READ LUKE 9:1 TO 6 - LUKE 10:1 TO 11 - LUKE 4:16 - LUKE 1:27 TO 33
LUKE 2:24 AND 39 - LUKE 6:29, 30 and 35 - LUKE 18:19 TO 26.
In this lesson we are to study the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus on earth as recorded
in the Gospel of Luke, with Paul’s Christ-given ministry in Romans and Ephesians.
In Romans 15:8 we read that “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Israel).” In
Romans 15:16 we read that “Paul was the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.” Not only
were these two ministers for different people, but the ministry in the verses above quoted from
Luke’s Gospel are quite different from Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, recorded in such verses of
Romans and Ephesians as Romans 10:5 to 12 - Ephesians 3:1 to 11.
We often hear that a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ: but Paul said, in Philip-
pians 3:17, “be followers together of me.” And in I Corinthians 11:1 , “follow me as I follow
Christ.” In I Corinthians 3:10, Paul wrote, “I, the wise masterbuilder, have laid the foundation.”
How important it is to understand the meaning of II Corinthians 5:16 and 17.
Many, many sincere Christians have been workmen who needed to be ashamed, because
they went to Matthew Mark and Luke to select the program for the Church, or Body of Christ,
without heeding the instructions of the Lord, through Paul the wise masterbuilder. The Christian
errs who does not study the earthly ministry of Christ in the light of Paul’s Epistles.
Some Christians are told to present their infants for public dedication, because the “Infant
Jesus” was dedicated. But they should be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and read Luke 2:39 with Romans
6:14. In Luke 2:39 we learn that all that was done for Christ was according to the law; whereas
Christian parents and children are not under the law. Some Christians want a little water put on
the heads of their children; but Christ was not sprinkled when He was a little baby. He was
circumcised. (Luke 2:21). The Christian’s circumcision is spiritual and not physical. (Colossians
2:11 - Philippians 3:1 to 3). Some say that the sprinkling takes the place of circumcision in the
Old Testament. Then why sprinkle baby girls?
There may have been some water used in the dedication of Christ, for there were many
different baptisms in Israel’s religion (Hebrews 9:10); but the principal part of the ceremony was
the turtledove or pigeon. (Luke 2:24). Why not bring turtledoves to Church when little children
are publicly dedicated? Christ was baptized when He was 30 years old. (Luke 3:21). Then He
was baptized on the cross several years thereafter. (Luke 12:50). If we should follow Christ in
baptism, which of these two baptisms? Every one who has really accepted His second baptism
has been saved. Should we follow Christ in circumcision? As believers are baptized with Christ’s
death baptism, so they are—and must be—circumcised with His circumcision to get into heaven.
(Colossians 2:11 and 12 - Philippians 3:3). Should we do as He did, go to the synagogue of the
Jews on the seventh day sabbath? (Luke 4:16).Should we obey Luke 6:29, 30 and 35, by giving our coat when we are sued for our
cloak; by giving to every one that asketh and expect nothing to be paid back when we lend
money? Should we sell our property and give our money away, in obedience to Luke 12:33?
Should we, in this age of grace, tell a man to keep the commandments and sell all that he
has, to receive eternal life? (Luke 18:18 and 19 to 26). How does this harmonize with Romans
4:4 and 5 and Ephesians 2:8 and 9? Let us remember that Christ on earth was under the law.
Let us test things that differ. Jesus of Nazareth, a Man in the Land of the Jews (Acts
10:38 and 39 and 2:22) is quite different from Christ in the Gentile - the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27 and II Corinthians 5:16). The one Gentile to whom Christ ministered in Luke
loved Israel and built a synagogue for them. (Luke 7:1 to 12). Christ did not interfere with the
offering of animals while He was on earth.
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