Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion

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                            "JESUS, THE WAY"

               Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion

INTRODUCTION

1. 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

2. Such distaste for denominational division is in keeping with the
   spirit of the New Testament...
   a. Jesus prayed fervently for unity - Jn 17:21
   b. Paul condemned religious division - 1Co 1:10-13

3. While some denominational leaders like to justify their existence, we
   know that religious confusion does not come from God...!
   a. God is the author of peace, not confusion - 1Co 14:33
   b. Religious strife is indicative of carnality, and a work of the
      flesh - 1Co 3:3-4; Ga 5:19-21

4. 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...]

I. THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

   A. NOTE THE RELIGIOUS CLIMATE OF HIS DAY...
      1. When Jesus came to this earth, the Israelites were living under
         God's law given by Moses
      2. In that law, God had not made any provision for the division of
         His people into religious sects or parties
      3. Yet, by the time of Jesus, the Jews had formed several distinct
         religious parties:
         a. Pharisees (somewhat conservative)
         b. Sadducees (very liberal, the "modernists" of their day)
         c. Essenes (radical isolationists)
         d. Herodians, Zealots (political religionists)
      4. It was assumed that all who were serious about religion would
         be associated with one of these groups

   B. HE MAINTAINED A NONSECTARIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...
      1. To which of these groups did Jesus belong?  He belonged to none
         of these groups!
      2. Instead, He maintained a "nonsectarian" relationship with God
         to the very end
         a. As an Israelite, living at a time when the Law of Moses was
            still in effect, He was simply an "Israelite"
         b. In addition, He encouraged all to live by the Law while it
            was still in effect - cf. Mt 5:17-20
         c. In other words, He encouraged all to simply be what the Law
            of Moses intended them to be (i.e., "Israelites")

   C. WHAT WOULD JESUS BE TODAY...?
      1. Would He be a Baptist, or Catholic, or Presbyterian, or
         Methodist, etc.?
      2. If He was simply an Israelite then, would He not simply be a
         "Christian" today?
      3. That was certainly what His disciples came to be called - cf.
         Ac 11:26

[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", cf. 1Co 9:21) 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 ...]

II. THE LORD'S CHURCH

   A. PROMISED BY JESUS...
      1. Jesus promised to build His church - cf. Mt 16:18
      2. The word "church" comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which
         means "a called-out group, an assembly, a congregation"
      3. Jesus was promising to create His own group of people who have
         been "called"

   B. ESTABLISHED THROUGH PREACHING THE GOSPEL...
      1. How does this "calling" take place?
      2. According to Paul, we are "called" by the gospel - 2Th 2:14
      3. 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
      4. Notice that those who gladly responded in faith, repentance and
         baptism were "added"
         a. To what and by whom were they "added"?
         b. We find the answer in verse 47:  "And the Lord added to the
            church daily those who were being saved."
      5. The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Lord's church
         (His "ekklesia")
      6. This "called-out" assembly or group was created when the gospel
         was proclaimed and people responded to it

   C. EXPANDED THROUGH PREACHING THE GOSPEL...
      1. At first, the church existed only in Jerusalem
      2. As the gospel spread, and people responded to it, groups of
         these saved people in various cities met together
      3. Each group became known as a church in a local sense (in
         contrast to the church universal which is made up of all those
         saved throughout the world)
      4. For example, during Paul's first missionary journey, many such
         churches were established - Ac 14:21-23
      5. By simply teaching the gospel of Christ, a local church was
         formed when those who obeyed the gospel joined together in
         their work and worship

   D. EDIFIED THROUGH THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE...
      1. Though united in Christ, these local churches were independent
         of any human association or federation of churches
      2. Christ directed them through His inspired apostles, as they
         taught them how to worship and work together - cf. Ac 2:42
      3. Sometimes this teaching by the apostles was done directly,
         other times by appointed emissaries - e.g., 1Co 4:17
      4. Just as often, the teaching was done through the epistles or
         letters written by the apostles - cf. 1Co 14:37; 1Ti 3:14-15;
         2Th 2:14-15; 3:14

[When we read what the Bible says us about the Lord's church, we learn
that by responding to the gospel and paying close heed to the "apostles'
doctrine" (cf. Ac 2:42), people in the first century were able to be
Christians only, without all the confusion prevalent today.

Is it possible for us to do this today?  Yes!  Here is how...]

III. THE WAY OUT OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION

   A. ACCEPT THE CALL OF THE GOSPEL...
      1. Remember, Christ calls us into His ekklesia (church) through
         the gospel
      2. Therefore, we can begin by obeying the same instructions that
         Peter gave on the Day of Pentecost - Ac 2:38
      3. Repenting of our sins, and being baptized for the remission of
         our sins, we then receive the same blessings as did the 3000 on
         that day:  salvation!
      4. By being saved in this manner, we know that the Lord truly adds
         us to His church just as He added them - cf. Ac 2:47
      -- What then...?

   B. FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS...
      1. The early Christians continued steadfastly in the apostles'
         doctrine - Ac 2:42
         a. They joined no other religious organization, and neither
            should we!
         b. In Christ, we are automatically united with all others who
            are in Him!
      2. As members of the Lord's church, we should study carefully the
         New Testament description of the church that continued
         steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
         a. This description is found in the Book of Acts and in the
            Epistles which follow it
         b. It is here that we will find instruction from the Lord's
            apostles on how:
            1) To worship the Lord acceptably
            2) To be scripturally organized as local congregations
            3) To live and work together as Christians, spreading the
               gospel of Christ through word and example
      3. Since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, we may be
         sure their instructions were exactly what Jesus wanted them to
         be!
         a. If we duplicate the early churches by following the
            apostles' instructions, we will simply be "Christians", and
            we can be certain the Lord is pleased with us
         b. As Jesus said to His apostles about those who would receive
            or reject their instructions:  "He who hears you hears Me,
            he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects
            Him who sent Me." - Lk 10:16

CONCLUSION

1. Simply being a Christian, and duplicating a New Testament
   congregation is not as difficult as one might think...
   a. There are literally thousands of such congregations throughout the
      world
   b. There is likely one in your area right now!  (Feel free to contact
      me if you would like to try and locate the nearest one.)
   c. There is also the option of starting a congregation in your own
      home

2. By following the example and teachings of Jesus, as revealed by His
   apostles, we can be led out of the religious confusion that dominates
   the religious world today!

3. Do you want to be simply a Christian, a member of the Lord's church
   we read about in the New Testament...?
   a. If so, then I plead with you to first render obedience to the
      gospel of Christ as proclaimed by Peter and all the apostles - cf.
      Ac 2:36-38
   b. You have the assurance of God's Word that you will then be added
      by the Lord Himself to His church - cf. Ac 2:47
   c. Then, you have the responsibility to learn and follow the
      apostles' doctrine as you serve the Lord Jesus in your life - cf.
      Ac 2:42

If you have not yet responded to the commands of the gospel as put forth
by Peter in Ac 2:38, why not let the reaction of those who did on the
Day of Pentecost describe your actions today:

   "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that
   day about three thousand souls were added to them." - Ac 2:41
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