A note from our pastor:

“But ye have not so learned Christ;”

Ephesians 4:20

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In the preceding verses, the Apostle has established the pattern of behavior present in a regenerate child of God who turns away from God to follow their own desires. This person will establish their own standard of conduct, will leave their mind open to influence, and will cauterize themselves to avoid guilt. Now in vese twenty, the Apostle establishes a contrast for how a faithful disciple should walk.

Teachers are a wonderful gift. Whether a school teacher, a mentor, a pastor, or many other forms teachers are a blessing in our lives. The way they teach and the way they establish relationships with those they are teaching is vitally important to their success. In the end though, the purpose of their teaching is for the student to learn a given set of information or skills. This is the difference with Christ.

As disciples, through the preserved word of God, we do not just learn what Christ was teaching. Rather, we learn Christ himself. This is a unique aspect of following Christ. Any other teacher would have you believe them so you might accept what they are teaching. With Christ, he would have us to believe in and on him because there is no distinction between Christ and his teachings.

Take for instance the central commandments of the New Testament. As recorded in Matthew 22 we are instructed to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Jesus’s life, the very nature of him, was this commandment. Multiple times he told those following him how he came not to do his own will but the will of his Father which sent him to this earth. In Matthew, Jesus continues and tells us the second commandment is to love our neighbor in the same fashion. Christ demonstrated this throughout his ministry as he continually went to those despised of the Jews and brings it full-force as he dies upon the cross in love for others. There is no separating the teacher from the lesson when it comes to Christ.

The faithful disciple of Christ has not simply learned the tenants of a belief system which can be easily dismissed and pushed aside. Rather, the disciple has learned Christ himself. It is knowledge of our Savior — of his love, mercy, grace, humbleness, patience, and on and on — which drives the Christian conduct. It is knowledge of him, his life, and his love that awakens the soul each day to live in service filled with love.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah