom? Not likely! Nor would those who wish to follow only the Christ.

Mattathias · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

revmattchoo.com · House Cat Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 168

I got another short answer:

You can find the word "Christ" in "Christians". That's why Christians are called Christians; because they are "little Christs".
_________________
“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” - C.S. Lewis

“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” - C.S. Lewis

Booky

james · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

If you not following Christ your not Christian or (Christ-like)