Episode 1
The Grand Jury of Truth - Weighing the Words of Jesus pt 1
In this introductory episode, Pastor Robert Thibodeau addresses the alarming issue of division within the body of Christ.
He shares that the greatest hindrance to the spread of the Gospel is not the lack of technology or access to scripture, but the infighting among Christians themselves.
By employing a grand jury metaphor, Pastor Bob invites his audience to consider the evidence for unity based on the teachings of Jesus, urging them to abandon personal interpretations and denominational divides.
He emphasizes the importance of adhering to Jesus' direct words as the ultimate authority, suggesting that these teachings are sufficient to guide believers in their mission.
Pastor Bob calls for a renewed commitment to Jesus's teachings, which he asserts are timeless and universally applicable, thus fostering a spirit of love and understanding among all Christians.
The episode presents a compelling case for unity, challenging listeners to reflect on their roles in perpetuating or overcoming divisions within their faith communities.
Takeaways:
- The primary obstacle to spreading the gospel is division among Christians themselves.
- Jesus emphasized the importance of unity among believers to effectively share the gospel message.
- The teachings of Jesus provide timeless principles that remain relevant across all cultures and generations.
- It is imperative that we adhere to the direct words of Jesus rather than human traditions or interpretations.
- True unity in the body of Christ is achieved through love, which transcends denominational and cultural barriers.
- We must prioritize Jesus's teachings over personal opinions or denominational doctrines to fulfill our mission.
Links referenced in this episode:
www.ftfm.org
whatdidjesussay.world
Transcript
Welcome to Freedom through Faith.
Speaker A:Prepare to be blessed.
Speaker A:As pastor and teacher, Robert Thibodeau leads us into the anointed study of the word of God, teaching and empowering you how to impact your world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching you how to receive the blessings and provisions of God and how to walk through this life with freedom through faith.
Speaker A:And now, here's Pastor Robert Thibodeau.
Speaker A:Hello, everyone, everywhere.
Speaker A:Pastor Bob Thibodeau here.
Speaker A:Welcome to Freedom through Faith.
Speaker A:Glory to God.
Speaker A:It's a blessing to be here with you today.
Speaker A:Hallelujah.
Speaker A:We are so blessed to be joining you live from our new studio setup.
Speaker A:Praise the Lord.
Speaker A:God is so good.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:He is so good.
Speaker A:Let's go to Lord.
Speaker A:We're a prayer.
Speaker A:We'll go ahead and get started today's Bible study.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we just praise you for your word.
Speaker A:We thank you for the technology you made available for us to study your word together.
Speaker A:We praise you, Lord, that your word goes forth throughout the world, touching people's hearts, changing their lives through the power of the Internet.
Speaker A:And Lord, we pray that someone somewhere this day would receive Jesus as their savior as a result of this broadcast.
Speaker A:To you, sir, we give all honor, glory and praise in Jesus name.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:And amen.
Speaker A:Praise the Lord.
Speaker A:We are going to have a good time today.
Speaker A:We're going to do something completely different.
Speaker A:Well, not completely different.
Speaker A:Let's just say a little different.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:I've been praying about how best to present this to you today.
Speaker A:And one of the biggest hindrances to getting the Word out into all the earth is not the lack of technology.
Speaker A:It's not the lack of access to the Word.
Speaker A:The biggest hindrance to the spread of the gospel can be summed up in one word.
Speaker A:Division.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:And by that, I'm talking about divisions in the church, within the church, the church itself.
Speaker A:Not only are there hindrances from other religions, hindrances from governments and government bureaucracies and stupid idiotic laws that they create, but the biggest hindrances is among Christians dealing with other Christians.
Speaker A:Ah, don't shout me down.
Speaker A:I'm preaching good already, man.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Hallelujah.
Speaker A:I've been working with a good friend of mine, Reverend Terry Christian, who published a book that's simply titled what Did Jesus Say?
Speaker A:This book, and it's right here behind me, this book is simply the words of Jesus, what we would call the red letter words of some of the Bibles that are out there.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:There's no commentary, no Denominational ideologies.
Speaker A:No controversy.
Speaker A:Well, unless you're one of those who does not believe what Jesus said should be the gospel.
Speaker A:And I pray that's not the case.
Speaker A:But I've been praying about how I can best lay out for you the idiocy of divisions within the body of Christ.
Speaker A:That's really what it is.
Speaker A:How to make the little conflict seem silly at best and absolutely evil at the worst.
Speaker A:I mean, these divisions that actually hinder the spread of the Gospel, folks, unbelievers are the quickest to point out the fact that we, we the Christians, we can't even agree amongst ourselves.
Speaker A:So why should unbelievers join into this controversy?
Speaker A:What makes any man the authority on the word of God?
Speaker A:Does title like pope or bishop or apostle or pastor or minister or teacher or deacon or any other title mean anything?
Speaker A:I mean, I submit to you.
Speaker A:I mean, they should be honored, but not in the same light and manner.
Speaker A:We should honor Jesus.
Speaker A:Can we at least agree on that?
Speaker A:I pray we can shout amen somebody somewhere praise God.
Speaker A:So if there's divisions among us, who should we turn to in an effort to decide what and who we should follow?
Speaker A:I mean, let's just turn to Jesus.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Let's see what he has to say about any situation.
Speaker A:This causing us confusion or division that.
Speaker A:I mean, that would make more sense than anything else, wouldn't it?
Speaker A:I know.
Speaker A:Maybe I just stepped all over your denominational and religious toes.
Speaker A:If what I just said offended you, then there's probably good reason you're offended.
Speaker A:That little demonic spirit of division that has taken root in your heart and mind has been working overtime trying to just convince you that you are right and everybody else is wrong.
Speaker A:And I'm saying here.
Speaker A:Am I saying pastor Bob is 100% right all the time?
Speaker A:No, Pastor Bob is Pastor Bob right.
Speaker A:And what I'm saying right now, well, you can be the judge of that.
Speaker A:And here's what we're going to do.
Speaker A:The only way we can look at this is objectively.
Speaker A:The only way we can determine the validity of what I am saying right now is by looking at the evidence.
Speaker A:Now, my background is law enforcement.
Speaker A:I had to conduct numerous investigations and the investigation could not come to a predetermined outcome just because that's what we thought it should be.
Speaker A:You had to follow the evidence.
Speaker A:Every single investigation had to follow the facts.
Speaker A:No jury could reach any conclusion of guilt unless preponderance of evidence was proven by facts.
Speaker A:So after praying about how to share this, what we're going to talk about today, I decided to lay out my case for the biggest obstacle in getting the gospel out into all the earth.
Speaker A:The divisions within the Christian community itself, that the only solution to this problem is to rely simply on what Jesus said.
Speaker A:If there is a conflict, what did Jesus say about the situation?
Speaker A:If there's a disagreement about rituals and doctrines, what did Jesus say?
Speaker A:If there's a difference of opinion on any matter, what did Jesus say?
Speaker A:So to help me do this, I'm going to present my case to you.
Speaker A:You be the jury.
Speaker A:Consider yourself a member of the Christian grand jury.
Speaker A:I'm going to present this information, acting in the role of prosecutor, presenting the case before a grand jury.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:So without further ado, I pray.
Speaker A:You know, Pastor Bob sometimes gets off on little sidetracks here, but let's proceed with the rest of today's teaching in that format.
Speaker A:I probably just knowing myself, I'm not going to finish this in the time we have allotted for today.
Speaker A:Okay?
Speaker A:That is just not going to be the case.
Speaker A:I. I know it going in.
Speaker A:So do you.
Speaker A:Pastor Bob gets long winded on some subjects, praise God.
Speaker A:But I believe you'll find this so interesting that you're going to want to come back for the conclusion next week.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:It says just this.
Speaker A:I'm just going to say that up front now.
Speaker A:With that being said, let's proceed to the courtroom format.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:So here we go.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian grand jury, thank you for joining me in this vital discussion.
Speaker A:Today we address a crisis that has fractured the body of Christ for centuries.
Speaker A:Division among believers, denominational disputes, doctrinal arguments, personal interpretations of scripture, all have created walls between us that just serve to pull us apart and distracting us from the one mission Jesus gave us to preach the gospel to the world.
Speaker A:And it grieves me to say this, jury, but Christians are often more divided than united.
Speaker A:Catholics mistrust Protestants, Protestants criticize Episcopalians.
Speaker A:Methodists question Baptist, Baptists, well, they don't like anybody except other Baptists.
Speaker A:They.
Speaker A:They reject Charismatics and everyone else, and the list goes on and on.
Speaker A:These disputes just serve to weaken our argument in our witness of Jesus to the world.
Speaker A:And how can we ask them to follow us?
Speaker A:And we can't even agree among who are among ourselves.
Speaker A:We argue among ourselves about who's right, who's wrong.
Speaker A:How can we preach the gospel effectively when we are so distracted, so divided by our own infighting?
Speaker A:How can we share the good news with others when we can't even agree on the Simplicity of the Bible, ourselves.
Speaker A:This division is not what Jesus intended.
Speaker A:He did not come to establish competing factions.
Speaker A:He came to reconcile us to God and to one another.
Speaker A:Yet instead of focusing just on our message of reconciliation, we've allowed human traditions, personal opinions, theological interpretations to create barriers between us.
Speaker A:This is not only a betrayal of his teachings, but also a hindrance to the great commission that Jesus commanded us to follow.
Speaker A:Is so clear.
Speaker A: ws to every creature, as Mark: Speaker A:But how can we do this effectively when we are consumed with proving each other wrong?
Speaker A:Let me share again just a little bit about myself.
Speaker A:I'm a retired police officer.
Speaker A:In my years of service, I was responsible for conducting numerous investigations and providing testimony in courts of law.
Speaker A:My role required me to stick to the facts.
Speaker A:I could not offer any personal opinions or personal judgments.
Speaker A:I couldn't even speculate.
Speaker A:I could only testify to what I knew to be true based on the evidence.
Speaker A:Today, I want to bring that same approach to this discussion.
Speaker A:I am the prosecutor in this case, presenting the case for unity in the body of Christ.
Speaker A:You, the audience, serve as the grand jury.
Speaker A:Your role is to evaluate the evidence and decide whether Jesus's own words, the red letter words, and many Bibles, are sufficient to unite us and guide us in our mission.
Speaker A:Let me take a moment just to define some key terms that will guide this discussion.
Speaker A:First, we have in courts of law something called direct testimony.
Speaker A:This refers to the words of Jesus himself as recorded in the Gospels and in the Book of Revelation.
Speaker A:These words, often printed in red, represent what Jesus said himself directly.
Speaker A:They are not open to interpretation.
Speaker A:They're not open to debate.
Speaker A:They are the evidence we will examine.
Speaker A:Second, hearsay refers to any interpretation, tradition or doctrine added by others after Jesus spoke.
Speaker A:These include personal opinions, denominational teachings, theological reflections.
Speaker A:Hearsay will be dismissed as inadmissible in our case as it distracts from the pure, unchanging truth of Jesus own words.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Why do the red letters of Jesus hold absolute authority?
Speaker A:Because everyone has agreed they are his words.
Speaker A:Jesus made it clear he did not speak.
Speaker A:Think about this now.
Speaker A:He did not speak on his own authority.
Speaker A:He said, I have not spoken on my own authority.
Speaker A:But the Father who sent me gave me a command what I should say, what I should speak.
Speaker A:And I know his command is everlasting life.
Speaker A:Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak.
Speaker A:You read that yourself.
Speaker A:John, chapter 12, verse 49 and 50.
Speaker A:Now, in those words, Jesus words are the very words of God the Father.
Speaker A:So they carry significance as if God said it Himself.
Speaker A:They carry eternal significance.
Speaker A:They carry divine authority.
Speaker A:They are not mere opinions.
Speaker A:They're not teachings of man.
Speaker A:They are the ultimate truth.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:That's item number one that we have to agree upon as we move forward here.
Speaker A:Now, Jesus affirmed the timeless nature of his words, saying, heaven and earth will pass away.
Speaker A:My words will by no means pass away.
Speaker A: That's in Matthew: Speaker A:His teachings were not confined to a specific time or a specific culture.
Speaker A:They were spoken for all people in all generations, and they remain as relevant today as when he first uttered them.
Speaker A:This is why his words, and his words alone must be the foundation of our faith and practice.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Now let me explain a little bit about how a grand jury works.
Speaker A:In grand jury proceedings, only the prosecutor presents evidence.
Speaker A:There is no defense, no counter arguments, no debate.
Speaker A:The grand jury's role is to listen to the evidence and determine whether it supports the case being made for this discussion.
Speaker A:The evidence will come exclusively from Jesus own words, his direct testimony.
Speaker A:If something appears divisive or speculative, then we will dismiss it as hearsay and return to the standard, what exactly did Jesus say?
Speaker A:Our purpose today is to address the disunity within the body of Christ and the ways it hinders our ability to share the gospel effectively.
Speaker A:Jesus words are eternal, unchanging, universally relevant.
Speaker A:They are sufficient for building unity, guiding our lives, fulfilling our mission.
Speaker A:Yet we often allow personal interpretations and denominational differences to obscure their simplicity and their power.
Speaker A:This is why we must return to the source, which is the red letter words of Jesus.
Speaker A:Now, we can agree that his words are the final authority, like a ruling from the Supreme Court.
Speaker A:And we can put an end to these disputes and unite around his truth.
Speaker A:However, let me make something clear here, folks.
Speaker A:If this discussion begins to feel divisive, we can know with certainty that this is not the interpretation Jesus intended.
Speaker A:He came to unite, not divide.
Speaker A:If we find ourselves heading down a path of division, we must stop, step back, and ask, well, what did Jesus say about this?
Speaker A:His words will not lead us astray, folks.
Speaker A:They were given to bring us together, not tear us apart.
Speaker A:So I ask you, can we agree to use his red letter words as our final authority?
Speaker A:Can we agree that his words are sufficient for guarding our faith, our practice, and our mission?
Speaker A:If so, we're ready to begin together.
Speaker A:Let's examine this evidence.
Speaker A:Let's build the unity Jesus prayed for, folks, grounded on the eternal, unshakable truth of his teachings.
Speaker A:And the case begins Right now.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Let's talk about the authority of Jesus.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian Grand Jury, we begin with the cornerstone of our case, which is the authority of Jesus Words.
Speaker A:Without this foundation, everything falls apart.
Speaker A:So let me ask you, what makes Jesus word authoritative?
Speaker A:We should give them precedence over traditions, precedence over interpretations, precedence over denominational teachings.
Speaker A:The answer why we need to do this lies with Jesus Himself.
Speaker A: e Himself declared in Matthew: Speaker A:He did not say some authority.
Speaker A:He said all authority.
Speaker A:All authority means what?
Speaker A:All, right, everything.
Speaker A:This is not the claim of a mere teacher or a prophet or a moral leader.
Speaker A:It's the declaration of the Son of God who holds complete sovereignty over all of creation.
Speaker A:His words are not suggestions.
Speaker A:His words are commands from the One who governs both heaven and earth.
Speaker A:But where does this authority come from?
Speaker A:Jesus Himself answered that question.
Speaker A:He said, for I have not spoken of my own authority, but the Father who sent me gave me a command what I should say and what I should speak.
Speaker A: That's in John: Speaker A:Every word that Jesus spoke came directly from God the Father.
Speaker A:That's critical for us to understand in this proceeding.
Speaker A:His words are not human interpretations or reflections.
Speaker A:They are divine decrees from God Himself.
Speaker A:When we listen to Jesus, we are listening to God Himself, speaking through Him.
Speaker A:This is why Jesus could say, the words that I speak to you are Spirit, they are life.
Speaker A:John 6:63.
Speaker A:His words are not just informative, hahaha.
Speaker A:They go beyond that.
Speaker A:They are transformative.
Speaker A:They carry the power to bring life, to renew, to heal, to restore.
Speaker A:They are not bound by time and culture or human opinion.
Speaker A:They are eternal truths spoken by the eternal Word of Almighty God.
Speaker A:Consider this.
Speaker A:Jesus demonstrated his authority time and time and time again in the Sermon on the mount.
Speaker A:In Matthew 5:21 and 22, he said, you've heard that.
Speaker A:It was said to those of old.
Speaker A:But I say to you, in doing this, he clarified the law not as an interpreter, but as the Lawgiver himself.
Speaker A:He had the authority to tell us what God intended.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Furthermore, Jesus tied His authority to judgment.
Speaker A:He said in John 5:22, for the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son Him.
Speaker A:This means his words are not just teachings to guide us.
Speaker A:No, they are the very standard by which we will be judged.
Speaker A:Rejecting his words is not a minor offense, folks.
Speaker A:It is a rejection of God's ultimate authority.
Speaker A:So what does this mean for us living in this day and age in which we live in it means that every denominational tradition, every personal opinion, every theological interpretation must bow to the authority of Jesus words.
Speaker A:If Jesus holds all authority, then his words must be our final standard for faith and practice.
Speaker A:Can we get an amen on that?
Speaker A:Shalt say amen somebody somewhere Praise God.
Speaker A:Divisions within the church often arise when we place human ideas above Jesus divine teachings.
Speaker A:But unity can only be found when we return to his authority.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian Grand Jury, let us lay this first brick firmly in place.
Speaker A:The authority of Jesus words is unmatched.
Speaker A:He is the ultimate authority.
Speaker A:His words are the foundation upon which the body of Christ must stand.
Speaker A:Period.
Speaker A:Now let's move on to the second brick, the timelessness of Jesus teachings.
Speaker A:Having established now the authority of Jesus Words, we need to consider his timeliness.
Speaker A:Why is this so important?
Speaker A:Because if Jesus words were bound to a specific time or a specific culture, well, then they would lose their relevance.
Speaker A: But Jesus declared in Matthew: Speaker A:My words will by no means pass away.
Speaker A:His words are eternal.
Speaker A:His words are unchanging.
Speaker A:His words are always, always applicable.
Speaker A:Now let's think about what this means.
Speaker A:Everything in this world is temporary.
Speaker A:Kingdoms rise, kingdoms fall.
Speaker A:Even the very earth beneath our feet will one day pass away.
Speaker A:But Jesus assures us that his words will endure forever.
Speaker A:They are not like the laws of men.
Speaker A:The laws of man has to be revised and changed, discarded as societies evolve.
Speaker A:But his words are fixed.
Speaker A:His words are eternal because they come from an eternal God.
Speaker A:Now, some could argue that times have changed, that we need to reinterpret Jesus's teachings to fill the modern world, to fit the society we live in.
Speaker A:Now, let's remember what we outlined.
Speaker A:The beginning.
Speaker A:When there's a question, we go back to the word Jesus said.
Speaker A:Well, actually, I think he quoted Isaiah.
Speaker A:Jesus said, the grass withers, the flower falls away.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:But the Word of the Lord endures forever.
Speaker A:That's in Isaiah 40, and I think Peter quoted as well.
Speaker A:But if His Word endures forever, if the Word of God endures forever, if Jesus's words endure forever, I mean, it doesn't need to be reinterpreted by humans.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:They simply need to be obeyed.
Speaker A:Consider the universal principle Jesus taught.
Speaker A:Take for instance, the Great Commandment, right?
Speaker A:You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and the seconds like it.
Speaker A:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Speaker A: Matthew: Speaker A:These are not principles that age with time or become irrelevant.
Speaker A:They speak to the very Heart of human existence, our relationship with God and with one another.
Speaker A:Or think about Jesus command to forgive.
Speaker A:If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Speaker A:Matthew 6:14.
Speaker A:Is forgiveness ever outdated?
Speaker A:You better hope it's not.
Speaker A:You better hope it's not.
Speaker A:If it's ever irrelevant to forgive, that means it's also irrelevant to show mercy or receive mercy.
Speaker A:Is that possible?
Speaker A:Well, yeah, it's possible.
Speaker A:Is it good?
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:These teachings are as necessary today, just as they were when Jesus first spoke them to his disciples 2,000 years ago.
Speaker A:But let us consider now.
Speaker A:Jesus warning against replacing his words with human traditions.
Speaker A:He said, in vain, they worship me teaching as doctrines what the commandments of men.
Speaker A:Think about that.
Speaker A:Matthew 15:9.
Speaker A:They teach as doctrines the commandments of men.
Speaker A:When we reinterpret Jesus words to align with our culture, we risk nullifying the eternal truth of his teachings.
Speaker A:His words do not change to fit us.
Speaker A:We're called to change, to align with his words.
Speaker A:The timelessness of Jesus words assures us that they are sufficient for every generation.
Speaker A:Whether we face a moral dilemma, social challenges, theological debates, his teachings provide the guidance we need.
Speaker A:We don't need to reinvent them.
Speaker A:We need to return to them.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Oh, shout amen.
Speaker A:Somebody somewhere.
Speaker A:Folks, this second brick now that we just laid reinforces our foundation.
Speaker A:Jesus words are not relics of the past.
Speaker A:They are eternal truths.
Speaker A:Eternal truths that remain relevant and powerful for all time.
Speaker A:Now we go to the third brick in our foundation, the universality of Jesus principles.
Speaker A:We've established his authority and the timeliness of his words.
Speaker A:Let's now turn to how they apply universally.
Speaker A:Jesus teachings transcend boundaries of culture, nationality, denominations.
Speaker A:His words address the fundamental needs of humanity itself, making them applicable to everyone, everywhere, for all time.
Speaker A:Jesus summoned up the entirety of God's law in two commandments.
Speaker A:You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind.
Speaker A:This is the first and great commandment.
Speaker A:The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Speaker A: That's in Matthew: Speaker A:These commandments are not bound by culture or time.
Speaker A:They speak to the essence of human existence, our relationship with God and with one another.
Speaker A:No matter where we are, when we live, where we live, these principles apply.
Speaker A:Love for God, love for others is the foundation of a thriving relationship with the Creator and with all of humanity.
Speaker A:Now consider Jesus's invitation.
Speaker A:Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden.
Speaker A:And what I, Jesus himself will give you rest.
Speaker A: That's in Matthew: Speaker A:This is a universal call.
Speaker A:Jesus does not restrict his invitation to a specific group.
Speaker A:He does not say, come to me, you Jews, come to me, you righteous ones.
Speaker A:No, he says, come to me, all of you.
Speaker A:His invitations inclusive.
Speaker A:Welcoming sinners.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Welcoming sinners.
Speaker A:Oh, I've been in some churches.
Speaker A:Oh yes I have.
Speaker A:I'm thinking of one right now.
Speaker A:Way back, this is way back 30 some years ago.
Speaker A:Debating whether to share this.
Speaker A:But Lord, put my my heart.
Speaker A:So I'm going to go ahead and do it.
Speaker A:This woman came in and she was a dancer at a club, put it like that.
Speaker A:She wasn't wearing church clothes.
Speaker A:She came into a Baptist church, sat in the back.
Speaker A:Nobody greeted her.
Speaker A:Nobody.
Speaker A:Not the ushers, not nobody.
Speaker A:She sat there.
Speaker A:Now a couple weeks later she came back.
Speaker A:She was wearing the right clothes and they were talking to.
Speaker A:And she said that she wanted to change her life and that's why she came into that church that day.
Speaker A:It was the word that changed her, wasn't the people.
Speaker A:They, they were like, oh, how dare she come to church looking like that, Folks, I'm telling you, that was 30 some years ago and it's still happening today.
Speaker A:It was happening in Jesus's day, right?
Speaker A:Jesus did not say that.
Speaker A:He said, welcome the sinners.
Speaker A:Welcome the brokenhearted.
Speaker A:Welcome the marginalized.
Speaker A:Welcome.
Speaker A:Welcome the weary.
Speaker A:The universal reach, folks, of Jesus teachings is further demonstrated in the Great Commission.
Speaker A:Go therefore make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:The gospel is not just for a select few people, folks.
Speaker A:No, it's for everyone.
Speaker A:Jesus words are meant to be proclaimed at every corner of the earth.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:That's why we do this on the Internet, because the Internet crosses borders.
Speaker A:The Internet goes into all regions of the earth.
Speaker A:Praise God for the Internet.
Speaker A:It crosses all cultural linguistic barriers.
Speaker A:The word of God carries all of the authority, all of the power, all of the miracles, everything that is.
Speaker A:There is no person anywhere in this world that has a need that the word of God cannot meet.
Speaker A:Via healing, finances, intellectual things.
Speaker A:The word itself can do all things.
Speaker A:Now let's also go and consider Jesus's parables.
Speaker A:Oh, these parables are awesome.
Speaker A:They contain universal truths that resonate from people from all walks of life.
Speaker A: e of the Good Samaritan, Luke: Speaker A:The parable of prodigal Son.
Speaker A:How many of us can Raise your hand if you can relate to the prodigal son story, whether you're male or female.
Speaker A:Luke 15, verses 11 to 32.
Speaker A:Praise God for the Praggial Son story.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:I mean, that reveals God's unchanging love for the lost and his willingness to forgive.
Speaker A:It's a message that speaks to every single heart in every age.
Speaker A:But what happens when we limit Jesus words to our denominational interpretations or cultural prefaces?
Speaker A:That's where division creeps in.
Speaker A:Denominations argue over nuances of theology, and believers focus on their differences rather than their shared faith in Christ.
Speaker A:This is not what Jesus intended.
Speaker A:He prayed that they all may be one, as you, Father in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us.
Speaker A: In John: Speaker A:Unity in the body of Christ begins with a commitment to Jesus's universal principles.
Speaker A:If we focus on his red letter words, we will see that his teachings provide a common ground, a common ground for all believers.
Speaker A:His commands to love God, love others, forgive to serve.
Speaker A:They're not confined to a single culture.
Speaker A:They're not confined to a single denomination or a single era of time.
Speaker A: sal truths that unite us back: Speaker A:One body under one Lord.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian Grand Jury, this third brick strengthens our foundation.
Speaker A:Jesus principles are not just for some, they are for all.
Speaker A:His teachings provide the path to unity and the common ground we so desperately need in this divided world.
Speaker A:Now let's go to the fourth brick of this foundation today.
Speaker A:Warnings against alteration or addition to the words of God.
Speaker A:As we build upon the authority, the timeliness, the universality of Jesus own words, we must now address his warnings about altering or adding to his teachings.
Speaker A:These warnings are not mere suggestions.
Speaker A:They're serious commands meant to preserve the purity of his message and prevent division in the church, not create it.
Speaker A:Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, the leading religious scholars of his day, for elevating human tradition above God's own commandments.
Speaker A:He said in Matthew 15:6, Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by what?
Speaker A:Your traditions.
Speaker A:This is a powerful indictment.
Speaker A:The Pharisees had taken the divine law and overlaid it with their own rules and interpretations, effectively nullifying God's word.
Speaker A:Jesus rebuked reminds us that human traditions, no matter how well intentioned they may be, can distort the truth.
Speaker A:In the Book of Revelation, Jesus issued a dire warning.
Speaker A:If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, if anyone takes away from the words of the Book of Prophecy, God will take away his part from the Book of Life.
Speaker A:Folks, that I'm telling you right now, that is.
Speaker A:That's scary if you think about it.
Speaker A:While this warning specifically addresses the prophecy of revelation, the principle applies to everyone and all of Jesus teachings.
Speaker A:His words are complete.
Speaker A:They don't lack anything.
Speaker A:They don't need anything.
Speaker A:They don't need to be supplemented by anything.
Speaker A:And they don't need to be diminished either.
Speaker A:Why is this important?
Speaker A:Because division in the church often rises when people add to or reinterpret Jesus's teachings.
Speaker A:Denominations develop doctrines.
Speaker A:We'll just use that word.
Speaker A:And that's what Jesus used to.
Speaker A:Denominations develop doctrines that go beyond the words of Christ, creating barriers between believers.
Speaker A:Tradition becomes elevated to the level of Scripture, leading to disputes over what is right and what is wrong.
Speaker A:Consider Jesus own words and John 8:32, you shall know the truth, and what the truth shall make you free.
Speaker A:The truth he refers to is the Word, His Word.
Speaker A:When we add to or take away from his teachings, we obscure that truth and we enslave ourselves to human doctrines.
Speaker A:Freedom in Christ comes from adhering to his pure, unaltered words.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian Grand Jury, let's heed Jesus warnings.
Speaker A:His words are sufficient.
Speaker A:His words is all we need.
Speaker A:They don't need to be improved upon.
Speaker A:They don't need to be updated.
Speaker A:They don't need to be reinterpreted.
Speaker A:Altering his teachings leads to division.
Speaker A:That's what causes it.
Speaker A:But embracing his words as they are leads to unity and freedom.
Speaker A:Let this fourth brick now reinforce our foundation, ensuring that we remain faithful to the pure and unchanging words of Christ.
Speaker A:Hallelujah.
Speaker A:Now we go to the fifth brook of the fifth brick of the foundation, the call for unity based on his teachings.
Speaker A:And we come to the culmination of our argument, the call for unity in the body of Christ, grounded in the teachings of Jesus.
Speaker A:Praise the Lord.
Speaker A:Division has plagued the church for centuries.
Speaker A:But Jesus prayed for unity among his followers, didn't he?
Speaker A: In John: Speaker A:What is going to be the testimony to the world?
Speaker A:Unity.
Speaker A:That's what he's saying.
Speaker A:Unity is not a minor theme that.
Speaker A:Yeah, okay, yeah, he talked about a little bit.
Speaker A:And Jesus has meant it.
Speaker A:No, it's the central theme that's central part of his mission.
Speaker A:He knew a divided church would hinder the spread of the Gospel.
Speaker A:He also knew that unity among believers would serve as a powerful, powerful testimony to the entire world.
Speaker A:So how do we achieve this unity?
Speaker A:By returning to his words.
Speaker A:Jesus says, sanctify them by your truth.
Speaker A:Your word is truth.
Speaker A: John: Speaker A:Unity comes not from compromise, nor unity does not come from consensus, but from alignment with his truth.
Speaker A:And his truth is his word.
Speaker A:His teachings are the foundation upon which we have to build the unity.
Speaker A:Not traditions of men, not doctrines of men, not as I outlined before bishops and apostles and popes and all that.
Speaker A:No titles mean nothing when it comes to what did Jesus say?
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:But what does this unity actually look like?
Speaker A:Jesus gave the answer to that as well.
Speaker A: He said in John: Speaker A:If you have love one for another.
Speaker A:True unity is marked by love.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Love that transcends denominational lines, Love that transcends theological differences.
Speaker A:Love that transcends cultural barriers.
Speaker A:Now, let's stop right there for a second, because this does not mean we ignore our differences.
Speaker A:It means we prioritize Jesus's words above all else.
Speaker A:That's it.
Speaker A:That's all it means you don't have to accept communion every Sunday.
Speaker A:You don't have to accept it on the fifth Sunday of the months when we have five Sundays.
Speaker A:You should be take communion every day if you want to.
Speaker A:You got to honor God with it.
Speaker A:Okay?
Speaker A:Just don't get it in a ritual like, oh, yeah, I drink wine and eat bread every day.
Speaker A:No, that's not what I'm talking about.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Don't shut me down when I'm preaching.
Speaker A:Good.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:If your tradition is you take communion every day, praise God.
Speaker A:But are you looking down on your neighbor?
Speaker A:Because he doesn't.
Speaker A:That's what we're talking about here.
Speaker A:And I just waved my finger in front of.
Speaker A:Like my grandmother used to do.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Ah, Some traditions just don't stop, do they?
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:But when we focus on his commands on Jesus commands to love, to forgive, to serve, we find common ground.
Speaker A:Divisions arise when we elevate secondary issues above the primary mission of the gospel.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian grand jury, let this final brick complete the foundation we're trying to lay.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Unity in the body of Christ begins and ends with Jesus teachings.
Speaker A:His words are sufficient to guide us, to unite us, to empower us, to fulfill the Great Commission.
Speaker A:We need to commit to his truth and Answer his call to be one together.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Now, in every grand jury, proceed.
Speaker A:As I said, I act as the role of the prosecutor.
Speaker A:I present evidence for you to make a decision.
Speaker A:But to be fair and to give you the total picture, I want to address potential counter arguments to the evidence I just presented to you.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian grand jury, as the prosecutor, it is my responsibility to present to you the full picture.
Speaker A:Not just the evidence that supports my case, but also the arguments that might challenge it so you can make a well informed decision.
Speaker A:You need to not only understand the strength of the case for the authority of the words of Jesus, but also the perspective of those who might disagree with Pastor Bob's saying.
Speaker A:Right now, this is not about tearing down others.
Speaker A:It's about examining the claims made by various denominational and theological perspectives to see whether they hold up under the standard of what Jesus taught.
Speaker A:We're not here to pass judgment on individuals or churches.
Speaker A:We are here to weigh the arguments to determine whether they align with the unchanging truth of Jesus.
Speaker A:Red letter words.
Speaker A:So I now want to examine five major counterarguments, each rooted in specific traditions or theological frameworks, and evaluate them in light of the evidence we have already presented.
Speaker A:The first challenge is the Apostolic tradition and the authority of the Church.
Speaker A:Our first objection comes from the Roman Catholic tradition.
Speaker A:This holds that Jesus teachings must be understood through the lens of the apostolic tradition and the authority of the Church.
Speaker A:There is no light argument.
Speaker A:It's rooted in Scripture and centuries of Church history.
Speaker A:The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus entrusted his apostles, particularly Peter, with the authority to interpret and expand his teachings.
Speaker A:This belief is supported by the words of Jesus to Peter is what they use.
Speaker A:He says, and I also say to you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.
Speaker A:The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Speaker A:I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that whatever you bind on earth be bound in heaven.
Speaker A:Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Speaker A:That's the authority the Catholic Church says they receive to do what they do.
Speaker A:That's Matthew 16, verse 18 and 19.
Speaker A:I believe it is based on this passage.
Speaker A:The Catholic Church argues that the authority of Jesus is extended to the apostles and their successors, the bishops of the Church.
Speaker A:With the Pope as Peter's ultimate successor.
Speaker A:They claim that the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has the power to interpret Jesus teachings, to develop doctrines and preserve tradition alongside Scripture.
Speaker A: th the words of Jesus in John: Speaker A:But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, and he will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all things that I said to you.
Speaker A:Catholics interpret this as Jesus promising that the Holy Spirit would guide the Church, enabling it to preserve and to explain his teachings faithfully.
Speaker A:Now this argument carries weight.
Speaker A:It appeals to the continuity of the apostolic authority and the belief that Jesus established the Church as his enduring representative on this earth.
Speaker A:But we have to ask ourselves, does this line up with what Jesus actually said, or does it risk basically elevating human traditions above the divine truth?
Speaker A:Well, again we said where there's a question, we have to go back to the words of Jesus.
Speaker A:So in Mark chapter seven, verse eight and nine, Jesus said, laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men all too well.
Speaker A:You reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition.
Speaker A:Jesus warned against allowing traditions, even well intentioned traditions, to overshadow God's commands.
Speaker A:While apostolic tradition can offer valuable context, it must never ever, ever contradict or try to override Jesus direct teachings.
Speaker A:The red letter Let the red letter words must remain the ultimate authority it has to.
Speaker A:Ladies and gentlemen of the Christian Grand Jury, let's take a moment now to reframe and clarify this relationship between the teachings of Jesus and those of the Apostle Paul.
Speaker A:Now there's I'm going to step all over your traditional toes right now, so if you don't want them stepped on, pull them back underneath the table.
Speaker A:At first glance, it may appear these two figures central to the New Testament are addressing different, even contradictory, paths to faith and salvation.
Speaker A:But a deeper examination reveals that Paul was not creating a new teaching, nor was he reinterpreting what Jesus said.
Speaker A:Instead, Paul's writings align with and expand on Jesus teachings in ways that reflect their shared divine inspiration.
Speaker A:And to understand this relationship, you have to first recognize the foundation upon which Paul built his ministry.
Speaker A:Paul was not some rogue theologian inventing new doctrines.
Speaker A:He explicitly declared, for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Speaker A:As in First Corinthians 3:11, Paul consistently pointed back to Jesus as the cornerstone of his teaching, making it clear that his role was to build upon what Christ had already established.
Speaker A:Now we have Paul submitting to Jesus authority.
Speaker A:Paul understood that his calling as an apostle came directly from Jesus himself.
Speaker A:On that road to Damascus, Paul encountered the risen Jesus, who said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Speaker A:It's hard for you to kick against the goads.
Speaker A:Acts 9:5.
Speaker A:This moment was transformative for Paul, it redirected his zealous energy from opposing Christ to proclaiming Christ.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:From that moment on, Paul acknowledged Jesus authority as supreme.
Speaker A:He acknowledged his ministry was dedicated to explaining and spreading the message of salvation found in Christ.
Speaker A:In Galatians, chapter 1, verses 11 and 12, Paul emphasized the divine origin of his gospel.
Speaker A:He said, but I made known to you, brothers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man, for I neither received it from man nor was I taught it by man.
Speaker A:It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Speaker A:Paul's writings, therefore, were not independent of Jesus teachings.
Speaker A:Instead, they were inspired explanations and applications of the truths that Jesus revealed from his earthly ministry.
Speaker A:Paul's mission and His Audiences to fully appreciate the harmony between Jesus and Paul, you must consider their distinct context.
Speaker A:Jesus primarily ministered to a Jewish audience under the Mosaic Law, addressing their struggles with legalism, with hypocrisy, and their misplaced priorities.
Speaker A:His teachings often emphasize the fulfillment of the law and the call to repentance.
Speaker A:Do not think I came to destroy the law or the prophets.
Speaker A:I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill, he said in Matthew 5:17.
Speaker A:Paul, on the other hand, ministered to a diverse audience that included Gentiles who were unfamiliar with the Mosaic Law.
Speaker A:His role was to explain how Jesus, death and resurrection was provided salvation for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
Speaker A:This required Paul to address questions about the law's role in salvation, leading to his famous declaration in Ephesians 2:889, for by grace you've been saved through faith and not faith of yourselves.
Speaker A:It's a gift of God, not of works.
Speaker A:Lest anyone should boast.
Speaker A:Paul's focus on grace and faith did not contradict Jesus teachings at all.
Speaker A:It applied them to a broader audience who are wrestling with different challenges.
Speaker A:Should we become Jewish or not all that.
Speaker A:So let's address now the alleged contradictions between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of Paul.
Speaker A:Critics will often claim that Jesus emphasized works and obedience, while Paul focused solely on grace by faith.
Speaker A:These differences are not contradictions.
Speaker A:Their complementary perspectives on the same truth Salvation faith works Jesus frequently emphasized the necessity of good works as evidence of genuine Faith.
Speaker A:In Matthew 7:21, he said, not everyone who says to me, lord, Lord is going to enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven, that's who gets into heaven.
Speaker A:Similarly, in his parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus described the righteous as those who cared for the hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, concluding and as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren.
Speaker A:You did it to me.
Speaker A: Matthew: Speaker A:Paul, meanwhile, wrote extensively about justification by faith, as in Romans 3:28.
Speaker A:Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Speaker A:Now, at first glance, it seems like these statements are at odds.
Speaker A:But upon closer examination, we see that Jesus and Paul are addressing different aspects of the same truth.
Speaker A:Jesus was challenging superficial faith lip service with no action.
Speaker A:Paul, on the other hand, was addressing legalism, the belief that salvation could be earned through adherence to the Mosaic Law and by the works that you would do both affirm that true faith produces evidence.
Speaker A:Paul made that clear in Galatians 5:6.
Speaker A:For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but faith working through love.
Speaker A:Paul's message aligns with Jesus teachings in John 15:8.
Speaker A:By this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciples.
Speaker A:Now another area of perceived tension is the role of Mosaic law.
Speaker A:Jesus said, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
Speaker A: Matthew: Speaker A:Paul wrote, for by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight.
Speaker A:That's in Romans 3:20.
Speaker A:Well, there is a problem.
Speaker A:Well, we said, if we come up to what appears to be a contradiction, we need to revert to the words of Jesus.
Speaker A:The resolution lies in understanding the purpose of the law.
Speaker A:Jesus fulfilled the law's righteous requirements, demonstrating what true obedience would look like.
Speaker A:Paul explained that the law reveals our sinfulness and our need for grace.
Speaker A:Galatians 3:24.
Speaker A:Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
Speaker A:Both Jesus and Paul affirm the necessity of grace while upholding the moral and spiritual principles of the law.
Speaker A:A final point of contention involves judgment and grace.
Speaker A:Jesus warned of judgment based on words and actions, saying, by your words you will be justified.
Speaker A:By your words you will be condemned.
Speaker A: Matthew: Speaker A:Paul, however, emphasized grace right in and in Romans 8:1 Therefore is there.
Speaker A:There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Speaker A:Once again, these teachings are not contradictory.
Speaker A:Jesus and Paul both affirm grace is not a license to sin.
Speaker A:Paul wrote in Romans 6:1 and 2, what shall we say then?
Speaker A:Shall we continue in sin so grace may abound?
Speaker A:Certainly not.
Speaker A:How shall we who died the sin live any longer in it?
Speaker A:Grace does not eliminate accountability, folks.
Speaker A:It empowers to live.
Speaker A:It empowers us to live in righteousness.
Speaker A:Just as Jesus taught this apparent contradiction is a central argument.
Speaker A:Those who claim that Paul's writings provide a necessary lens through which to interpret Jesus words.
Speaker A:They suggest that without Paul's explanation, Jesus teachings on works could be misunderstand as advocating a worse works based salvation.
Speaker A:But folks, that's not how we should be interpreting it.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:I know I'm running out of time.
Speaker A:Starting to shift this into high gear now.
Speaker A:Ah, no, I can't do that, I, I can't do that.
Speaker A:I. Ah, well like I said, we're about out of time for today.
Speaker A:I told you what I water.
Speaker A:I went ah, I'm just ready, you know, I've been shifting gears and I'm on a roll.
Speaker A:I can go another 20, 30 minutes here easy.
Speaker A:But we need to leave it here for today.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:I pray you're getting a lot out of this discussion today.
Speaker A:I'm having a great, I guess you could tell I'm having a great time debunking erroneous teachings that are based on basically tradition rather than the words of Jesus himself.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Drop down the show notes, let me know what you think about this teaching.
Speaker A:If you agree with what I'm sharing, tell which parts you agree with, which parts you like.
Speaker A:If you disagree, tell me which parts you disagree with as well and why.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Before we go, I do want to give the Holy Spirit time to do what he does best and that is to draw someone to Jesus.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:So if you have never asked Jesus to come into your life, come into your heart, or maybe you have and you drifted away, maybe something that was said today inspired you, like, wow, I've been messing this up.
Speaker A:I need to get right with the Lord.
Speaker A:Well, if you're ready to do that, I want to pray with you right now.
Speaker A:You can get rid of that sin nature once and for all.
Speaker A:Just pray with me right now.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for your blessings upon me.
Speaker A:I thank you for providing the way of salvation through Christ Jesus, my Lord.
Speaker A:Lord Jesus, I receive you as my Savior.
Speaker A:I recognize you died for me on that cross and the power of God raised you up from the dead.
Speaker A:Jesus, forgive me all I've ever done that offended you, that transgressed your word, Wash me, cleanse me by your precious blood, Come into my heart and create in me this new man, one that loves God, one that loves you, one that loves your word that I may walk with you for all of eternity.
Speaker A:Father, I thank you for loving me so much.
Speaker A:You gave Jesus as the price for my sin, my Perfect sacrifice.
Speaker A:And I accept you now, Lord Jesus as my Savior and I pray all this in Jesus name.
Speaker A:Amen and Amen.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Hallelujah.
Speaker A:I want to make you a unique offer.
Speaker A:I got about two minutes left.
Speaker A:My good friend Reverend Terry Christian, as I said, wrote the book on the topic.
Speaker A:What did Jesus say?
Speaker A:Literally, he wrote the book what did Jesus say?
Speaker A:It's the only red.
Speaker A:It only contains the red letter words of Jesus.
Speaker A:There's no commentary or anything like that.
Speaker A:It is powerful folks.
Speaker A:And I got a special deal for you.
Speaker A:If you go to link what did Jesus say dot world what did Jesus say dot world I'll leave a link in the show notes below as well.
Speaker A:When we post this, you can get the ebook what did Jesus say for just 9.95 and if you hurry before December 31, just a few days from now.
Speaker A:And I have a feeling if you did it on January 1st or 2nd, you'd still get this deal anyway.
Speaker A:But you get two books for that price so you can give one away.
Speaker A:They're ebooks.
Speaker A:Okay, 9.95, you get the ebook.
Speaker A:But if you do it quickly here in the next couple days, click that link down below, you get two for the price of one.
Speaker A:So you got one to give away to somebody.
Speaker A:Praise God.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:We're going to take up our case.
Speaker A:Unity for the body of Christ and our focus on what did Jesus really say?
Speaker A:In our next episode as we're presenting this as our court case before the grand jury, let me close today's court presentation.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:I'm gonna enjoy this.
Speaker A:I've been waiting for this moment because I just think it's great.
Speaker A:Be blessed while you do.
Speaker A:You have just heard a message of encouragement from anointed pastor and teacher Robert Thibodeau with Freedom Through Faith Ministries and Baltimore, Maryland.
Speaker A:For more information on the Freedom Through Faith Ministries or to invite Pastor Thibodell to your church, please Visit our website, www.ftfm.org.
Speaker A:that's FTFM for Freedom Through Faith Ministries.
Speaker A:Again, that's ftfm.org until next time.
Speaker A:When we gather together around the Word of God.
Speaker A:Be blessed and remember, we serve an awesome God.
