Dear Mike,

Actually this question is not from me. Instead it is from one of my friends and co- brothers in the church.

He said that, during the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, he spoke most of the time to his disciples, the proof are the four gospels, and only on a few occasions did he speak to the people. In Mat 28:18-20, He said go and preach the gospel and baptize them in the name of Son, the Father and Holy Spirit. To whom is this great commission commanded; to His Disciples or including us today? Additionally, How can we categorize ourselves today as disciples or what; for obeying God?

The other question is that Jesus said in his word that we are to praise God in SPIRIT and TRUTH – we know how to praise God in Spirit but IN TRUTH – what does this mean, and HOW do we worship God ‘in truth?’

Thanks and God Bless you.

M____

Hi M____,

Christ did indeed give His disciple more training then He gave the multitudes. The entire ‘sermon on the mount’ was given to “His disciples”. If Christ had not spent more time in private with His disciples than He spent with the multitudes, then the disciples would have had no more understanding then the multitudes. But Christ expounded his parables to his disciples. He never expounded them to the multitudes. If He had explained them to the multitudes, then they would have understood what He was saying and that would have defeated the purpose for teaching in parables. Christ was not and Christ is not at this time trying to save this world!

Mat 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
Mat 13:2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables,

The disciples wanted to know why He was speaking to the multitudes only in parables.

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Ninety nine out of one hundred Christians will tell you that the answer to this question is that “Christ taught in parables so even a child could understand what He was saying.” According to Christ’s own answer to his disciples, this orthodox answer to this question could not be more diametrically opposed to the True reason why Christ spoke to the multitudes in parables. I am going to quote Christ’s answer to this question by His disciples, but before I do I want to point out the scriptural fact that “without a parable spoke He not unto the multitudes.” It is right here in this very 13th Chapter where His disciples ask Him why He taught the multitudes in parables:

Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Did you catch that? Christ’s parables contained within them “things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” So what is the purpose for the parables? Is it really, as all orthodox Christianity teaches “To make the truth so simple that even a child can understand the truth of the gospel?” Is that the purpose for Christ’s parables? You have a choice to make here. You can believe this orthodox answer to this very simple question and everything will go along smoothly for you. Everyone in your church will love you and you will be accepted by “the multitudes,” and “all men everywhere will speak well of you.” On the other hand, if you believe Christ’s answer to this question then “you shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake.” If you can receive the Truth, here it is straight from the mouth of Him who says “I am the Truth:”

Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because [ here is the purpose for parable] it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

There it is! Parables are used to keep the multitudes of church goers from understanding “the mysteries [ Gk. – secrets] of the kingdom of heaven.” Does that answer sound anything like ‘Therefore speak I to them in parables because I want to make the meaning so clear that even a child can understand?’

No, of course not. Christ even had to explain the parables to His disciples in private or they would never have understood them.

Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the [ meaning of the] parable…

The word ‘multitude’ is translated from the Greek word ochlos, and it appears 136 times in the gospels alone. Though it is never shown by Hollywood, Christ was constantly thronged by multitudes of people. He taught them only in parables because He did not want them to understand the secrets hidden in those parables.

Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Your next question is:

… Jesus said in his word [ to] praise God in SPIRIT and TRUTH – we know how to praise God in Spirit, but IN TRUTH? – What [ does] this mean and HOW [ do we worship God in truth]?

If you know how to worship God in ‘spirit’, then you know how to worship him in Truth. But if you do not know how to worship Him in Truth then you might want to examine how it is that you consider yourself as “worshiping God in spirit….” Here is why I say that:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth [ Greek- gives life]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Speaking in unknown tongues does not prove one is worshiping in spirit. Casting out demons, does not prove that one is worshiping in spirit. Experiencing healings and “many wonderful works” does not mean that one is worshiping in spirit. Look at this statement of our Lord:

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits [ Not ‘by their gifts’] ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The Corinthian church “came behind in no gift.”

1Co 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1Co 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1Co 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

And yet Paul tells these very same brothers in Christ:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

When one says ‘I am a Catholic or a protestant’, He is saying “I am of…” Consequently “… ye are yet carnal.” We are not to be divided.

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

The churches of orthodoxy may claim to be all ‘members of one body’, but neither Paul, nor Cephas (Peter) knew anything of denominationalism. Their letters were in perfect harmony and circulated freely among all the churches:

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

So now, when one who is wants to worship God “in spirit AND in Truth” dares to be faithful to that Truth and stands up for that Truth and quotes the very words of that Truth…:

Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

The ministers of all orthodox Christian denominations, denounce such a one and call him ‘divisive’ and say that it is he, the one who is worshiping God in spirit and in Truth, who is “unlearned and unstable [ and is] wresting the scriptures.” Orthodox Christianity cannot receive Christ’s words because they cannot receive Christ!

Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Nothing has changed in 2000 years. Those who cannot receive the words of Christ, those of whom Christ avers: “My word has no place in you” still want to kill those who are faithful to His word.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Just like Paul with the Corinthians, Jesus tells us that “those Jews which believed in Him” were “Abraham’s seed,” and in the same breath says “ If you were Abraham’s children…”

Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

It is the same today. It is still “those [ who say they are “inward Jews” and are not] who seek to kill those who remain faithful to God’s Word which tells us to ‘Love thine enemies,’ and ‘All who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.’

When you are living your life according to the words of Christ, to the point that you love your enemies, because you accept the scriptural fact that nothing happens without God causing it to happen, then your worship toward God will be “in spirit and in Truth.” Anything else, anything less, is not ‘in Truth.’ Orthodox Christianity refuses to give God His unashamed position as The Great Sovereign in all the affairs of all men! God is not sovereign just over all good. God is sovereign over “all things.” God does not ‘allow’ anything. God “worketh all things,” and He works all things after the counsel of His OWN will.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [ things].
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Amo 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

There are literally hundreds such scriptures in God’s Word. Be sure to read After The Counsel of His Own Will for dozens more scriptures on the sovereignty of God.

The beast within us all cannot give up his ‘free will’ throne for the sovereignty of God. Neither can he receive the words of Christ that require that we love our enemies. When we do the things Christ requires of us, then we will realize that it is He in us doing the works. He will do it before we even realize it!

Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Only with the mind of Christ in us are we capable of “worshiping in spirit and in Truth.” If we have that mind, then we do the doctrine.

I hope you are edified and encouraged by what I have written.

Mike