Brother Richie Juatco: Building positive relationships is crucial for one’s overall quality of life, and knowing who to build these relationships with is just as important. So in carefully choosing those to be close to, naturally, we would want to be close to our Creator. So how does one build a relationship with God? Stay with us. This is what we will study today here on The Message.
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Hello, I’m Brother Richie Juatco, and with me again here in our San Francisco Bay Area studios is Brother Bernard Daos. Hi, Brother Bernard.
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Brother Bernard Daos
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bernard: Hi, Brother Richie. Earlier we mentioned the importance of understanding how to build a good relationship. Without this knowledge, one might unknowingly try to force a relationship upon others. Maybe even end up failing.
Brother Richie: Now we’ve been learning on this program that our relationship with God is clearly defined by His words written in the Bible. We are created to serve and worship our Creator, the One and Only true God of the Bible, our Father.
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What is Acceptable Worship to God?
How to build a relationship with God
Brother Bernard: So the question we have now is how can we build or foster that strong relationship with God where we would properly serve, we would properly worship Him? Can this worship service to God be done any way that we choose? The question is does God accept all forms of worship that are rendered to Him?
Brother Richie: That’s a good question, Brother Bernard. And since we want to know what God accepts, we cannot answer based on what we think or feel, but we can read God’s own answer written in Matthew 15:9, wherein Jesus Christ, He quotes God. What is it that He said? We read here, it says:
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
[Matthew 15:9 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: Here we can see God is acknowledging some people worshiping Him, but how does He describe their worship? He said, “in vain they worship Me.”
Brother Bernard: Brother Richie, just to be clear, what does the Bible mean when it says, “in vain”?
Brother Richie: Well if we read in different translations of that verse, it describes it as useless, worthless, and pointless. So clearly, God does not accept all forms of worship, since there are forms of worship that to Him are worthless, that He does not accept.
Well, how would we be able to distinguish a form of worship that is acceptable to Him from one that is unacceptable or useless? Because that’s important since our whole purpose of existence is to worship God. Now God made clear that worthless worship to Him is teachings as doctrines, the commandments of men.
Brother Bernard: Now, Brother Richie, let’s clarify again for our viewers. What are the commandments of men? How does the Bible explain that?
Brother Richie: That’s another good question, Brother Bernard, because any teaching that is not the commandment of God, well, that is the commandment of men. Well, we learn God’s commandments are written in the Bible. So any teaching or command or instruction that is not written in the Bible was obviously made up by someone, and in turn, any worship that is based or contains those teachings, God does not accept and describes as useless.
Brother Bernard: Now we should be clear that, because some might think it’s harsh to describe another person’s form of worship to God as useless, especially since we can see there are many people in the world that are so dedicated, so devoted to their worship of God. And some even go to great lengths to make sacrifices. Maybe their physical well-being, maybe making all these efforts to prove their faith. So wouldn’t that type of worship be worth something to God, even if it’s not based on the Bible or His commandments, but they are showing such devotion in that service to Him?
Brother Richie: Let’s turn to what’s written in Colossians chapter 2, to answer the question. We’ll read verses 22 to 23. It says:
These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
[Colossians 2:22-23 New International Version]
Brother Richie: According to what we have read, the Bible does make mention of different services to God with rules and regulations that are not based on His commands. How are they described? We read, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom.” How so? It said it’s, “with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body.”
Now the question that you posed, Brother Bernard, was wouldn’t these type of worship be worth something to God? But the Bible is the one that says, “they lack any value.” Why no value? Why still useless or in vain? Because the Bible says that they, “are based on merely human commands and teachings.” So just as we learned in the verse earlier, God’s policy is firm. If worship service to Him is not based on His commands, then God will not accept them, which is why they are useless. Therefore to build a relationship with God, people do not have the freedom or liberty to do it just any way that they want.
Brother Bernard: So Brother Richie, it’s very clear that any worship, any service to God that is not based on His teachings, that is based on manmade teachings or commandments, no matter how dedicated or devoted, will be unacceptable or worthless in the sight of God. But just so we can be clear, is there an example, a specific example in the Bible, where there were people who were worshiping, who were serving God, yet God did not accept their service?
Brother Richie: There actually is, Brother Bernard. We can turn to that example in Leviticus chapter 10, and the verses 1 to 2. It says:
Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
[Leviticus 10:1-2 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: There are some examples. Who are the examples that we are learning from in these verses? They are what we read, they are Nadab and Abihu. Now, who are Nadab and Abihu? We read they are the sons of Aaron. Now, Brother Bernard, just for the sake of those that are viewing us, who is Aaron in the Bible?
Brother Bernard: Well, Aaron is the brother of Moses, who was sent by God. Therefore, Nadab and Abihu, they’re not just any random people, but rather they are the nephews of God’s messenger during that time.
Brother Richie: Thank you, Brother Bernard. Now what were they doing? They were actually performing a service in worship to God, by rendering an offering to Him. Now at this point it sounds like they are fulfilling an acceptable worship to God. But how did they do it? We read, “each took his censer… put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.”
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What is Acceptable Worship to God?
Brother Richie: Take note. They were serving God in a way which He had not commanded them. So if God did not command it, then their service is based on a human command, and we have learned God’s policy regarding those kind of services. Did God accept their service? No. In fact, we read, “fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” So not only God did not accept their worship, but instead, He actually punished them for it.
Brother Bernard: And so that’s why it’s so important to know that although God created all of us for the purpose of serving him, of rendering worship to him, we must understand that we cannot come up with our own way of fulfilling that purpose. We must make sure that our relationship with God is based on what he commands, on what is written in the Holy Scriptures, or the Bible.
Can faith without works save?
Brother Richie: Now we know that there are those who think, well, I already know God. I feel him in my heart. They say, some might say I’m. I’m more of a spiritual person, and I don’t need to study the Bible or God’s written command.
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: Now, although there are people who feel this with all of their conviction, which is that their faith. Brother Bernard, what’s the Biblical truth about really knowing God?
Brother Bernard: Well, faith is definitely necessary. But what does the Bible clarify about faith by itself or faith alone? Here’s the answer in the book of James, chapter two. I’ll read verse 14, and this is the answer of the Holy Scriptures.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
[ James 2:14 New King James Version]
Brother Bernard: Here we can see that there is no value or benefit in faith if it does not have works. In fact, if we are talking about faith that will save or salvation, that type of faith can not save a person.
Brother Richie: Brother, how come that can’t save a person? Which is why that type of faith is no good.
Brother Bernard: Well, let’s listen again to the Bible on how it is described of faith without works. Here’s what it says in verse 17 of the same book and chapter:
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
[ James 2:14 New King James Version]
Brother Bernard: According to the Bible, faith by itself, or faith alone, if it does not have works, is dead. And therefore dead faith is not something that we should put our trust, our hope in because we know that since it is dead, then it cannot do or accomplish anything for us.
Brother Richie: So if faith alone or dead faith that really is not valuable, then what type of faith is valuable and how can one attain that kind of faith?
Brother Bernard: The Holy Scriptures will continue to teach us here in the book of James chapter two again, this time verse 22. Let’s listen to what it says:
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect.
[James 2:22 New King James Version]
Brother Bernard: Here we see that perfect faith is what we need. So take note. If dead faith is faith without works, how could we make our faith perfect? We read that when faith is working together with works, then faith will be made perfect. That is what has to be coupled together. Faith together with the works. And that is what makes us have perfect faith.
Brother Richie: Now some may say I have works. They think, I’m a good person. I give to charity. I’m a good neighbor. And I do all of these things because of my faith and belief. Therefore, they feel it proves that they have perfect faith and a real relationship with God. But let’s remember God’s policy.
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What is Acceptable Worship to God?
Brother Richie: If the works people are doing to couple with their faith is something that they came up with, then to God that is useless.
Brother Bernard: So what then is the work that we need to couple with our faith? So that way our faith will be made perfect, and then that perfect faith will be able to lead us to salvation.
Brother Richie: We’ll go to what our Lord Jesus Christ teaches. We’ll read from what’s written in Matthew 7:21 and He says this:
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven.
[Matthew 7:21 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: Here the Lord Jesus Christ actually proves that faith alone is dead and will not result to salvation. How so? He’s the one that said not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Obviously, people who call Christ Lord, they accept Him as their Lord and Savior. But Christ Himself corrects the wrong belief that that’s all one needs to be saved. What, then, is the work we need to couple with our faith? Jesus Christ teaches that one needs to do the will—He says—of my Father in heaven. Therefore, people that claim to be followers of Christ or Christians, they first need to do the will of God, who is the Father in heaven.
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Brother Bernard Daos
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bernard: And up to this point. We have learned some very important teachings of the Bible to build a proper, meaningful relationship with God. First, faith alone that is, it leads to a dead end. Because faith alone, or faith by itself, the Bible calls dead faith.
Now faith with works will make us perfect, but if the works are based on man made or human invented teachings, the meaning, the teachings not found in the Bible, then that will also become useless. Why? Because God does not accept the kind of service or worship based on man-made teachings. So what is necessary for all of us to do so that we can do what God wants or to do His will, is to follow His commands that are written in the Bible.
Brother Richie: Now this is where many end up missing the opportunity of getting closer to God. Now, they might understand that they are required to do God’s will, but it remains a mystery to them what God wants. And so simply they just guess or they follow what others say God wants.
What does God want for us?
Brother Bernard: So the question now is based on God’s own words that are written in the Bible. What is God’s will? What does God want for everyone that we must do to have that relationship with Him?
Brother Richie: We’ll turn to what is written in Ephesians chapter one, verses 9 to 10. And it says this:
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth—in Him.
[Ephesians 1:9-10 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: Here we can read the mystery of His will. What is it? It is to gather together in one all things in Christ. This will of God must be done by those hoping to properly serve and worship God.
Brother Bernard: And since that’s what we want, the question that many may have is this: How exactly then, can we gather in Christ?
Brother Richie: Oh, that is a really good question, because many people will just come up with their own answer. They’ll close the Bible and answer themselves. This question cannot be answered based on how we feel because remember God’s policy. Let’s keep getting our answers from what’s written in the Bible. We’ll turn now to I Corinthians chapter 12 and the verse is 27. It says:
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
[Corinthians 12:27 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: Here we read how people did God’s will, and gathered in Christ. How? Well they became members. What did they become members of? We read the body of Christ.
So the Bible gives us more details of how to do God’s will. We all need to be gathered together in the body of Christ.
Brother Bernard: But Brother Richie, one question that they may have is, since we know the body mentioned, is not Christ’s physical body, what is being referred to then as the body of Christ?
Brother Richie: Another good question, Brother Bernard. Because again, many answers this question full of conviction, based on what they think or heard from others. Many think the body simply means the body of believers. Anyone who claims to be Christian, or has accepted Christ as their Savior. Some actually go as far as to say, you don’t need to be part of any particular church, you just need to be in the body of Christ. But since we have clearly learned today, that any teaching or belief not found in the Bible, is considered useless to God.
Let’s, again get our answer from what is written, I’m going to actually return that question to you, Brother Bernard. According to the Bible, what is the teaching of the Bible regarding Jesus Christ and His body?
Brother Bernard: The answer is very clear, as recorded here in the book of Colossians, chapter 1, verse 18. Here’s the answer of the Holy Scriptures:
And He is the head of the body, the church,…
[Colossians 1:18 New King James Version]
Brother Bernard: Here we learned that the body is the Church. And since the body of Christ is His Church, how many bodies does the Lord Jesus Christ have? He has only one, not many. That means that our Lord Jesus Christ has only one Church and not many.
Brother Richie: Now, although all the churches existing today will claim that they are the Church that the Bible is referring to, again, according to the Bible, which is the Church that is the body of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Brother Bernard: For that answer. Let’s turn now to the book of Acts, chapter 20, verse 28, here’s the answer of the apostles.
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.
[Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa’s Translation]
Brother Bernard: Based on God’s words that are written in the Bible, the Church that is the body of Christ, the Church that belongs to Jesus Christ, it is the Church Of Christ.
Brother Richie: Now we want to make very clear what we just went over, whose will is it for people to join the Church Of Christ? It is none other than God, the Father Himself.
Brother Richie: We have learned that God’s will is that everyone be gathered in Christ. How can we do that? We learned that everyone should be gathered in Christ’s body. We know it’s not His physical body. So we also learn that everyone should be gathered in His Church. Now since it is His Church, Christ’s Church, what’s the name of his church? We have learned that God’s will is that everyone be gathered in the Church Of Christ.
This message that we bring to you, that God’s will is that you join the Church Of Christ, is genuinely for the purpose of you having a real relationship with Him. This is not our message, based on what we think or feel, but rather God’s message written in the Bible.
Brother Bernard: Now, although it’s clear from what we have studied today, that God’s will is for the people that he created to be together serving him inside the body of His Son, Jesus Christ, or inside the true Church Of Christ. How can that actual true biblical Church of Christ be identified among the thousands of churches today that also call themselves the Church Of Christ?
Brother Richie: You know, that’s true, Brother Bernard, there’s a lot of churches that actually call themselves Church Of Christ. So how to identify the biblical church of Christ is actually very important. Let’s go to the answer here in Ephesians 4:4-6. The Bible says:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
[Ephesians 4:4-6 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: Here we learn that there is one body or one biblical Church Of Christ. What does it contain? We read: one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith. There is oneness, or unity in the true Church. Notice, there’s only one faith. So the members of the true Church Of Christ do not have different faiths. Because there is only one set of teachings or doctrines of God.
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Brother Richie Juatco
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Richie: What is one of the biblical teachings inside the true Church Of Christ that members have faith in? We read one God. Who is the one God of the true Church Of Christ, he is the Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The true Church Of Christ can be identified by the biblical teachings its faith is based on. It’s not merely a Church that uses the Bible. But rather it is the Church that the Bible is teaching of. Might this Church Of Christ that is bringing to you this message, be the actual biblical Church Of Christ? We would love the opportunity to prove this to you.
Brother Bernard: And this is the very reason why we continue to extend our heartfelt invitation for you to join us in our worship services, in our Bible studies, or any activity of the Church Of Christ.
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Brother Bernard Daos
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bernard: So that you can see for yourself, the faith that is being taught through the Church Of Christ is the faith that will be perfect, coupled with the works that God wants to see in all of us, so that not only will we always do what is pleasing to God, but we will all the more have that close relationship with God that will lead to our salvation.
Brother Bernard: So on behalf of all of us here at The Message, we would love to thank you for joining us today in our study of God’s message.
Brother Richie: But before we go, please join us for a short prayer.
Brother Bernard: Our dear God in heaven, we thank You so much. For through Your teachings recorded in the Holy Scriptures we clarified how we can have that close relationship with You. How we can have the salvation that You have promised.
Thank You for this message, Dear God. It is our sincere prayer that all of our friends and loved ones, we will be able to continue to share this with them. So that all of us will have that close relationship with You. And all of us will be made worthy to receive Your salvation.
We thank You, dear God, because You make Your message fully known. Through the Church Administration You placed in the true Church Of Christ. May You please continue to let this work reach more and more people, especially our loved ones so that all of us will be close to You.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Lord, thank You for bringing to us the teachings of our God in heaven. And thank You, Lord Jesus, for always praying on our behalf. So that we would be forgiven of our sins.
Almighty God, as we return to You in our prayer, please continue to make this message fully known so that more people will have this close relationship with You. And more people will receive Your promise of salvation.
Forgive us for our sins.
We pray in the name of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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