The BIG Picture (Shorts)

The phrase "look to Jesus" typically means following or imitating Christ according to what He has taught us in scripture. However, this is not true for us today. Jesus' earthly ministry was directed to Israel, not to us. His call for those to follow Him was directed to His kinsmen, the Jews, Matt 15:24.  We look to Jesus by looking into His Word. The only way we can grow in Him, learn of Him, and become like Him, is to study His Word and allow it to change our mind and our actions in obedience to it. When we look into his word we are instructed to look into the revelation of the mystery, which is the doctrine that Jesus gave to Paul to teach. Consider why Paul says the following in 1Cor 4:16, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” and in 1Cor 11:1 saying, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” In 1Tim 1:16 he also mentioned he is the pattern for all grace believers to imitate. So, to look to Jesus today, we follow Paul’s pattern and the princip...

In Gal 1:11-12 Paul wrote, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Then in Gal 1:15-17 he added, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen (the Gentiles); immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia,...".  Paul makes it very clear that his gospel came to him through direct revelation from the ascended Christ. It did not come from the other Apostles or any other person. I often hear people say, "I go by what Jesus said, not by what Paul said." The problem with this reasoning is that Paul's doctrine DID come from Jesus, after He ascended to heaven. So, if they are not going by Paul's doc...

The phrase "look to Jesus" typically means to follow Jesus' teachings, not men's traditions, ordinances, or church creeds. It involves studying His Word and obeying it. This is the only way to grow in Him, learn from Him, and become more like Him. But, do we look to Jesus' teachings in His earthly ministry, or do we look to the revelation of the mystery that Jesus gave to Paul to teach? Contrary to understanding, we should follow Paul's pattern and the principles of his doctrine. Paul encourages us to follow him and imitate him as a pattern for today. Jesus' earthly ministry was not directed towards us, as He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. So, in order to look to Jesus, one must follow the doctrine taught by Paul. His doctrine is given to us by the resurrected Christ and is meant to equip us to fulfill God's will in the present and prepare us for our heavenly purpose in the ages to come. Full article here: https://thebigpicture...