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Authentic Teaching

Ephesians 4:20-21
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. (NIVUK)

The Apostle Paul had just described people who do not worship the Lord as hard-hearted, and insensitive to His love (Ephesians 4:17-19).  In their own lives they replaced love by sensuality, holiness by impurity and gratitude by greed.  The Christian should be completely different because Jesus is so different!  He is the complete opposite of the corruption and sleaze of the world, the broken promises and sharp trading.  He is righteous and pure, faithful and true.  That is why it is not possible to get to know Jesus through the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:20-21) which, at best, is a pale reflection of Christian ethics, but without the power to keep on doing what is right.  The Jesus way is full of light, truth, tender-heartedness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

This radical change is experienced by those who come to know the real Jesus.  But not to the mystics (who imagine who Jesus might be), nor to the philosophers (who construct a Jesus out of what they would like him to be); but the Jesus of the Bible.  It was this straightforward teaching that Jesus authorised Paul to bring to the world.  The Apostle showed how all of God's promises are fulfilled in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20), and that His life, death, resurrection and ascension perfectly demonstrated the character to God and His love to a fallen world. True Christian belief is only centred on what the Bible says about Jesus.  

That is why so many religious discussions go around in circles - if Bible truth is not central.  Even valid testimony stories lose their cutting edge when separated from an unveiling of the real Jesus in Scripture.  The Christian challenge to the world is not to admire or reduplicate a believer's experience, but to find out who Jesus is from historically reliable evidence in the Bible and submit to His grace. That is why we need honest teachers to explain the truth which the Apostles have written; people who love and know the Lord, who have humbly learned to obey the Word and are willing to pass it on (2 Timothy 1:13-14).    

Churches without authentic Bible teaching are like mirages in the desert.  Christians who do not love, know and obey the Word are like actors on the stage.  The Christian life is so counter-cultural that we need to be taught the culture of heaven from the character of Christ.  Humility is necessary.  James 1:21 says, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."  Workplace Christian groups will do well to study God's Word, as well as pray, so that they can present their unbelieving colleagues with what the Bible actually says.  Explaining the truth about Jesus is the key to salvation, wisdom, discipleship, a holy lifestyle and peace with God.  Living that truth authenticates the message.

 

Prayer 
Dear Lord. Thank You for the Apostles' teaching which is recorded in the Bible for me to learn. Forgive me for my pride, which allows me to ignore the responsibility to receive from Your Word, preventing me from growing like Jesus. Please give me the humility to accept godly and faithful Bible instruction so that I may learn how to live authentically as a Christian and have a life-giving message for my friends and colleagues. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams