The Teachings of Jesus (TOJ)

GWH · Dec 31, 2024

TOJ #148: Faith in/love for God is manifested by loving behavior toward people. [MT 25:31-46] The evidence of saving Faith is loving behavior. {JN 13:35, 15:12-13} It is the fruit of the Spirit {JN 15:4-8} (also see GL 5:22-23), rather than ability to work miracles (MT 24:24). This love is the basis for essential unity among all Christians {JN 15:17, 17:20-23}. Faith without love is counterfeit (JM 2:17). Satisfying GRFS is manifested by any type of personality (introverted, extroverted, etc.) as long as one is loving, but no good work merits salvation (EPH 2:8-9), because no one is perfect (PHP 3:12) except God (HB 5:7-9; TOJ #106).

GWH · Jan 2, 2025

At this point I will include teachings from Mark and Luke that apparently occurred before the events in Matthew 26.

TOJ #149: Inner motive is the basis for God’s judgment. [MK 12:43-44] God knows our heart or thoughts (PR 16:2, HB 4:12). The point is not necessarily that the rich should become poor, but that they should share God’s blessings to help the poor so that no one is destitute (2CR 8:13-15). See TOJ #117 & the next TOJ.

TOJ #150: God’s judgment is just. [LK 12:47-48] God judges souls on the basis of what they freely choose to do with the opportunities they had to LGW and satisfy GRFS. These opportunities are symbolized by the talents in the Parable of the Talents. {MT 25:14-30} (See TOJ #149.)

TOJ #151: The result of Sin is death. [LK 13:2-9] Paul also taught this (in RM 6:23). The parable bears a resemblance to the incident when Jesus cursed the fruit tree (TOJ #123, cf. #137).

TOJ #152: The eternal result of Sin is misery/hell. [LK 16:19-28] This consequence is logical and just (TOJ #102).

Pilgrimshope · Jan 2, 2025

GWH said:

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:

and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭

GWH · Jan 4, 2025

At this point I will include teachings from Mark and Luke that apparently occurred before the events in Matthew 26.

TOJ #149: Inner motive is the basis for God’s judgment. [MK 12:43-44] God knows our heart or thoughts (PR 16:2, HB 4:12). The point is not necessarily that the rich should become poor, but that they should share God’s blessings to help the poor so that no one is destitute (2CR 8:13-15). See TOJ #117 & the next TOJ.

TOJ #150: God’s judgment is just. [LK 12:47-48] God judges souls on the basis of what they freely (exercising their God-given volition) choose to do with the opportunities they had to LGW and satisfy GRFS. These opportunities are symbolized by the talents in the Parable of the Talents. {MT 25:14-30} (See TOJ #149.)

GWH · Jan 6, 2025

TOJ #151: The result of Sin is death. [LK 13:2-9] Paul also taught this (in RM 6:23). The parable bears a resemblance to the incident when Jesus cursed the fruit tree (TOJ #123, cf. #137).

TOJ #152: The eternal result of Sin is misery/hell. [LK 16:19-28] This consequence is logical and just (TOJ #102).

TOJ #153: Do your duty to God. [LK 17:7-10] Creatures are responsible to their Creator. Fulfilling this obligation is non-meritorious (TOJ #2).

GWH · Jan 8, 2025

TOJ #154: Reality includes a spiritual dimension known as the kingdom of God/heaven. [LK 17:20-21] It is invisible to scientific exploration, but it will become apparent at the end of earthly history (RV 21:1-2). {JN 18:36}

TOJ #155: Damnation is worse than never having existed. [MT 26:24//MK 14:21//LK 22:22] There may be degrees of suffering (LK 12:47-48), but the least misery is not almost heaven. Given this fact, we must believe in the perfect love, justice and wisdom of God’s decision to create free souls. Antichrists should ponder this verse. Do they have good reason for Unbelief?

TOJ #156: We should do what is right despite bodily weaknesses. [MT 26:41//MK 14:30] Instead, some people add physical addictions to natural desires. Paul’s prayer in Romans 7:24 is relevant.

GWH · Jan 9, 2025

TOJ #157: All who initiate violence will be punished. [MT 26:52] If peacemakers are blessed (TOJ #16), then war-mongers are cursed. Jihad must be spiritual struggle against sin to be holy war, but the Gospel of Christ is God's peace plan per EPH 2:14-18.

TOJ #158: Jesus voluntarily allowed Himself to be crucified. [MT 26:53-54] He was free to disobey the Father’s will (HB 5:7-9). John’s gospel also teaches this {JN 10:17-18}. Thus, He is worthy of all honor and praise as our Lord and Savior (cf. TOJ #54).

TOJ #159: Various OT prophets foretold the Messiah would suffer and die. [MT 26:54&56//MK 14:48] {MT 26:31//MK 14:27//LK 22:36-37} Jesus even taught this fact after His resurrection {LK 24:25-26&44-46}. (See TOJ #177.)

GWH · Jan 10, 2025

TOJ #160: Jesus will return as Judge. [MT 26:64//MK 14:62//LK 22:69] This truth is taught in Hebrews 9:26-28 and John 5:21-23. If the disciples of Moses, Buddha, Mohammed or whoever qualify for heaven, it will be because they somehow/sometime learned enough of the gospel to become Messianic or acknowledge God/Jesus as Lord (PHP 2:11-13, cf. 1PT 3:18-19; TOJ #167 & #195).

TOJ #161: Jesus is the Davidic king of the Jews. [MT 27:11//MK 15:2//LK 23:3] He is the heir of God’s covenant with David to establish his throne forever (2SM 7:12-16). {JN 18:37}

TOJ #162: Jesus’ resurrection was physical or bodily. [LK 24:38-43] In heaven saved souls will have immortal bodies (1CR 15:35-50). One way Christianity could be disproved is if the body of Jesus were found in a tomb in Palestine.

TOJ #163: Jesus suffered. [MT 27:46//MK 15:34] He even felt abandoned by God the Father. In this way He showed us the importance of keeping our faith alive even though we may feel like God is dead (IS 54:7-8, HB 2:9-10). {JN 16:32}

GWH · Jan 12, 2025

TOJ #164: Make disciples of all people. [MT 28:18-20a] This TOJ is known as the Great Commission. Failure to obey it is the sin of great omission (JM 4:17)! Another wording is found in ACTS 1:8 (TOJ #205). Hopefully, this enumeration of the TOJ will help to fulfill God's will (JN 17:18).

TOJ #165: Jesus is with believers always. [MT 28:20b, JN 14:18-20] This is possible because God as the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son (TOJ #178). This truth is taught by Jesus before His ascension, which will conclude our progression through the synoptic gospels.

TOJ #166: The Holy Spirit empowers Believers. [ACTS 1:2-9, LK 12:12, MK 1:8] The dynamics of this relationship is described by sewing relevant NT Scripture together with spiritual thread.

GWH · Jan 15, 2025

The Teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of John

John’s gospel is more philosophical than the synoptic gospels. It skips Jesus’ birth and begins by describing Jesus as the divine Logos incarnate (JN 1:1&14). Then it relates the baptism of Jesus by John (JN 1:19-34) and the calling of four disciples: Andrew, Simon, Philip and Nathaniel (JN 1:35-50). The first TOJ apparently referred to Jacob’s dream (in GN 28:12-13), in which a stairway reached between heaven and earth.

TOJ # 167: Jesus is the (door)way to heaven. [JN 1:51, 14:6] He is the “gate” {JN 10:7-10}. This is true even for those who never had an opportunity to know Jesus during their earthly life. Everyone in heaven will acknowledge Jesus as Christ the Lord (PHP 2:9-11; cf. TOJ #160, #169 & #173). Paul indicates that God is revealed via nature and conscience to souls who have no chance to learn Scripture (TOP #3, 10 &23).

GWH · Jan 16, 2025

TOJ #168: You must be born again or of the Spirit. [JN 3:3-7] Jesus describes GRFS in terms of the baptism with the Spirit that occurs when a person becomes saved.

TOJ #169: Jesus lived in heaven before being born on earth. [JN 3:13] He is “from” heaven {JN 8:23}, thus He has “seen” God the Father {JN 6:46, 62, 8:38} or “knows” Him {JN 7:29, 8:55}. He existed before Abraham {JN 8:58} and before creation {JN 17:5&24, also see 16:28}.

This TOJ indicates that God’s Triune relationship with Believers is somehow an eternal relationship within Himself as well. The “somehow” of this doctrine is incomprehensible, but let anyone who tries to explain God’s “threeness” be sure to preserve His oneness (cf. TOJ #167 & #192).

GWH · Jan 19, 2025

TOJ #170: God loves all souls. [JN 3:16a] Therefore, God wants all to be saved or to accept Jesus. {JN 6:37&39-40} Although God’s love was implicit in the synoptic gospels (especially TOJ #14, 29, 30, 106, 113 & 129), John’s gospel (and 1TM 2:3-4) makes it explicit. In John’s first epistle (4:7), he says that God is love and that God first loved us (4:19), which means that God is the source of love and that love manifests the Spirit of God (JN 13:35). Atheists can only imitate true/God’s love, since they do not love truth/GW. (See the next TOJ.)

This TOJ is taught also by Paul (TOP #30): God demonstrates His love for sinners by means of Christ dying for the ungodly or atheists. [RM 5:6-11] This is called being “reconciled”. Jesus’ atonement allows repentant sinners to be “at one” with God (JN 17:22).

TOJ #171: Evil-doers hate/avoid the light of GW. [JN 3:19-20] Atheists hate God’s truth because it exposes their sinful attitudes and actions. Often they seek to justify or excuse their avoidance by noting the sins of so-called Christians, as though God will not judge them, too. Jesus is that light personified {JN 7:7}. (See TOJ #170 & #186.)

GWH · Jan 21, 2025

TOJ #172: Truth-seekers welcome the constructive criticism of GW. [JN 3:21] They view reproof as a much needed slap in the face to get their attention, so they can learn how to become new and improved versions of themselves (TOJ #10).

TOJ #173: God provides salvation by means of Messiah. [JN 4:10,14&22, 14:6, 17:2-3] Messiah is Jesus, the resurrection and the life. {JN 11:25-26} (See TOJ #20.) Here salvation is symbolized by water {as in JN 6:35b, 53-56, 7:37-38}, and elsewhere by bread {JN 6:27a, 32-33, 35a, 50-58} and yet again as a vine {JN 15:1-8}.

TOJ #174: God is Spirit. [JN 4:24a] This word signifies God’s omni-attributes. How the invisible God (CL 1:15, 1TM 1:17) is manifested by the material world is a mystery (RM 1:20) as is the essence of matter scientifically (cf. TOJ #192).

TOJ #175: Worship God in spirit and truth. [JN 4:23-24] The Bible employs various terms that upon evaluation seem almost synonymous, many of which are found in this Gospel. One synonymous pairing is spirit and (=) truth (1JN 5:6). {JN 14:17, 15:26, 16:13} (See TOJ #203.)

Burn1986 · Jan 21, 2025

GWH said:

TOJ #1: Jesus is the Son of God. [LK 2:49] Jesus’ first pupils were His parents. By the age of twelve Jesus realized that God was His heavenly Father (in fulfillment of Psalm 2:7). John 1:14 states that God’s Word/Spirit was incarnate in Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is God’s Son, “the exact representation of his being.” Insofar as it is possible for the almighty, immortal and invisible God (1TM 1:17) to reveal Himself in a mortal human (RM 1:3), that person is Jesus (1TM 2:5). Jesus is the fullest possible revelation of the superhuman God (CL 1:19) in the human dimension (PHP 2:7-8). And with God all things are possible that do not contradict who He is (MT 19:26, HB 6:18). The “insofar” of this theophany is sufficient, so that the Son of God (MT 3:17, 17:5) or Messiah/Christ may be considered as Immanuel (MT 1:23) or God the Son {JN 5:17-27, 10:25-38, 14:9f., 17:1-5}. This means that God may be understood as a Triunity (See TOJ #7, #49, #52 & #178).

Regarding Jesus’ humanity the NT story indicates that in order to fulfill a prophecy (IS 7:14) the Holy Spirit implanted a specially created embryo in the virgin Mary, who had not yet consummated her marriage to the virginal Joseph (MT 1:18&25). Jesus’ earthly parents did not understand His relationship with His heavenly Father at first, but at least His birth-mother “treasured all these things in her heart”—as we all should (LK 2:50-52). Of course, every time Jesus referred to God as Father could be cited as teaching this concept, but I will cite only two more passages from John’s gospel {JN 6:32-46, 10:25-38}.

TOJ #2: Obey God’s will. [MT 3:15] Notice that the accounts of Jesus’ baptism in the other gospels (MK 1:9-11, LK 3:21-22, JN 1:31-34) omit this teaching. However, it is a major theme in John’s gospel. {JN 5:17, 17:4} (See TOJ #34 & #153.) By being baptized Jesus taught John and others present that He obeyed God’s will for Messiah to identify with sinful humanity. In John’s gospel Jesus called doing his Father’s will/work His “food” {JN 4:34}. It included giving eternal life {JN 5:19-21,36}. The work of dying Jesus called His “cup” {JN 18:11}, which surely is what was “finished” on the cross {JN 19:30}. Jesus also spoke of His coming obedience unto death (TOJ #54) as a “baptism”. {LK 12:50, MK 10:38-39, 14:36} Obeying God’s will as codified in the Ten Commandments is TOJ #107. Peter taught this truth via a negative example {in MT 16:23//MK 8:33}.

Okay, there is my beginning. Any comments? What do you think will be TOJ #3?

Where is the survey?

GWH · Jan 21, 2025

Burn1986 said:

The complete survey is on my website <truthseekersfellowship.com>

Actually, my website is a work in progress that I update regularly with new information gleaned from discussions with folks on CC.

(The TOP lesson is only through EPH 2 at this time/point.)

Burn1986 · Jan 21, 2025

^^^Cool, you got em all separated. I was thinking there would be some survey of questions.

GWH · Jan 21, 2025

Burn1986 said:

Well, my ongoing question or intent is for folks to feel free to offer constructive feedback, suggestions or corrections, although few do.

Eli1 · Jan 21, 2025

GWH said:

Maybe they don't find your communication style interesting, but i always find you interesting major.
So, you have me always.

GWH · Jan 22, 2025

Eli1 said:

Well, good, I guess. I find you fine when you do not troll.
I also find your testimony interesting and cited it recently on one of the threads about election as an example of someone who was led to faith in God/Christ via creation or general revelation, which some were pooh-poohing.

(BTW, you can call me Seaman &/or LC :^)

Eli1 · Jan 22, 2025

GWH said:

That’s exactly the reason I like you too sailor, because you do passive trolling.
But I’m also impressed on how a southern Baptist has arrived to such teachings which are similar to mine.

And many people come to faith by observing God’s power and signature in His Creation by the way so it’s a common thing.
I work with doctors sometimes and they have found faith by looking at God’s wonders under a microscope which led them to be baptized later.

Hallelujah !

The Teachings of Jesus (TOJ)

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