Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

VARIETY OF CHRISTIANS
Peter and John were arrested for preaching the Gospel, and when they stood before the ungodly Jewish leadership, they were not intimidated, nor did they apologize for their faith in Jesus. The kangaroo court noted that despite their lack of education, they were nevertheless bold and spoke with authority. Peter and John had been transformed by learning directly from Jesus, they reflected His character, and the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus was undeniable.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

The Johansson gauge set involved high quality steel cut into blocks which was then ground, heat treated, ground again, and lapped (polished) until the surface was absolutely smooth. Peter and John had been selected by Jesus and they spent three and half years under His tutelage. During this time, His presence slowly changed them so that they fully reflected His character when standing in front of the ungodly leadership.

The Sanhedrin was frustrated because they had killed Jesus of Nazareth and now His followers were behaving the same way. Their lives were undeniable evidence of the Messiah and the Holy Spirit baptism because of the healed man standing next to them and the boldness of their preaching.

Over the years the church has split into different denominations, each one claiming that they are the true church. Satan has blinded church leaders over the centuries to pick the doctrines they like – like a buffet – and reject those not compatible with their lifestyle. They have strayed and built their “own ministries” based upon certain teachings of Jesus.

Jesus set the doctrine for His church. Christians need to uphold this doctrine and teach it to the next generation of believers.

For a long time, Christians have developed their own dogma, based upon parts of Jesus teaching, but refusing to accept all teachings from Jesus. Others have added teachings not found in the Bible.

The result is a fragmented church, where everyone does what they feel is right. Christians are disciples of a denomination or some kind of charismatic leader. How are we any different than the twelve tribes during the time of the judges?

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

Carl Edward Johansson realized humanity needed a universal standard in order for manufacturing to prosper in different nations when it came to international trade. His gauge blocks were so accurate, stable, and useful that the world simply had to adopt them.

Before Johansson, no two factories measured things the same way. Even in the same workshop, rulers varied, micrometers disagreed, and parts didn’t interchange perfectly. Manufacturers everywhere struggled with inconsistent measurements.

His lapping process produced surfaces that were flat to within millionths of an inch, repeatable across sets, stable over time, and capable of forming exact lengths by wringing, something no other toolmaker in Europe or America could match.

Henry Ford’s decision to hire Johansson in 1923 and set up a gauge block laboratory in Detroit aligned Ford’s manufacturing system to Johansson standards and influenced suppliers worldwide to conform if they wanted to supply parts to Ford, who was the largest automaker at the time. Ford’s global reach made Johansson’s blocks the reference for the automotive and machining worlds.

Institutions like the National Bureau of Standards (United States), National Physical Laboratory (Great Britain), and the Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) began calibrating their own standards against Johansson blocks. When national metrology labs used Jo Blocks, the standards became embedded in law and industry.¹

Johansson didn’t travel the world preaching standardization; instead, he built something so precise and indispensable that engineers trusted it, factories required it, governments formalized it, and the world standardized around it.
Church leaders for the last 2,000 years have not figured out the Holy Spirit is limited in working with Christians who are not aligned with the teachings of Jesus. This is why churches are weak and in disarray.

Johansson’s motivation for creating gauge blocks grew out of frustration and necessity that industry needed a better way to measure. His invention wasn’t an accident – it was the solution to a persistent problem he faced as a machinist and engineer.

Jesus told a parable about a steward who was accused of wasting his master’s goods. Facing the loss of his job, the man quickly reduced the debts of his master’s creditors so that they would treat him kindly after he was dismissed. When the master learned of this, he commended the steward – not for his dishonesty – but for his shrewdness and foresight. Jesus used this example to show that the children of this world often act with more practical wisdom in securing their future than the children of light do in preparing for spiritual matters.

“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

I am resolved what  to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16:1-8)

JESUS IS IN CHARGE
Jesus Christ is unchanging; He is always the same. His character, truth, power, and promises remain constant through the ages.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

The Son of God set up different laws for His followers to adhere. He never told the apostles that they were suggestions and it would be nice if they tried to obey them. On the contrary, Jesus emphatically set forth His policy:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

When Jesus made this statement, the apostles, the seventy others, and the crowd that followed were under the First Covenant. Jesus knew the Second Covenant would go into effect at His future resurrection.

The Godhead’s plan from eternity past was that the descendants of Abraham would be offered salvation through the Messiah and transferred into the Second Covenant. Jesus wanted them to understand that the Mosaic law (five books of Moses) and the prophets would still be in effect – minus the parts fulfilled by His sacrifice on the cross.

Just like Johansson’s gauge blocks will not be dismissed, the Mosaic law and the prophets will continue to be valid until the end of this world. Jesus kept the law and revered the prophets, and so should every born again believer in Christ.
Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial law, but the other parts of the Mosaic law still stand.

• Yes, you still have to obey the ten commandments.

• Yes, it is still morally wrong to marry two women – especially a mother and daughter.

• Yes, good hygiene is still important

◦ That is why we don’t defecate in our living room and let it sit on the floor.
◦ That is why we bury the dead and don’t let the body decompose in the house.

• Yes, the animals, fishes, and birds declared unclean by Jesus before the cross are still not fit as food today.

Keeping the law and the prophets never saved single person. Abraham was counted as righteous in God’s eyes because of his faith, not his works. No one is saved by their actions, but if you want to be obedient to Jesus and receive blessings, you need to observe them.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19)

ADDITIONAL LAWS
The Mosaic law and the prophets dealt with obedience, but during His earthly ministry before the cross, Jesus set up “attitude laws” which He expects us to observe. Only a believer in Christ who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit has the capacity to obey them.

1. The Law of Love (Matthew 22:37-39) Love God fully and love others sacrificially.

2. The Law of Humility (Matthew 23:11-12) True greatness is found in serving others.

3. The Law of Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22) Maintain a heart ready to forgive continually.

4. The Law of Reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24) Pursue peace and restore broken relationships.

5. The Law of Purity of Heart (Matthew 5:27-28) Purity begins in the thoughts and motives.

6. The Law of Meekness (Matthew 5:5) Gentle strength under God’s control.

7. The Law of Mercy (Matthew 5:7) Show compassion toward the needy and the guilty.

8. The Law of Peacemaking (Matthew 5:9) Actively seek to make peace in conflict.

9. The Law of Sincerity and Honest Speech (Matthew 5:37) Speak truthfully without manipulation.

10. The Law of Kingdom Priority (Matthew 6:33) Seek God’s rule above all earthly pursuits.

11. The Law of Trust Over Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34) Live with confidence in God rather than worry.

12. The Law of Non-Retaliation (Matthew 5:38-39) Respond to wrongs with grace instead of revenge.

13. The Law of Self-Denial (Matthew 16:24) A disciple must surrender self-will to follow Christ.

14. The Law of Compassionate Generosity (Luke 6:30) Give freely with a generous heart.

15. The Law of Servant Leadership (Luke 22:26-27) Lead by serving others.

Since the Holy Spirit did not possess God’s people before the day of Pentecost, Jesus could not demand that his people obey the attitude laws, seeing as it can only be done through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus demands more from New Testament believers in Christ, but sadly few Christians are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39)

ALL OR NOTHING
The church is ruled by the Holy Spirit, who has guarded the written words of God in the Bible. God’s thoughts and ways are far higher than human thoughts and ways. The heavens are higher than the earth, and in like manner, God’s purposes exceed human understanding. Rain and snow come down from heaven and cause the earth to bring forth fruit. In the same way, God’s words always accomplish what He sends them to do; they never return empty, but fulfill His divine purpose.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.(Isaiah 55:8-11)

Every commandment and instruction uttered by Jesus in the Old Testament and New Testament is valid today. However, keep in mind there were specific commands given to the Hebrews when they were called to cross the Jordan River or to wage war against the Amalekites and exterminate them. It is necessary to discern which commands were for a specific time period versus a general teaching.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy. They honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. By elevating human traditions above God’s commandments, their worship became empty and meaningless. Jesus emphasized that true worship requires a sincere heart, not merely outward religious practices.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9)