What are some of the teachings of Jesus Christ? Who has changed this message of the good news about Christ Jesus? What is the difference between the word gospel and doctrine?
The definition for the word doctrine: Is a stated policy, principal of belief held by a government or organization over its church, political party, or other group.
The definition for the word gospel: Is the teaching or revelation of Christ Jesus, the record of his life, his teachings, and ministry found in God’s word.
Jesus Christ gave us a command to fulfill his ministry, and to relate his teachings to others by making disciples.
Matthew 28:18-20… And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
The Teachings of Jesus
The teachings of Jesus were simple, love your neighbor as yourself. Love the only true God and keep his commandments. Jesus taught us how to live and how to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 11:12… But from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of the heavens is the goal toward which men press, and those pressing forward are seizing it.
Most Bible translate the passage of Scripture using words violent and violence, but what’s really behind these two words and the translation?
Strong’s Concordance G971 biazetai, and it can be translated as: to force, like taken by force but is meant in a positive aggressive manner with power and strength.
Where the definition for G973 biastai, could be someone who is in hot pursuit, violent man, or one who is forceful.
A game that may help us to explain these two words with their deep connection to one another, their meetings, would be the American football game. Players of this game seem to be violent and aggressive, moving up and down the football field, with the objective of scoring points.
So, we could rewrite the Scripture at Matthew 11:12 as the following:
But from the days of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom of heaven’s is taken by force, by those who are willing to be aggressive to claim it.
Does this not make more sense for our day and time? What goal are we pressing toward? Are you passive when it comes to the kingdom of God or are you aggressive in seeking it?
Mark 10:24… And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it isto enter the kingdom of God!
If it is difficult should we even try to enter into the kingdom of God?
John 3:5-7… Truly, truly, I say to you, unless anyone be born of water and of the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. That having been born of the flesh is flesh, and that having been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not wonder that I said to you, ‘It is necessary for you all to be born from above.
There is a process for entry into the kingdom of God. There is the applying of “the blood of the covenant” in your life, you need to understand how the blood of Christ saves us. Then there is the adoption process and the working out of God’s will. Then we have to wait to be called by God!
There is no shortcut, there is no skipping in line, there is no easy way, it is filled with tribulation and hardship even as the apostle Paul said.
Acts 14:22… It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter into the kingdom of God.
Many will not accept their torture stake and suffer the tribulation that is necessary to be refined by it, for entry into the kingdom of God is truly about self-sacrificing oneself for others.
Matthew 7:20-24…Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
The Workers of Lawlessness
Who has changed the message about the good news of Jesus Christ?
Resistors of God’s word have changed the message of the good news about Jesus Christ, they hide the knowledge of how we can become freed from bondage and slavery to the wicked world and those who control it.
1 John 5:19… “but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.”
The apostle Paul warns us of the time when the good news will not be acceptable for those who should be listening to it. It’s because they will have become hardhearted in their hearts and self-centered on the desires that they wish to follow, they do not want God’s ways nor his salvation by means of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 4:3… For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound teachings; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.
Entry into the kingdom of God Is based on whose will, yours, or God’s? The apostle Paul then warns of those who will teach a different doctrine, their teaching will not agree with the good news that is found in the word of God. As for the kingdom of God they do not go in and they hinder anyone else from trying to go in with the teachings of their doctrines.
Matthew 23:13… But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men. For you neither enter, nor even do you allow those who are entering to go in.
1 Timothy 6:3-5… If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
This teaching of different doctrines rose its ugly head back in the early Christian days, and the apostle Paul was amazed that people would accept a different good news other than the one about Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:6-7… I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Christ (Jesus the Anointed one).
Those who know the word of God and he who has been sent as the Savior of the world will not accept a different good news other than the gospel about Jesus Christ. Say no, to the doctrines of men and the teachings of demons. Read your Bible and come to know the truth.
Romans 16:17-18… I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people’s faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
You should identify them by their works, they are shepherds with no true love of Jesus Christ and no real fear of God. They fleeced the flock and at the same time ignoring the words found at Matthew 10:8… “you receive free, give free.”
What are their doctrines that they teach that go against the words of Jesus Christ? Test them out, write down the doctrines of your church or organization, then test it against God’s word to see if it holds true, if it does not, then get away from the man of lawlessness, flee to the mountain of God. Come and he will teach you all the things you need to know.
Isaiah 2:2-4… In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so that we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.
The Lord will teach you people just ask him. Yes, come Lord Jesus, and help us.
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Updated 3/27/22