Many people who self-identify as Christians do not seem to be following the One to whom they allegedly identify with. Are these like the Woke who self-identity as another gender different to their gender defined at birth by their God-given physiology? It seems the word Christian no longer has the currency it once had.
In the book of Acts we read that the early followers of Christ
26 … assembled themselves with the ekklesia [the called out assembly], … And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:26
The Greek word translated ‘Christians’ is Χριστιανός Christianos (pronounced chriy-stiy-a-nos’). It means literally “Little Anointed” as a family name of endearment, like “Little Johnny” or “Little Susie”. It a reference properly, only of the redeemed, a Little Kinsman of the Anointed-One (Christ), a relative by the redemptive blood of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The English appellation ‘Christian’ is a transliteration of the Greek word Christianos. It is meant to be a descriptor for those who are followers of the teachings of Christ. But now more often than not it refers to a person who identifies himself as a Christian only because he does not identify with another religion. I know a very militant atheist who calls himself a Christian. He could hardly fit the definition of being a follower of the teachings of Christ. Many so-called Christians follow tradition, a set of cultural norms they think are Christian.
We are admonished by the Lord through the Apostle Paul
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him: 7 Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:6-10
Once we have received Christ, trusted in Him and Him alone, we must walk in Him, living according to His law of love (Matthew 22:37-40). No mention of attending a church on Sunday. But we do need fellowship with the ekklesia of God, wherever we can find them.
We are warned to stay away from philosophy, which in this case means Jewish sophistry, the use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving. Also vain deceit! That is the empty deceptions that pose as something it is not. If you are abounding in Christ you’ll know what I mean.
The Apostle also warns us against the tradition of men, which isthe Jewish traditional law, called halakha. That includes the writings of the rabbis in the Talmud, Zohar and the Kabbalah. This is the oral traditions that Jesus warned against when He spoke to some Pharisees.
1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me; 6a And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.
Matthew 15:1-6a
Those traditions were used to get around the simple teachings of God’s Law. The law Jesus was referring to here is the 5th commandment (Exodus 20:12) of the 10 He gave Moses on the mountain in Sinai. And by the oral traditions or commentaries of the rabbis on the written law of God they found ways around following the spirit of the law. Jesus continued:
6b Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:6b-9
We are also warned against following the rudiments of the world (Colossians 2:8). The word rudiments is translated from the Greek word ‘stoicheion’, meaning orderly in arrangement. In this case it is not chemistry but teachings of the world. Knowledge is useful but if you put that knowledge or science before God your mind may become polluted by the world.
Now picking up on ‘vain deceit’ look at these scriptures.
113 I hate vain thoughts: but your law do I love.
Psalm 119:113
14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your vain thoughts lodge within you?
Jeremiah 4:14
Vain thoughts here mean a divided mind. The mind is led captive and not by the word of God. This is worldly lusts that lead to sin. Put these ideas together and we have another warning from the Lord through the Apostle Paul.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain [empty]. 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
1 Corinthians 3:19-23
The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. The thoughts of the wise that are not on God or consistent with God’s word are empty thoughts. This reminds me of the embrace most of the church denominations have with various compromises on the scriptures relating to Creation, 6 x 24 hour day creation as described in Genesis chapter 1. Why not take God at His word? Because it seems to be foolish in the eyes of the world. But their misguided wisdom is foolish in God’s eyes.
The Greek word translated ‘craftiness’ has the meanings of trickery or sophistry. They use clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving. But God knows their minds. They are empty.
13 For you have heard of my conversation [behaviour] in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the ekklesia of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers,
Galatians 1:13-14
The Apostle confesses his own misguided behaviour following the Jewish traditions which led him to even murder the disciple Stephen. The ‘traditions of my fathers’ means the oral pronouncements of the past rabbis, which were not written down until at least 200 AD.
15 Therefore, brothers, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word [of mouth], or our letter [written message].
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Here Paul is not telling the reader to follow Jewish traditions but the Apostles’ doctrine (teaching) (Acts 2:42). The Apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit opened the meaning of the Old Testament scriptures as well as taught on the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The primary meaning of the Greek word ‘paradosis’ translated as ‘traditions’ is ‘transmission’. It is the same Greek word used in Galatians 1:14. But the application is totally different. In the latter, it is the Lord’s message being transmitted but in the former, when Paul was following the doctrines of men, it was Satan’s message he was getting.
We are commanded to stay away from anyone not following the teaching of the Apostles. These are not the Jewish Talmud oral traditions but the inspired word of God coming through the Apostles. This we now have in the New Testament scriptures.
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Contrary to the teaching of some these traditions are not from the church edicts or papal bulls. These traditions are the word of God written in the New Testament. At the time Paul wrote that letter to the Thessalonians it was not included in the canon of scripture. None of the letters of the Apostles were. They were writing the Scriptures by transmitting to the believers the message God gave them under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
18 For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [empty or worthless behaviour] received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Peter 1:18
The Apostle Peter is saying the same thing. The Jewish Talmud cannot save. Human opinions cannot redeem you.
18 knowing that not with corruptible things, silver or gold, were you redeemed from your worthless way of life handed down from your fathers, 19 but with precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot, 20 indeed having been foreknown before the foundation of the world, but revealed in the last times because of you, 21 the ones believing in God through Him, He raising Him from the dead, and giving glory to Him so that your faith and hope may be in God. 22 Having purified your souls in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to unpretended brotherly love, love one another fervently out of a pure heart, 23 having been generated, not by corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the living Word of God, and remaining unto the age.
1 Peter 1:18-23 KJ3
Brethren, stay the course. Follow the written words of God in the Scriptures. Read them daily!
Recommended Reading
- Lupus Occultus: The Paganised Christianity of C.S. Lewis
- C.S. Lewis: A Bridge to Rome
- eBook: The United States and The Beast: A look at Revelation in Light of Current Events Since 2020 by Brian Shilhavy
- Book: Apocalypse Now: On the Revelation of Jesus Christ
- Book: Merchants of Death: Global Oligarchs and Their War On Humanity
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Bible Science Forum 
2 responses to “Christians Should Follow the Teachings of Christ”
Yes indeed. The title Christian has come to mean anyone who is the product of western civilisation – the “Christian” world.
But what says the Lord? “Not everyone saying to Me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those doing the will (Greek thelema – literally ‘desire’ or ‘wish’) of My Father” (Matthew 7:21).
This is the best kept secret in Christianity.
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Totally true. It is an open secret.
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