Well, brethren, today being the Feast of Trumpets, it's a day linked to Revelation 11:15 that signals the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. While we do not know the exact date of His return, it certainly feels like it could be just around the corner, doesn't it? But one thing is clear, He will return, and Scripture outlines His role on that day. Have you ever imagined that moment when He stands on the Mount of Olives gathering those who keep His word?
But who are they? The religion bearing His name has splintered into countless groups. Christianity today resembles a patchwork quilt stitched together with pieces from all kinds of traditions. Catholic, Baptist, Evangelicals, Charismatics, Methodists, Calvinists, Lutherans, and more. All with distinct beliefs that often contradict one another. So how can anyone know who's truly teaching the gospel of the kingdom of God?
So here is a question. If these groups represent Christianity, is Christ Himself a Christian? Would He identify with any of these denominations? Would He walk into any of these churches and say, yes, this is My people? Paul reminds us in both the book of Ephesians and Colossians that Jesus is the head of His church. And in First Peter, we are reminded that Christ suffered for us and left us an example to follow. Paul echoes that Christ suffered for us and left us an example to follow. Paul echoes this in First Corinthians, saying, Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. And First John urges us to walk as Jesus walked. So clearly, Jesus should be our example in all spiritual matters. By examining what He taught and how He lived, we might discover which group He truly leads.
So let's explore three key points. What Jesus thought about God's law, how He worshiped, and what He'll be looking for when He returns. Despite their differences, most Christian groups agree on one primary doctrine. They believe the Old Testament law was abolished by Jesus on the cross. They see God's law as a burden, a curse, and irrelevant to Christianity today. But let's unpack that. Their argument usually goes like this. God gave the law to the Jews at Sinai, and once Jesus came, that form of law and worship was no longer required.
But by rewinding the story a bit and looking way before Moses ever climbed Mount Sinai, we can see in Genesis chapter 26, verse 5, God saying something powerful to Isaac.
Genesis 26:5 Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.
This was 400 years before Sinai, meaning Abraham followed God's commandments long before Moses. And consider Noah, who preached righteousness centuries before Abraham. In Exodus chapter 16, weeks before the Ten Commandments were given, God was teaching the Israelites about the Sabbath. When they disobeyed, He asked Moses, how long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? So clearly, the Sabbath was already part of God's law. So the claim that the law began with Moses doesn't fit. Yet many Christian groups still dismiss it as Old Testament stuff.
So it's important to consider what Jesus had to say about God's law. In Matthew chapter 7, He rebukes religious leaders for making God's word ineffective through their traditions. He stated He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it and rejected human traditions that distort its purpose. In Matthew chapter 19, Jesus connects eternal life to keeping the commandments, stating, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. In John chapter 14, He says, if you love Me, keep My commandments. Jesus teaches that love and obedience go hand in hand. He did not make the law easier, no. He raised it to a higher standard. He taught that hatred breaks the commandment against murder and lust breaks the one against adultery. That's not dismissing the law. It's making the requirements stronger.
And what about His disciples? Paul states in Romans chapter 7, I delight in the law of God. Would he delight in something he believed was abolished? That wouldn't make sense, no. Decades after Jesus's death, John writes in I John chapter 2, verse 3.
I John 2:3 We know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He who says I know Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar.
Does that sound like someone who believes the law no longer matters? Not even close. So who teaches that the law is no longer required and why? Because Jesus did not. Neither did Paul or John. Jesus preached repentance and turning from sin. But think about this, brethren. If the law has been nailed to the cross, then sin can't exist, meaning there is nothing to repent of and no need for grace or forgiveness. Does that idea align with Scripture? In Revelation 12:17, John tells us the dragon became furious and makes war with those who keep the commandments of God. If the law has been abolished, why does the dragon care about these people? This suggests these people haven't been deceived by Satan's lie about the validity of God's law. So if Jesus, Paul, and John all upheld God's law, shouldn't we? See, brethren, without the doctrine that obedience to God's way is no longer required, many modern teachings would crumble. But Jesus' example clearly supports the law.
Now let's shift gears a bit and consider how Jesus worshiped. Throughout Scripture, worship weaves its way from Genesis to Revelation. Formal worship is not just about singing or attending church or having some type of an emotional experience. God is specific about the method, timing, and attitude He expects for formal worship that builds faith and honors Him. Understanding Jesus's view of the law helps us understand worship. God's instructions for worship are built right into His laws. They're not just rules, but a complete package that defines a way of life.
Please turn to Deuteronomy chapter 12. God warns His people not to imitate the worship practices of the nations that they were driving out. He tells them in verse 30, not to ask, how did they worship their gods that I may do the same. Then He tells them, you shall not worship the Lord your God in that way. He describes these people's worship as an abomination, full of lies and things He hates. Instead, God says in verse 32.
Deuteronomy 12:32 Everything I command you, you shall be careful to do. Do not add to it and do not take away from it.
Jeremiah echoes this in chapter 10, verse 1. He tells Israel not to learn the ways of the Gentiles. Their customs are empty and futile. In Mark chapter 7, verse 6, we see Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying.
Mark 7:6 This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
So Jesus agrees with the Old Testament teachings and warns against adopting man-made traditions of worship, rejecting traditions found in today's Christian holidays. He observed holy days that many Christian groups wouldn't even recognize today. Well, let's ask ourselves, brethren, do we have the discernment to recognize traditions that contradict what God desires? The New Testament shows Jesus observing the holy days listed in Leviticus 23, that God describes as My feasts that include the Passover, Feast of Trumpets, and the Feast of Tabernacles, and more. Paul instructs converted Jews and Gentiles in First Corinthians to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Pentecost, as seen in the Book of Acts. And let's not forget the Sabbath, no. Jesus kept the seventh-day Sabbath, and His followers continued to observe the same day.
Think about it like this. When two people fall in love, they learn what makes their partner feel loved. A man can't just do what he prefers and expect his partner to feel loved. Ladies, if your husband spent the day golfing, fishing, or watching football, then says, see how much I love you, I gave you the whole day to yourself. But ladies, wouldn't you feel that love is not about leaving you alone to do your own thing? But love is about spending the whole day with you. See, love is about doing what the other person values as a demonstration of love for them. Well, it's the same with God, yeah. We can't just decide what we think shows love and expect Him to accept it. He's already told us what He values, obedience to His commandments and worship according to His instructions.
Finally, let's look at the joyful experience of God's holy days. By completing the yearly cycle of God's holy days, it brings satisfaction and assurance, along with new knowledge of God's plan for His creation. In contrast, man-made holidays like Christmas often leave you with bills, family conflicts, and disappointed children. New Year's brings hangovers and broken resolutions, while Halloween leaves you with unhealthy candy. These events offer no new understanding of God or His plan. Yet some claim that God's way of life is bondage, not even realizing the cycle of bondage these man-made events keep them in.
So what have we seen so far? If Jesus walked into a church today, would He recognize their worship? He would find people calling themselves His followers, worshiping Him on completely different days, following traditions that violate God's commands in exactly the ways He taught against. Now let's look at Matthew chapter 7. This is where it gets real. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7, beginning in verse 21.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
Lawlessness means breaking God's law. So I ask, how will Jesus recognize those He knows? Well, let's consider what Jesus meant when He said, do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. This word 'fulfilled' has sparked endless debate in attempts to support the claims of abolishing the requirements of the law. But instead of all this debating, can't we just let Jesus explain it Himself? Please turn to Matthew chapter 22, and let's look at how Jesus Himself begins defining His fulfilling the law.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Jesus teaches that love is the foundation of the law. God's law is not just a list of rules, it's a complete package that reflects God's character and teaches us how to live in harmony with Him and with each other. Jesus did not just talk about love, He lived it. In John chapter 15, He says.
John 15:13-14 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
That's powerful, brethren. Friendship with God is built on obedience to His commands. James reminds us that Abraham was called a friend of God because he believed and obeyed. Jesus fulfilled the law by demonstrating the ultimate love, obedience to the Father by sacrificing Himself in the place of His friends. Can you see the connection? It's about godly love and demonstrating that love toward God and our fellow man that fulfills the law.
The common teachings from the major Christian groups say that since Jesus demonstrated His love to His Father through obedience and love for His friends to the level of death, we aren't required to demonstrate love toward God or our neighbors. This just doesn't fit with the teachings of Christ. This is another example of man's attempt through twisted reasoning to force Scripture to conform to their preconceived beliefs. The apostle John puts it this way in I John chapter 5, verse 3.
I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.
John confirms how to demonstrate the first great commandment. Then Paul confirms the second in Galatians chapter 5, verse 14.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
So let's circle back to the original question. What would Jesus look for in a congregation that accepts Him as its leader? I can tell you this, He will not be checking denominational labels—Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, or any other. Jesus is not coming back to endorse a brand. He'll recognize those who are His friends, those He knows, those who have built a relationship with Him on His terms. And what are those terms? Obedience to all His commandments, worshiping the Father according to His instructions, a lifestyle rooted in love for God and for others. Jesus is the God of love, and He recognizes love not by what we think it should look like, but by what He has shown us through His word and His example.
So if we want to be part of the congregation He accepts when He returns, we need to follow His lead, not just in name, but in practice.
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