A Christian’s Obligation

Study: # 659-Church in the Houses

Pastor: Edith Cruz

From: November 16-22, 2010 TOPIC: “A Christian’s Obligation” Hebrew 13:1-9

God has given us the blessing to choose His road of life and salvation. But, some Christians think that just because they have converted they have everything at their feet and they want to demand as they please. How mistaken they live with the gospel that was taught by Jesus and followed by the apostles! Jesus, as well as the apostles, left us everything written in the Word of how we should conduct ourselves in this road. This gospel is honorable and it is to be lived in obedience according to the love, the justice and holiness of God. If we really know the Lord and His Gospel we keep His commandments. 1 John 2: 3 What happens is that nowadays some men with bad intentions have hidden behind what is called the gospel and have turned it into a business in a perverse way. They clean their image with the blood of the lamb that is pure, holy. Those who take advantage want to present the gospel as something artistic. That is why among them there is fame, wealth, positions, dishonest profits, applauses, bounces and leaps, but few duties. The first duty of a believer is fraternal love. A duty is to be obliged to something. In our case it is to have the obligation to love fraternally. It is the kind of love where one belongs to the brother; there is unity and love. It is not for you to take advantage of the fraternal love and seek only for others to love you, and overindulge you, to give and they take care of you, but rather you are to do it to others: you are well disposed to love, to take care and serve your brothers. Every true Christian should love. It is easy to criticize, demand, defame, to be jealous, but our obligation is to love. Many actions will show such love in those who are truly brothers. And an obligation must be fulfilled. When we love we will comply with the obligation or duty of hospitality. Those faithful Christians of the first centuries of Christianity were pursued and needed a place to hide and find a piece of bread. Those who lodged were exposed to great dangers. Hospitality is offered to those who really need it. It is possible that when we lodge someone they may be an angel. Hebrew 13: 2 If angels don’t arrive at your door, servants will arrive, men and women of God whose presence is a blessing; that pious influence upon our family will be of great blessing. To attend prisoners was an obligation for the ancient brothers. Paul, Peter, John, and many of their companions were prisoners in many occasions. Those imprisoned believers because of their testimony for Christ needed food, warm clothes, lecture and encouragement. When the brothers visited the prisoners they were visiting Christ. Mathew 25: 35, 36 & 40 We are in this human body just as they were and because of this we are also subject to similar afflictions. Therefore, we should move in the same way they did and comply with the same love of Christ our duties toward our brothers. Another duty before God is to have an honorable marriage. What strange things what we see nowadays! It seems that for some marriage is like an objection for the work. Nowadays, some pastors and those who say they are ministers of something, their marriages are a hindrance. So they separate

and get divorced. There is no longer respect for what God has established. Even before sin entered this world marriage was established by God. To mock marriage, to treat it with impurity, is prohibited by the Scriptures. It is our duty to maintain marriage spotless and without dishonor. Adultery is not an illness; it is a sin and one that God Himself will judge. That sin is judged in this life; those who practice it will receive corporal pains, family breakage, nervous and mental afflictions, and if they don’t repent they will be judged by God in the eternal fire. Contentment is something that is a must for us; it is also a duty for us. It is a believer’s contentment with what they have and with what they don’t have. They live without greed, without desiring what others have. Greed breaks the communion with God and hinders spiritual growth. One must understand and know clearly that God will not deceive or leave us. You cannot live happy with greed; you will not enjoy what you have. You desire what others have, a house, clothes, car, their preparation or studies. This should not be this way. Hebrew 13: 5; 1 Timothy 6: 8 We must be happy with what we have. Remember your pastors; that is another Christian duty. Which has been their conduct; have they remained firm in their confession till the end? Although many pastors died for the cause of Christ. Does the pastor have that faith that is grasped to Christ; that introduces Christ in each step of his life? Jesus did not change in anything. Some want changes as time goes by and that is why sin grows. The pastor that is sustained in the truth that is known; that as well as Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore, he also lives and professes the same faith and the same message. He (She) is a pastor that does not change, that what he or she acknowledged many years ago is the same today. You owe your pastor fidelity, love and obedience. He (She) takes care of your soul and will be accountable to God for it. You must love him (her)! Your obligation and duty is also to look out for the strange doctrines. In those times of Judaism there were many rituals that consisted of being cleaned externally. Nowadays many strange doctrines keep showing up. Some have rise to say that the grace is for all kinds of liberty, including to sin. We can see daily in the Christian media the leaps, the dances, they don’t preach but rather shout and dance on the altar. How much insanity in those great and false teachers upon saying that God is among them when the gospel is not preached! To say that we are Christians is easy, many say it, but with no obligations as believers. Do not fall in such error. Deliver yourself and your loved ones by being faithful and obedient to your duties and obligations. Amen.