Monday, April 28, 2014

W.W.J.D.

By now, most people understand that "W.W.J.D." stands for "What Would Jesus Do?"  It seems like a great way, for a born again believer, to make a decision when faced with choices.  "Should I hate my enemies?"  No!  "Should I participate in racism?"  No!  "Should I spend my time and money in bars?"  No!  "Should I neglect the hungry, the hurting, the oppressed?  No!  "Should I focus on taking care of 'number one?'"  No!  Jesus would not do any of those things, and neither should those who claim to be His followers!  Second Timothy 2:19 clearly says, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, 'The Lord knoweth them that are His.'  And, 'Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'"

However, there are many things that Jesus did, which do not apply to born again believers.  Jesus abstained from eating pork, but according to Him, those of us who are saved can eat anything we desire.  Luke wrote of Peter's vision in Acts 10:9-17, where the Lord told Peter he should help himself to "all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air" (v. 12).   
Jesus observed the Jewish Feasts, Israel's holy days, described in the Law (Lev. 23:1-44), and yet, He inspired the Apostle Paul to write:  "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days" (Col. 2:16).  This verse is not alone in its teaching that the ceremonial laws do not apply to the Church (Rom. 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 8:8; etc.).  Paul, critical of believers who remained enslaved by the Law, wrote, "Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years" (Gal. 4:10).  He wrote:

"...before faith came, we were kept under the Law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:23-26).

Born again believers should not do as Jesus did, but should do what His disciples, His Apostles, taught us to do and not do.  Jesus said:  "...All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach...whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Mt. 28:18-20)!


We are not to do what Jesus did; we are to do what He says!

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