The Basic Teaching Of Christ That Means Eternal Life
Lesson - 1F


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Jesus taught and preached God's word or Message, that is the Good News or the Gospel of the kingdom of God because this is the very purpose why God sent Him. The Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that the Gospel is not His own doctrine or teaching but it is the doctrine of God who sent Him because it is the will of the God, the Father in heaven, that must be followed to order enter the kingdom of God in heaven. Thus, whoever listens to His teachings and believes in God, who sent Him, is assured of eternal life.

Listening to Christ's Teachings

1F.1   What was God's command to people when He introduced His Son?

In Matthew 17:5, this is written:

He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Matthew 17:5, RSV)

God in a voice from the cloud, introduced Jesus, saying:

  • "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

The Lord God wanted people to listen to His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
 

1F.2    How could anyone listen to Christ Jesus, when He is already in heaven?

In the following verses these are written:

and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2Tim 3:15, NKJV)

"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of  His disciples, which are not written in this book;   but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:30-31, NKJV)

The teachings of Christ Jesus are written in the Holy Scriptures. These are written so people may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing one may have eternal life in His name.  That is why studying the teaching of Christ Jesus is like listening to Him.


1F.3   Why should people listen to the teachings of Jesus, according to John the Baptist?

In John 3:32-34, this is written:

32. He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them!
33. Those who believe him discover that God is true.
34. For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit. (NLT)

John the Baptist said, that people should listen to Christ's teachings because. . . . . .

  • Jesus speaks God's words,
  • Jesus tells what he has seen and heard,

John also said "But few will believe what Jesus tells them".
And, to those few who will come to believe in the teachings of Jesus. . . . . 

  • They will discover that God is true.

Jesus is the Son of God, He speaks the words of God, for He is sent by God. He words and deeds are written in the Holy Scriptures so people may come to believe and have eternal life in His name.

The basic teaching of Christ that means eternal life

1F.4   Why should people believe in Christ's teachings?

In John 8:40, Jesus said this about Himself:

"But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. . . . . . . . . . . (John 8:40, NKJV)

People should believe in the teachings of Jesus . . . . . 

  • because it is the truth which Jesus heard from God.


1F.5  
Why should believing in the teachings of Christ very important?

In John 12:44, 49-50, this is written:

44. Jesus declared publicly: Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the one who sent me,
49. For I have not spoken of my own accord; but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and what to speak,
50. and I know that his commands mean eternal life. And therefore what the Father has told me is what I speak. (NJB)

Jesus wanted people to understand that believing in Him means believing in the Father who sent Him.  

  • Thus, believing in the teachings of Jesus means believing in the commands of the Father.

Why are the teachings of Jesus, about the commands of the Father, very important?

  • because the commands of the Father means eternal life.
     

1F.6   What, then, is the "Basic Teaching of Christ" that would mean eternal life for its believers?

This is what Christ said in His prayer to the Father in heaven,
In John 17:1 & 3, these are recorded in the Holy Bible:

1 After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you.
3 And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent. (TEV)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

1WHEN JESUS had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You.
3
And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent. (Amplified Bible)

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly and unambiguously said this basic truth about God and Himself, when He prayed to the Father in heaven. . . . .

And Eternal Life means . . . .

  • to know you (the Father), the "Only True God", 

  • and to know "Jesus Christ" whom You (the Father) sent.

Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ In plain and understandable words expressed this basic truth about God and Himself. That is, the Father is the only true God and Jesus was sent by the Father. Knowing this truth means eternal life for believers.

Note: Because of a preconceived notion about a different God and another Jesus, many people cannot accept the clear and unambiguous words of Jesus, thus, in effect they reject His words and refuses to accept His teachings.
 

On rejecting and refusing Christ's teachings

1F.7   What is the warning of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who rejects Him and refuses to accept His teachings?

In John 12:48, Jesus gave this warning:

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, (New American Bible)

The same verse in another version of the Bible:

Whoever persistently rejects me and refuses to accept my teachings<bb> has something to judge him -- the very message I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (Williams New Testament)

The Lord Jesus Christ explained it clearly, that those who rejects and refuses to accept His teachings will be judged or condemned on the last day by the very message that He have spoken. And this is Christ's message or teaching that will judge them:

And Eternal Life means . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  • to know the the Father as the "Only True God", 

  • and to know "Jesus Christ" whom the Father has sent.  (John 17:1&3)

Thus, whoever rejects Christ and refuses to accept His teaching means condemnation or judgment on the last day.

1F.8  What is the condemnation or judgment for those who rejects Christ and refuses to accept His teachings?

In the following verses, these are written:

 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, NKJV)

 And the devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever  (Rev.20:10, NKJV).

The judgment is very clear, in flaming fire God will punish . . . . . .

  • Those who do not know Him (God).
    • They are those who refuse to accept the basic teaching of Christ Jesus with the very message which says  "eternal life means to know you, the only true God, . . . . . . . . . ." (John 17:3). They are those who refuse to accept the truth that knowing the Father in heaven as the "only true God" means eternal life.
  • And, those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    • They are those who refuse to accept the teachings of Christ which is the gospel of the kingdom. Please note that the purpose God sent Jesus is to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43). The Gospel of Christ is power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

Very clear indeed that punishment, in the lake of fire and brimstone, awaits those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

____________________

God wants people to listen to His beloved Son. The teachings of Christ Jesus are written in the Holy Scriptures (2Tim 3:15), thus studying the teaching of Christ Jesus is like listening to Him. John the Baptist also said that people should listen to Jesus because He  speaks God's words (Jn.3:32-34) which is the truth He heard from God (Jn.8:40).  Thus, believing in the teachings of Jesus means believing in the Father whose commands mean eternal life  (Jn.12:44, 49-50). Because of a preconceived notion of a different God and another Jesus, many people cannot accept the clear and unambiguous words of Jesus, thus, in effect they unwittingly reject Him and refuses to accept His teachings. Clearly, those who rejects Christ Jesus and refuses to accept His teachings will be judged or condemned on the last day by the very message that Christ's have spoken (John 12:48). And, the judgment is very clear, "in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ". These shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thess.1:8-9), And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever  (Rev.20:10).

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