Christianity
and Bible Study – The Big Difference
A good thing
about “Christianity and Bible Study” is that we continue to look for and
receive inspiration for the blog posts from the Holy Spirit through
others. For example, one of my teachers
(Pastor A. R. Bernard) presented a brief sermon that was particularly appropriate
in addressing the political climate in the United States at this time. His message addressed the difference between those
who profess to be Christians based on their knowledge of some Bible scripture, and
those who truly live their lives in a “Christ-like” manner. See: (https://youtu.be/N7ukVKyT40E?si=OgjyhtP4GjTAGZhN
)
As “Ambassadors
for Christ”, Christians are to represent Him in both our words AND
actions. (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21) Even recognizing that, unfortunately there
are those who would like to be associated with the name of “Jesus Christ”
but have no interest in following His example. Their motivation could be politically or
economically based if they view “Christianity” as “popular”. Or there might be some other personal
motivation. Nonetheless there is blatant hypocrisy.
Our Lord
Jesus directly pointed to that hypocrisy during
the time of His Earthly ministry. He specifically pointed to the
religious leadership of Israel (the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 15:
1-8 and Chapter 23; Mark 7: 1-9; the Chief Priest in Luke 13: 14-17; and the Sadducees in Mathew 16: 1-12). He
also pointed to the “lawyers” for their hypocrisy in not fulfilling the
obligations that their titles indicated they should represent. (Luke11: 45-52)
Unfortunately much of the Lord’s criticism of these religious and political / legal
/ lay leaders continues even today. Their dereliction of their
responsibility has led unsuspecting others
away from the knowledge that Jesus would want them to have…leading to dire
consequences for both. That is why the Lord begins in several instances by
saying “Woe to (them)”… for they will ultimately pay dearly for misleading
others.
Wise King
Solomon said: “9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his
neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” Emphasis
added. (Proverbs 11: 9) That knowledge for
deliverance (from the penalty of death for our sins against God) is the primary
focus and purpose of our Bible. We are to gain the knowledge and understand
what our Lord Jesus has done for mankind by Himself paying the death penalty for
all mankind that was incurred when Adam sinned. (Genesis 2:15-17, 3: 6) The “good news” / Gospel of His Grace is that
all He requires of man is that we have faith in / believe this message from our
Bible. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 10: 9-13)
As the Apostle Peter said in his final message to
his fellow believing Jews: “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance…. And account that
the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother
Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also
in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye
therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Underline Added. (2 Peter 3: 9 and 15-18)
That brings me to another major point made by another of my
teachers, Pastor Ron Carpenter. (https://roncarpenter.com ) The general theme of his sermon was that the
Word of God is delivered to us by others. In other words, the “Content” is
found in “Containers”. Of course the most reliable “Container” for God’s
Word is our Holy Bible. But the Bible also points out that the faith that we
need to become believers in Christ comes by hearing the Word. (Romans 10: 17) That is where the “container” or person that brings
us their knowledge (or lack of it) of
the Word of the Bible is key.
At the beginning of this post I indicated that there are lots
of “containers” who can cite Bible references or verses. But as noted above, our
Lord Jesus pointed out there is a difference between simply “knowing”
the full “content’ and “demonstrating” it through behavior and actions. Further,
there are those “containers” who don’t even profess to know the Scripture, but want
the “benefits” of being associated with it. They use the name of “Jesus” as though it were
a “secret password”. But true believers (and some non-believers) should be able
to recognize their hypocrisy. They don’t act in a “Christ-like” manner,
regardless of the words they use.
Even for those who as Christians are true believers in our
roles as “Ambassadors for Christ”, we can stumble from time to time. (2
Corinthians 5: 17-20) But our persona
and collective body of work as believers should reflect the moral values,
ethics and principles that our Lord Jesus would want of us. The Apostle Paul
noted that we have this “treasure in earthen vessels”, acknowledging our human frailty.
(2 Corinthians 4: 1-7) Even so, as those
“earthen vessels”, we are the “containers” that bring the true “content” and
meaning of God’s Word into today’s fallen world. Being “Christ-like” is being guided by the
Holy Spirit not only in words, but in our behavior / acts / deeds. Then we give
the world a glimpse of the glorious nature of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson
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