Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:12
What if this seems not enough for us. Some complain it is not the deep wisdom they hope for in the way of Christ. We believe in Jesus being the light from the Father. We see the way we can keep his commandments, in a context now of the body of Christ we have been baptised into in Jesus Christ’s name. We see we start with the ten commandments as he said, which he gives new vitality in this body of brothers and sisters in him. We have taken this yoke upon us. Yet some think there must be more we can do. To these he said, “If you want to be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor, so that you will have treasure in heaven, then come follow me.”
He wants us to give what money we can raise from selling our wealth. Giving to the poor. Of course we must remember our families too in this. Anyone not providing for their family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Wisdom is needed here. Scriptures taken by the letter are dangerous. The Spirit of it gives us life.
Then follow Jesus. Those who believe and then learn and hold on fast to Jesus’ teachings are true followers. We can listen to his teachings in order to fully understand them and practice what he too practices, with faith like he too has in the Father. And faith also in Jesus the Son. Here it can be where it gets to what some might be looking for, as that extra level. Learning like Peter did in following Jesus most closely of all, and stepping onto water at his invitation and walking on it in faith. Or commanding storms and they heed your command. Learning from the Master. Learning to overcome. Learning to be a saint. Yet a true saint is not ever forgetting to keep those ten commandments. Not lying any more. There is a body we are part of which deserves our truthful speech. In anger not being hateful and certainly not murderous. His special time to become king on earth is near, and violent ways should be dropped. The removal of immorality is not so obvious in the ten commandments but Jesus makes it clear in his teachings that even hints of inappropriate sexual lust must be dropped from among us, as it is a form of fornication. With this we must stay faithful in relationships too, not committing adultery.
The disobedience to the commandments can take many forms in this context of the body of Christ, and his teachings highlight some of these. We rebuke each other to expose the various forms of disobedience as the Spirit reveals them to us in context, when the commandments are being disobeyed among the brothers and sisters. He teaches us today. We are called to become saints by faith in Jesus, by his word of life, by the Spirit among us, by the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us in Jesus’ name. Blessed we are when we fulfil the Father’s will in this. Jesus will welcome us when he comes.
