[Biblemat] X-SPAM- Honk If You Love Jesus

[kenneth Thomas]

"HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS"
NO, NO! HONKING WILL NOT DO!
OBEY IF YOU LOVE JESUS!
By Kenneth E. Thomas
Jesus Himself told how we show our love for Him and how others may know that
we love Him in language too clear to be misunderstood. "If you love Me, keep
My commandments...He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who
loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love
him and manifest Myself to him...If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;
and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with
him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words..." (John 14:15, 21,
23-24). This context may be used to show that what John wrote in (2 John
9-11), means more than just accepting the deity of Christ, although it
certainly involves that as well. It involves a willingness to "abide in all
of the teachings of Christ." John wrote "Look to yourselves, that we not
lose those things we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward" (2
John v-8). Jesus warned his disciples against "the leaven (doctrine) of the
Pharisees and Sadducees." Does one think for a moment that Jesus was warning
them of the fact that these folks were "Pharisees and Sadducees?" Probably
no one does, for He explained that He meant their "doctrine" (Matthew
16:11-12)? Those who "do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and who have
not God," are those who refused to order their religious lives by His
teaching as found in the New Testament, this body of truth, which is often
referred to as "the faith" (Acts 6:7; Jude 3; Acts 3:22-23; Romans 16:16-18;
Colossians 3:17; John 12:48).
Coming Into Fellowship With Deity 
Demands Obedience
Remaining In Fellowship With Deity And With Others Who Are, Also Demands
Continually Living An Obedient Lifestyle
The above truths were already well established in the little book of 1 John:
"That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you may also have
fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His
Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full
 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you,
that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with Him (God ket), and walk in darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He (God ket) is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
His (God’s) Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:3-7). 
One Cannot Walk In The Light Until 
One Comes Into The Light
Alien sinners, folks who have yet to surrender to Christ in gospel obedience
 are said to remain in darkness. They are in the devil’s kingdom which is
the kingdom of darkness. Hence Paul spoke to the Ephesians to whom we are
first introduced in Acts 19, as having been "in darkness" prior to having
obeyed the instructions of the gospel under the teaching of Paul, who
learned that these folk’s baptism was invalid, since they had been baptized
by John’s baptism after the great commission was in force (Acts 19:1-7;
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-47). 
The exact language of the inspired apostle addresses their condition before
and after they were scripturally baptized is as follows: "For you were once
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose
them" (Ephesians 5:8, 11). When Saul of Tarsus obeyed the gospel as a
penitent believer upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ, having been told
 "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins
.."(Acts 9:1-6; 22:16), he later wrote of himself and others who thus 
obeyed the gospel" of Christ that he had been, "...delivered from the power
of darkness (the kingdom of Satan ket) and translated into the kingdom of
the Son of His (God’s) love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). The blood that Jesus shed on
the cross of Calvary is not only associated with the church of Christ, but
also with His kingdom which is the same relationship. We are said to be 
reconciled to God in one body by the cross," when we come into the
relationship known as the church (Ephesians 2:13-16). The church of God
(Christ ket) was purchased with the blood of God (Christ ket) (Acts 20:28; 1
Peter 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In another epistle Paul informs us
that those who "obey not the gospel of Christ will be punished with
everlasting destruction..."(2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). Peter wrote: "For the
time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins
with us (the church- 1 Timothy 3:15) first, what will be the end of those
who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous one is scarcely
saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear" (1 Peter 4:17-18)? Paul
answered that by saying "those who obey not the gospel will be punished with
everlasting destruction..."
"Obeying The Gospel" Is Strange Sounding Language To A Protestant 
The Protestant is familiar with "Just accept Jesus as your personal Savior
and claim salvation by faith." He understands (because of what he has been
taught in Protestantism) such language as "just kneel and pray the sinner’s
prayer," etc., having been instructed in what can well be called "the
language of Ashdod;" meaning that such folks are not "speaking as the
oracles of God"(1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6). No alien sinner was ever
promised "salvation by faith in Christ alone," nor by praying any kind of a
prayer whatsoever! Does this shock you? It shocks many good honest religious
folks, for this is the language to which they have been subjected all of
their lives. Having accepted such, they did as told and felt good about it.
In fact, they have mistaken "conviction" and the good feeling associated
with conviction for conversion to Christ and later believing themselves to
be saved already, were "baptized" or went through a ceremony called baptism
to "join some denomination." It is only after the "Pastor" of some
Protestant church "baptized them," that they take the name of that group. It
may be Baptist-Methodist-Lutheran-Presbyterian, etc. Thus they begin what
they believe to be their life as a Christian promoting religious division by
wearing a name other than the one a true convert to Christ must wear which
is "Christian " (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; Acts 4:10-12; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12
 1 Peter 4:16) .
Many Will Get To The Judgment Never Being A Christian Believing Themselves
To Be Such! What A Great Disappointment That Will Be!
Proof of the above affirmation follows: One may enter the kingdom of Christ,
His blood bought church only by a "new birth" of the "water and of the
Spirit" (John 3:3-5). This new birth is culminated when the believer in
Christ turns from sin and error in repentance. Then upon his confession of
faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, such a one is immersed "into Christ
 and "into the one body" as he is "baptized for the remission of sins" (John
8:21-24; Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 8:36-37; Titus 3:5; Acts 2:38, 22:16;
Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-29).
One Is Baptized For The Same Reason 
Jesus Shed His Blood . He Shed His Blood
"For The Remission Of Our Sins"
(Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38)
As Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper or the memorial communion he took the
cup after supper and said the following: "For this is My blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew
26:27-28). Why did Jesus shed His precious blood? It was "for the remission
of our sins," for He had none. Why is the penitent believer commanded to be
baptized? For the same reason that Jesus shed His blood, "for the remission
of sins" (Acts 2:38). So if Jesus had to shed His blood before you and I
could be saved (and He did, Hebrews 9:22), then you and I have to be
baptized "for the remission of our sins" before we are saved. This final act
of the "new birth" of the water and Spirit, changes our relationship from
out of Christ and from out of His church or kingdom "into Christ, and into
His church or kingdom" (See again John 3:3-5; Titus 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-4;
Galatians 3:26-27). Paul wrote "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). 
Earlier I spoke of some who will stand before Jesus Christ at the judgment
believing themselves to be members of His church, when in reality, He will
be forced to say to many, "...I never knew you!" Following are the words of
the Master Himself and how sad they are to contemplate! Multitudes of good,
honest, religious, active, hard working folks to learn that since their
activities were not done by the authority of Jesus Christ, they were for
naught:
"Enter in at the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in through it. Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there
are few who find it...Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter
the kingdom of heaven (Christ’s church or kingdom ket), but he who does the
will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day
(judgment ket), ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name? And then
will I declare to them ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness! Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
I will liken him to the wise man who built his house on the rock..."
(Matthew 7:13-29). You will notice that these folks were never recognized as
belonging to Christ as citizens of His kingdom or members of His blood
bought church for they had not "obeyed the gospel" conditions for salvation
from alien sins. Saying Lord, Lord wasn’t sufficient. Joining some religious
organization wasn’t sufficient. Doing what they thought of as many wonderful
works was not sufficient. One must have "obeyed the gospel" or have "done
the will of God" in order to enter the kingdom of Christ. Multitudes are in
the same condition as those depicted in this context by the Lord Himself, to
whom He will say one day (unless they learn and obey the gospel before it is
too late) "I never knew you...depart from Me you who practice lawlessness." 
"...Save Yourselves
From This Crooked Generation"
"Work Out Your Own Salvation 
With Fear And Trembling"
(Acts 2:40; Philippians 2:12)
Both the alien sinner prior to conversion to Christ, as well as the child of
God who has been saved by "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24),
must act in keeping with the Lord’s will in order to become a recipient of
the free gift of God, remission of sins and the promise of eternal life.
Christ is "...the author of eternal salvation unto all who obey Him"
(Hebrews 5:9). Read (James 1:18-25; 2:14-26). 
 
The two passages in the heading above, indicate exactly what I have stated:
Both the alien sinner and the child of God must act in keeping with the
Lord’s will before they are "saved by grace through faith."
When Peter preached to a massive audience of Jews on the first Pentecost
after the death, burial, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ to the
Father’s right hand where He took up His reign over His kingdom and the
headship of His church (Acts 2:22-36), those convicted by Peter’s inspired
sermon asked, "...what shall we do..."(Acts 2:37). They were told: "Repent,
and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of your sins..."(Acts 2:38). Many did. To others the apostle
continued, saying: "With many other words he testified and exhorted them,
saying, save yourselves from this perverse generation" (Acts 2:40).
Paul admonished the brethren at Philippi in the following language: 
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only
 but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling" (Philippians 2:12). If language means anything at all, this
suggests in both cases to which we have called your attention, there is
God’s part and there is man’s part in this matter of salvation. God’s part
has provided the possibility for everyone’s salvation from sins by His grace
(Titus 2:11-14; John 3:16-17; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Ephesians
2:8-10). However, there are conditions on salvation from alien sins and
there are conditions of forgiveness of the Christian’s sins which man must
meet in either or in both cases or one has not accepted the grace of God
that brings salvation. One may "honk" as a claim of loving Jesus, but unless
one "obeys" one doesn’t truly love Jesus for He said, "If you love Me, keep
My commandments" (John 14:15). In 1 John 2:3-5, we read: "And by this we
know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says "I know Him,
 and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whosoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By
this we know that we are in Him"
The Great Commission In Action
The following cases of conversion to Christ after the "Great Commission" was
given by Christ shows conclusively that man must be active and not passive
in receiving the gift of God’s grace through the power of the gospel to be
saved. Study them closely after having read the following passages carefully
 (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:45-49).
1. Jews on Pentecost-(Acts 2:22-47).
2. Samaritans-(Acts 8:12).
3. Simon-(Acts 8:13).
4. Ethiopian-(Acts 8:26-39).
5. Many Old Test. priests-(Acts 6:7).
6. Saul of Tarsus-(Acts 9:1-6; 22:16).
7. Cornelius-(Acts 10:1-2, 43, 47-48; Acts 11:14).
8. Lydia-(Acts 16:14-15).
9. Philippian Jailer-(Acts 16:25-33).
No one was ever told to "just accept Jesus as your personal Savior." No one
was ever told to "kneel and pray the sinner’s prayer." No one was ever told
to "Join the church of your choice." No one was ever told when asked "what
must I (we) do?" that there was nothing they must do to be saved either from
alien or from their sins as an erring Child of God. Always men had to avail
themselves of the Salvation that is "in Christ" (2 Timothy 2:10; Ephesians
1:3), by complying with the terms of the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16-17; 1
Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 16:25-26; 1 John 1:9; Acts 8:22). 
Don’t just "honk your horn", obey the Lord’s will.
 
Kenneth E. Thomas
Pekin church of Christ
1451 Valle Vista Blvd.
Pekin, IL 61554
1 (309) 347-3582 - Office
1 (309) 347-5645 - Home
 
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