Myth, 7

~ The “Jesus Is All I Need” Myth ~

Introduction  ~  It is easy to quickly assume that all I need is Jesus Christ.  This concept may sound good and imply that we are only concerned about the essentials.  In reality this is not what the Word of God teaches. 

The Trinity  ~  First, recognize that Jesus Christ is one member of the Triune God.  The Holy Spirit and God the Father are critical aspects of salvation and the Christian life. While John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit point us to Jesus Christ, Jesus points us to our Father in heaven.  For example, “‘In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.  …  But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do.  Arise, let us go from here’” (John 14:2, 6-7, 31).  “And Jesus said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me?  Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?’” (Luke 2:49). 

The Church  ~  Second, Jesus Christ established His Church for many reasons.  One very important element of the Church is to build up each member in the faith.  Christianity is different from religions in that it is about a relationship with the risen Christ.  It also includes living in community with other believers.  “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  …  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:20, 26).  “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Creation  ~  Third, creation itself rebukes this concept.  Early in the Bible we see during the creation that God understands that man cannot live effectively isolated from other human contact and that it is good to have relationships.  “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.  …  Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh’” (Genesis 2:18, 24).

Christ’s Teachings  ~  Finally, it is significant that in all the recorded teachings of Jesus Christ He never taught or hinted that He was all we need—rather He repeatedly emphasized the community of believers.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Fear God, 132

~ The Fear of God Brings Happiness ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “Happy is the man who is always reverent [walks in the fear of the Lord], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity” (Proverbs 28:14-15).

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Then & Now

~ Remember Who You Once Were and Who You Now Are ~

Scripture  ~  “Remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.   But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13). 

Additional Scripture  ~  “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Quote  ~  “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”   – John Newton

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .