Sijo Chemmannur
Member
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46
Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. He invites his entire disciples to live and remain in Him (John15:4) and be filled with the fullness of God Himself (Ephesians 3:19). Those who live and serve Jesus Christ, is acceptable to God (Romans 14:18) and we cannot receive the gift of Holy Spirit if we are not acceptable to God. In other-words, the fundamental necessity of receiving any godly gifts of the Holy Spirit necessitates a day-to-day living with Jesus Christ. In the waves of the materialistic misinterpretations of the word of God, we should not dilute the doctrine of Jesus Christ. For it is written ‘Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son’ (2 John 1:9). The base of Christianity is the doctrine of Jesus Christ. But, what is the doctrine of Jesus Christ? How to live in Him and be His disciple?
To understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ, we have to listen what he wants to tell us through his life on the face of the earth and after. His words are valid in all the ages. The values of His teachings are the need of today and tomorrow. First thing we should understand is that Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). All the laws and prophets were written with a wholesome intention to progressively evolve the humaneness within humans and to establish the Kingdom of God in this earth. ‘Sermon on the mount’ serves as the starting point of Jesus Christ’s doctrines. All through the sermon, He portrays a passionate and profound longing. A transformation of the current predicament with a hope of achieving what is seemingly impossible. “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12). A clear transgression of hope from the material world we see to that of Kingdom of heaven (the eternal world). He exhorts the necessity to be 'useful' in this world and work for God. 'We are the salt and light of this world' (Matthew 5:13 and 14).
Fulfillment of the law -Jesus Christ affirms, abides not in a protocol based action or rituals of the scripture. A transformation of heart is necessary to understand the inner meanings of the laws. The reconciliation with other human beings with love and care is what Jesus Christ aim from his disciples. We are disciples of Jesus who told “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). How much more we should be willing to serve others in this world! A denial of selfishness and live and work for others is a requirement for the discipleship of Jesus Christ. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). When we do things to the least of our brothers and sisters, we are doing it for Jesus (Matthew 25:40). There is a difference in the deeds we do when we are living in Christ. Christian deeds is an extension and an outpour of the love of Christ. When we live in Christ, we should start showing the fruits of Jesus Christ. And the fruit of good deeds, burgeoning from living in Christ are the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, living in Christ requires obeying the commandment of Jesus Christ. “My commandment is this: Love one another just as I love you” (John 15:12). ‘Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13). This is exactly what Jesus Christ done for us on the cross. The doctrine of Jesus Christ is love. We are called to Love others as Christ did. The question remains valid in front of all of us. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. He invites his entire disciples to live and remain in Him (John15:4) and be filled with the fullness of God Himself (Ephesians 3:19). Those who live and serve Jesus Christ, is acceptable to God (Romans 14:18) and we cannot receive the gift of Holy Spirit if we are not acceptable to God. In other-words, the fundamental necessity of receiving any godly gifts of the Holy Spirit necessitates a day-to-day living with Jesus Christ. In the waves of the materialistic misinterpretations of the word of God, we should not dilute the doctrine of Jesus Christ. For it is written ‘Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son’ (2 John 1:9). The base of Christianity is the doctrine of Jesus Christ. But, what is the doctrine of Jesus Christ? How to live in Him and be His disciple?
To understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ, we have to listen what he wants to tell us through his life on the face of the earth and after. His words are valid in all the ages. The values of His teachings are the need of today and tomorrow. First thing we should understand is that Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). All the laws and prophets were written with a wholesome intention to progressively evolve the humaneness within humans and to establish the Kingdom of God in this earth. ‘Sermon on the mount’ serves as the starting point of Jesus Christ’s doctrines. All through the sermon, He portrays a passionate and profound longing. A transformation of the current predicament with a hope of achieving what is seemingly impossible. “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12). A clear transgression of hope from the material world we see to that of Kingdom of heaven (the eternal world). He exhorts the necessity to be 'useful' in this world and work for God. 'We are the salt and light of this world' (Matthew 5:13 and 14).
Fulfillment of the law -Jesus Christ affirms, abides not in a protocol based action or rituals of the scripture. A transformation of heart is necessary to understand the inner meanings of the laws. The reconciliation with other human beings with love and care is what Jesus Christ aim from his disciples. We are disciples of Jesus who told “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). How much more we should be willing to serve others in this world! A denial of selfishness and live and work for others is a requirement for the discipleship of Jesus Christ. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). When we do things to the least of our brothers and sisters, we are doing it for Jesus (Matthew 25:40). There is a difference in the deeds we do when we are living in Christ. Christian deeds is an extension and an outpour of the love of Christ. When we live in Christ, we should start showing the fruits of Jesus Christ. And the fruit of good deeds, burgeoning from living in Christ are the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, living in Christ requires obeying the commandment of Jesus Christ. “My commandment is this: Love one another just as I love you” (John 15:12). ‘Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13). This is exactly what Jesus Christ done for us on the cross. The doctrine of Jesus Christ is love. We are called to Love others as Christ did. The question remains valid in front of all of us. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
