THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN TRADITION

 

Chapter 13

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Christian Faith: God Chooses to Depend on Us

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Text

John 18:19-21 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

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Memory Verse

2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

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Introduction

God made Himself known through Jesus. And now Jesus makes Himself and the Father known through us.

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That is wild when you think about it - God chose to work through people. We are not neutral in this. You either say yes to Him and carry the message, or you reject Him, either directly, or indirectly by staying silent and not carrying the message. There is no middle ground.

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Presentation

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Strategy 1: Learn Jesus

 

John 18:21 “Ask those who heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

 

Jesus did not want His teaching to stop with Him. He expects us to pass it on.

 

Learning Jesus means discipleship. Without it, you end up in the ‘occultism of ignorance’ - making yourself the judge of truth instead of letting God’s Word judge you (John 8:31-32).

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Our job is to help others learn and practise it, so that they can help others too (2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:15). It is a chain reaction.

 

Strategy 2: Teach Jesus (Acts 2:42)

 

We teach:

 

(1) God’s salvation plan in Christ - how Jesus saves, period (Acts 4:11-12; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Gal. 4:1-5).

 

(2) The kingdom stories and parables - how Jesus is establishing His kingdom on earth right now (Matt. 13:1-52; Col. 1:12; Eph. 5:5).

 

(3) The example of Christ’s suffering and the early believers - so that we stay encouraged and do not quit (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Pet. 2:21-23; 4:1-2).

 

If your life does not change, you are not really preaching Christ. The test is transformation (Eph. 4:20-21).

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Strategy 3: Live Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2)

It is about producing good fruit that other people benefit from, not just you (John 13:17; 15:5, 8).

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If you are the only one eating your fruit, it is not really good fruit (1 John 3:17-19).

 

Real fruit brings relief and help to the people around you. That is what makes God look good, and He rewards it (Matt. 5:13-16).

 

Conclusion

Jesus did not preach to new people during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension.  He handed the job to His followers.

 

Even angels are not allowed to preach Christ. When God sends them, they give a message to a person, and that person tells others (Rev. 19:9-10; 22:8-9).

 

God chose to depend on humans for this. So make yourself available. It is a privilege and it matters.

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Evaluation Questions & Answers​

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1. In what way(s) are human beings significant in God’s salvation in Christ?

   • God chose us to be His messengers. He reveals Jesus through our lives and words. Salvation is finished in Christ, but people come to know it through us.

2. Mention the three strategies you have just learned about revealing Jesus.

   • Learn Jesus, teach Jesus, live Jesus.

3. How could the life of the early Christians teach Jesus?

   • Their changed lives, unity, generosity, and willingness to suffer for Christ showed people what He was like. They did not just talk about Him - they lived Him out.

4. Between you and your neighbour, who should the Christian life seek to bless first?

   • Your neighbour. The fruit we bear is meant to bring relief to others before ourselves. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” (Matt. 5:16).

5. When a believer or group of believers claims to know everything, what will they always be doing and want to do with others?

   • They will stop learning, start judging, and try to control others instead of serving them. That is the ‘occultism of ignorance’ - closed, proud, and unteachable.

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Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word. Give us grace to represent You well on earth by bearing the fruit of Your Spirit every day. Amen.