Some people with good intentions have created an advertisement named, He Gets US! I am sure many have seen it. I admire the effort to spread the name of Jesus, but I am disappointed in their content and implied message. Is it a proper depiction of the cause of Jesus Christ for mankind? Does Jesus approve of us the way we are?
Just because Jesus was God in the flesh and lived as mankind, endured the hardships of the downtrodden, was persecuted even unto death does not mean all who feel they are treated similarly will be accepted into the fold of God without an effort to do the Will of God. Jesus will not take the unrepentant. They must do something to be seen by God. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Many nations are experiencing hardships because they have turned from the will of God to following after the Whore of Babylon. God punishes nations who follow after Mystery, the Whore of Babylon with pestilence and other forms of destruction by nature. Many wonder why so many physical forms of destruction are occurring by acts of nature. There in 2 Chronicles 7 and also in Amos 4 do we read of physical acts of nature which are controlled by God and are used to punish evil members of mankind.
The implication of this advertisement: He Gets US! does not indicate any necessity for reform of human behavior in order to be saved into the afterlife. May we use this advertisement to continue a dialog of saving instruction to those who are seeking to find peace and salvation from evil perpetrators. This should be used as an opportunity to direct the seeker to find truth in God’s will for their life. Luke 9:49-50. 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Let’s take a look at a few messages from Jesus Christ teaching what a seeker should know about their life’s situation in order to conform to the Will of God. Matthew 5:20. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Scribes were certain people who copied the scrolls from one to another so the Law could be shared among the Jewish Nation. They were to know the law having copied it over and over. They should be able to quote it verbatim. The Pharisees were people who were the form of judges concerning the rule of the Law. They dispersed their rulings to the people for the people's behaviors to obey the laws of the Jews. Jesus is inferring the scribes and Pharisees were not as pure in their own behaviors as God would have them. Their righteousness lacked much.
Therefore, the righteous believer must be more righteous than these people. Often, even today, a seeker should aspire to be more righteous than many who teach the Will of God as the Pharisees. What was wrong with their behavior? Why did Jesus say their righteousness should be better that the teachers?
Mt. 23:1-10, 13, 25-28, 33. 23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
1. The Pharisees Said But Did Not Do. They were good at speaking the Law but had a hard time doing the law. Apostle James said to be a doer of the law; not a hearer only. James 1:22. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Apparently the teachers were deceiving themselves. Are many deceiving themselves today? If we do not teach the whole truth speaking as the oracles of God and not man’s version, we are.
2. The Pharisees Do Their Works To Be Seen By Men. It is then they receive their reward. They expect a pat on the back with all its accolades. We are to warn those who do likewise as Jesus did. Mt. 6:1-2. 6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3. The Pharisees Love To Be Seen In Prominent Places; great banquets, to be guests of prominent popular people. This boosts their ego. It is their recharging of their desire to fit into the high society. This sin is one of the three main causes of sin; The Pride of Life.
4. The Pharisees Like To Be Called By Important Titles–Rabbi, Father, Master. It gives them a feeling of importance of which all should bow unto. They want their reputation to look pure and their intentions to be honorable. But they are far from it. Their intentions are for their own benefit. They do not intend to help others of a lower class or more misfortunate. They appear to be upstanding citizens but they are ravening wolves seeking what they can devour. In other words, they are children of Satan; from whom they have learned this behavior. 1 Peter 5:8. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
5. Not Everyone Who Calls Upon The Lord Shall Enter Into Heaven. Their iniquities–lifestyles may not be acceptable to Jesus. Jesus might accept us as we are but expects us to do his commandments; not the commandments of men. We must transform our ways to his ways and walk in sin no more. Mt. 7:21. 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.
6. Mankind Must Be Converted From The Ways Of The World–Satan–To The Ways Of God. Little children accept and believe the things they are told and they see things just as they are. God wants mankind to hear, see and do the things in this life just as Jesus did. This is why God’s children are called His children.
As elementary students we were taught to act in a civilized manner obeying the rules of proper living. We were not to tell lies; not to steal what does not belong to us; respect authorities; live peaceably with our neighbors; etc. This is what children do and as children of God we behave in the sight of God learning and obeying as a child. This is honorable. Mt. 18:3. 3 And [Jesus] said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
He Gets US! Yes Jesus understands how mankind behaves but certain ungodly behaviors will not be acceptable. 1 Cor. 6:9-10. 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. We are required to conform to Jesus’ righteousness. We are to put on a new man in the likeness of God; pure and sinless. Then we are to live in the same manner as best we can from that day forward.
Jesus warns us through his revelation and last warning to mankind through the Apostle John of the unacceptable behaviors not allowed or ever to enter into Heaven. Rev. 21:27. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. 21:8. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev. 22:14-15. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
These evil things mentioned here might be a part of our behavior. Yes, Jesus Gets US. He understands our infirmities but expects us to overcome them and put them away from our lives. If we do not, he has told us where we will spend eternity. It will not be with Jesus.
Yes, Jesus gets us but let us know assuredly he will not accept us if we do not conform to Him.
Are you having problems in this life for which you need a friend? Jesus will be your friend if you will be a friend to him. John 14:15. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:21. 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. John 15:10. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 1 John 2:4. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
