Listen to Him

by Jefferson David Tant

A “breathtaking” event took place in the lives of Jesus' disciples James, Peter, and John when they went with Christ up a mountain. It was an experience they would never forget

“Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground and were terrified” (Matthew 17:1-6).

It is hard for us to imagine their awe and “terror” from this. Obviously, there was a message for these three, but is there not also a message for us in the 21st Century? I believe there is.

Consider what was represented by Moses and Elijah. Moses represented the Law, as it was given to Israel through Moses while Moses was on the mountain. “Now the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction" (Exodus 24:12). And Elijah? He represented the prophets God sent to Israel to instruct the nation and warn them when they went astray. There were 17 prophets, 5 major and 12 minor, from Isaiah to Malachi.

Now note the mention of the Law and the Prophets in the New Testament. "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it” (Luke 16:16).

Consider that the Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Does that not suggest that with John's ministry, there was to be no more “looking back” to the Law and Prophets, but rather there was a “looking forward” to the coming kingdom of Christ. Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled" (Luke 24:44). These are Christ's final words as he was taken up into heaven.

The point is that the Law and the Prophets era was ending. “Fulfilled” refers to that which is completed and is ending. We no longer live under the Old Testament laws and practices. We are no longer to offer animal sacrifices, nor meet on the Sabbath — Saturday. We are not restricted from eating pork, etc. Peter came to understand this when he was presented with a sheet let down from heaven filled with unclean or forbidden animals. When he was told to “kill and eat,” he protested that he had never eaten an unclean animal. Not only was God making a point about the Old Law no longer in force, but was making the point that the Gentiles were worthy of the gospel. Peter came to understand this and took the gospel to the Gentile Cornelius (Acts 10:9ff). Paul points this out: “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).

Now, going back to the admonition that the Voice from heaven spoke to James, Peter, and John which said: “listen to Him.” Listen to who? Jesus Christ. We are no longer under the 10 Commandment Law given to Moses. Someone may ask, “Do you mean it is no longer a sin to lie, to commit adultery, to steal…etc?” When one examines the New Testament, nine of the ten are given. One is not given, which is “Remember the Sabbath.” So yes, we are to honor our parents, and should not lie, steal, etc., etc.

Does that mean there is no value in studying the Old Testament? Not at all. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…” (II Timothy 3:16). It is there we learn history, the hundreds of prophecies about Christ, and seeing how God deals with those who disobey Him. And many good lessons in Psalms and Proverbs relate to our daily living.

Now consider a statement about the New Testament scriptures. Once Jesus told the 12: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13).

That means there is no new truth or later revelations if they received all the truth. John warns us: “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting” (II John 9-10).

And notice Jude 1:3: “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

What is the application of these Scriptures? There are no new doctrines, no matter what church pastors or the Pope say. All denominational creeds contradict the Bible and one another. If they all said just what the Bible says, we wouldn't need them, because we already have the Bible. It is patently obvious that the 42,000 “Christian” denominations all teach different doctrines. And what did John say? Those who go beyond what we have in the Bible “do not have God!”

So, why do we have all these denominations and doctrines of men? His name is Satan. And what is his job? Paul writes about some problems. “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds” (II Corinthians 11:13-15). Who are these people? Aren't they the ones who stand in the pulpits and teach the doctrines of men? Some of them know what they are doing, as they are doing it for profit, but many are simply deceived.

Consider Christ's prayer for his disciples. “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). Is the present situation with myriads of denominations teaching contradicting doctrines a fulfillment of Christ's prayer? Obviously not. Christ is not a Baptist, nor the Father a Mormon, nor the Holy Spirit a Methodist.

Dear reader, consider that denominational creeds change from time to time. Popes overrule previous popes and change doctrines. “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

Anyone who teaches anything contrary to the New Testament is a false prophet. And things that so-called prophets have said have not come to pass. Charles Russell, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, etc., have all uttered prophecies that did not come to pass. The writers of denominational creeds have all voiced doctrines and practices that contradict the New Testament. If any question arises, we should always ask, “But what does the Scripture say?” (Galatians 4:30) Let us be sure that we “Listen to Him.”