Friday, August 16, 2013

The Discipline of Discipleship the Lord's COMMAND

The Discipline of Discipleship the Lord's COMMAND

 

Jesus

 
 
    
"16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  (Matthew 28:16-20 KJV)


     Now there are those Christians out there who will dispute the Word of the Lord and His command in this passage.  They will tell you this is Israel's command, they will say it doesn't apply to YOU Christian, some will even say this is fulfilled by Jesus on the cross, despite the commandment coming after the Lord's rising.  The Lord of Heaven's Armies clearly gives a command here.  Marching orders to His disciples, as clearly illustrated in verse eleven shows to whom He is addressing.  "
1.)  DISCIPLESHIP: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as
a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts
b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual 
 
     Now for the LUDICROUS FALLACY, that if Jesus, IF BIG IF, was only speaking to the Hebrews, let's take a look at a Greek or Hellenistic recorded Gospel which says the SAME EXACT THING. 
 
"46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen"  (Luke 24:46-53 KJV)
     Did you notice He the Lord, Jesus, the Risen Lord preaches repentance and remission together.  And repentance being a change of mind, attitude, behavior, not just an intellectual choice to believe, but faith belief that changes the attitude, mind, and behavior of an Holy Spirit regenerated soul.  The Disciples were witnesses of this and Jesus' teachings, for three years they walked with the Master, the learned Who He is, they heard His teachings, teachings on Adultery, Greed, Pride, Anger, Hate, Murder, Divorce, Marriage, and nowhere did He teach that grace made it acceptable to willfully disobey one jot or tittle of His teachings, rather, He taught and commanded that we, as disciples (those who choose His way of living) teach others to observe His teachings.  This is the reality because of a grace changed heart, that isn't condemned position wise yet still able to sin, and yes be chastised according to the Book of Hebrews and the of' course applicable rest of the Word of God.  We are empowered by He, the Holy Spirit to make the choices Jesus did.  The problem comes when we pick and choose which parts to obey, not in any attempt to receive grace, BECAUSE OF GRACE, BECAUSE OF GRACE, BECAUSE OF GRACE.  LEST WE TRAMPLE THE SON OF GOD UNDERFOOT AND MAKE A MOCKERY OF HIS SINLESS LIFE, AND SELFLESS CRUSHING AND SACRIFICE ON GOLGOTHA.  He arose to MAKE us free, set is a bad translation, its weak and lacking, we are New Creations IN CHRIST, THEREFORE, we are MADE free.
Again, here is another account, again by the doctor, Luke who wrote both of his accounts descriptively as to leave no room for debate.  In the following passage, in Acts chapter 1, notice the words command.  Again speaking to His disciples, again to tarry for He, the Holy Spirit, to EMPOWER the child of God, In Christ, to obey His commands post salvation.  This is not legalism, this is obeying a command of Jesus, POST SALVATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, WITNESSES, CONSECRATION, SET APART, AND PHYSICAL AND TEMPORAL HOLINESS, NOT JUST POSITIONAL. 

    
"1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."  (Acts 1:1-11 KJV) 
     Let me put this in simple human, 2013 jargon.  As a former soldier, and a Marine I understand the doctrine of discipline.  At boot camp, in Marine boot camp, everything is done purposefully too instill a discipline, a obedience to commands, to function as designed.  We learned to do close order drill (marching with weapons) to obey orders on command, instill unity, brotherhood, mission completion.  Things ranging from how we held our trays at chow, to how we held the cup at chow, how we scrubbed the deck (floor) were all designed for this purpose.  Not for killjoy, not for displeasure, but for Esprit De Corps or UNITY.  This unity is an allegory to the phileo that every true Christian shares with other Christians.  A Marine from Parris Island, can be placed in a platoon or unit with other Marines of varying years of service, from Parris Island or San Diego, without a hesitation march the same and obey the same commands on the same timing.  Imagine church, if we Christians would be disciplined in the Word of God, the COMMANDS OF JESUS, THE WORD HIMSELF, THE POWER THE CHURCH WOULD UNIFIED WOULD UNLEASH AGAINST THE GATES OF HELL!  Love in Christ, Jason!
 

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