16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Christians Must Teach and Obey Jesus’ Commands
Christianity has developed a number of “Creeds” which summarize their core beliefs. The Apostle’s Creed is considered to be the oldest and most widely used creed.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Christians believe the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. It provides accounts of Jesus Christ’s ministry, the early church and early church leaders. Although all scripture in the Bible is given by inspiration of God, debate on the applicability of specific passages began in the first century. Church leaders at that time decided that many of the Jewish laws did not apply. They issued a letter stating that Gentiles “abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication”.
Due to these debates, traceability from God through his Son, Jesus Christ, to Christian disciples and followers is essential. The scripture references below meet this criterion.
God’s Objective: God loves His children and wants a loving relationship with them and among His children. His overall objectives for His Son were to proclaim God’s Kingdom and set the world on a path toward God’s kingdom.
Jesus’ Message: Jesus’ message is simple to understand and based on Old Testament commandments:
- God loves us just as a parent loves His children.
- The Greatest Commandment. We should love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength. (Mark 12:30, Matthew 22:37–38, Luke 10:27, and Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
- The Golden Rule. We should love each other as we love ourselves. (Mark 12:31, Matthew 22:39, Matthew 7:12, Luke 10:27, and Leviticus 19:18)
Jesus’ actions, parables and instructions expand on his message.
Commissioning of Disciples and Followers
Jesus directed his disciples and followers in the Great Commission to preach the Gospel, baptize followers and teach them to observe his commands. The Greatest Commandment, The Golden Rule and Jesus’ new commandment ((John 13:34) are Jesus’ commands. All Christians must teach and obey these three commandments.
Precedence of Jesus’ Commands
In the synoptic Gospels, Jesus clearly states that all the law and the prophets hang on the Greatest Commandment and the Golden Rule and that no other command is greater.
When a lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus asked him what the law said. The lawyer replied quoting the Greatest Commandment and the Golden Rule. Jesus then told him to do this and he would live, (Luke 10:25-28)
Following all of the laws, however, does not result in eternal life. Look at the story of the rich man who asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds that the man lacks one thing; he must sell all his possessions and give to the poor (Mark 10:17-25). Just following the law is insufficient to inherit eternal life.
Conclusions
Jesus’ commands are greater than, and take precedence over, all other scripture. They require behavior which leads to inheriting eternal life and prohibit sinful behavior. Scripture which conflicts with Jesus’ commands is useful only for training and similar purposes. It should not be followed.