Welcome to Episode #123 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our third of eight episodes in our sixteenth mini-series, The Obedience of Faith. On this episode we’re going to explore what it means to be “Like the Teacher.”
Jesus’ dropped a Truth bomb in Luke 6:40 - A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. We’ll see as we progress, being a disciple and discipleship in general can be problematic and touchy in certain Christian circles of faith. For this reason, and many more, most just ignore being fully trained to be like Jesus, our teacher!
I’d ignore it as well, but I care about the Truth that Jesus gave us. That truth was witnessed by countless male and female disciples over the history of the church who endured persecutions and martyrdom to preserve and prolong the truth. This truth Jesus gave us leads to intimacy and into Union and Fellowship with God our Father through Jesus Christ.
In today’s post-modern church, many have given up even drinking the spiritual milk mentioned in Hebrews 5:11-14 - About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
The writer of Hebrews tells us what was considered spiritual milk in Hebrews 6:1-2 – Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
What is not preached in most churches today includes: Going on to Maturity in the faith, Repentance from dead works, Washings, Laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Now that I look at it, the only universal [I use this term very loosely] elementary doctrine taught in the church as a whole is faith toward God. I’d call 1% fat free milk. Others may consider it almond or coconut milk based upon negligible faith in the God of the Bible preferring rather faith in a god of their own understanding.
I believe we are living in what Jesus considered the age of the church of Laodicea. He instructed the Apostle John to write to that church in Revelation 3:15-19 –“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Jesus IS going to spit the church out of his mouth; it’s just a matter of time. At the time that happens, the church’s claim to fame will be I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing. Certainly not God or Jesus… That’s all the world needs is an intolerant God who claims there is only one way to Himself, through Jesus, in a world filled with gods, all with an equal voice and equal standing. In this world of tolerance, all religions are the same and lead to the same place. Disagree with that and be canceled. God and Jesus, you’re both canceled.
Jesus says of the church, you are wretched, piti
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