WEBVTT
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Over the almost 2,000 years since it was first used,
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the word "Christian" has
taken on many meanings.
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And, as it has done so,
the word has become almost
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meaningless--to the point
that many today who call
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themselves "Christian"
would not be recognized
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as such by the founder
of true Christianity,
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Himself, Jesus Christ.
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What about you and me?
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When Jesus looks at us, does
He see someone who claims
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His name but isn't actually following Him like a disciple?
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If you have the courage to
ask yourself this question--
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and the integrity and
humility to answer it--
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it has the potential to completely change your life.
00:39.305 --> 00:42.175
Join us for this episode of Tomorrow's World and consider
00:42.242 --> 00:45.945
the question, "Would Jesus
Call You a Christian?"
00:46.012 --> 00:52.385
♪
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A warm welcome from all of us here at the Tomorrow's World
00:55.488 --> 00:58.758
studio and from our sponsor,
the Living Church of God.
00:58.825 --> 01:02.595
Our goal is to help you make sense your world through
01:02.662 --> 01:03.997
the pages of the Bible.
01:04.063 --> 01:07.600
And today's question has the potential to change your world
01:07.667 --> 01:11.604
forever--and for the better--
if you're willing to embrace the
01:11.671 --> 01:16.242
truth of your Bible over common, convenient, and popular lies.
01:16.309 --> 01:18.011
We'll also give you an
opportunity to request,
01:18.077 --> 01:21.481
with no strings attached,
our free study resource,
01:21.548 --> 01:23.383
What Is a True Christian?
01:23.450 --> 01:27.020
to help you dive even more
deeply into today's topic.
01:27.086 --> 01:29.389
You can request it at any
moment on today's program
01:29.456 --> 01:33.359
using the information we'll display on the screen.
01:33.426 --> 01:37.163
Our question today is whether Jesus would recognize you as
01:37.230 --> 01:40.767
a Christian--or, even, would He recognize me, for that matter.
01:40.834 --> 01:43.369
And, before we jump into
answering that question,
01:43.436 --> 01:46.606
I should warn you: some of
the points we're going to
01:46.673 --> 01:49.809
discuss today might make
many of you uncomfortable--
01:49.876 --> 01:51.511
maybe even angry.
01:51.578 --> 01:53.980
They made me uncomfortable
and angry the first time
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I heard them.
01:55.181 --> 01:58.585
The sort of truths that
move us forward in life
01:58.651 --> 02:02.989
and in our relationship
with God often do.
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But I hope you'll stick with
me for the whole program
02:05.525 --> 02:06.593
and hear me out.
02:06.659 --> 02:09.362
It might take some courage
on your part, but seeing
02:09.429 --> 02:13.399
the Bible's own answer to
this question may very well
02:13.466 --> 02:16.469
be the most important thing you've ever done in your life.
02:16.536 --> 02:19.739
At the heart of our discussion today is the word "Christian."
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It's an interesting word--
a simple word that seems
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like it should be obvious
in meaning, and yet a word
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that is the source of
so much confusion today.
02:28.715 --> 02:31.951
The Bible itself reports
on the first time it was
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ever used in history.
02:33.686 --> 02:36.890
We see this in the book
of Acts, in chapter 11.
02:36.956 --> 02:40.360
This was early enough in the Church's existence that the
02:40.426 --> 02:44.063
Apostle Paul wasn't even an apostle yet--and he still went
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by the name of "Saul"...
02:45.765 --> 02:49.435
"Then Barnabas departed
for Tarsus to seek Saul.
02:49.502 --> 02:52.705
And when he had found him,
he brought him to Antioch.
02:52.772 --> 02:56.009
So it was that for a whole
year they assembled with
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the church and taught
a great many people.
02:58.678 --> 03:03.349
And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."
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Now, we see here that there
were disciples of Jesus Christ
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in Antioch, and they numbered enough that people began
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calling them "Christians"--
identifying them as disciples
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of someone named "Christ."
03:15.261 --> 03:17.297
Now, some have speculated
that the name "Christian"
03:17.363 --> 03:20.233
might even have originally
been meant as an insult.
03:20.300 --> 03:23.636
But whether it was intended
as an insult or not,
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the early followers of Jesus seem to have accepted it.
03:27.106 --> 03:31.344
In chapter 4 of Peter's first letter, the Apostle uses the
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word to encourage his brothers and sisters in the faith who
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were being persecuted...
03:36.783 --> 03:40.620
"Yet if anyone suffers as
a Christian, let him not
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be ashamed, but let him
glorify God in this matter."
03:44.991 --> 03:47.627
In the New Testament letters,
we see the disciples
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referring to each other as
"brothers" and "sisters."
03:50.964 --> 03:54.100
But in contrast with the world, the word "Christian" helped
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to identify them as those who believe in, follow, and obey
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the teachings of Jesus Christ.
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However, that was
a long time ago.
04:04.410 --> 04:07.380
And things have changed
a great deal since then.
04:07.447 --> 04:10.650
Of the two billion people
on earth claiming to be a
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"Christian," there are
a maddening number of
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different doctrines,
different practices,
04:16.155 --> 04:19.459
different traditions, different beliefs about creation,
04:19.525 --> 04:22.328
different understandings of prophecy, different beliefs
04:22.395 --> 04:25.865
about the afterlife, different beliefs about what God is like
04:25.932 --> 04:29.235
and the purpose of man--even different understandings
04:29.302 --> 04:32.405
of who and what Jesus
Christ really was.
04:32.472 --> 04:34.374
The list goes on and on.
04:34.440 --> 04:37.210
Frankly, as the executive
editor of the Tomorrow's World
04:37.276 --> 04:41.247
magazine, I've seen how the word "Christian" is a real challenge.
04:41.314 --> 04:44.450
It's come to mean so many different things that the word
04:44.517 --> 04:46.519
is a source of confusion.
04:46.586 --> 04:48.755
When we say the word "Christian," many of our
04:48.821 --> 04:51.824
hundreds of thousands of subscribers think different
04:51.891 --> 04:55.962
things--just like our hundreds of thousands of viewers do.
04:56.029 --> 04:59.465
Now, let's get down to the
basics and frame today's
04:59.532 --> 05:00.800
question this way:
05:00.867 --> 05:04.737
If a true Christian is a disciple and follower
05:04.804 --> 05:07.774
of Jesus Christ, then
what does that mean?
05:07.840 --> 05:10.810
How can we know whether
Jesus would recognize us
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as one of His disciples?
05:12.712 --> 05:16.516
And if He wouldn't, how
do we need to change?
05:16.582 --> 05:19.485
We'll begin tackling that
question in our next segment.
05:19.552 --> 05:22.622
But I need to be upfront with you: the topic is a big one--
05:22.689 --> 05:25.358
definitely bigger than we
can completely answer in
05:25.425 --> 05:26.959
one television program.
05:27.026 --> 05:28.961
Yet it is also one of
the most important and
05:29.028 --> 05:32.965
life-changing questions you
can possibly ask yourself.
05:33.032 --> 05:35.401
That's why are offering
you today's free resource,
05:35.468 --> 05:37.603
What Is a True Christian?
05:37.670 --> 05:40.673
This short, easy-to-read
free booklet will allow you
05:40.740 --> 05:44.711
to explore this question at
your own pace--and will lead
05:44.777 --> 05:47.847
you patiently through the Scriptures so that you can
05:47.914 --> 05:50.149
see the answer for yourself.
05:50.216 --> 05:54.287
If you want a deeper and more profound walk with God, then
05:54.353 --> 05:58.157
you need to understand what it means to be a true Christian.
05:58.224 --> 06:01.728
Just call, write, or click
right now to get your free copy,
06:01.794 --> 06:04.864
and I'll be right back with
a deceptively simple start
06:04.931 --> 06:06.532
to our investigation.
06:06.599 --> 06:07.800
Don't go away.
06:07.867 --> 06:08.434
♪
06:08.501 --> 06:15.508
For today's free
offer call...
06:15.575 --> 06:20.980
Or go to...
06:21.047 --> 06:23.816
This clear and straight-
forward resource will
06:23.883 --> 06:26.152
help you understand
this vital truth--
06:26.219 --> 06:29.021
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
06:29.088 --> 06:31.390
If you're calling
for the first time,
06:31.457 --> 06:34.327
you will also receive a
free annual subscription to
06:34.393 --> 06:36.262
Tomorrow's World magazine.
06:36.329 --> 06:39.932
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
06:39.999 --> 06:42.668
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
06:42.735 --> 06:46.439
your world from a
biblical perspective.
06:46.506 --> 06:49.542
Call today and join
millions around the world
06:49.609 --> 06:52.044
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
06:52.111 --> 06:57.617
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
06:57.683 --> 06:58.818
Call now!
06:58.885 --> 07:02.588
Or go to...
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♪
07:08.261 --> 07:09.562
Welcome back.
07:09.629 --> 07:13.132
We've talked about being willing to ask ourselves whether or not
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Jesus could consider us one of His disciples, but how do we
07:16.903 --> 07:18.805
go about answering the question?
07:18.871 --> 07:21.674
The best thing you could do is to request today's free offer,
07:21.741 --> 07:22.975
What Is a True Christian?
07:23.042 --> 07:26.512
But until then, we'll cover
five key points about being
07:26.579 --> 07:31.083
a real disciple of Jesus Christ that most do not understand.
07:31.150 --> 07:33.753
The first point might seem
like the most obvious,
07:33.820 --> 07:35.021
but don't be fooled:
07:35.087 --> 07:39.292
A disciple of Jesus
believes in and follows
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the real Jesus Christ.
07:41.761 --> 07:43.429
Now, that might
prompt you to think,
07:43.496 --> 07:44.964
"Well excellent, that's me.
07:45.031 --> 07:46.332
I believe in Jesus."
07:46.399 --> 07:49.735
But the Bible would push back
on that conclusion and ask you:
07:49.802 --> 07:53.039
"Which 'Jesus' do
you believe in?"
07:53.105 --> 07:56.142
Because many believe in a
"Jesus Christ," but it is
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not the real Jesus Christ.
07:59.045 --> 08:02.582
Don't take my word for it--
take the Apostle Paul's.
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In his second letter to the Corinthians and chapter 11,
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Paul discusses this very
real possibility...
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"But I fear, lest somehow,
as the serpent deceived Eve
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by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted from the
08:18.197 --> 08:20.766
simplicity that is in Christ.
08:20.833 --> 08:25.104
For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not
08:25.171 --> 08:28.207
preached, or if you receive
a different spirit which you
08:28.274 --> 08:31.277
have not received, or a different gospel which you
08:31.344 --> 08:35.748
have not accepted--you may
well put up with it!"
08:35.815 --> 08:37.817
Yes, "another Jesus."
08:37.884 --> 08:40.586
Jesus Himself warned
His disciples that,
08:40.653 --> 08:44.190
right after His resurrection, "many [would] come in [His]
08:44.257 --> 08:47.994
name," proclaiming Him as Christ, yet they would be false
08:48.060 --> 08:50.496
teachers who "deceive many."
08:50.563 --> 08:51.898
And they did.
08:51.964 --> 08:54.667
Even in the first century,
writers of the Bible were
08:54.734 --> 08:58.037
warning their readers to
"contend earnestly for the
08:58.104 --> 09:01.207
faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."
09:01.274 --> 09:04.343
While so-called "Christianity" is the largest religion on the
09:04.410 --> 09:07.813
planet, Jesus says that His
true disciples would make up
09:07.880 --> 09:10.416
a "little flock" on the earth.
09:10.483 --> 09:14.153
In fact, after someone asks Jesus if many or few would
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truly follow Him, He answers with a warning that we should
09:17.723 --> 09:19.425
all take seriously...
09:19.492 --> 09:23.629
"Strive to enter through
the narrow gate, for many,
09:23.696 --> 09:27.934
I say to you, will seek to
enter and will not be able.
09:28.000 --> 09:30.670
When once the Master of
the house has risen up and
09:30.736 --> 09:33.973
shut the door, and you
begin to stand outside and
09:34.040 --> 09:37.476
knock at the door, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open for us,'
09:37.543 --> 09:41.981
and He will answer and say
to you, 'I do not know you,
09:42.048 --> 09:44.784
where you are from,'
then you will begin to say,
09:44.850 --> 09:47.687
'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught
09:47.753 --> 09:49.021
in our streets.'
09:49.088 --> 09:52.959
But He will say, 'I tell
you I do not know you,
09:53.025 --> 09:54.894
where you are from.
09:54.961 --> 09:58.864
Depart from Me, all you
workers of iniquity.'"
09:58.931 --> 10:02.768
Jesus is warning us not
to take for granted that
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He even knows who we are.
10:04.804 --> 10:08.441
Many think they know Jesus
Christ, but the "Jesus" they
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are following is, in Paul's words, "another Jesus."
10:13.412 --> 10:16.415
So, how do we know we're
following the real Jesus?
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Our next points will
give us some clarity.
10:19.051 --> 10:19.919
For instance:
10:19.986 --> 10:24.323
A disciple of Jesus
repents of sin.
10:24.390 --> 10:27.593
You know, "Just as I Am"
is one of the most popular
10:27.660 --> 10:29.395
Christian hymns in history.
10:29.462 --> 10:32.264
And yet, it is also a lie.
10:32.331 --> 10:36.268
One of the very first steps
one takes to become a disciple
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of Jesus Christ is to repent
of one's sins--to turn away
10:40.406 --> 10:44.043
from disobeying God and
to begin obeying Him.
10:44.110 --> 10:47.546
Again, don't take my word
for it--take Jesus'.
10:47.613 --> 10:52.551
Mark 1 records the beginning
of His earthly ministry.
10:52.618 --> 10:54.153
Let's see it there
for ourselves...
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"Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee,
10:58.824 --> 11:02.528
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying,
11:02.595 --> 11:07.033
'The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God is at hand.
11:07.099 --> 11:11.370
Repent, and believe
in the gospel.'"
11:11.437 --> 11:15.875
Repentance and turning from
sin is fundamental to being a
11:15.941 --> 11:17.676
true disciple of Jesus Christ.
11:17.743 --> 11:20.980
So much so that the need
to repent was emphasized
11:21.047 --> 11:24.583
in the very first sermon of
the Church Jesus founded.
11:24.650 --> 11:27.053
We read of that in Acts 2.
11:27.119 --> 11:31.290
There, we see that after being convicted by Peter's sermon
11:31.357 --> 11:34.927
of their guilt in the death
of the Messiah, the people
11:34.994 --> 11:36.629
are moved to take action...
11:36.695 --> 11:40.533
"Now when they heard this,
they were cut to the heart,
11:40.599 --> 11:42.935
and said to Peter and
the rest of the apostles,
11:43.002 --> 11:45.271
'Men and brethren,
what shall we do?'
11:45.337 --> 11:46.572
Then Peter said to them,
11:46.639 --> 11:50.309
'Repent, and let every one
of you be baptized in the
11:50.376 --> 11:53.679
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you
11:53.746 --> 11:56.816
shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.'"
11:56.882 --> 11:59.985
Now, I've heard some so-called Christian preachers say that
12:00.052 --> 12:03.722
"repentance" was only for the Jews, and never a requirement
12:03.789 --> 12:05.991
made of the non-Jewish Gentiles.
12:06.058 --> 12:08.260
Well, let's just say that
those preachers must have
12:08.327 --> 12:11.397
purchased a defective Bible, because such claims are
12:11.464 --> 12:13.499
deceptive hogwash.
12:13.566 --> 12:16.702
For instance, look at Paul's statement to King Agrippa in
12:16.769 --> 12:20.306
Acts 26, verses 19 and 20...
12:20.372 --> 12:25.111
"Therefore, King Agrippa,
I was not disobedient to
12:25.177 --> 12:28.114
the heavenly vision, but
declared first to those in
12:28.180 --> 12:31.517
Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of
12:31.584 --> 12:36.555
Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent,
12:36.622 --> 12:41.494
turn to God, and do works befitting repentance."
12:41.560 --> 12:45.264
In fact, in Athens, Paul
told the assembled Greeks
12:45.331 --> 12:50.769
that God "now commands all
men everywhere to repent."
12:50.836 --> 12:54.907
Far from saying we come to
Christ like the old hymn says,
12:54.974 --> 12:58.744
"just as we are," being a disciple requires repenting
12:58.811 --> 13:02.815
of our sins--a necessity
for anyone to be a true
13:02.882 --> 13:04.416
follower of Christ.
13:04.483 --> 13:05.751
But what does that mean?
13:05.818 --> 13:07.586
"Repenting of sin"?
13:07.653 --> 13:10.089
Most don't know,
and we'll examine that
13:10.156 --> 13:11.824
in our next segment.
13:11.891 --> 13:14.894
But first let me take a
very short break to give
13:14.960 --> 13:17.196
you the chance to request
today's free offer,
13:17.263 --> 13:19.331
What Is a True Christian?
13:19.398 --> 13:22.334
Many call themselves "Christian" but have no real
13:22.401 --> 13:27.640
idea what being a disciple of Jesus Christ actually means.
13:27.706 --> 13:31.744
These 30 pages of easy-to-read material will help you see
13:31.810 --> 13:35.548
the Bible's own answer to that question and open the door
13:35.614 --> 13:39.218
to a closer walk with God
than you've ever imagined.
13:39.285 --> 13:41.420
Order your copy today,
and I'll be right back
13:41.487 --> 13:44.657
to explain the simple
definition of sin that
13:44.723 --> 13:46.959
virtually no one understands.
13:47.026 --> 13:47.826
♪
13:47.893 --> 13:55.434
For today's free
offer call...
13:55.501 --> 14:00.272
Or go to...
14:00.339 --> 14:03.209
This clear and straight-
forward resource will
14:03.275 --> 14:05.511
help you understand
this vital truth--
14:05.578 --> 14:08.647
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
14:08.714 --> 14:10.649
If you're calling
for the first time,
14:10.716 --> 14:13.552
you will also receive a
free annual subscription to
14:13.619 --> 14:15.454
Tomorrow's World magazine.
14:15.521 --> 14:19.225
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
14:19.291 --> 14:22.027
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
14:22.094 --> 14:25.631
your world from a
biblical perspective.
14:25.698 --> 14:28.601
Call today and join
millions around the world
14:28.667 --> 14:31.136
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
14:31.203 --> 14:36.842
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
14:36.909 --> 14:38.077
Call now!
14:38.143 --> 14:41.614
Or go to...
14:41.680 --> 14:47.286
♪
14:47.353 --> 14:51.490
Before the break we mentioned that true disciples of Jesus
14:51.557 --> 14:53.092
repent of sin.
14:53.158 --> 14:54.827
But what does that really mean?
14:54.893 --> 14:58.764
Most people don't understand the most basic definition of sin--
14:58.831 --> 15:01.934
even though it is right there
in the Bible under their noses.
15:02.001 --> 15:06.605
Let's look at it in
1 John 3 and verse 4.
15:06.672 --> 15:09.108
In the New King James
Version, we read this...
15:09.174 --> 15:13.746
"Whoever commits sin
also commits lawlessness,
15:13.812 --> 15:16.515
and sin is lawlessness."
15:16.582 --> 15:20.319
Now the meaning is even plainer in the old King James Version...
15:20.386 --> 15:24.323
"Whosoever committeth sin
transgresseth also the law:
15:24.390 --> 15:28.527
for sin is the transgression
of the law."
15:28.594 --> 15:31.263
That brings us to the next
point about being a true
15:31.330 --> 15:33.165
disciple of Jesus Christ:
15:33.232 --> 15:37.236
A real disciple
keeps God's commandments.
15:37.303 --> 15:39.905
Many so-called Christian teachers will tell you just
15:39.972 --> 15:42.908
the opposite--claiming that God's law and commandments are
15:42.975 --> 15:44.643
not required of Christians.
15:44.710 --> 15:47.546
But if you want to be a true follower of Jesus Christ,
15:47.613 --> 15:51.817
ignore them and listen to Jesus.
15:51.884 --> 15:56.955
In Matthew 19, we read of a rich young man who came to Jesus
15:57.022 --> 16:01.060
and asked Him what he needed
to do to have eternal life.
16:01.126 --> 16:03.028
Jesus' answer was simple:
16:03.095 --> 16:08.534
"...if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
16:08.600 --> 16:11.770
The young man asked Him
which ones, and Jesus listed
16:11.837 --> 16:13.339
several of the Ten Commandments.
16:13.405 --> 16:16.075
Now many like to cast commandment-keeping and
16:16.141 --> 16:19.611
obedience as if it's somehow foreign to Christianity,
16:19.678 --> 16:22.948
claiming that you need only to believe--and cherry-picking
16:23.015 --> 16:26.285
verses here or there to
prop up their ideas.
16:26.352 --> 16:30.055
But all such arguments
always fail when the whole
16:30.122 --> 16:32.591
of God's word is taken together.
16:32.658 --> 16:36.962
For instance, how important
did Jesus think obedience is?
16:37.029 --> 16:42.901
Let's read it ourselves
in Matthew 7:21-23...
16:42.968 --> 16:47.439
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter
16:47.506 --> 16:51.276
the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will
16:51.343 --> 16:53.011
of My Father in heaven.
16:53.078 --> 16:55.748
Many will say to Me in
that day, 'Lord, Lord,
16:55.814 --> 16:58.851
have we not prophesied in
Your name, cast out demons
16:58.917 --> 17:02.888
in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
17:02.955 --> 17:06.625
And then I will declare to
them, 'I never knew you;
17:06.692 --> 17:11.530
depart from Me, you who
practice lawlessness!'"
17:11.597 --> 17:15.267
Now notice that: those who profess Christ's name and
17:15.334 --> 17:19.838
even work wonders in His name--
if they practice lawlessness
17:19.905 --> 17:23.876
and will not obey God's law--
are told by Jesus Christ Himself
17:23.942 --> 17:26.044
that He does not know them.
17:26.111 --> 17:29.782
If even Jesus Himself does not recognize us as one of His
17:29.848 --> 17:34.353
followers, how does the word "Christian" apply to us?
17:34.420 --> 17:37.756
John, the last of the Twelve Apostles, understood this.
17:37.823 --> 17:40.859
Let's look in 1 John,
which he wrote near the
17:40.926 --> 17:42.895
close of the first century.
17:42.961 --> 17:46.031
Now John is often called the
"Apostle of Love" because of
17:46.098 --> 17:49.368
his great emphasis on the need for Christians to love others.
17:49.435 --> 17:52.271
But He could also just as well
be called the Apostle of Law
17:52.337 --> 17:56.575
because He also emphasized obedience to God's commands.
17:56.642 --> 18:00.112
Again, don't just take my word for it, let's look--here in
18:00.179 --> 18:02.781
1 John 2, in verses 3 and 4...
18:02.848 --> 18:07.486
"Now by this we know that
we know Him, if we keep
18:07.553 --> 18:09.621
His commandments.
18:09.688 --> 18:12.291
He who says, 'I know Him,'
and does not keep His
18:12.357 --> 18:17.463
commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him."
18:17.529 --> 18:21.834
My friends, read that in your own Bible as many times as
18:21.900 --> 18:26.171
you need to in order to
take it in and believe it.
18:26.238 --> 18:29.675
If we believe that we know
Jesus and are His followers,
18:29.741 --> 18:33.712
and yet we do not seek to keep the commandments, then the
18:33.779 --> 18:38.116
Apostle John, the Apostle of Love, says we are liars.
18:38.183 --> 18:41.787
And those who say we do not need to keep the commandments to be
18:41.854 --> 18:46.258
Christians are liars, as well--
lying in ignorance, perhaps,
18:46.325 --> 18:48.594
but lying all the same.
18:48.660 --> 18:52.264
That lie is rooted in the doctrines and traditions of men,
18:52.331 --> 18:56.168
who have warped the truth of
God for almost two millennia.
18:56.235 --> 18:59.271
And understanding that
leads us to our next point
18:59.338 --> 19:00.906
about true disciples:
19:00.973 --> 19:04.643
A disciple of Jesus
believes the Bible over
19:04.710 --> 19:06.512
Traditions of Men.
19:06.578 --> 19:09.815
Many so-called Christian
organizations will pay
19:09.882 --> 19:13.418
lip service to God's word,
but in practice they put
19:13.485 --> 19:17.823
their own human traditions
and council decisions above
19:17.890 --> 19:19.925
Scripture time and time again.
19:19.992 --> 19:22.628
They do not keep the biblical festivals, like Jesus,
19:22.694 --> 19:25.264
His apostles, and the
first-century Church did.
19:25.330 --> 19:28.534
They keep holidays intermingled with pagan symbols and
19:28.600 --> 19:33.305
practices, which God condemns
in multiple places in His word.
19:33.372 --> 19:37.209
They do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath--the only weekday set
19:37.276 --> 19:40.879
apart in Scripture for rest and worship, often choosing instead
19:40.946 --> 19:45.417
Sunday--a day taken from pagan worship practices and enforced
19:45.484 --> 19:48.921
by Roman decree, long after
the Apostles' deaths.
19:48.987 --> 19:53.091
Yes, there is real human,
organized, and ordained
19:53.158 --> 19:56.194
authority in the real
Church Jesus founded,
19:56.261 --> 19:57.896
which persists today.
19:57.963 --> 20:00.499
Many passages make this plain.
20:00.566 --> 20:03.001
Christianity is not a
"lone wolf" religion,
20:03.068 --> 20:05.904
in which everyone interprets
the Bible based on his own,
20:05.971 --> 20:07.472
individual ideas.
20:07.539 --> 20:12.144
But did Jesus ever think human beings could overrule the Bible
20:12.210 --> 20:13.946
with their own traditions?
20:14.012 --> 20:17.215
We see His own answer in Mark 7.
20:17.282 --> 20:21.253
There, talking to the Pharisees, who had used their legitimate
20:21.320 --> 20:24.690
authority to make God's
word of no real effect
20:24.756 --> 20:28.460
through their traditions,
Jesus had harsh words...
20:28.527 --> 20:32.564
He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy
20:32.631 --> 20:35.067
of you hypocrites,
as it is written:
20:35.133 --> 20:38.537
'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart
20:38.604 --> 20:40.005
is far from Me.
20:40.072 --> 20:44.209
And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the
20:44.276 --> 20:46.011
commandments of men.'"
20:46.078 --> 20:49.281
In verse 9, He continues
His condemnation...
20:49.348 --> 20:52.884
He said to them,
"All too well you reject
20:52.951 --> 20:57.456
the commandment of God, that
you may keep your tradition."
20:57.522 --> 21:01.760
No, Jesus is not interested in all the fancy arguments and
21:01.827 --> 21:05.564
theological traditions that various denominations use to
21:05.631 --> 21:09.034
justify their commandment-
breaking idols in their
21:09.101 --> 21:12.070
cathedrals, Sunday meetings instead of observing the
21:12.137 --> 21:16.308
biblical Sabbath, and pagan-
tainted holidays instead of
21:16.375 --> 21:18.510
biblically commanded holy days.
21:18.577 --> 21:21.513
For the disciple of Jesus Christ, God's word is
21:21.580 --> 21:24.316
just that: God's word.
21:24.383 --> 21:27.819
And it outranks any traditions that effectively contradict
21:27.886 --> 21:30.255
it and make it of no effect.
21:30.322 --> 21:33.291
Before we conclude with
our vital last point,
21:33.358 --> 21:36.461
let me give you just one more brief opportunity to request
21:36.528 --> 21:39.998
today's free offer,
What Is a True Christian?
21:40.065 --> 21:44.169
By some measures, there are more than 400 different and competing
21:44.236 --> 21:47.506
sects and denominations
calling themselves "Christian."
21:47.572 --> 21:52.244
Yet the Bible says that "God is not the author of confusion."
21:52.310 --> 21:55.881
The fact is that Jesus Christ would not recognize the vast
21:55.947 --> 21:59.718
majority of these religious groups claiming His name.
21:59.785 --> 22:02.888
Understanding what it means
to truly be a disciple of
22:02.954 --> 22:06.892
Christ opens the door to a deeper and richer walk with
22:06.958 --> 22:09.795
your Creator and your Savior than you can imagine.
22:09.861 --> 22:12.931
Request your free copy today, and I'll be right back to
22:12.998 --> 22:17.069
explain what Jesus says
makes it impossible for
22:17.135 --> 22:18.704
some to be His disciples.
22:18.770 --> 22:20.205
You need to know.
22:20.272 --> 22:21.073
♪
22:21.139 --> 22:28.080
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22:28.146 --> 22:33.385
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22:33.452 --> 22:36.221
This clear and straight-
forward resource will
22:36.288 --> 22:38.590
help you understand
this vital truth--
22:38.657 --> 22:41.860
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
22:41.927 --> 22:43.762
If you're calling
for the first time,
22:43.829 --> 22:46.732
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22:55.273 --> 22:58.810
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♪
23:20.732 --> 23:24.069
So far, we've looked at four points that help answer the
23:24.136 --> 23:27.806
question of whether a person
is a true disciple of Jesus
23:27.873 --> 23:29.007
Christ or not.
23:29.074 --> 23:31.643
This topic is far too
important for you to stop
23:31.710 --> 23:32.978
with today's program.
23:33.044 --> 23:35.914
I do hope you'll get your
own copy of today's offer,
23:35.981 --> 23:37.849
What Is a True Christian?
23:37.916 --> 23:41.052
which not only goes into detail about today's biblical points,
23:41.119 --> 23:42.788
but so much more.
23:42.854 --> 23:46.725
You really do need the time
to sit with your Bible and
23:46.792 --> 23:48.293
see the truth for yourself.
23:48.360 --> 23:50.962
The last point we'll
discuss today is this--
23:51.029 --> 23:52.264
and it's a big one:
23:52.330 --> 23:58.170
A disciple of Jesus yields his or her whole life to Christ.
23:58.236 --> 24:00.572
Now this might seem
like something obvious.
24:00.639 --> 24:05.043
But it's far from clear to most who call themselves Christian.
24:05.110 --> 24:08.013
This requirement of Jesus'
disciples is probably best
24:08.079 --> 24:11.683
explained by Jesus Himself--like most of our points have been.
24:11.750 --> 24:15.287
We read His description
of it in Luke 14.
24:15.353 --> 24:17.689
We don't have much time,
but let's look at portions
24:17.756 --> 24:19.224
of that passage together.
24:19.291 --> 24:21.193
We can start in verse 26...
24:21.259 --> 24:25.130
"If anyone comes to Me and
does not hate his father and
24:25.197 --> 24:28.900
mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes,
24:28.967 --> 24:34.306
and his own life also,
he cannot be My disciple."
24:34.372 --> 24:36.107
Now, don't misunderstand.
24:36.174 --> 24:39.277
Jesus isn't saying you must truly hate your family.
24:39.344 --> 24:42.380
If so, He'd be contradicting Himself, because He also says
24:42.447 --> 24:45.517
to love each other and to
keep the commandment to honor
24:45.584 --> 24:47.152
your father and mother.
24:47.219 --> 24:51.690
Rather, He is speaking of
loving Him more than them.
24:51.756 --> 24:55.894
He must come first in the lives of His disciples--before their
24:55.961 --> 25:00.432
own parents, siblings, spouses, or children--yes, even before
25:00.498 --> 25:02.033
their own lives.
25:02.100 --> 25:03.635
Now note His words there.
25:03.702 --> 25:07.272
He doesn't just say this
priority is a "good idea."
25:07.339 --> 25:11.776
He literally says that those
who will not put Him first above
25:11.843 --> 25:15.647
all "cannot be [His] disciple."
25:15.714 --> 25:19.050
That means that if following Jesus, repenting of our sins,
25:19.117 --> 25:21.920
and beginning to obey God's commandments and living
25:21.987 --> 25:24.556
according to the Bible
means going against the
25:24.623 --> 25:30.462
wishes of our family,
then that's what we do.
25:30.528 --> 25:35.000
Even if it costs us our lives, Jesus expects us to do just
25:35.066 --> 25:37.936
that, to give up our lives.
25:38.003 --> 25:40.338
As He says towards the
end of this passage...
25:40.405 --> 25:44.209
"So likewise, whoever of
you does not forsake
25:44.276 --> 25:49.347
all that he has cannot
be My disciple."
25:49.414 --> 25:52.884
Those are powerful words,
not to be taken lightly.
25:52.951 --> 25:57.689
"All that [we have]" literally means all that we have.
25:57.756 --> 26:00.125
Our work and business connections, our personal
26:00.191 --> 26:03.461
or political preferences,
our hobbies and pastimes...
26:03.528 --> 26:08.433
all that we have must be laid
at Christ's feet and seen
26:08.500 --> 26:12.037
as tools for His purposes--
sacrifices we are willing
26:12.103 --> 26:16.541
to make for the sake of His Kingdom and His righteousness.
26:16.608 --> 26:20.378
Now, the good news is that,
in many ways, the reward for
26:20.445 --> 26:22.180
doing so is often immediate.
26:22.247 --> 26:25.850
For instance, it's remarkable how much better and happier
26:25.917 --> 26:29.721
a marriage can be when both husband and wife put Jesus
26:29.788 --> 26:34.592
Christ truly first in their lives, even over each other.
26:34.659 --> 26:37.562
Yet, I would be lying if I didn't say that a commitment to
26:37.629 --> 26:42.367
Christ never entails, instead, the sacrifice of these things.
26:42.434 --> 26:45.937
Yet being willing to go further than comforting-but-ultimately
26:46.004 --> 26:49.708
confusing labels like "Christian" and striving for
26:49.774 --> 26:53.745
the reality and commitment
of true discipleship under
26:53.812 --> 26:58.083
Jesus Christ makes available rewards so much more profound
26:58.149 --> 27:01.953
than anything we would ever
have to give up in this life:
27:02.020 --> 27:06.591
A real and living relationship with our Creator and our Savior.
27:06.658 --> 27:10.962
The forgiveness of sins and the gift of God's indwelling Spirit.
27:11.029 --> 27:14.833
The power of divine purpose
as we seek membership in the
27:14.899 --> 27:16.234
Family of God.
27:16.301 --> 27:21.239
And the hope of unending glory, love, and joy, with our Father,
27:21.306 --> 27:25.577
the Son of God, and our fellow disciples, as we enter eternity
27:25.643 --> 27:28.546
at the return of Christ.
27:28.613 --> 27:31.616
Don't take your
discipleship for granted.
27:31.683 --> 27:34.419
We've helped you begin the
process of self-discovery,
27:34.486 --> 27:38.223
but you owe it to yourself
to get today's free offer,
27:38.289 --> 27:40.225
What Is a True Christian?
27:40.291 --> 27:41.793
and to look deeper.
27:41.860 --> 27:44.062
And, I hope you'll do just that.
27:44.129 --> 27:46.097
And I hope you'll
come back next week.
27:46.164 --> 27:48.867
When you do, Gerald Weston,
Rod McNair, and I will be
27:48.933 --> 27:51.836
right here waiting for you, ready to share the teachings
27:51.903 --> 27:55.540
of Jesus Christ, the Good News of His return and the coming
27:55.607 --> 27:58.476
Kingdom of God, and the prophetic end-time warnings
27:58.543 --> 28:00.512
this world needs to hear.
28:00.578 --> 28:02.614
Until then, take care.
28:02.680 --> 28:03.648
♪
28:03.715 --> 28:10.855
For today's free
offer call...
28:10.922 --> 28:14.726
Or go to...
28:14.793 --> 28:20.665
♪
28:20.732 --> 28:22.934
The preceding program
is produced by the
28:23.001 --> 28:24.436
Living Church of God.