Talk of JESUS .com

Category: Saturday Post Series: Church

About Roger – TalkofJESUS.com Doctrine & teaching

Looking for a ‘church?’ Trying to figure out what your own ‘church’ preaches and teaches?
Here we examine both the historical church and what it means to be called a “Christian,” as well as some virtual misleading by some who claim to be christian and call their building or following ‘church.’

GOD’S WORD for His Church
IN THE BEGINNING

God created the heavens and the earth.

IN THE BEGINNING

was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
Gospel of Mark 7:6b-7a RSV

Doctrine for lost sheep of Christ’s Church

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Proverbs 4:1-2 King James Version

From a chief of sinners zealous for the Word of Scripture:

To my beloved fellow believers of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Why must a believer study doctrine?

In the scriptures of the New Testament the Apostle Paul encourages the Romans of the church, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Since I have shared several studies of Doctrine from the Bible I will not rehash these in today’s conclusion to this study of Church Doctrine; however if you would like to learn more click continue reading below.
https://talkofjesus.com/what-is-doctrine
- My more recent concern for Church doctrine addressed deconstruction of Bible-based Doctrine presented as a new way to make the church relevant.
A 21st c. RECALL of the CHURCH

These include: Did God really say, Church?, Everythingology for an all-inclusive church & several more..

Why should the sheep become theologians?
- In this current series we have glanced at doctrine from several esteemed theologians, pastors of different churches.
  - Disclaimer: I am NOT a pastor but a church member zealous for the word of the Lord God and Jesus Christ.
  - To any extent you seek to study God from Scripture you become a theologian studying the will of the Lord.
“Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Gospel of Luke 6:46 Legacy Standard Bible – Question of Jesus Christ to his followers

Can our Pastor Preach a self-defined Jesus?

Best NOT Preach This

For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. – 1 Cor. 3:11

And I might add from the Apostle’s letter to the church at Corinth quoted in this previous post:

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
1 Corinthians 3:18

Why YOUR shepherd should preach Scripture

In Paul’s letter to Timothy about preaching the Apostle says:

.. you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:15b Legacy Standard Bible

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
[Therefore, I ask, what justification can any shepherd of the church offer for correcting God’s word while preaching ‘the bible says..?’]

Applying Scripture to the Church
- Scripture may apply only to the time in which it was written OR
- Old or New Testament Scripture may apply to these last days since the Apostles OR
- a Scripture may apply only until a day it is fulfilled.
But the BIBLE says what God says; nothing more, nothing less and certainly not anything other than the Scripture you may read for yourself.

Whenever the written word of God points to the church the godly must humbly obey. But of course you must know your Bible in order to apply God’s inspired word appropriately.
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(Don't just take some preacher's word for it that 'the Bible says' what he says.)
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In the Apostolic Age

Scripture of Christ by the hand of His Apostle John:

from The Apocalypse of John from Jesus Christ writing to seven churches:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come..
- God WAS and IS and WILL BE–the Father of all, the Son Christ Jesus the Ever-living Word of Salvation to redeemed sinners and the Holy Spirit of the Holy God who breaths life into the lifeless souls of sinful man.
- The Lord speaks to His Church through the Spirit and the Word of Scripture.
Scripture of Christ by the hand of His Apostle Paul:

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things,

not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.

But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.
Second letter from the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth 4:2-5 Christian Standard Bible
- How many Christians are there in your local VISIBLE CHURCH?
  - NOT as many as most claim.
    
    For many are perishing, blinded by the god of this age.
In earlier centuries of these last days

.. the Bible possesses reproving power to correct all error unaligned with its teaching.
The Bible Convictions of John Wycliff
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MORE about the Bible translator John Wycliff
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A Doctrine to Die for (as Christ also died for His Church)

No human leader–not even the Pontiff of Rome–can claim to be head of the church on earth. Sovereign headship belongs to Christ alone. “The greater part of the clergy is heretical and the highest are the worst.”
John Wycliff , who hand-copied the first version of the Wycliff English Bible in the year of our Lord, 1382 – source

While it is yet today–until the day of reckoning
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For Yahweh of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and high
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be made low.
- Isaiah 2:12 LSB
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Once more I will defer to the theological trumpet of John Stott from THE RADICAL DISCIPLE

But fundamental to Christian behavior is the lordship of Jesus Christ. “Jesus is Lord” remains the basis of our life.

.. Is the church the lord of Jesus Christ so that it has liberty to edit and manipulate, accepting what it likes and rejecting what it dislikes?
The Radical Disciple on the challenge of ethical relativism

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Gospel of John 14:21

Christ’s Commandment for the Church

And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. – Acts of the Apostles 11:26

Search the Scriptures and you will find this the only place followers of the way of Jesus Christ, disciples of His teaching and doctrine are called ‘Christians.’

ἐκκλησία – ekklēsia or church is used 114 times in the New Testament.
- If you are a disciple of the teachings (doctrines) of the Lord Jesus Christ do you suppose God’s inspired word chooses to call us out as a church rather than referring to a building for Christians?
What must we do?

Conclusion: Christ’s Doctrine for His Church

The Gospel of Matthew 22:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

And He said to him,

“‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
- Do you do that, my fellow disciple of the doctrines of Christ Jesus?
And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said,

“Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Gospel of Matthew 12:49-50 LSB

Matthew 18:

“Now if your brother sins against you,

go and show him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
- My beloved brother or sister of the Church, do you do that?
“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
- Do you, my fellow disciple of Jesus, call upon one or two other followers of Jesus from your church to witness such a word against a member of the Lord’s body broken for you?
“And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church;
- Can you, my fellow brother in Christ, actually take such a serious division of doctrine or belief to your church?
and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as the Gentile and the tax collector.
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Of course this analogy of Jesus spoke to times before the risen Christ baptized gentiles into the Church. 
The charge of Jesus is to throw him out and have nothing to do with this unrepentant sinner who would lightly claim to be a christian.
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The DOCTRINE of the CHURCH is a life and death issue.

“Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Gospel of Matthew 19:16
- Do you, my fellow disciple of Jesus, know what happened to the man who asked our Lord this question?
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” .. he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

And He is the head of the body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:18-20

The Doctrine of the Church is a LIFE and DEATH issue. And also at issue is not only death, but JUDGMENT.

We are NOT SAVED simply by calling ourselves ‘christian,’ clinging to grace yet hiding from God.

“You are My friends if you do what I command you.
“This I command you, that you love one another.
Gospel of John 15:14,17

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
October 29, 2022
Which Bunyan character are you?
Character Reference:

Bunyan’s characters look like characters from my church (and yours).
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These past two weeks I've had some brief encounters with other 'Christians' about THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS of John Bunyan. 

Rather than adding a personal COMMENT to one of my Saturday Posts on Doctrines of the Church, I thought I might ask you directly (on a Wednesday).
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Choose your Bunyan character:

(OTHER THAN young ‘Christian,’ Hopeful or Faithful) IF you will.

I already shared with you my fear that I might become the man – the Professor of Christ – in the iron cage.

IF you will comment I will be more than happy to share with you which Bunyan character I think I most resemble. – Roger

CLICK BELOW to take another look at Bunyan’s characters:

Church of the Lost Pilgrims

Part 1 (many Bunyan characters)

Convicted Characters of Christ’s Church

Part 2 – some important characters

Which Bunyan character may look like you?

Please COMMENT how and why on this or either of the two Saturday Posts above.

BONUS Question:
- Tell us how and why YOU resemble any person from the Bible?
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I look forward to your comments - ALL are moderated personally & some not shared publically - RH
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NEXT: We will return to our continuing series following Paul on his first mission in ACTS of the Apostles.
October 26, 2022
Convicted Characters of Christ’s Church
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Continuing with the characters of Bunyan's allegory, THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.
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Church of the Lost Pilgrims

In our last Saturday Post we met many familiar faces of our own ‘church.’

The MAN FLEEING THE CITY OF DESTRUCTION with a burden on his back ASKED EVANGELIST the question every preacher would like to hear:

What must I do?

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Acts of the Apostles 16:25-26 KJV

What must I do?

Convicted! And Now Facing Punishment

Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die? since this life is attended with so many evils?

The Man answered, Because, I fear that this burden that is upon my back, will sink me lower then the Grave; and I shall fall into Tophet (Isa. 30:33). And Sir, if I be not fit to go to Prison, I am not fit (I am sure) to go to Judgement, and from thence to Execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.

– READ it from our source.

Characters without Character

DEATH & the Question of Eternal Life

Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Gospel of Matthew 19:16
- Does YOUR church proclaim the hard truth?
Bunyan has introduced us to some characters of his century seemingly alien to our own experience.
- What can I learn from these acquaintances of Christian to apply anything to 21st century christians of MY local church?
Oh sure, there’s, Talkative of my Bible Study, Formalist of my former church, Hypocrisy who used to sing in the praise band but has left now.. I’ve heard rumors about Demas the donator who (with conditions) made the building of our church possible. Pliable used to come to our church but his friend Obstinate got him into the Sunday golf league.
- What do these characters have to do with ME?
AND on Sunday,
- Won’t MY pastor preach the BIBLE as written with the same TRUTH as EVANGELIST?
Confession and Profession

Without spoiling the ending, (if you have never read THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS of John Bunyan), I must confess reluctance to share my own worst fears of conviction. (No, it’s not the Burden of Christian which I left at the foot of the Cross years ago.)

One is a fearful scene and the other a fearful character.

The END of Ignorance

You remember Ignorance from earlier in Christian’s pilgrimage to the heavenly city. We chuckled knowingly each time Bunyan observed, “and Ignorance followed.”

But HELL is no laughing matter. Tophet (mentioned above from Isaiah), Sheol, Hades, Abaddon and Apollyon – ALL fearful, because of our SIN and the wrath of GOD against SIN.

The evil one is not caricature of man’s invention, but a questioner of man’s salvation.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Jesus Christ confronts Satan quoting Scripture – do not be deceived. The enemy of Christian is an enemy to you; for evil one is a fallen angelic enemy of the Lord God our Father in Heaven and the Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer sacrificed on the Cross for sinners.

CHRIST IS the only Way to the Celestial City.

Christian, Hopeful and Faithful pilgrims must follow the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Fearful Scenes: A Byway to Hell

Then I saw in my dream that the shepherds took them to another place in the bottom of a ravine, where there was a door in the side of the hill.

.. it was very dark and smoky.. they heard a rumbling noise like that of a fire and the cries of someone being tormented, and they smelled the scent of brimstone.

This is a byway to Hell, a way that hypocrites enter by doing such things as [Bunyan provides us with some Biblical examples]..

Then said Hopeful to the Shepherds,

“I perceive that all of these people you have mentioned had the appearance of being pilgrims, just as we do, did they not?”

“Yes, and for a long time too,” the Shepherds replied.

“Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Gospel of Luke 6:46 – a question of Jesus to disciples of the crowds

Ignorance at the Gate of Heaven

When he was come up at the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should be quickly administered to him..

“Whence came you? And what would you have?

“I have eat and drank in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our Streets?

Then they asked him for his Certificate, that they might go in and shew it to the King…

“When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’
Gospel of Luke 13:25 New King James Version

“Have you none?” .. So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining Ones..

go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away..

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’
Gospel of Matthew 7:23 Revised Standard Version

Then I saw that there was a way to Hell even from the Gates of Heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction.

But NOW we return with Christian to visit with my most fearful character or Bunyan’s allegory.

Bunyan’s Professor

Yet except for the grace of God this professor of Christ might have been me or so many members of our own church!

Bunyan, must certainly have glanced out over his congregation while preaching and observed this Professor of faith.

Now, said Christian, let me go hence.

Nay, stay, said the Interpreter, till I have showed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go on thy way.

So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

Source for MORE of the scene

Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart..

Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once.

Christian: What wast thou once?

The Man: The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, Luke 8:13, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the celestial city, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither.

Christian: Well, but what art thou now?

The Man: I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out; Oh now I cannot!

Christian: But how camest thou into this condition?

The Man: I left off to watch and be sober:
- I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts;
- I sinned against the light of the word, and the goodness of God;
- I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone;
- I tempted the devil, and he is come to me;
- I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me:
- I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.
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DO YOU KNOW THESE CONVICTING SCRIPTURES THE MAN QUOTES?
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Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hope for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter.

Christian: Then said Christian, Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?

The Man: No, none at all.

Christian: Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.
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The former professor of Christ then quotes these Scriptures:
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- Hebrews 6 – The Peril of Not Progressing
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come and they have fallen away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
- Luke 19 – The Parable of the Minas
“A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ ..

‘But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
Gospel of Luke 19:27 New King James Version – Jesus, just prior to entering Jerusalem for His Crucifixion
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Has YOUR Pastor and Professor of Christ ever preached this? Most certainly John Bunyan would have preached the fearfulness of our punishment for sin as well as the saving grace of Christ's Cross for sinners.
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The Man: I have crucified him to myself afresh (Heb. 6:6); I have despised his person (Luke 19:14); I have despised his righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to the spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29), therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, faithful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.
- Hebrews 10: Hold Fast Your Confession; The Just Live by Faith
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
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These cautions are NOT for the unbeliever, but for the CHURCH. 

Confessors of Christ must remain more than simply Professors of christianity.

Christ's redeemed must also live the faith for which our Lord sacrificed Himself on the Cross for our sins.
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For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries..

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:29,31 New King James Version

But canst thou not now repent and turn?

The Man: God hath denied me repentance.

His word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage: nor can all the men in the world let me out.

Oh eternity! eternity!

how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity?

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man’s misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch and to be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man’s misery.

NEXT God-willing, our Saturday Post series on doctrine for the Church will conclude with some Scriptures for our consideration as the Body of Christ tarrying in this City of Destruction. – RH
October 22, 2022