Till I Come, Give Attendance to Reading, to Exhortation, to Doctrine - Part 1711

"Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." (II Timothy 4:2)

Throughout the scriptures, we are informed of doctrine. Indeed, it was the doctrine that Jesus taught that caused the people to marvel. "And they were astonished at His doctrine for His Word was with power." (Luke 4:32) "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine; for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29) Even the officers answered -- "Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46)

We see an example of this in the scriptures. Therein, the Pharisees were accusing Jesus (who was in the treasury, teaching in the temple at the time) -- that His record was void of truth. (John 8:1-18) These asked Jesus, "Where is Thy Father?" Jesus answered them, saying, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:19)

In another place, Jesus said, "I and My Father are ONE!" (John 10:30) And similarly to Philip when he asked Jesus to shew us the Father and it will suffice, Jesus said, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast Thou not know Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, "Shew us the Father?" (John 14:6-12)

But in the temple, Jesus does not stop there. Jesus continues to tell the Jews that they cannot come "whither I go" because "ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I AM [He], ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:20-26) Of course, these understood not that He spake to them of the Father, their hearts being hardened, and not ready to "gladly" receive the Word, as the first 3,000 souls did on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:36-47)

Even though these claimed that Abraham was their father, Jesus had to remind them that "if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But [instead], now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ye do the deeds of your father!" (John 8:39-41)

Why? Because, as Jesus points out, "If God were your Father, ye would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do ye not understand My speech? [even] because ye cannot hear My Word." (John 8:42-43)

But there is an interesting scriptural passage established within this dialogue that is worth noting separately from the passage. That is, when Jesus said unto them, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM [He], and [that] I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." It is no wonder that as Jesus spake these words, many believed on Him. But I digress.

Do you remember, when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, He said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee; we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." Jesus continues in that dialogue to say,  "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:11, 14-15)

Believes in who? Believes in Him -- the Son of man who is still Lord of the sabbath.

In and of itself, this response should have pricked Nicodemus in his heart seeing that he was "a master of Israel" and should have known these things from the scriptures. (John 3:10) For example, when God said unto Moses, "I AM That I AM" clarifying to Moses -- "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent Me unto you," Nicodemus should have understood that Jesus was the great I AM from afore -- and now God manifest in the flesh. (Exodus 3:14; I Timothy 3:16; John 1:10-11; Isaiah 9:6)
For those who may not know, I AM is one of the many names God used throughout the old testament. And here is Jesus saying again to the Jews and Pharisees, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM [He]."

But why did Jesus have to shed His precious holy blood on the cross, before the Jews would believe in Him? Because these were not willing to "continue in My Word" -- as Jesus said. These would not submit their hearts to another king, even though Jesus was the King of kings, and Lord of lords. And so these desired in their hearts to kill Jesus.

Still, some Jews did believe on Him, to which Jesus said, "If ye continue in my Word, then are ye My disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:28-32)

Similar to the time when the Lord Jesus walked physically on this earth, the stumbling block today is believing that this same Jesus "whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36) Instead of continuing "in My Word" we let the modern day religious culture decide who Jesus was, without searching the scriptures ourselves for His truth.

In that context, these point to the voice from heaven, the voice that was heard at Jesus' baptism, and again at Bethsaida of Galilee, as being that of another. These do not desire to hear or worship "Him!"

Still, what did Jesus say, when He prayed, "Father, glorify Thy Name" and a voice from heaven said, "I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again"? Jesus told the people that stood by and heard -- "This voice came not because of Me but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto Me." (John 12:28- 32)

You see, the voice out of the cloud was saying to them, and us, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I AM well pleased; HEAR YE HIM!" (Matthew 17:5)

But they would not come unto Jesus that these might have life. Indeed, as Jesus said, "Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape." (John 5:37; Matthew 3:17; I John 4:12)

More to the point, Jesus said, "And ye have not His Word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." (John 5:39-40)

"Lo, behold, the volume of the book is written of Me!" The greatest love story ever told to mankind. That the same God who made the world and everything in it, loved us enough to freely give to us His gift of salvation at an untold cost to His humanity. For He was bruised for our iniquities. He bore our sorrows so that we can have abundant life in Him. After the kindness and love of God our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)

This is the reason why those who believe in Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords, and desire His Word comes an assurance -- that "hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit, and we have seen and testify that Jesus is the Son of God - God dwells in Him and He in God, and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us; God is love: and He that dwells in love dwells in God and God in Him ..." (I John 4:10-17)

All this He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures, "concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness; by the resurrection from the dead; by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations -- For HIS NAME! Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-6)

Search the scriptures for truth. Know that the Son of man did ascend up where He was before. And that, as Jesus said, "it is the Spirit that quickens: the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they are] Spirit, and [they are] life. But there are some of you that believe not." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. (John 6:60-64)

Therefore, hold fast the faithful Word as ye have been taught, that ye may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9) Likewise speak the things which become sound doctrine, preaching the Word, being instant in season; out of season; reprove; rebuke; exhort with all long suffering and patience. (Titus 2:1; II Timothy 4:2-4)

Stand in the offering plate.