Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part One

Jesus, The Way
Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion - Part One

Many people who wish to follow Jesus are repelled by the multitude of denominations and
conflicting doctrines and practices taught by those professing to be Christians. Such distaste for denominational division is in keeping with the spirit of the New Testament. Jesus prayed fervently for unity - Jn 17:21 "I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me." Paul condemned religious division - 1 Co 1:10-13 "My dear friends, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don't take sides. Always try to agree in what you think. Several people from Chloe's family have already reported to me that you keep arguing with each other. They have said that some of you claim to follow me, while others claim to follow Apollos or Peter or Christ. Has Christ been divided up? Was I nailed to a cross for you? Were you baptized in my name?" While some denominational leaders like to justify their existence, we know that religious confusion does not come from God...! God is the author of peace, not confusion - 1 Co 14:33 "God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order." Religious strife is indicative of carnality, and a work of the flesh - 1 Co 3:3-4 "You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world. Some of you say that you follow me, and others claim to follow Apollos. Isn't that how ordinary people behave?"; Ga 5:19-21 "People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom." Even so, is it possible for people today to simply be Christians, and not a contributor to the denominational division of today? The answer is Yes! And Jesus shows us The Way Out Of Religious Confusion! Notice Jesus’ own example in the religious climate of His day.

In the example of Jesus, note the religious climate of His day. When Jesus came to this earth, the Israelites were living under God’s law given by Moses. In that law, God had not made any provision for the division of His people into religious sects or parties. Yet, by the time of Jesus, the Jews had formed several distinct religious parties:
Pharisees (somewhat conservative)
Sadducees (very liberal, the "modernists" of their day)
Essenes (radical isolationists)
Herodians, Zealots (political religionists)
It was assumed that all who were serious about religion would be associated with one of these groups.

However, Jesus maintained a nonsectarian relationship with God. To which of these groups did Jesus belong? He belonged to none of these groups! Instead, He maintained a "nonsectarian" relationship with God to the very end. As an Israelite, living at a time when the Law of Moses was still in effect, He was simply an "Israelite". In addition, He encouraged all to live by the Law while it was still in effect - cf. Mt 5:17-20 "Don't suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen. If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom. You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you that you will never get into the kingdom of heaven." In other words, He encouraged all to simply be what the Law of Moses intended them to be (i.e., "Israelites").

This brings up to question of what would Jesus be today? Would He be a Baptist, or Catholic, or Presbyterian, or Methodist, etc.? If He was simply an Israelite then, would He not simply be a "Christian" today? That was certainly what His disciples came to be called - cf. Ac 11:26 "He found Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they met with the church for a whole year and taught many of its people. There in Antioch the Lord's followers were first called Christians."
The example Jesus has set for us is clear: just be what God originally intended under the Law which is in effect. Since in the New Testament (the "law of Christ", 1 Co 9:21 "And when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law to win them. Of course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ.") the disciples of Christ were called "Christians", so we should be! Not only should we be content with being "called" Christians, we should also be concerned with "just being Christians." Nothing more, nothing less! But how can we be sure that we are simply Christians, members of the church we read about in the New Testament?

It helps to see what the Bible tells us about the Lord’s church. Jesus promised to build His church - Mt 16:18 "So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it." The word "church" comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means "a called-out group, an assembly, a congregation". Jesus was promising to create His own group of people who have been "called" to come to Him. How does this "calling" take place? According to Paul, we are "called" by the gospel - 2 Th 2:14 "God used our preaching as his way of inviting (calling) you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." On the first Pentecost after the ascension of Christ, we see by preaching the gospel Peter
"called out" those who were willing to express their faith in Jesus - Ac 2:38-41 "Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live." Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, "I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people." On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized." 47 "while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved." Notice that those who gladly responded in faith, repentance and baptism were "added". To what and by whom were they "added"? We find the answer in verse 47: "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Lord's church (His "ekklesia"). This "called-out" assembly or group was created when the gospel was proclaimed and people responded to it. (To be continued in Part Two)