1 Christians' Responsibility

What are the Responsibilities of Christians? (by Bill Stevenson) I have been rebuked and condemned by professing Christian leaders because I emphasize the exhortations and commandments of the New Testament and still believe that the Ten Commandments is for us today (including the Sabbath one). The attackers are the ones who just want to emphasize God’s grace or Jesus words only. I have not seen any peace and joy in their communications or faces. I tell them that my ministry calling is the second part of the Great Commission. Matthew 28:16-20-- “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth. Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 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.’” Also Jesus had earlier said to the eleven main disciples, “…. If a man love me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He who loves Me not, keeps not My sayings; and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent Me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, Who is the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:23-27) “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you: continue you in My love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:7-15) “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” (John 16:12-14) In one sense, the eleven were saved because of their faith in Jesus Christ and what He said (even though they did not understand His prophecies). These Bible passages apply to all true born again, adopted-children-of-God Christians too. Does the Scripture posted indicate the following? * True Christians are only to attend church, pray, and read the Bible, resting in God’s grace? * True Christians have all of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. (Remember that God’s righteousness also requires knowing God’s truths. The same is true even for students in relation to human teachers in school.) * The Holy Spirit makes all of the true Christians automatically righteous or holy. * Christian Sanctification requires no human effort. 1

Is your answer “no” for some or all of those possibilities? If it isn’t the latter, please read any of the Epistles and focus on the exhorting and commandment verses. Such require human effort. What does the following passage indicate? “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ And if you call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever.” (1 Peter 1:13-23) How many commandments for us are in the Scriptures above? The following are the conclusions of an unknown individual’s Bible study: General Categories of the Commands in the New Testament Epistles to Gentile Christians-from Romans thru Jude - (omitting Hebrews and James which are addressed to Jews): Relationship to Others (Generally other Christians) - 191 Commands Personality and Character Traits - 121 Commands Victorious Christian Living - 78 Commands Relationship to God - 77 Commands Avoidance of Sin - Negative Commands- 58 Commands Family Relationships - 21 Commands Separate Commands to Church - 14 kinds (I have the document this is from on my computer and can e-mail it to you.) How does this poem enhance this discussion? Poem that Teaches JUSTIFICATION frees from sin. SANCTIFICATION frees from the power of sin. GLORIFICATION frees from the presence of sin. JUSTIFICATION is for the repentant sinner. SANCTIFICATION is for the surrendered disciple. GLORIFICATION is for the victorious saint. JUSTIFICATION takes care of the past. SANCTIFICATION takes care of the present. GLORIFICATION takes care of the future. JUSTIFICATION changes the attitude. SANCTIFICATION changes the character. GLORIFICATION changes us from mortal to immortal. 2

In JUSTIFICATION, Jesus is our Savior. In SANCTIFICATION, Jesus is our Master. In GLORIFICATION, Jesus is our glorious King. JUSTIFICATION is our title to Heaven. SANCTIFICATION is our fitness for Heaven. GLORIFICATION is our entrance to Heaven. -Author Unknown But why are most who attend Christian churches lacking in thankfulness, joy, and Great Commission ministering? I lack such when I am thinking selfishly and not remembering the wonderfulness of the Gospel and Christian Salvation. Do I loose my Salvation because of such “back sliding”? No. But I am missing the divine friendship, the divine peace, and the divine joy promised in those John 14-16 passages. Even when I am doing Bible study or Internet ministering, I can be lacking one or two of the just mentioned, but I still feel satisfied about how I am using the precious God-given time. The question we should frequently ask is “Are we thinking, saying, or doing what the Holy Spirit and the Bible urge? Or are we just surviving? Have you heard the statement that true Christianity is not a religion, but an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ? What do the following passages indicate should be the top priority of true Christians? Philippians 2:1-11, 3:7-16, & 4:6-8 1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 fulfill ye my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind 4 let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, 3

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and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, my brothers (and sisters), whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, 4

whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. So what does it mean to you to pursue "the mind of Christ"? Apostle Paul gave some hints above. The Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the Epistle of James give some more. And the following will indicate the ideal church’s responsibility for teaching about such. Ephesians 4:11-16 11 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints [repairing and preparing] for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Jude 1:17-25 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own unGodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit. But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Please share this summary about a very important Christian doctrine subject with others.

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