It is Settled!

A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter

Who Loves Jesus?

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21); "If a man love me, he will keep my words" (John 14:23)

How could it be possible to not understand these two statements? When asked about them, a preacher might say, "These verses are taken out of context." Read for yourself; you'll see they have not been taken out of context. A good question for "your" preacher: "How can one be saved, while rejecting any of the commandments of Jesus." The eight writers of the New Testament were inspired by God, and recorded for us the commandments we must obey. 

Even in the first century, dating from Jesus' birth, the majority of mankind refused to obey the Lord's commandments. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 apostles, turned from Jesus, betraying Him for 30 pieces of silver. In Acts 5:1-10, we read the account of Ananias and Sapphira, two Christians who sold a possession. Because they wanted to appear generous, receiving the praise of men, they lied about the price of the possession sold. In writing to the disciples in the region of Galatia, Paul wastes no time to note this: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel:..." (Galatians 1:6). "Gospel" means "good news." Does Paul say the Galatians were receiving more "good news" by "another gospel"? Verse 7: "which is not another, but there be some that trouble you." Paul is affirming there is only one gospel! Paul says, in Ephesians 4:5. "there is one faith." "Faith" in this passage refers to what one is to believe, and is used in some places in the New Testament instead of the word "gospel." In Jude 3, for example, Jude writes "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares..." What kind of men were these? Verse 4: "ungodly men"! Any teacher or preacher who teaches more, or less, than that which is in God's Word, is ungodly! Unfortunately, in most every "church building" today, the teachers and preachers are teaching things contrary to Christ's gospel. Since Jesus prayed that all His followers be one (John 17:21), we know the division is not caused by His Word. Because Jesus is truthful, we also know all followers can, and must, teach and obey the same thing. This will come about in all "church buildings" when those who meet in these buildings respect God's Word, believing, teaching, and obeying only that! In future articles, let's look at some of the denominational world's teachings and practices, which are not in the gospel.