Article: TEACHING OTHERS

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 02:27 PM

TEACHING OTHERS
by Patrick D. Andrews

They found it to be newsworthy: chickens learn to act like other chickens. So it goes among the animal kingdom: dogs like dogs, cat like cats, animals learning how to behave as their species behaves. We, as a highly educated and developed society, have not made the connection yet--people behave like people. Children learn from adults and adults reinforce the learning. The problem is whether the teaching and learning is righteous or not.

We teach our children in the right ways and point out the severity of violation of the rules, regulations, principles, and laws. It's a teaching and learning process of how to conduct ourselves. However, bad learning can be reinforced.

Founded upon the principles of man's constituted laws are the lectures and teachings of Sir William Blackstone--credited with being the first professor of English law. His undertakings at Oxford University were the basis of further study through the years concerning the English speaking peoples and the laws which governed them. We credit Blackstone with the maxim, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Blackstone's principles gave impetus to our Constitution, it's Bill of Rights, and the various Amendments which have followed. However, these are neither new nor unique. Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Jesus taught the principle of respect for authority and each other!

God created us as free moral agents with the choice of right and wrong. He has given to us the promise or reward for good behavior and the reality of justice for bad behavior. His laws are immutable and His will is paramount. Within those gracious laws are the promises of eternal life and the warnings of eternal damnation. Revelation 2:10b.... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

God poured out His mercy toward sinful man--it's a very conditional love. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Without exception, we all deserve to die--eternally. Our sins are against God. We know right from wrong because we have been taught it. Knowing full well the deserved condemnation, we do sin anyway. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. There we find ourselves in our self-developed sinful condition--sinful, condemned, and without hope. Man was in this hopeless condition, when God's grace prevailed and love poured out of heaven in the greatest Sacrifice--Christ died for the ungodly.

We are faced with learned response--yes to God means heaven--no to His love means eternal damnation. Yes is more than words and no is a living rejection. Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Religious people, in the name of religion, have done some very good things for others--acts of kindness and benevolence. However, Jesus' own declaration indicates that it is more than good deeds, it is obedience that is found acceptable. "Many," will say--we prophesied--we cast out devils--we have done many wonderful works in thy name! The issue is the simple immutable will of God--His Word contains the answer--too many will not bother to read, listen, nor heed the call of the Almighty.

The problem with the Church at Ephesus was their unwillingness to be motivated for the right cause--it must be a totally committed love for the Right One. Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. It is this same first love to which Jesus made reference. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

To understand the solution, one must understand the problem. The problem: 1) Man is a sinner! 2) Sin separates man from God! 3) When man is separated from God, man dies! 4) When man dies, it is eternal! Then at just the right time and in just the right manner, God provided the solution: 1) God's grace is extended to man! 2) God's grace saves us from our sins! 3) To be covered by God's grace, man must accept God as the provider of His grace! 4) By and through His grace, we can live forever--eternal life! 5)
God's grace requires man to repent of his sins. Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Ignorantly and aimlessly trying to serve God is not acceptable now, and it will not be acceptable in the future. When man is taught repentance and man truly repents, man will obey God's every command. That is the kind of obedience that requires all of man's heart, mind, soul, and strength! Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. God's teaching teaches His teachers to teach others to follow Him.