Jesus Christ was falsely arrested for a crime he did not commit. Those who arrested him took him to the high priest’s house. And the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. Then Jesus was led away to the council of the chief priests and scribes who began to question him as to who he said he was, if he was the Christ (the Messiah they had been awaiting). Yet he did not give a direct response, but he referred to himself as the Son of Man. So they asked him if he was the Son of God. And he said, “You say that I am.” And so they sought to accuse him.
And then he was brought before Pilate, who found no guilt in Christ. And then he was sent to Herod, and Herod also did not find Jesus guilty of the false charges being brought against him. So, Pilate intended to release Jesus after he had punished him (see Luke 22:47-71; Luke 23:1-17).
So, who were Jesus’ accusers? They were the Jews, right? They were Jesus’ own people – his brothers (family), neighbors, friends, fellow Jews, the rulers in the temple of God and those who taught the Holy Scriptures. And who said that they found no guilt in Jesus? They were the secular rulers of the people, not God’s Holy people, right? Correct me if I am wrong here. And who insisted that Jesus be put to death? Who was insisting on him being crucified? Was it not the chief priests, the scribes, the rulers in the temple of God and the people of God at that time who were the Jews?
Luke 23:18-25 ESV
“But they all cried out together, ‘Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas’— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.’ But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.”
Do you realize that many who call themselves Christians and who say they believe in Jesus Christ are doing this to Christ today? How? What did Jesus say to Paul (then Saul) when he was persecuting the Lord’s servants and witnesses? He said to him, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” And that is not the only time in the NT Scriptures where we are taught that if we mistreat the Lord’s true servants and witnesses that it is as though we are doing it to Christ (see Acts 26:9-18; Matthew 18:1-7; Matthew 25:31-46).
So, when professing Christians persecute the Lord’s true servants and witnesses for doing what the Lord has said and what the Scriptures teach that we all must be doing, as his followers, it is the same as calling for Jesus Christ to be crucified all over again. And do you realize that this is happening much in today’s modern market-driven “churches” and among what seems to be the majority of those who call themselves Christians? And do you realize that they are being incited to do so by their religious leaders?
Yes, this is truth! For many people who call themselves Christians, at least here in America, are being incited and encouraged and manipulated into rejecting a large portion of the truth of the gospel and to believe the lies of the enemy, instead, which are blended in together skillfully with the truth. For many are being taught that if anyone teaches that we must repent of our sins and that we must follow Jesus in obedience and that we must live holy lives, they are to regard them as teachers of “works salvation.”
But some of them are okay with teachings on repentance and walks of obedience to the Lord and on holy living. But if anyone teaches what Jesus and his NT apostles taught – that if we walk in sin, and if we do not obey our Lord, and if we do not walk (in conduct, in practice) in righteousness, that we will not inherit eternal life with God – then the people believe that those who teach such are being legalistic, that they are self-righteous, uncaring, unloving, and unsympathetic, and that what they are teaching is false.
But not only are they being persuaded to reject the truth of what Jesus and his NT apostle taught with regard to our salvation and eternal life, and how that is impacted by how we live, but they are being persuaded to reject the servants of the Lord who are sharing those truths with the people. But not only that, and this is where this parallels this story even more, they are exonerating and they are embracing and they are releasing of all guilt those who are teaching them lies and who are leading them astray. For they want the lies over the truth because the lies don’t confront them in their sins.
But no matter how many times they reject the truth in favor of the lies, and they reject those who are telling them the truth while they are embracing those who are telling them lies, it does not alter the truth of God’s word. The truth is still the truth whether or not people believe it. And so when Jesus said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one DOING the will of God the Father, that truth still stands. So if you are walking in sin and not in obedience and not in holy living, you will not enter into God’s heaven regardless of what you profess.
[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
My Heart’s Desire
An Original Work / June 29, 2013
Based off Rm. 10; Lu. 9:23-26; Ep. 4:20-24
Loved Ones, Oh, my heart’s desire
Is that you might come to Jesus.
Many appear zealous for God,
But they do not trust in Him.
They have not submitted to the One
Who saved them from their sins;
Not forsaken their sins,
Nor have they obeyed their King.
The word of the Lord is near you:
The word of faith we’re proclaiming:
That you must confess your faith
In Jesus as your Lord and King:
Believe in Him as your Lord,
And follow Him where’er He leads.
Share the gospel; be a witness,
And meet others’ needs.
Beautiful are the feet of those
Who bring the good news of Jesus:
Anyone who would come to Him
Must deny himself today;
Die to sin and self, and
Let the Spirit transform you in heart;
Put on your new self in Jesus,
Yielding to the cross.
https://vimeo.com/115643303
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