Trying to be a Christian without really knowing and learning Christ is what man has been trying to do down through the ages. The early church in the book of Acts had a problem with the converts trying to mix Judaism in with their new Christianity. They tried to mix their old rituals of keeping the law, and James had to put the gavel down. He reminded them that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law not an additional part of it.
The main focus of Christians should be to know Christ. Trying to make Christianity a religion burdens you down. It keeps you worried. By simply coming and taking his yoke, the yoke of learning, we find rest for our souls.
Matthew 11: 25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The key to being right with the Father is having him revealed through his son Jesus. Knowing someone happens when we’re acquainted with them. The Pharisees had a religion, but they didn’t know God. They bound themselves and others with rituals, an outward action. Jesus came to make us new inside out. Change begins in the heart and soul. That’s why he told them “come unto me.” He didn’t say go to the temple or the priest. He said we must go to him. This holds one of the dearest promises ever read. We have an open invitation to come to Jesus. It’s very personal. Everything about Christianity is extremely personal. It means we know him in our own heart. Knowing is a growing and learning process. We take our yokes to him and put on his yoke.
We see many types of yokes—types of Christianity— today. It’s a name that professes Jesus but the person belongs only to the church. He reads his Bible, yet he doesn’t know Jesus. Jesus thanked the Father that he had been revealed. Some accepted it; others didn’t. They hung onto their various methods which we see used by many sects and religions today. Some think you’re all right with God if you shake the preacher’s hand or just come to church. Some make stages out of it by performing rituals at various stages throughout your life. Labels don’t work. Salvation takes revealing of the Lord to an individual and the individual revealing himself to the Lord. Jesus is revealed through the cross. Being a Christian is about knowing the Jesus of the cross. We go to Jesus, not a denomination, a preacher, or a method. That’s why so many live any way they want; to them it’s about doing things and not knowing and learning Jesus.
In Ephesians, Paul told the church to be careful. Ephesus was a risky place. People tended to blend Christ in with the so-called deities of the other religions. He was just like Jupiter and Dianna to the Greeks. He reminded them that they didn’t learn about Jesus that way. He said “but ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.” He told them to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man.” He was telling them to put aside their former lifestyle. We have to know Jesus, and he has to know us. Paul counted his success as nothing. His value was in knowing Christ and being conformed to him. He called it “Christ in me.” He said “be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” It’s not about our righteousness but HIS. It’s letting Jesus in and getting to know him. When two people get married, they spend a lifetime knowing each other afterward. The Bible uses the word “knowing” in the closest, most intimate sense there is. A man and woman become one. We become one with Christ spiritually. We make Christianity laborsome when we add to it. Jesus said come. Take his yoke. Learn of him. That’s when we find rest. It’s a sweet blessing to know him. His yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Think of other religions. They teach to put off evils from the outward standpoint and become a better person who becomes in sync with nature or this and that. Only Christ calls for the heart. He said we are to believe him with all our heart and soul. Religion is simply a sheepskin over the same old wolfish Adam nature, and it always falls short because we have to know Jesus.
I have a lot of room to grow. We get to heaven by walking with Jesus and getting to know him deeper day by day. I’m thankful for the invitation to come. It’s easy to come bring the burdens and problems, but when bringing yourself is required, people want to hold back. We have to give ourselves over to him. The burden goes away. Jesus knows what to do with it. What a difference knowing Jesus makes!
A disciple is one who believes Jesus to the following of him, beginning in the heart. A disciple cleaves to the Master. A disciple gets to know him.
Are you learning Him and knowing in whom you believe? Like Paul, it is the only way to true persuasion.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 