I have decided to follow Jesus, who do you follow and why? Many Christian churches today quote Paul over and over again but rarely Jesus. Why do you think that is?

Paul wrote a lot more than Jesus did (who actually didn't write anything). Paul offered the early churches practical advice, much of which is still valid and useful.

I do believe Jesus' two greatest commandments are very much talked about in churches today, so am not sure what you are saying with your question.

What I'm saying is this, Paul (a human subject to human error) taught that we are no longer under the law for example people will tell you we don't have to keep the Sabbath anymore because we are no longer under the law. Jesus said emphatically in his sermon on the mount that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it and in Matthew 5:19 Jesus says, "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Guess who teaches men that we no longer need to keep the commandments? That's right. Compare every man's word with Jesus' word if you want to be following the true teachings of God and not man. This lie of Paul's has been perpetuated for 100's of years but the truth is now finally surfacing. Don't be like the followers of Korah (see Numbers 16) who followed man and not God and the earth opened up and swallowed them alive.
16:31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.

Are you a Witness?

Jesus also said that now there are only two commandments, love God and love others.

I am not a Jehova's wittness, I do not belong to any man made doctrine or denomination, I believe in Gods word only. What Jesus said was that all the Law and the Prophets are summed up in those two commandments. If you Love God you will find out what pleases Him and do that. If you love your neighbor you will treat him the way you want to be treated. Please read all of Matthew 5 and ask God for His direction and don't trust me or any person trust Him the Creator only. Remember that Abel found out what pleased God and God accepted his gift where as Cain did not find out what pleases him. He could have found out but he decided to get angry instead. If you want to know what pleases Him ask Him. God speed his love to you.

P.S. I love your signature comment about animals. So True!!

I've been a Christian since before I was born.

Because of Christ's sacrifice, we no longer live under the "don't"s of the Ten Commandments, but can now rejoice in the "do"s of loving God and loving others.

The issue is that if you don't accept the complete teachings of the bible, you then pick. What parts of the bible you will accept and not.

You are rejecting early writers who lived with Jesus. Also the words in the bible are not what Jesus wrote, it is what he said, and was some 10 to 20 or more years latter written down by man. So why would the words the bible says are from Jesus be any more true or not true, if you want to blame human error.

The law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth CAME through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

When you read the Word it is important to remember to put everything into context. We are instructed to rightly divide the Word of truth. I believe this means to understand the difference between what is written under the law and what is written to the church today under Grace.

The reason SOME preachers may preach a lot from Paul is because his epistles were written directly to the Church today. And make no mistake about it... what Paul taught came directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. However to understand any book in the bible... it must be put into context. Who is the book written directly to? Why was it written? And in the gospels... make sure you understand WHO Jesus is talking to. Is he speaking to the rich young ruler who came to the Lord with the law and all the works he had done? Or is he speaking to Zacchaeus who is a sinner in need of grace and receives it... no strings attached. Because Jesus responds totally differently to them. Rightly divide the Word of truth... you won't understand the Bible if you don't.

As far as the sermon on the mount... come on!! Read it... there isn't person on the PLANET that can possibly keep it. That is God's law in the fullest extent. It goes beyond the 10 commandments. No longer is Jesus saying just murder is wrong.. no... hating is the same thing. Adulty is wrong but we find out LUST is the same thing. SEE That is GODs perfect standard. And we can't do it. And God knew we couldn't. But Jesus didn't STAY on the Mount. He came down off that mount and what was the first thing he did? He touched an UNCLEAN leper. Do you know how many laws that leper broke being there? Did Jesus FREAK out and tell him all the laws he had just broken? No! In fact Jesus TOUCHED the leper. Because only Jesus can touch a unclean thing and make it clean. Because Jesus is full of Grace and Truth and mercy. AND only after he rose from the dead did the gospel of Grace come completely understood. And Jesus himself gave Paul that very gospel. Paul didn't make it up. In fact if you are so big into what Jesus has to SAY check out what he DID say to Paul in Acts. Just a thought

Thank you for your comments. I am not saying we are not saved by grace. What I'm saying is that too many people today use the false premise that we no longer are required to keep the law. We are required to keep it as well as humanly possible. If you only knew how many people say to themselves, I can look at this porn, it's not hurting anyone, I'm not under the law anymore. Also the Jews are being kept from believing because they know better than to rebel against God's laws. As far as picking and choosing which scriptures I like, that is exactly what I am saying not to do. Far too many pick the false teaching that we are not under the law and disregard the rest. I do not wish to debate with any of you. I just wanted to know if there was anyone else out there that has been given this knowledge about the false teachings. You have every right to believe as you wish.

But we aren't required to keep the Law any longer. We are not under the Law. If you believe that, you are totally missing the point of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

These are the scriptures I was led to after reading your email: John 10 - his sheep follow him (Jesus) because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Ezekeil 2:7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 5:43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

Paul tells his followers in 1 Cor 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul says all things are lawful in 1 Cor 10:23 "all things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient..."

Rev 22:12 behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.

Yes it is true we can not be saved by our works alone, we need the blood of the lamb because we are human but we are to strive for perfection and ask for forgiveness when we fail. We are not to use Paul's teachings as an excuse to do what ever we want.

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other...

Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Listen was the history of the world divided by Paul's life? BC & AD
Were the prophecies about Messiah fulfilled by Paul?
Did Paul die on the cross for our sins?
Yet we continually quote Paul and Peter because it is a less demanding religion. Do not toss out Jesus' teachings just because they hard. Strive to serve Him the best you can and don't let the enemy deceive you anymore. (I say we because I was deceived as you are now about the law issue) All your arguments are not new to me. I embraced them just as you do, just as most Christians do. It is a hard thing to accept and took me years and tears and much praying to finally believe the truth.

Deuteronomy 30:19... I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Brothers and Sisters, don't you know the voice of the enemy, the deceiver who came to rob and kill? When I tell you Jesus said we are still under the law, who do you think it is that is whispering in your ears, "Did Jesus really say that?"

Genesis 3:1 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’? ”

Did God really say that? Yes He did.

I follow my intelligence and my conscience.

I follow my intelligence and my conscience.
Same here.

I follow my intelligence and my conscience.
And that is what Christians are to do.

DD-
Did you know below are verses written directly to the church:

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound.Romans 5:20... Read it again. Law entered, so our sin my abound. WOW! That is why the law was given in the first place. Not to keep mankind "good".

Now how can we keep the law when it was given that sin might get worse in our lives? That was the whole purpose... to make people come to the end of themselves and realize they cannot keep the Law. But that isn't all the Bible says... get this:

the STRENGTH of sin is the Law. 1 corinthians 15:56
Read that again!! It is very plain English AND guess what? That was written directly to YOU or directly to the Church. The Law is what gives sin strength! Amazing. Bet you haven't heard a Pastor preach that before.And those two verse were written TO the church today.

One more thing... Jesus was NOT speaking to Christainity.. not to Christain churches... not to SAVED people in the gospels. ( mathew, mark, luke and John) He hadn't yet died or rose. He came to the Jewish people under the law. But those words he said were not written directly to the Church or body of Christ today. OH it is for us to read and understand... but it isn't TO us. This is where we need to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the WORD OF TRUTH. Don't mix law with grace... try it you will like it and the Bible will begin to make more sense to you.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Jesus said to teach all the nations everything that He taught them. All nations. This is the great commission. Haven't you read the gospels?

John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

One flock, one shepherd, that means Jew and Gentile.

All the arguments I have been hearing are the same arguments I used to tell myself. The truth is God has called us to keep his commandments. These are His words not mine. If you think your arm is long enough to box with God then continue by all means.

Yes we are saved by grace, yes we are still to keep His commandments. It's not complicated.

Yes we are saved by grace, yes we are still to keep His commandments. It's not complicated.
But the reason why is different because of Jesus. We keep them out of love (NT) for God and our neighbor, not out of fear (OT) of God's wrath and punishment.

Yes we are saved by grace, yes we are still to keep His commandments. It's not complicated.

Seriously? Read what you just said... it doesn't make good sense. You say we are saved by grace which is unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor. But then you turn around and say BUT we still keep his commandments. Well? Which is it. You can't have it both ways. It is either by grace or it is by keeping the law.

In Romans Paul tells us the Law is the MINISTRY OF DEATH. That is a big deal. Putting yourself under law is the ministry of death?! Take that in... don't just read over it. Then he goes on to say that the strength of sin is the law. WOW. Again... HUGE statement some Christians don't really take a look at. Paul is clear that the reason the Law was given to mankind in the first place is to show man he can't do it. He needs a savior. That and ONLY that is the reason the 10 commandments were given. So why would the Lord die on the cross, become SIN for us, take the curse for us.. only to put us back under it. That's nuts.. and he didn't and if he did it wouldn't be Grace.

Now don't get me wrong. Sin is still sin and God hasn't gone soft on it. But RIGHT believing produces RIGHT living. However putting yourself under the law only keeps you in sin. Hey... I didn't say it the Bible did.

Incidentally, when is the last time you love the Lord you God with all your heart soul and mind and then loved your neighbor as yourself? Because I don't know about YOU but I don't do that everyday. And when I think on doing that... guess what? I fail. However when I think on what the Lord has done for me and how much he loves me I get my mind off me and the Holy spirit takes over and it all comes so naturally. I find myself loving the Lord and people. See? Right believing produces right living. All the Law can do is point you to YOU and how you can't do it. Grace points you to JESUS and how he DID do it for you. Law points to self... Grace points to Jesus.

Grace is unmerited, undeserved favor. That is how we are saved... that is how we stay saved. If you add keeping his commandments to that it is the same as me telling you I am giving you a FREE Porsche and you only have to pay $100 bucks a month for it. Like I said... you cannot have it both ways.

I know all about that way of thought, I embraced it for years but no more. We are forgiven for our sins because we are not perfect but we are still to try to follow God's laws and commandments and when we fail we are to turn to him for forgiveness. If there are no laws then there is no sin and if there is no sin there was no reason for a sacrificial lamb to die for our sins. You have been duped like most Christians today. You say it doesn't make good sense, these scriptures are not mine but God's. Are you saying His scriptures make no sense? You need to set aside all the man made school of thought and go to the Creator and ask him for the truth and also eyes that see and ears that hear.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

I'm glad you love God. You can have it both ways however, if you love God you keep his commandments and when you fail because you're human he forgives. But how can He forgive if we don't repent and how can we repent if we believe there is no sin or no law?

1 John 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

I'm glad you love God. You can have it both ways however, if you love God you keep his commandments and when you fail because you're human he forgives. But how can He forgive if we don't repent and how can we repent if we believe there is no sin or no law?
You say it does not make good sense, these scriptures are not mine but God's. Are you saying His scriptures make no sense? You need to set aside all man made school of thought and go to the Creator and ask him for the truth and also eyes that see and ears that hear. -
1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1 John 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

We keep his commandments not because we have to, but because we want to, Heven can not be earned, that is the entire message of Christ and the bible.

they were not adding keep his commandments as a requirement, just that it will happen, since if you are not following his commandments then one can tell that you are not part of Christ.

You seem to either be trying to argue or misunderstanding what they wrote, they did not write you had to do both, they said you will do both because of the grace.

We do not need salvation just because of what we do, we need it because of the sin we inherited from Adam, all mankind is not saved because of the sin of Adam. At repentance it is that sin we are lifted from. After accepting him, we are not under the law, so our sin can not separte us from Christ and the Father. We ask forgiveness for the things we do wrong, because we are sorry for them, and because we want to remove this from our life. Not to allow salvation, that is given once when we accept Christ, but the sin in our lifes can effect our blessings

Yes by George you've got it, we keep the law not in order to be saved but because He told us to, that is why we are still to keep them, not to be saved but because we are to be obedient children.

One day a little boy who was feeling a bit neglected by his busy father went up to his dad and asked, "If I'm real good and if I follow all your rules and not hit my sister, will you spend some time with me and love me like you did before?"

The father held his little boys face in his hands and told him, "son I love you no matter what, when your good and even when you do things that are bad, don't you know that?"

The little boy responded, "you love me even when I don't follow the rules?"

"Of course son, I love you just because you are mine and I will always love you."

Later the same little boy went out to play and he told all his friends how much his dad loved him and he was so happy. Then a bully who lived down the street heard about this and he came up to the little boy and pretended to be his friend. The little boy was happy to see the bully finally being nice to him. The bully told him, "Wow, you're so lucky, now you don't have to follow any rules anymore, you can do what ever you want!"

The little boy thought about this and decided to go ask his dad about it. "Daddy, since you love me no matter what then I guess I don't have to follow your rules anymore."

"Son, you still need to follow the rules because the rules were put into place to keep you happy and safe and also to keep those you live with and play with happy and safe." "Think about how it would be if there were no rules, yes you could steal your sisters stuff and then lie about it but others could also steal from you and lie about it, you see?"

The little boy did see, "Gosh Dad, I never thought of that, I don't want people to steal from me or lie or any of that stuff." "I guess that bully down the street was wrong again."

The Dad smiled and asked his son, "Oh, I see, it was the enemy that told you, you didn't have to follow the rules anymore, why would you listen to him, he's never wanted anything but to do you harm?"

"He was acting so nice and everthing but from now on I'm only going to listen to you."

You might think that everything written in the book we call the bible is all God's words but it isn't. The fact is there are holy scriptures and then there are man's words. If you've ever read any of the book of Job you can see that Job's friends had a lot to say to Job and they even quoted scripture and though the scripture was right what did God have to say about their words at the end of Job?

Job 42:7 And it was so that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two friends for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath. Yes their words were in the Bible but no they were not right.

There are people who claim to be sent by God but are not. Jeremiah 23:21 I have not sent these prophets yet they ran, I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied. This continues to be true. Paul claimed that God sent him but some of his teachings conflict with God's teachings and many children of God have been confused, tricked and deceived by his letters. Some of his teachings are correct but not all. His letters are merely a history of the early church, every word out of his mouth is not God breathed. This is the crucial point I've been making. It needs to be said. God bless you all and God give you eyes that see, ears that hear and a heart willing to accept the entire truth and only the truth.

The thing is, we don't "have to" (to quote DawnDawn) follow the rules any more. The obligation and requirements no longer exist because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice for all of us for all time, so we no longer have to make regular sacrifices for sin like in the OT.

We follow the rules because that is how we show God we love Him and how we thank Him for sending His Son..

That means the little boy in your story will obey his father's rules, not out of fear and because he has no choice (and knows he will be punished if he messes up), but because he loves his father and wants to thank him for keeping him safe.

DD,

When you know who you ARE in Christ and you have received his GIFT of righteousness, sin doesn't reign in your life. Jesus does. No rules are needed. When we BELIEVE right... we LIVE right. The STRENGTH of sin.. is the law.

Thanks for pointing out just what I'm talking about. I'm glad you keep His laws out of love but there are some people who use Paul's false statements that we no longer have to keep the law as an excuse to sin. Satan asked Eve, "Did God really say that?" "Did God say you couldn't eat from that tree?" "Did God really say you had to follow His Law?" Paul said no, Jesus said yes. If you disagree with what Jesus said but accept what Paul said then I know who your God is.

True or False:
In all your ways acknowledge Paul and he will direct your path.
In the beginning was Paul and Paul was with God and Paul was God.
Paul is the bread of Life. Take eat this is Paul’s body, drink, this is Paul’s blood.
Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Paul?
Yes that is ludacris but you see the point I’m making. If Paul is not Messiah, and he is not God nor the son of God, why then do Christians put his teachings above Y’shua’s?

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
What does it mean to believe in him? Does it just mean to believe he exists? Is it enough just to believe that yes he is the Messiah, the Holy Son of God, One with God, is that enough? What about believing in what he said? Isn't that part of it. I mean if you believe he is who he says he is, why not believe in what he says as well?
Read the Red Lettering in the Gospels
Read the Red Lettering in the Gospels
Read the Red Lettering in the Gospels

I would like to add that Satan is working overtime trying to villainize anyone who is revealing the truth about the letters of Paul. He is adept at confusion and his main goal is to make you doubt the truth. He has been using the Islamic religion to do this as they have said that Paul's words are lies. Satan might fool some but those who are truly God's children will know the truth. Just because I have revealed the truth about Paul's letters not being God breathed does not mean I am in anyway connected with Islam or the crazies trying to denounce God's word. God's word is perfect. It is man's word that I have trouble with.

Oh snore... this post is so absolutely boring. Why OP, do you ask a question like this? Are you taking a survey? Are you out to try and change people's views so they see things the way you do? I really don't think you are accomplishing much of anything here... at least in my opinion you aren't.

This thread is closed.