The Apostle John was the only writer in the NT that articulates “The Commandments of Jesus.” He was also the only author among the first 4 that did not record “The Sermon on the Mount”. I believe one reason may be because John’s writings were written last. John seems to have written immediately before 70 AD, possibly after Paul’s death and definitely a decade or more after Matthew and Mark. Matthew wrote his account after only about 2 decades of meeting Jesus. John wrote his almost 40 years after he began to walk with the Lord!
How much does a person grow in the Lord after an additional 20 years of relationship? *(Some scholars argue that John’s letters were written 60 years or more after Jesus!)
The point?
Maybe John more clearly articulated the New Covenant because the time of the Old being completely removed had arrived (Hebrews 8:13-9:10 & 2 Cor.3:7-11) and the New Covenant ideals needed to me decisively declared. Maybe John understood sonship better. John clearly had a profound revelation of what it meant to be loved by the Lord because he frequently referred to himself as “The Disciple whom Jesus loved.”
Does that mean Jesus loved John more than the others or that John received Jesus’ love more than the others? I believe it’s the latter. Consider Jesus words spoken to the faithful 11 in John 15:9 as evidence ~ “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: abide ye in my love.” (plural) (singular)
I used the KJV in this instance because it’s the only version that distinguishes the plural “you” from the singular “ye”. Jesus stated that he loved them all as the Father had loved him. Jesus didn’t love John more than Peter, James or the rest. Jesus loved all of his disciples with the exact same love that the Father had for him.
John received Jesus’ love more.
John laid his head on the Lord’s chest.
John knew how to abide.
Is it possible that John had greater faith?
HOW MANY COMMANDMENTS?
Matthew, Mark and Luke all emphasized faith to an extant. However, none of them even came close to articulating the faith like Paul had.
Did you know that none of the first 3 (Matt,Mk and Lk) recorded Jesus ever saying anything like “Believe in me to be saved”? Isn’t that the foundation of the entire message? Yet, in all of their accounts of the life and words of Jesus; none of them thought it was important to declare the most basic aspect of the Gospel? Very interesting….
Yet, the “gospel” of John records Jesus’ 1st Commandment “Believe” almost 100 times! Compare that to less than 30 times between the first 3. Basically, John emphasizes belief 10 times more than the others. John also emphasized love over 100 times more!
John’s First Epistle detailed the New Covenant Commandments as ~ 1. Believe. 2. Love.
“23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.” ~ 1 John 3:23
Because even the entire Law could be summed up in “Love”. (Gal.5:14 , Matt.22:40, Rom.13:10) However, the reality is that you cannot truly love without first believing because love believes. (1 Cor.13:7) The cart cannot go before the horse.
Faith always precedes love. We cannot love others with God’s perfect love until we believe in God’s perfect love. ~ The Holy Spirit
It’s really that simple to obey the New Covenant commandments because God doesn’t want slaves who merely obeyed for the sake of obedience; like in the Old Covenant. Paul wrote in Romans about a new obedience that he called ~ “The Obedience of the Faith”.
HOW NOW SHALL WE LIVE?
This is not an excuse to disobey. It’s a true definition of Christ-like obedience.
This is not a reason to neglect the writings of Matthew and the others. It’s also not an excuse to ignore the words of Jesus in the likes of “The Sermon on the Mount”. It’s merely an explanation of how.
This is how we live a “Sermon on the Mount” (SOM) lifestyle.
We can obey the letter of the SOM without believing in God’s love. But, we cannot disobey the heart of the SOM when we believe in God’s love.
One way reduces children of God to a life of slavery. The Way inspires the children of God to a life of sons!
If God’s primary objective was obedience to a set of regulations; he would have invented robots. But God yearned for relational children, so he created us!
God doesn’t merely desire us to follow a set of rules. God desires relationship.
God wants us to stay in relationship with him through in everything!
“16And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.” ~ 1 John 4:16
Interestingly, the emphasis in this verse does not seem to be on the Presence of God. The emphasis is on love because ~ “love is the Presence of God.”
It’s that simple and yet that challenging. Because Ephesians 3:16-20 announced that God’s love in infinitely beyond our understanding. It’s probably a good idea to pray along the lines of Paul ~
“16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.”
Profound. It seems that Paul was saying something like ~Believing and growing in the love of God increases the amount of God that we experience in life. God is infinite and so is love. Keep growing in faith and in love. The deeper you go into love, the more Christ fills your heart.
Wonderful Grace of Jesus 
How about we focus on what Jesus said?
Jesus was asked twice which Commandment is the greatest or most important one, (Matthew 22 and Mark 12)
Both times Jesus answered quoting the same two commandments, from the Law of Moses.
Jesus said that one of these two commandments is the first and greatest most important one. Which one is it? The one in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, or the one in Leviticus 19:18 ?
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “ is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [Mark 12:29-30, Deuteronomy 6:4-5]
Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” [Matthew 22:37-38, Deuteronomy 6:5]
Poem – What is love?
Two men came to Jesus
With different motivations.
They asked Him the same question
Relevant to all the nations:
Which is the Most Important?
The answer was the same.
Jesus did not manipulate
He was not there to play a game.
“Love the Lord your God” said Jesus
as He quoted from The Law –
to fulfill and not abolish
was His purpose, full of awe.
Jesus did not make all Scripture
Into one new great commandment.
He summarized The Law and Prophets
“First and Greatest” and “The Second.”
The Love of God is higher
Than the love of any man.
Receive from God, give back to God-
Then to others, that’s His plan.
The Love of God involves much more
Than simply “love your fellow man.”
Worship, trust, and pray to God,
and obey Him – that’s His plan
To worship and pray to neighbors,
Whoever they may be,
Or trust and obey our enemies
Would be idolatry.
The love of God is first and greatest,
And the love of man is second.
“All we need is love” are words
of dead Beetles on the pavement.
“The entire law is summed up in a single command”
are not the words of Jesus our Salvation.
It’s false teaching of Paul the Pharisee
an “accuser of our brethren.”
“Love” without God is Satan’s word through Paul
in his chapter to the Corinthians.
“I will show you the most excellent way”
is the road to eternal perdition.
Where is God in Paul’s chapter on love?
Nowhere in view of the eye.
Paul sings about himself like a Mexican Mariachi
“I, I, I, I.”
Jesus is The Most Excellent Way
Not the words of a Pharisee.
The words of Jesus are very clear.
Jesus said, “You must follow ME.”
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I approved your comment but disagree completely with the content. The idea that Paul was satanic is a foolish lie. Peter himself endorsed his words in his letter and in Acts 15, Paul was approved by the “First Apostolic Council”. When you referred to Jesus’ words about the greatest commandment, you neglected to mention the context. Religious Jews, who were living under the Law, were asking Jesus (at that time a teacher of the Law) concerning The Law. This message was not the Gospel. It was the righteousness of the law summarized. That is why there was no mention of “Believe and be saved…” The New Covenant was not even inaugurated until the Last Passover Supper and the 2 Commandments are clearly described in 1st John. 1. Believe. 2. Love.
Also in 1 Cor.13, we have one of the clearest depictions of the nature of God anywhere. Why? Because God is love. 1 John 4. You can’t throw out Paul’s writings without throwing away John’s. Then you throw out Jesus.
Simple Gospel. Be blessed!
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Christopher, you said QUOTE:
“Matthew, Mark and Luke all emphasized faith to an extant. However, none of them even came close to articulating the faith like Paul had.”
So you are elevating Paul and Paul’s teachings above the teaching of Jesus given through His appointed Apostles. Only 3 of them wrote Scripture, Matthew John, and Peter. YOU are throwing out Jesus of the Gospels, and replacing Jesus with PAUL – or the “christ”‘ of Paul’s imagination.
You said “Simple Gospel.”
WHOSE “gospel”? Jesus, in His own words, or Paul’s “gospel” about Jesus?
Parable of the House Painters
A homeowner called his friend, who was a painting contractor. “Friend, I want to hire you and your team to paint my house and my garage. Paint the house first, and I’ll stay in the garage until you’re done. Then when the paint is dry, I’ll move back into the house, and you can paint the garage.”
The painting contractor hired a new foreman named Paul, and gave him the homeowner’s instructions. (Paul insisted that all the workers show respect for him by addressing him as “Boss Paul.”) Paul called the team of painters together and told them:
“Boys, we need to paint this garage and house. The quicker we do it, the more profitable it is for us. So get to work! Since the garage is smaller, we can finish that quicker. Then those who finished the garage can go help the others finish the house.”
One worker objected: “But Boss Paul, those were not the owner’s instructions! We are supposed to paint the house first. Only after the house is finished and the paint is dry can we go and paint the garage.”
Paul replied: “I’m Boss, you work for me, and you do as I say. We are painters, and we paint. We don’t have time for debates about ‘which one is first’. We need to get to work applying that paint to the garage and house as quick as we can. Which owner would be upset if we finished early? The job is to paint the garage and house – what difference does it make ‘which one is first’”?
“It makes a big difference to the owner,” the worker objected. To which Paul replied, “you’re fired.” Paul then took his team of painters, and started painting the garage and the house.
When the homeowner returned in the evening, he was furious. He had nowhere to sleep, and had to go stay in a hotel for several days. The homeowner’s friend, the painting contractor, apologized, and explained:
“I hired a new foreman named Paul, but that was a huge mistake. He ignored your instructions that I passed on to him. You don’t know him, and I’ve just barely met him.
To be extremely polite, I could say that Paul ‘says some things which are difficult to understand.’ To be more direct, I could say Paul talks like an arrogant megalomaniac with a messiah complex, proclaiming; ‘I am not under the law’ but yet making up his own laws as he goes along, that everyone else has to obey. Paul said: ‘I became your father…. therefore I urge you to imitate me,’ and ‘I have become all things to all men.’ Paul thinks he’s Boss, and doesn’t need to listen to your instructions that I gave him.”
In Matthew 22 and Mark 12, Jesus identified two commandments, saying one of them is the first and greatest most important one. Which one is it? The one in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, or the one in Leviticus 19:18 ?
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Your parables are interesting, but not proper doctrine.
Jesus authored and finished “The Faith”. The faith is more than your or my belief. The Apostle Paul said there is ONE faith. Paul and John articulated it most clearly. I am not throwing out any writers but merely attributing their proper context.
Can you deny that Matthew, Mark and Luke did NOT articulate the New Covenant? Show me where they recorded Jesus’ profound promises concerning the New Covenant and the New Commandments.
You cannot. It’s impossible because they did not record Jesus’ most intimate words with the faithful 11 Disciples after the “Last Passover Supper”.
John was the only one of the 4 who recorded Jesus’ message to his friends.
However, Paul declared the same profound truths to the Gentiles.
Most of Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded pre-Cross, Pre-New Covenant teachings. Probably 90% of it was Jesus prophesying the coming New Covenant Kingdom and performing miracles to demonstrate his authority and love people.
I do not elevate Paul above Jesus. But, so much of what Jesus said does not apply to us but applied to that generation! Most of Jesus’ parables in Matthew were specifically directed to those Jews who were about to reject and murder their Messiah and God!
John 13-17 is the clearest declaration of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God that Paul also declared. I love and honor all 66 books of the Biblios but, I recognize the simple reality that it does not all apply to us in the New Covenant.
Be blessed my friend and continue your search in the truth of ALL Scriptures as the Spirit of Truth will guide you into all truth!
* To answer your question ~ I really don’t care which commandment Jesus was referring to because the context was which commandment is greatest “under the Law” and that Old Covenant Law is not for the New Covenant believer.
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Christopher,
It seems that PAUL is your “shepherd” really.
But as for me and my house….
Jesus “The Good Shepherd” is my Pastor
Jesus is The Way to God
The real Jesus of the real Apostles
But false teachers come and pervert God’s Word
With twists and turns and jostles
“My sheep listen to my voice”
Jesus said for us all to hear
“I know them, and they follow me”
He doesn’t run when a wolf appears
He “calls his own sheep by name”
It’s not the witchcraft of a distant stranger
Not just repeating the magic words
And then thinking you are out of danger
Our Father in Heaven wants to talk to you
He can hear you loud and clear
And He sent His Son Jesus to inhabit the earth
So that all who want God can draw near
Real prayer is a conversation
At least that’s what God wants it to be
We talk in the garden in the cool of the day
When we are part of His family
Only Jesus never disobeyed God
He’s the only immaculate conception
The Holy Spirit comes in His Name
Don’t listen to the voice of deception
If a false apostle preaches
I became your father, imitate me
He doesn’t speak the words of God
It’s just Boss Paul the Pharisee
And if a heretic now claims to be
The Church’s universal pastor
His words should be ignored
They lead to nothing but disaster
Jesus did not just teach The Way
He IS The Way, my friend
Repeating the mantra of Marypaulhammad
Is nothing but a dead end
Bibliography – all “quotes” in “quotation marks” are the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John chapter 10
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If you throw out the words of Paul, throw out your Bible. Jesus is the Word, but we don’t have records of his words to Gentile believers after the Cross. That’s why we have the letters of Paul and others. I agree that Paul didn’t always speak the Lord’s perfect will, but your assertions about him are in error. What exactly is it that you are trying to prove here?
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Christopher,
The word “Bible” means “Books”- PLURAL.
The original Greek word is “Biblia”, which is the plural form of “Biblion”. The Bible is a collection of books. No one in its pages ever said it was “one book” or that all “Scripture” is equal.
Jesus taught that some parts of “Scripture” are more important than others, and that His Words through His appointed Apostles are the most important. We need to stop listening to the Pharisee, and start listening to this:
The message of The 11 (“The narrow gate”)
“The eleven disciples went to Galilee”
“Where Jesus had told them to go”
They heard His voice and obeyed His will
Despite uncertainty down below
Jesus spoke to them at length
He wasn’t really a Tweeter
Only 3 of them wrote Scripture
Matthew John and Peter
“Feed my sheep” said Jesus, for though
“Heaven and earth will pass away”
I have the words of eternal life and
“My words will never pass away”
“Enter through the narrow gate”
The voice of Jesus through the eleven
Believe in Jesus “through their message”
And “eat from the tree of life” in heaven
Jesus commissioned the eleven
With “everything I have commanded you”
“Teaching THEM to obey” Jesus
And “THEM” means me and you !
“The command given by our Lord and Savior”
Is not a Pharisee speaking alone
It came rather “through your apostles”
Matthew Peter and John
If a Pharisee boasts proudly
Those men added nothing to my message
He doesn’t speak for Jesus
His words are nothing more than garbage
Bibliography
All “quotes” in “quotation marks” are from the writings of the Apostles Matthew John and Peter in the Bible, mostly the “Red Letter” words of Jesus. [Matthew, John, Revelation, 2 Peter – NIV]
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Yes, I am aware of those facts. What about Peter referring to brother Paul’s letters as Scripture? I ask again, what do you hope to accomplish here?
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Christopher,
“Scripture”…..
I’m glad you like the Apostle Peter’s words about those who are “beloved” in the third chapter of his second letter, 2 Peter 3.
Peter used the term 5 times in this one chapter – why focus only on the one time with Paul? Why not read the entire chapter 3, and spread the love?
2 Peter 3:1 agapetoi beloved
2 Peter 3:8 agapetoi beloved
2 Peter 3:14 agapetoi beloved
2 Peter 3:15 agapetos henon adelfos Paulos, beloved of us brother Paul
2 Peter 3:17 agapetoi beloved
The Apostle Peter’s reference to apostles in 3:2, and then use of the Greek word agapetoi throughout chapter 3, cut Paul down to size, and show that Paul has no special status or title as an apostle. Paul was simply “beloved,” just like everyone else Peter was writing to. God loves everyone.
(The NIV Bible translates the words differently, sort of “covering” for Paul to make it seem like Paul is the only “beloved” one, while the readers of Peter’s letter are simply “friends” – but that is faulty translation, as you can see from the above detail of the Greek.)
As I look at the whole chapter 2 Peter 3, in context, it seems to me:
Peter was saying that Paul was NOT an apostle, but simply “beloved” like anyone else;
Paul’s words were NOT the word of God,
NOT Prophecy,
NOT equal to the words of Jesus or the Prophets,
but rather,
simply some “scripture,” some “wisdom” like Proverbs that might be useful, regarding one specific subject, namely the “end times”. And, they should not be taken too seriously, since they could be easily distorted.
Can you provide some Biblical backup for a different view?
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You are all over the place. I ask for the 3rd time ~ “What do you hope to accomplish here?” I am not going to be persuaded to ignore the Apostle Paul and his words. Yes, Paul was an Apostle as was Barnabas (Acts 14:14) unless you throw out the writings of Luke too. If that’s the case, you just literally scrapped half the New Testament.
I don’t have to prove that Paul’s writings are anything more than Scripture because Scripture is all I ever said they were. But, Paul was an Apostle. Paul’s writings were Scripture. What is your point? What do you want? You are all over the place, I don’t know you and am not sure why you keep randomly posting your ravings on my blog. Maybe you should rant on your own space. Bless you.
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Christopher,
You insist “Paul was an apostle.”
Who appointed Paul an apostle, when, and where?
Who accepted, affirmed, or recognized Paul individually as “an apostle”?
Who gave Paul the title or role “Apostle to the Gentiles”?
Can you quote me chapter and verse please?
No, Luke’s editorial comments about “the apostles Barnabas and Paul” in Acts 14 don’t answer these questions – compare and contrast with Acts 1, 6, 9, 13 and 15. There were “prophets and teachers” in Antioch, NOT “apostles” [Acts 13:1] Anyway, Luke was not an apostle either, Luke never said that Paul was appointed an apostle, and Luke had no authority to make Paul an apostle.
(No, being “sent” doesn’t make one an “apostle” according to Jesus – regardless of what you modern dictionary definition may say. You dictionary is not the Word of God.) In the Council at Jerusalem, there is no hint at all that either Barnabas or Paul were ever recognized as “apostles.” [Acts 15]. You can open your Bible and see for yourself. I’m not wrong. These are facts about the text.
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I already cited Acts 14:14 ~ “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out…”Luke wrote Acts and therefore because he wrote Acts 14:14, he did call Luke an Apostle.
Yes, Acts 13:1 says there were prophets and teachers because Acts 13:1 was before they were sent by the Holy Spirit as Apostles in Acts 13:2.
Oh and since Peter clearly referred to Paul’s writings as Scripture, why didn’t he or anyone contradict Paul being called an Apostle. No one in all of Scripture does that…and yet you still insist on trying to persuade me otherwise. (LOL, good luck with that!)
There is no rhyme or reason to your argument and you seem to have no point whatsoever; except maybe to contradict something (anything) on my page. For the 4th time ~ “What do you hope to accomplish here?” What is your goal? I have no idea who you are, but if you aren’t going to answer my question, I will simply block your future comments and ignore you. No will intended, I just have better things to do with my time. Blessings.
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Luke called “Barnabas and Paul” “apostles.”
Luke never called Paul “an apostle” individually, and neither did anyone else in the New Testament- not Jesus not Peter, no one.
Are saying that Luke appointed Paul an apostle? When, where, who have Luke the authority to do that, and who recognized this appointment?
Please be specific, chapter and verse – when and where did Paul become an apostle? He wasn’t recognized as one in Acts 15.
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Please explain to me, because I cannot understand your logic….You admit that Luke called Paul and Barnabas apostles in Acts 14:14 and yet you deny that Paul was an apostle? I don’t need to prove the exact “how”,”when” and “who” of his commissioning. When was Barnabas appointed? I don’t know. I only know that Scripture recorded him as an apostle and that’s good enough for me. How do you believe that Barnabas and Paul were apostles and yet disagree that Paul was an apostle? That doesn’t make a lick of sense. Please explain…
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Christopher,
The question is…..
“What is an Apostle?”
Here is the answer based on the original sources:
The words and actions of Jesus and the Original Apostles in the text of the New Testament.
.1) Gospel of Mark (which is the teachings of the Apostle Peter, recorded by Mark.) – There is a time lag between being appointed and being sent
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him…” [Mark 3:13-14]
Three chapters later,
“Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.” [Mark 6:6-7]
.2) Gospel of Matthew is organized by theme, not necessarily in chronological order.
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon…” [Matthew 10:1]
Without any clear time reference, continuing on the theme of the Apostles, Matthew does record “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions…” [Matthew 10:5] Matthew never said that the Apostles were “sent out” immediately after being appointed. If we didn’t also have the clear record in Mark (and Luke,) it would be a fairly logical assumption that Jesus sent them out right away, but it would still be just an assumption. In this case, that assumption would clearly be wrong. The Twelve Apostles were absolutely NOT sent out right away after being appointed Apostles, according to Mark chapters 3 through 6, (and Luke chapters 6 through 9.)
So being an Apostle of Jesus involves being sent by Jesus, yes. But that isn’t the only meaning, or even the first and primary meaning. The first thing was “that they might be with Him” personally, together, for His entire earthly ministry, from the time of John the Baptist until Jesus rose to heaven. Jesus poured his life into the 12 Apostles for 3 ½ years very personally trained them to be the leaders of the church, and Jesus chose Peter as first among equals.
The NIV translation inserts the heading “Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas” for the passage Luke wrote in Acts 1:12-26]. The NIV headings were not part of the original text, and sometimes they can be misleading, but in this case I believe the heading is right on.
Jesus and the Original Apostles knew what an Apostle is better than anyone else in the world. Why is this a strange idea? Why do so many people frequently attack and tear down and dismiss the Original Apostles, particularly Peter, as if they were all incompetent, stupid, and wrong in so many ways, and they didn’t even know what an “Apostle” was? The answer to that question is, they have been listening to the voice of Paul, (a Pharisee and self-appointed “apostle”) rather than the voices of Jesus and the Original Apostles.
As we consider the question “what is an Apostle”, we should carefully listen to the words of the leader that Jesus personally appointed as first among the Apostles, and trained personally for 3 ½ years, Peter.
“It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” [Acts 1:21-22]
Neither Paul, nor James, nor Luke were with Jesus and the Apostles the whole time, so they were not qualified to be a “witness with the Apostles of Jesus’ resurrection”, which is what it means to be an Apostle. Matthias was qualified, appointed, and later recognized as part of The Twelve. No one except Judas ever lost his apostleship.
Responding to a question from Peter,
“Jesus said to them:
…you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” [Matthew 19:28]
We cannot prove that Judas was present at that time, and we cannot prove that Matthias was absent at that time when Jesus spoke those words. Even if Judas was physically present, as we all realize now, he was not a true follower of Jesus. And even if Matthias was physically absent at that particular occasion, Jesus is still establishing the basic qualification for having one of the twelve thrones as being “you who have followed me,” not someone who will follow Jesus in the future, like Paul, James, Luke or anyone else in the world.
The Apostle John recorded about the New Jerusalem,
“The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” [Revelation 21:14]
The Apostles are 12 faithful eyewitnesses who walked with Jesus during His entire earthly ministry, and Matthias is the 12th. That’s the short version of my definition of “what is an Apostle.”
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Actually, the question is not ~ “What is an apostle?” That seems to be your own question that you decided to ask and answer on my blog. Which is kind of funny because you do have your own blog to preach at. Not being mean, but seriously….I have asked you the same question over and over and you continue to ignore me to randomly rant on your own tangent.
Consider this. This is like my own little business on the corner of a market. You are like a random soap-box preacher that uninvitedly sets up your pulpit *in my store* and starts contradicting whatever it is that I am “selling”.
Anyway, that was just a fun little imaginative illustration. Please don’t be offended because I’m not going to read line by line what “YOUR” definition of an apostle is because I actually believe the Bible. Yeah, ALL of the New testament. Paul, Luke and James included with the other writers. Bless you bro, you are greatly beloved child of God (even if you are seriously deceived by doubting those NT writers are inspired by God) Have a great week! Talk to you tomorrow? 😉
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Beloved brother Christopher,
Your topic is “The Commandments of Jesus.”
According to Jesus, in His own words, which commandment is the Most Important one? The one in Deuteronomy 6:5, or the one in Leviticus 19:18?
(You can look in Matthew 22 and Mark 12 for the answer…..)
Your last post says QUOTE: “I actually believe the Bible. Yeah, ALL of the New testament……”
Yet, you didn’t quote a single verse of “The Bible” here….
In contrast, I have quoted numerous Bible texts, and even typed them out for you to read. Why not open your own Bible, and quote me some “scripture” to prove me wrong?
And
You are speaking of “The Bible” as if it is “one book” which is all somehow “equal”,
Yet
I raised the point earlier that the meaning of the word “Bible” is “BOOKS – plural” – not book – and you said you were “aware of those facts…”
No one in the pages of the Bible ever said that all scripture is equal, in authority, importance, or accuracy. Jesus specifically taught otherwise, for example in Matthew 22 and Mark 12…..
Are you aware where the term “New Testament” originated? It was coined by the second century heretic Marcion, who created his own new book, which contained nothing except 10 of Paul’s letters, and an abbreviated Gospel of Luke. Nothing else.
Jesus said “my words will never pass away” – not Paul’s words not the New Testament, not the Bible……
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Bro, read my blog carefully and you will notice how I wisely discern the difference between Old and New Covenant. Jesus’ words in Matthew 22 and Mark 12 were references to the requirement of the Law. Read my last blogpost about “The Kingdom Law”. Paul referred a lot to the fact that love was the fulfillment of the Law and John later confirmed what Paul wrote. (John wrote his writings after Paul) John and only John (out of the 4 “Gospel” accounts) recorded the New Covenant Commandment. John 13:34. So, all of your pointing back to the words of Jesus explaining the inferior requirement of the Law (which could not reveal God’s righteousness!) is a moot point. Yes, his words will never pass away, but not every instruction/word spoken to Jewish followers (who lived under the Mosaic Law/Old Covenant) were written to us. Yes, we can learn from them, but they are not our commands. Unless of course you are one of the still existing 1st century Jews who heard the words of Jesus in Matt.16:27,28 that some of them would not see death until the Son of Man cam in His Kingdom….(paraphrased for lack of interest in this conversation) Sorry, this is all of the top of my head within 3 minutes time…Oh and I was joking about that last part. Don’t be disturbed because those words were fulfilled in 70 AD. Be at peace and live freely in the New Covenant glory of the Lord Jesus Christ currently reigning on the Throne of the Church’s heart, which is Mt Zion! 🙂
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Christopher
So the command of Jesus,
speaking about what is most important,
quoting the Law of Moses,
doesn’t apply to YOU, because……
You worship Paul, follow Paul, listen to Paul first, and imitate Paul.
Here is a song of your god.
BOSS PAUL THE PHARISEE
[sing it to the tune of “Rapture” by Blondie]
I’m Boss Paul, the Pharisee
My hypocrisy’s plain for the world to see
I travel the land and travel the sea
to make a convert who is just like ME
“All have sinned” – we know that’s true
but it never means ME – it only means YOU
My sins are all theoretical
“I’m the worst of sinners”- but don’t ask where
To be more like Jesus is what some strive
except for me – I’ve already arrived
I’m the perfect model since the road to Damascus
What were Paul’s sins? Don’t ask us!
I justify everything I do
If I testify about myself it MUST be true
I’m the only man in all history
whose testimony doesn’t need two or three
If I did something it MUST be right
Don’t use the Scripture to shed any light
Don’t do as I say, do as I do
and then you can be a Pharisee too.
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Haha, I kind of wish that I knew the song you referenced because that might actually be funny. But, at the same time it’s also serious deception. What do you do with the One New Covenant Commandment in John 13:34? It wasn’t mentioned in Matthew, Mark or Luke (Luke apparently is also not inspired to you, so maybe that doesn’t count.) But, what revelation do you have concerning the profound words of Jesus in John 13-17 that none of the other 3 had? Any? If you don’t get out of the OT, Matthew, Mark and the writings of Rabbis, you will never see the glory of the New Covenant.
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No, I’m not throwing out Matthew, Mk and the OT. Don’t twist my words. I’m clarifying that John and Paul declared the New Covenant revelation (especially to the Gentiles). I don’t need to get out of those other books because I understand the audience they addressed. I love those books because I understand their context. I’m saying that “you” need to get out of those books and into John. John will open your eyes when you understand chapters 13-17. It’s like the Holy of Holies that Matthew only pointed too! Good luck getting one lick of New Covenant revelation out of those books without understanding John and the New Covenant.
Sorry bro, I can’t waste my time with this anymore. All I can say is that I will not throw out the writings of Paul or Luke or anyone else. But Paul is the main author in the NT that writes for the benefit of the believing Gentiles. There’s your New Covenant revelation 101. Bless you, have a great night!
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