Is Jesus the Answer?

RECENTLY a sign at one of the churches in town was posted that read “Jesus is the Answer.” Now we can’t help but agree with the sentiments of the sign, but the church bearing this sign is juxtaposed by the fruit it bears. Don’t get us wrong, the Bible teaches that without Jesus, the cross and the blood He shed at Calvary, none of us would have a chance seeing Heaven. But that’s just how good Satan is at making things appear like something they are not (2 Corinthians 11:14).The sad thing is that we are sure the members of that church sincerely believe they are in a saving relationship with God however, sincerity is not enough to save anyone. The apostle Paul was sincere in his goal to wipe out Christianity, while holding the coats of those stoning Stephen to death (Acts 8:1) and rounding up Christians to deliver them in prisons (Acts 9:1-2).

Yet, Jesus condemned him for his actions (Acts 9:3-6).We have seen bumper stickers, and hats, stating that the person “Loves Jesus.” It’s one thing to portray to others your feelings toward the Creator of all things (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2), and yet another thing to prove it. Yes, we said one’s love must be proved for it to be a valid and true love. It wasn’t us that established that requirement, it was Jesus Himself. “IF you love Me, KEEP MY commandments” (John 14:15). Then again, one chapter later, Jesus said, “You are My friends, IF you do whatsoever, I command you” (John 15:14). Now this disciple whom Jesus loved, continued to speak about love, by using a verb, in the present tense; when he wrote, “for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments…” (1 John 5:3). The only way we can know for certain that we are God’s children, and that we genuinely love Him, is by keeping His commandments day after day (1 John 5:2). So, concerning the church members whose sign tells everyone passing by that “Jesus is the Answer,” demonstrates that they don’t practice what they preach. For IF they really believed that Jesus is the answer, and IF they really loved Jesus, then it would be evident to all, because they would be keeping God’s commandments, and not their church creeds. In what way are they not keeping God’s commandments you ask?

First and foremost, they are not glorifying God by designating themselves as the church Jesus said HE would build (Matthew 16:18). Jesus said He would build HIS church, not some man invented denomination. So, shouldn’t His name be on the church? Since Jesus shed His blood for HIS church (Acts 20:28)? And since He is the head of HIS church, shouldn’t Jesus be given the reverence due Him by designating the church after Him? Of course, and this is a common problem all over the world, not only with this one church. Churches named after men, or designated as the Universal Church, or Genesis, or Victory, or after this method or that. Where is our true love for Jesus demonstrated when we refuse to designate the church we attend after Him who died for her? The fact is it is there is no true love!

We can also know that such churches who claim to love Jesus, or say that He is the answer, refuse to obey Him or keep His commandments, when they meet on Saturday without authority from God, or vote members into their churches. Most require their members to tithe, which is taught nowhere in the Law of Christ; and where did anyone get the idea that innocent babies must be baptized to wash away sins, they haven’t even committed? How irrational are we friends? IF you really love Jesus as you claim, then why not stop listening to preachers who don’t know enough Bible to save a gnat. We know they don’t know the Bible, because they have refused to converse with us, or debate our differences. Only those who can’t defend their beliefs, refuse to rationally discuss them.

Our plea is the old Jerusalem plea. Jesus established only one church on the day of Pentecost. Now stay with us here and think through this please. Apply a little common sense. In Acts chapter two, Peter and the other apostles preached the gospel message for the first time to the Jewish people (since God wanted them to hear it first, having been His chosen – Romans 1:16-17). On that day, after hearing they were guilty of murdering the Messiah, asked what they must do to be cleared of that guilt (Acts 2:37). Peter answered them – and notice what he says (please check this out in your Bible). When asked whatthey must do, did Peter instruct them – “haven’t you been listening? There is nothing you can do; God must do it all.” Or did he tell them – “just accept Jesus into your heart and repeat this sinner’s prayer?’ No, Peter didn’t say anything like that, or like what preachers tell people today – He told them “Repent AND be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (in order to receive) the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

That day, 3,000 Jews did exactly what Peter instructed them to do. They didn’t wait until “baptism Sunday,” nor did they believe they were saved before and without baptism. Because repentance AND baptism are forever linked together by the conjunction “and.” Then in Acts 2:47 we find that it is God, who adds the saved (those who have repented and been baptized) to the church Jesus said HE would build. Again, words have meanings, as does grammar. Church (singular) not plural, meaning only one. The church of Christ was the only church that existed in the first century and beyond, until a few centuries later when men decided they didn’t like God’s arrangement. If you lived in the first century, everywhere you went, the only church in town would be the church of Christ. The church that only follows the Law of Christ, the gospel, the New Testament. Church manuals, creeds, catechisms would not exist for at least 6 centuries.

Our plea is for everyone who really loves Jesus, to keep His commandments and only HIS commandments, by returning to Bible only Christianity. It can be done, and in fact was done in the 1800’s when denominational preachers turned to the Bible only and learned they were following error. They began to teach their members out of the Bible, and dropped their man- made names, and became Christians only, rather than the hyphenated Christians they had been. Hundreds of denominational churches left their secular roots for the truth of God’s word. Won’t you genuinely love Jesus, by keeping His commandments? You are always welcome visit us and encouraged to ask questions.