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Can a Christian follow the teachings of other religions and teachers with Christ? Throughout the Bible we find Jesus asking those he called to follow him and no one else. Jesus told John "Follow Me"( John 21:19, 22). and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me" (John 1:43) Jesus told Peter and Andrew "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt 4:19;Matt 9:9; Luke 18:18- 22) Jesus makes it clear "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me” (John 12:26). “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). He also told us and people from all generations and for all time John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus never quoted any other teacher but those from his own heritage and religion- Judaism. Those who the people knew of in their own Scripture (the Old Testament) as the prophets. By doing this Jesus confirmed that these books were accurate and true. John 14:1 “you believe in God , believe also in Me.” 1 Jn.5:10-12: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. Verse 11 tells us "And this is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” This Scripture means to keep on believing. In Christ are said to be all the riches of God, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” We are warned not to adopt their spirituality that is false. We find Christ to be sufficient for everything we need. We are saved and given a holy calling, in Christ Jesus 2 Timothy 1:9 If anyone is in Christ , he is a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17 We have liberty in Christ Jesus, Galatians 2:4 We are justified by faith in Christ Galatians 2:16 The blessing of Abraham comes upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus Galatians 3:14 We sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:7 Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, Ephesians 3:6-7 We are “all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:26 We have “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” Ephesians 1:3 YOU are complete in Him Colossians 2:10 There is no need to seek out instruction on spiritual matters from any other source but Jesus and the Bible. Even God the Father told us this. Do you remember the story of the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah, Moses and Jesus. Here are probably the two greatest men in Judaism standing with Jesus as God’s glory covered them “and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.” (Mark 9:7-8) |
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