Missional hermeneutics 4/5

Recognising Message

For us who study the Bible as believers, it is also important that we recognise the message Jesus delivered from God to his kinsmen, the Jews. But Jesus did not came only for them. He came to proclaim the Word of God for the whole world. He brought a call to repentance from every evil work, the assertion of his divine sonship and Jewish kingship; and the proclamation of the glad tidings that God would restore their kingdom through him, and accomplish all things written in the prophets.

His disciples, who Jesus had sent forth to proclaim salvation through him, as the only Name given under heaven whereby men may be saved, wrote down Jesus his words and told the world about his actions. They also notated the history of the first followers of Christ. For the next generations this had to be a lesson of conduct and had to open their eyes for the most important things in life.

Getting to understand the Holy Scriptures by reading and studying it people should come aware that the way to obtain salvation is to believe the Gospelthe apostles preached, and to take on the Name and service of Christ, by being thereupon immersed in water, and continuing patiently in the observance of all things he has commanded, none being recognized as his friends except those who do what he has commanded.

First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pitsak, a Medieval Armenian scribe and miniaturist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Believing that the Gospel consists of “The things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ.” and that those “Things of the Kingdom of God” are the facts testified concerning the Kingdom of God in the writings of the prophets and apostles, we should not keep this knowledge only to our selves. We should share it with others in the world.

The mission of the Kingdom will be to subdue all enemies, and finally death itself, by opening up the way of life to the nations, which they will enter by faith, during the thousand years, and (in reality) at their close. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 21:4; 20:12-15; Isaiah 25:6-8.) We may not be selfish and should do our best to let as many people as possible know that they can find a better world in case they are willing to turn to God.

Following in Jesus  his footsteps

We have to go into the footsteps of Jesus and use are findings we got from our exegesis and hermeneutics, to continue the work of Jesus and his apostles. By telling others about what we have learned from the Holy Scriptures we must obey God, not men, and therefore should clearly see the difference between Godly teachings and teachings and dogma‘s brought into the world by men.

Having come to faith by the study of the Bible we should  continue faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers (Acts 2:42). Jehovah God made with the house of Israel a covenant and promised that He as the Adonai, Most High will put His Torah in the minds and on their hearts of those who are willing to accept and obey Him as their God.

The apostles received the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) and could be witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth! (Acts 1:8) In their tradition we should go and continue to proclaim the Good News, witnessing to as many people as we can.

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Preceding: Missional hermeneutics 3/5

Continued on: Missional hermeneutics 5/5

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: Missionaire hermeneutiek 4/5

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Please do read:

1. My exegesis and hermeneutics
2. Our relationship with God, Jesus and with each other
3. Kingdom of God what will be it like
4. Religion and spirituality
5. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
6. Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
7. Christ having glory
8. Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union

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  Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, uncleanness, lasciviousness, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, whoremongers.How many of you can honestly say that you understand every one of those terms? What is ‘uncleanness’ for a follower of Christ? What does it mean to be ‘effeminate’? What is ‘variance’?
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  Now we look back to the work of the man in whose name we are washed, sanctified, and justified, and we look forward to the day when the dead shall be raised incorruptible. For as often as we eat this bread, and drink this cup, we do show the Lord’s death till he come.