This series is about following Christ and is not concerned with any human movement

This series is about following Christ and is not concerned with any human movement.

The emphasis throughout this study will be on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. (Jn 8:28-32)


John 8:28-32 - Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.


31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”


This was a very difficult concept for men to grasp. They had become accustomed to human movements that existed as a perversion of God’s way.


In human movements there are positions of power that are created and men that desire power that seek to take those positions.


In human movements there are positions of power that are created and men that desire power that seek to take those positions.

One can see the “benefits” of knowing the human rules and the political games that lets one climb the latter. (Jn 5:39-44)


John 5:39-44 - "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 41 "I do not receive honor from men. 42 "But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.


43 "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?


The battle that Jesus fought was for the hearts of men. Would they be free or slaves of men and ultimately Satan?


Most people found themselves unwilling to buck the social ties and human authority that they had become accustomed to.


Most people found themselves unwilling to buck the social ties and human authority that they had become accustomed to.

Rather than believe in Jesus they clung to empty words and were encouraged by the majority around them to resist Jesus. (Jn 8:32-40)


John 8:32-40 - "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.


35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 " I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."


39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.


These people gladly were led by their religious leaders to look at the battered

and bleeding Jesus in that face and cry “crucify him!” (Mk 15:9-14)


Mark 15:9-14 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.


12 Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13 So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" 14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"

The people of God are a product of the grace of God.

The grace of God is very powerful and very costly. (Heb 2:9; Titus 2:11-14)


Hebrews 2:9 - But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.


Titus 2:11-14 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,


14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.


It makes every man realize that his efforts, wisdom and wealth are nothing.


It makes every man realize that his efforts, wisdom and wealth are nothing.

When a man is emptied of himself by God’s grace then everything about him becomes indebted to this great gift. (Rom 1:14-17)


Romans 1:14-17 - I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.


17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.“


With the true grace –centered mindset one cares nothing for human movement and especially human denominations!


With the true grace –centered mindset one cares nothing for human movement and especially human denominations!

It is in this kind of heart that the things that religious men glory in that are falsely attributed to God become nothing to the child of God. (Phil 3:3-9)


Philippians 3:3-9 - For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;


6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ


9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;


It is in this very heart that the only glory that matters is the glory that is placed in the cross of Christ. (Gal 6:14)


Galatians 6:14 - But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.


This stand will bring great conflict with the religions of the world.


This stand will bring great conflict with the religions of the world.

The empty traditions of men make no impact on a heart built on the grace of God.


Why did much of the traditions of the Pharisees come about? (Mt 23:5-13)


Matthew 23:5-13 - "But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 "greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'


8 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.


12 "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.


The heart of grace knows that the traditions of men are for men and have no impact on the kind of walk God desires. (Col 2:8, 23)


Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.


Colossians 2:23 -These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.


There is a standard that the man moved by the grace of God will stand in. He will personally seek it and not let someone else do it for him!

The people of God are saved by grace through faith

The focal point of the people of God is God. They want someday to be face to face with Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:5-7)


Ephesians 1:5-7 - having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace


The blood of Christ and redemption that Jesus provides is the confidence Christians have that they have a relationship with God.


The blood of Christ and redemption that Jesus provides is the confidence Christians have that they have a relationship with God.

The blood of Christ is the sacrifice that men could not make! It is a perfect propitiation for our sins. (Rom 3:23-26)


Romans 3:23-26 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,


26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.


We cannot earn our salvation it is a free gift through Jesus Christ’s blood.



God has made the reception of His grace conditional. It is through faith.



God has made the reception of His grace conditional. It is through faith.

Here is where Christians break away from the popular theologians of history.


Faith is a choice and men are called on to act in faith. (Acts 2:37-40)


Acts 2:37-40 - Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation.”


A living faith is never alone, it acts with the promises of God throughout our lives. (James 2:24-26)


James 2:24-26 - You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Here is a major historic battleground that the Christian must fight to see. The conditions of pardon to become a Christian are the point where faith saves a man.


Here is a major historic battleground that the Christian must fight to see. The conditions of pardon to become a Christian are the point where faith saves a man.

Is confession and baptism an addition to being saved “by grace through faith?”


Does John 3:16 exclude baptism? No, because it would also by the same reasoning exclude repentance. (Acts 3:19; Lk 24:47)


John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.


Acts 3:19 - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,


Luke 24:47 - "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.


Did the jailer just believe? (Acts 16:30-31)


Acts 16:30-31 - And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.“


He had to be taught what to believe! What did he do immediately? (Acts 16:32-33)


Acts 16:32-33 - Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.


When the jailer’s actions were described, what had he done? (Acts 16:34)


Acts 16:34 - Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.


This stand has caused a necessary separation from the denominational world.

The people of God are committed to follow Jesus alone

The same stand to find the grace of God continues with all of God’s will. (2 Thess 2:15-17)


2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 - Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.


The grace of God causes a man to gladly walk a very narrow road!


The grace of God causes a man to gladly walk a very narrow road!

He takes the same attitude of Jesus to the Father by completely yielding to His thoughts. (Jn 12:48-50)


John 12:48-50 - "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.


50 "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.“


By walking in “Christ Alone” we make sure our paths are found in Him.


By walking in “Christ Alone” we make sure our paths are found in Him.

The stand of having “Book, Chapter, and Verse” for our teaching a practice is a tribute to Christ’s complete work and our desire to glorify Him. (Col 3:17; 1 Pt 4:11)


Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.


1 Peter 4:11 - If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.


Under this motivation in years past Christians were know as “walking Bibles.”


Questions to Consider:


Questions to Consider: 1. How do human movements fight the real

path of discipleship to Christ?



path of discipleship to Christ? 2. How is real freedom in Christ found?



path of discipleship to Christ? 2. How is real freedom in Christ found? 3. Why does the grace of God change and

motivate us?



path of discipleship to Christ? 2. How is real freedom in Christ found? 3. Why does the grace of God change and

motivate us? 4. Why does the blood of Christ have anything

to do with our salvation?


5. Does salvation by the grace of God exclude repentance? confession? Baptism?



6. Does salvation by faith exclude repentance? confession? Baptism? Explain!




7. How does salvation in Christ Alone cause us to carefully follow His Word?




7. How does salvation in Christ Alone cause us to carefully follow His Word?

8. Why would we insist for authority for our teaching and practice?

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This series is about following Christ and is not concerned with any human movement