|
Item 3:
Because Jesus is who he says he is, are we to be like Him?
Jesus taught people using parables, which are
earthly stories with heavenly meaning. One of Jesus's parables
compared people's hearts to soil (Luke 8:11-15):
Now
the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the
wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away
the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the
word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and
in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns
are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with
cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to
maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who,
having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear
fruit with patience.
Also consider John 15:1-2, 6:
"I
am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in
Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that
bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. If anyone does
not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and
they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
We have the word of God, which is the Bible, to
guide us. Jesus said in John 14:23: "If anyone loves Me, he
will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to
him and make Our home with him."
So the Bible says to do what God asks -- which, if
you study it, is to be like Jesus. You can see from the verses
quoted here that those who do not do what God asks will not enjoy
the hope of eternal life with God.
|
