Babe Jesu Post March 28, 2006

At Theology Web, Babe Jesu posted on March 28, 2006 "Yes, Jesus Words Alone Can and Should be Followed for Eternal Life." He defended, in essence, the principle of Jesus Words Only. This warmed me to my topic and helped influence JWO. I have condensed this and cleaned up the text. It reads:

Hello, Grace, peace and love to all readers and posters of this thread and Forum.

After reading various posts for a long time, I came upon one that got my attention. The poster asked the question, "Can someone be called a Christian if he listened to Jesus' words alone?” The answer to this question is yes. I will go so far as to say, Paul's, James' Peter's and John's Epistles are NOT needed for one to Gain Eternal life. Jesus words are the only source for Eternal life. MY FAITH IS IN THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW MARK LUKE AND JOHN ONLY. Before you all press the Heretic Button, allow me to explain myself.

The words of Jesus are all we need to accept, in order to gain Eternal life. Jesus came with the soul saving message of repentance and love, long before Paul penned his First Epistle. Jesus administered eternal life, and saved people before Paul was converted. Examples of these are

1. The thief on the cross.

2. The woman who anointed his feet.

Hence, we can see that Eternal life is not dependant on any other teaching but Jesus' teaching.

Jesus disciples were to preach only what Jesus commanded.

Jesus gave the great commission to his disciples.

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Jesus Christ Matt 28:20)

The disciples were only to carry on the teachings of Jesus Christ ("all that I have commanded you"), nothing else! Hence, we can learn that all of what the disciples taught had its origins in Jesus' words. So, the only valid apostles of the Lord are those who preach upon Jesus' words.

Jesus urged the crowds to listen to him alone [i.e., the Sole Teacher statements in Matthew]. And this urging has not changed up to this day. We are to do the same. That is why through the Holy Spirit we have the 4 Gospels.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (Jesus Christ, John 14:26)

Without a doubt, the Holy Spirit aided those who wrote the Gospels "all that I have said to you".

Jesus had prime focus on his words.

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (John 12:47)

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I will judge him on the last day. (John 12:48)

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14:10)

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. (John 14:24)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.(John 15:7)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears [i.e., keeps listening to] my word and believes [i.e., keeps obeying unto] Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.(John 8:31)

I think John 8:31 sums it up pretty well. We, as Jesus' disciples, should only abide in his words. It is not my opinion but it is Jesus' command.

Information

We, as Jesus disciples, should strive to follow Jesus, and to follow someone we need to know all we can about them. And we find this information mainly in the Gospels. Thus, the Gospels should be our main source for information concerning Jesus.

Can we be saved if only we had the four Gospels? Of course we can. And I believe that Jesus' words (the Logos) is the ONLY source of Eternal life for us. And I don't worry myself with other parts of the Bible, neither do I argue or debate upon them, because to me all debates, and conflicts should be solved by seeing what Jesus says first.

What are my opinions on the other Parts of the Bible?

1. They are not essential for Eternal life, nor will they give you eternal life.

2. They are great in that they offer a look into the early life of the called out ones.

3. They offer great encouragement.

I am in no way want to belittle the TRUE disciples of Jesus Christ. And most of the New Testament Epistles agree with Jesus' words in the Gospels. For example:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14)

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.(Hebrews 2:14-15)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.(1 John 1:5-6)

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1John 1:10)

I would be silly and should be thrown off the forum, if I say, because these commands does not come from Jesus' mouth I will not keep them.
These and more agree with Jesus' teachings and I have no problem with them. So, for me, it is not a matter of refuting the true Apostles of Jesus.