The Commands of Christ

The Commands of Christ

INTRODUCTION The idea for this lesson came from the July, 1961, issue of the "Herald of His Coming.? The paper lists 147 commandments, seven under each of the 21 headings. The Great Commission Prayer League (Number 1) lists 173 commandments of Christ taken from the Epistles and Revelation, whereas this lesson confines itself to the Gospels. This is a day of extreme lawlessness with many believing that Christ abolished or fulfilled the law and left us with one vague commandment - love.

1 REPENTANCE Repentance is twofold: turning from sin and turning unto God.

Matthew 4:17, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many. . . shall not be able."

Matthew 6:33, ?But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness..."

We are to believe the Gospel; believe in Christ and in the Father.

Mark 1:15, "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel." This was spoken by Jesus, not John.

John 14:1, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me." This is a definite command.

John 6:29, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent."

The new birth is the mysterious operation of the Spirit that converts.

John 3:7, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." Luke 10:20, "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

Matthew 12:33, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." Conversion is the only solution.

Each Christian is to be Spirit indwelt and empowered.

John 20:22, "He breathed on them and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost."

Luke 24:49, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power. . ."

The believer has no choice but to follow Jesus implicitly.

John 12:26, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me."

Luke 9:23, "If any man will come after Me let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

John 21:22, "Follow thou Me."

Luke 5:27, Christ to Matthew, "Follow Me."

The Christian’s life is to be characterized by prayer.

Luke 21:36, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always."

Luke 22:40, "Pray that ye enter not into temptation."

Luke 10:2, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest."

Luke 6:28, "Pray for them which despitefully use you."

The Saint of God is made great because he has faith in a great God Mark 11:22, "Have faith in God." This is absolutely essential.

John 20:27," not faithless, but believing." Away with unbelief.

Matthew 14:27," of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. "

John 5:39, "Search the Scriptures." - a plain command to every Christian.

John 15:20, "Remember the Word that I said unto you." Read, study and remember

Each Christian must daily let his light shine brightly.

Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.?

John 15:16, ", . . ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." Mark 5:19, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. "

Christians are to love and serve God completely.

Mark 12:30, ?Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

Matthew 4:10, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.?

Mark 12:17, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s."

Matthew 19:19, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Luke 6:31, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

Our lives are to be heaven-centered and not earth-centered.

Luke 12:15, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness"; This is stronger than advice. Matthew 5:42, "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." This is difficult when so many beggars are present.

Matthew 6:19, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth."

Beware of becoming a religious hypocrite.

Luke 12:1, "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."

Matthew 23:2-3, ". . . do not ye after their (Scribes’ and Pharisees’) works."

Let?s be like Christ in meekness, lowliness and humility.

Matthew 11:29, -Take Myyoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart"

Mark 10:44, "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. "

Luke 17:10, ". . . say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done. . . (only) . . .our duty. . ."

We are to love, forgive and forbear condemnation.

John 15:12, ". . . That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (fellow Christians). Matthew 18:10, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones" (children).

Matthew 5:24,;". . . first be reconciled to thy brother." Keep short accounts.

Luke 17:4, ?And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day . . . thou shalt forgive."

Luke 6:37, ?Judge not. . . condemn not. . . forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."

Jesus could set no lower standard for believers.

Matthew 5:48, ?Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven, is perfect.?

Luke 6:36, ?Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father is also merciful.?

This is not human wisdom but the wisdom from God.

Matthew 10:16, ?Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

Matthew 7:6, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine." This requires wisdom to know when to speak.

Each believer is to preach the Gospel where he is.

Mark 16:15, ?Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."

Luke 24:47, ?And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. "

John 21:15-17, ". . . Feed My lambs. . . Feed My sheep. . . Feed My sheep. . ."

We must be ready for this event momentarily.

Luke 12:41, "Be, ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." We are to be ready at any moment.

True glory is a glorious finish.

Matthew 24:13, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." CONCLUSION

John 14:23, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words." This is the true motive. Use these commands as an inventory to check your personal lives before God.

Jesus gives us these commands as a guide to follow to the strait gate.

REVIEW QUESTIONS