Do We Preach As We Have Been Commanded?

[Firstfruits]

The title of your thread implies that Matthew 28:19 applies to all Christians. I don't think this is correct. Jesus is speaking directly to his apostles and not to the church at large. We learn later, from Paul, that there are various gifts of the spirit and in that presentation we also learn that not everyone has the gift of an apostle, or a preacher, or an evangelist.

Are we not to preach as they have given it to us?

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Firstfruits

[Firefighter]

They also preached John the Baptist and the Nazarite (ascetic) vow. Should we be preaching that too??? Maybe eat some grasshoppers and wear camel hair?

[ProjectPeter]

Uh... they didn't preach that. Come on now... let's do better than that eh?

[fewarechosen]

christ had lots of disciples, but few chosen. he told the chosen to go do those things, not just everyone who said "christ is lord".

to many rush to go save the world from its sin with big motes in our eyes, thats why we run around like fools and the world mocks and says their religion is a joke.

i think its often missed who christ was telling those things to. he told those things to men who were going to almost all get martyred, remember that.

god chooses his, but many wish to feel chosen so they hurry to mark themselves as chosen. not knowing what it means or what comes with it.

but there will be a falling away, and all will be revealed. his chosen will see it but those who think they are chosen wont.

[Vhayes]

christ had lots of disciples, but few chosen. he told the chosen to go do those things, not just everyone who said "christ is lord".

to many rush to go save the world from its sin with big motes in our eyes, thats why we run around like fools and the world mocks and says their religion is a joke.

i think its often missed who christ was telling those things to. he told those things to men who were going to almost all get martyred, remember that.

god chooses his, but many wish to feel chosen so they hurry to mark themselves as chosen. not knowing what it means or what comes with it.

but there will be a falling away, and all will be revealed. his chosen will see it but those who think they are chosen wont.

I'm not sure of what you're saying -

Are you saying that there will be people who have declared Christ as Lord, who love Him (even though they make mistakes) and they will not be "saved"? That they only "wish to feel chosen" - as you put it?

[mikebr]

In my flawed opinion one of the problems with Calvinism is that you can never really know if you are saved; only if you persevere to the end. What is means to persevere is very hard to define.

[Firstfruits]

They also preached John the Baptist and the Nazarite (ascetic) vow. Should we be preaching that too??? Maybe eat some grasshoppers and wear camel hair?

May I ask where in these scriptures did Jesus command the disciples to teach as you have said?

Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Lk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Lk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Lk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Lk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Firstfruits

[fewarechosen]

I'm not sure of what you're saying -

Are you saying that there will be people who have declared Christ as Lord, who love Him (even though they make mistakes) and they will not be "saved"? That they only "wish to feel chosen" - as you put it?

hi vhayes, sorry for any confusion.

i was addressing matthew 28
t
he scripture in the opening post was told to his chosen 11 apostles - so out of the hundreds or even thousands that followed christ and believed in him he chose 12.
now im not saying that everyone else was excluded or did not find god or anything like that.

but those 12 -1 he specifically chose, he gave authority to. they had been with christ for a long time on earth and he gave them authority , gave them the ability to baptize with the holy spirit to heal and all that stuff, they had direct commad from christ that they were supposed to teach.

so out of all his disciples he only picked a few for this duty.

think of it this way he hand picked those 12 and spent much time with them teaching and such, there were hundreds who believed and listend but that christ did not pick to follow closely, think of all the confusion that would have been spread if those hundreds ran out and tried to preach with the same authority given to those 12.

thats what happens today in this age, its like he has however many disciples now - but out of all of them he picks some for some works and others for other works.

but not all are to speak with the same authority on subjects, often we just think we are.

now if i was called to teach how can i teach if i dont know what im teaching ?

if i take that authority upon myself and go forth and spread lies i hinder not help, thats what happens when one teaches without being given authority.

now dont mistake this as somehow me saying i am the one who is supposed to teach and somehow no one else is or anything like that - i say assume i am a liar
but look at it this way if the greatest liar in the world said 2+2=4 you would know he is telling the truth.
now if someone gives you a long equation it may take time for you to figure it out if he is telling the truth, but the holy spirit inside you can figure all that out, he is the teacher you need, he is the one who is able to discern if i lie or not, so trust in that not a man. we are all liars

so i say test what everyone says against the holy spirit inside you.

we often dont humble ourselves myself included and we think yea i got this im gonna go talk to people on this subject - but is that our pride taking us away ?

thats why christ says to get the mote out of our own eye first, before we try to get the mote out of our brothers

[Vhayes]

Thanks and I understand now - we are all of the body, just different parts with specific functions.

I agree!
V

[fewarechosen]

I'm not sure of what you're saying -

Are you saying that there will be people who have declared Christ as Lord, who love Him (even though they make mistakes) and they will not be "saved"? That they only "wish to feel chosen" - as you put it?

also on this point, there are lots of people who think they are saved and know christ and do things in his name.

9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.

in the parable above think of it this way, many here christs words and believe it to be true, that is them being called, but they dont have their wedding garmet ready for the wedding, those will be cast out. they are called to it but did not ready themselves.

here is another parable



21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

now in this above we see some will think they did works in christ name, saying -in thy name we have done wonderfull works. but they only thought they knew christ and were his, but they werent.

out of the world he chooses his then out of his he chooses them for certain things.

some int he world think they are his chosen, and are not

then out of his chosen some feel they are chosen for something they are not.

hope that helps

[Firstfruits]

If we are not to preach any other gospel than what we have been given, can we say that we apply the attitude of the following?

Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Firstfruits

[merjorg]

Yep! And then we have the audacity to wonder why the lost have NO desire to be a "Christian". Amazing.

Interesting comments!

I was talking to a homeless man a few evenings ago and he wasn't 100% in his right mind, but it really hit home with me when, after sharing a bit of the gospel with him, he looked right at me and said as clear as day, "Do you know why people like me don't want to become Christians? Because of Christians!" And he began mimicking someone who had a sword and just continued to slice up and stab someone. It just hit me that he was acting out his experience with Christians. In his mind, his experiences with Christians during his time on earth are that he has been condemned, talked down to, made to feel less than, sliced and diced, to the point that he is so turned off by the gospel it's not even funny. I gave him $15 to get a meal and he said, "Will you go to dinner with me?" I said, "I really have to get home, but I'd love to have 5 more minutes to tell you more about Jesus." He said, "Do you want your money back? I'll give it back to you right now!" Heartbreaking!

[JesusMySavior]

The way I see it is, one can only effectively (and should only attempt) to share the Gospel with someone out of an overflow of God's love. If I am filled up with God's love, chances are it's going to spill out on someone else. This is effective witnessing at its finest.

You know what turns the lost onto Jesus? People who will listen to them, let them unload their problems with a caring ear, treat them to a nice dinner somewhere, and follow up with friendly phone calls and chats. In other words, build friendships with the poor and needy. They can't repay you, and the love can only go in one direction - from you to them.

I've found many more people are interested in this 'Jesus' I have to offer if I love them like Jesus loved us, rather than preach to them how they're going to hell in a hand basket.


(Now, on the other side - there is a place to preach sin and hell to those who truly need it, in fact I have a friend that's a radical evangelist - and he is not afraid, boy let me tell you, street corners and all - but I believe he has a gift for reaching the lost in a very direct way.)


People are more impressed with a humble sinner who has been saved by the grace of God than a religious freak show.


.02

[JesusMySavior]

I gave him $15 to get a meal and he said, "Will you go to dinner with me?" I said, "I really have to get home, but I'd love to have 5 more minutes to tell you more about Jesus." He said, "Do you want your money back? I'll give it back to you right now!" Heartbreaking!

OH friend!! In love I say this, but you really should have taken that opportunity to go to dinner with that fellow!! To show him you didn't have time was more than likely a smack in the face from "another Christian too busy to care" . And even though you gave him money (which is a very nice gesture), money is not an issue to most people - it's just paper and a figure. What you have to give that's precious is your time!!

Can we sacrifice our own schedules and our time to help the hurting and reach the lost?


Be blessed good brother!

[JesusMySavior]

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

now in this above we see some will think they did works in christ name, saying -in thy name we have done wonderfull works. but they only thought they knew christ and were his, but they werent.

First thought that comes to mind from this one good brother is the Mormons.

How many of them have offered to wash my windshield and scrape ice off my car and do good deeds for me? But yet they preach a broken gospel and are indoctrinated much more than being in close contact with the precious Lord!

The question is not, "Do you know the Lord", but rather, "Does the Lord know YOU?"