'Prelude to World War 3'
Mat 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you
Mat 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
God gave the Mosaic Law (that it was said to those of old) for the Jews to keep, but born again Christians with the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit must keep Jesus' commands, which are higher than the Law.
Mat 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,"
The Apostle's Epistles are the commandments and teachings of our risen Lord, taught to His disciples during the forty days before He went back to heaven or by direct revelations.
Unfortunately, misled and worldly Christians prefer the lower and imperfect Mosaic Law, which our Lord Jesus made obsolete at His death.
Gal 5:4. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Importance of Commandments
1 Tim 1:5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
God is love. In both the OT and NT, the commandments of God are to prepare and transform us to be like Him - full of love and mercy.
I John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Love in Action
Mat 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
In the OT, the greatest love possible is to love others as you love yourself.
However, our Lord Jesus showed Christians the greatest love ever, by sacrificing His life on the cross to save all mankind and we ought to follow His example by sacrificing our lives for others
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Evangelism with Love
Mat 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
We must preach the gospel with love. As sheep amongst the wolves, we must be ready and prepared to let them spitefully use us and persecute us.
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age
We thank God that when we obey His great commission, we can rest assured that He will always be with us and protect, provide, empower and guide us so that we will be able to help and evangelise the wounded, sick, hungry, miserable and destitute in time of:-
1. Warfare
Psalm 91:7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
2. Plague
Psalm 91:10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
3. Earthquakes and Tsunamis
Psalm 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
4. Famine
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
