Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God

Walking With God - 7

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2016-03-20

Synopsis: In this sermon, John Weaver continues the 'Walking with the Lord' series by focusing on Ephesians 4:20-21, emphasizing that believers must not merely learn about Christ but learn Christ Himself—He is both the lesson and the teacher. Weaver argues that true discipleship involves a thorough, ongoing commitment to Christ, evidenced by obedience, holiness, and conformity to His image. He contrasts the life of the unregenerate with the transformed life of one who has truly learned Christ, warning that many professing Christians show no evidence of such learning. The sermon underscores that God teaches His people through His Word and Spirit, and that genuine sheep hear His voice and follow Him.

[John Weaver] This is message number seven in the series Walking with the Lord. I'm not going to be taking a lot of time to do review. I will mention several things. If I take too much time, I'll be repreaching the previous six messages, so I don't want to do that. But the title of the message is Walking with the Lord, and the subtitle is actually Learning Christ. Last week we dealt with Ephesians 4 verses 17 through 19 and remember the whole series began walking with the Lord when we read from Genesis chapter 5 about Enoch walking with the Lord and how that Enoch pleased the Lord according to Hebrews chapter 11 verses 5 and 6. We also read how God told Abram, I'm the Lord thy God, walk thou before me and be thou perfect.

[John Weaver] And I pointed out it's impossible to really walk with the Lord until you learn to walk before the Lord, because the word before literally means in the presence of the Lord or in His face. And then the most absolute, fundamental, basic principle is walking by faith, because the Scripture says without faith it's impossible to please Him. For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. We must walk by faith that is basic, that is foundational. Then we looked in Ephesians 4 verses 1 through 7 where the Apostle Paul told us to walk worthy of the Lord with all lowliness and meekness and long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.

[John Weaver] endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And we dealt with lowliness. We dealt with meekness. And I pointed out that meekness is certainly not weakness. It's not cowardice. It's not a denial of your rights. But I did point out that it is the discipline strength under Christ because we're yoked to Christ. And then we got to Ephesians chapter four, verses 17 through 19.

[John Weaver] And let me just read those and then we'll read through verse 21. where the Apostle says, This I say therefore and testify of the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, or ethnos, or nations, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over into lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

[John Weaver] But you have not so learned Christ. If so, be that you've heard him, have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus.

[John Weaver] Now, Paul has told us clearly that we're to walk with the Lord and we're to walk by faith. And he tells us that we are to walk differently. We're not to be like the heathen. We're not to be like the pagans or the other nations. We are to be different. The question is. What makes us different? Well, true, first and foremost, we would have to respond, it is the grace of God in our lives. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7, here's the question, for who make it thee to differ one from another? And here's another question, what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou hast received it, what is thou glory or boasts of thou hast not received it? So everything that we have is by God's grace and God's mercy. It's God who made us to differ.

[John Weaver] We did not save ourselves. We did not call ourselves. We did not justify ourselves. It's God who made us to differ. So obviously, it is God then who keeps us separate then from the other nations. We do not walk in the vanity of our minds. And I pointed out how the word vanity not only refers to uselessness and worthlessness, but it also refers to idolatry. and to perverseness as well. And then he goes on in verse 18, having the understanding darkened and being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because the blindness of their hearts. And I pointed out all of these things.

[John Weaver] And then he said, who being past feeling, that is, who are literally calloused Nothing causes them any shame or remorse, their past feeling, and they've given themselves over to lasciviousness, to nakedness, to perverseness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Now, although it is the grace of God that indeed makes us to differ, we must also confess that the grace of God that leads us to salvation also leads us unto obedience. You see, the Bible says in 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, listen carefully, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience. So the same God that saves us from our sins and makes us different by His grace is the same God that leads us unto obedience. Now, he says in verse 20, but you have not so learned Christ. I must point out that obedience not only implies learning, it requires learning. How can you be obedient if you have not learned what to obey and whom you must obey? So, obedience then requires learning.

[John Weaver] The Greek word for disciple is the word mathetes, which literally means a learner, a pupil, and a disciple. Now, I want you to look carefully at verse 20. He says, but you have not so learned Christ. Has the thought ever crossed your mind that you must learn Jesus Christ? Have you ever thought about the necessity of learning Christ? I could ask it like this. Has the meaning of the word Christian ever entered or passed through your mind? Because the word Christian literally means Christ-like or a disciple or a follower of Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, we're told in Acts 11 and verse 26 that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. But how can one be truly a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ if he is not Christ-like? All you have to do in order to ascertain as to whether or not we understand the truth of learning Christ is to look at the average Christian and the average church. If you look at the average professing Christian, you would have to admit that usually one cannot discern or tell the difference between the average professing Christian and an everyday unsaved whorling. professing Christians usually look like, dress like, act like, even talk like the unsaved, attend the same movies, watch the same TV shows, vote for the same unsaved candidates, and are easily and quickly duped when it comes to biblical and spiritual knowledge. In fact, the average professing Christian usually will accept anyone else who professes to be a Christian regardless of how they live. And how they act.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you a quote from J.C. Ryle. J.C. Ryle says this. Listen carefully, if you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life. And yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer. He is under a ruinous delusion and is not forgiven in all. I would not believe he is forgiven if an angel from heaven affirmed it. And I charge you not to believe it too.

[John Weaver] Pardon of sin and love of sin are like oil and water. They will never go together. All who are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ are also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ. So he points out very clearly that all who say that they are saved And yet they love sin and wall in it or indeed under a very ruinous delusion. So I understand there are weak Christians. There are ignorant Christians. There are foolish Christians. They're even childish or baby Christians. And unhappily, most Christians usually remain in those states. They never. Make progress.

[John Weaver] In their Christian lives, and so you have to ask why? If they're truly saved, why do most never ever really make progress? And the answer is, because they never really learned Jesus Christ. Now, I understand that there are some people who are saved, and yet they're ignorant. All of us are ignorant to a certain extent. Some are more ignorant than others. But ignorance is curable. Stupidity is not. So I understand that. But although a person may be in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, that does not mean that he's actually really learned Jesus Christ. I don't know about you, but it has always amazed me That how much time the average professing Christian can spend in church.

[John Weaver] How many sermons he can listen to. And never learn anything. And remain the same. In other words, hardly anything changes us. Because we've never really learned Christ, now let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians 4, but look in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 14, at a conversation that is carried on between Jesus Christ, Thomas, and Philip. I want you to watch. It's a very important question asked of Philip toward the end of the conversation. So look in John, chapter 14, beginning there with verse 1. We'll read through verse 9.

[John Weaver] Our Lord says, Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. Now look what our Lord says.

[John Weaver] And whither I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest. How can we know the way? Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If you had known me, note that, if you had known me, you should have known my Father also. And from henceforth, you know him and have seen him. Watch. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, show us the Father?"

[John Weaver] But look at that question. Look what he said. Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? Philip lived with our Lord and walked with Him three years. He knew him personally and intimately and literally, and yet he did not know him. Now, the question is this, if Philip could live with our Lord for three years and really not know him, how much greater is our lack of knowledge, for we have not lived with Christ as personally and as closely as did Philip.

[John Weaver] Now, when you go back to Ephesians 4, I want you to look at verses 20 and 21 again, because these are the two verses that I'm going to be dealing with today. Watch this, Ephesians 4, verse 20. He tells these Ephesian believers, but you have not so learned Christ. If so, be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth in Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now you have to remember that verses 20 and 21 follow verses 17 through 19 where the Apostle Paul is telling us to walk differently. We're not to walk as the other nations walk. We're not to walk as the heathen, as the pagans. No, we're to walk differently. He tells us how they walk and then he makes this statement, but you've not so learned Christ. In other words, Christ didn't teach that trash. He didn't teach you to live like they live. So Paul is making an astounding statement and revealing a tremendous truth when he said that you have not so learned Christ. And the truth is we must actually learn Christ. And when someone is living as the heathen do, it's obvious that he has not learned Christ. Because Christ does not teach us to live ungodly lives. He does not teach us to live in vanity and in ignorance. He does not teach us to live in rebellion. He does not teach us to live in disobedience.

[John Weaver] If we know anything at all about Jesus Christ, we know that He is the holy, harmless, sinless Son of God. We also know that He was obedient to the Father in all things, and He was submissive in all things. John Calvin said it like this. He's making a statement on the difference between verses 20 and 21 and 17 through 19, and he says this, he, that is Paul, now draws a contrast of a Christian life so as to make it evident how utterly inconsistent it is with the character of a godly man to defile himself with the

[John Weaver] abominations of the Gentiles or the heathen. Because the Gentiles walk in darkness, therefore they do not distinguish between right and wrong. But those on whom the truth of God shines ought to live in a different manner. That those to whom the vanity of the senses is a rule of life should yield themselves up to base lust is not surprising. But the doctrine of Jesus Christ teaches us to renounce our natural dispositions. He whose life differs not from that of the unbelievers has learned nothing of Christ. For the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh. Wow. With that in mind, I want you to hold Ephesians 4 and turn right over to the book of Titus chapter 2, and let me demonstrate, if you would please, the truth of what Calvin just stated. Look in Titus chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Look what he says. Titus 2, verse 11. Just a few pages over, Titus 2, verse 11. Look what he says.

[John Weaver] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men. Note now, this is the grace of God that bringeth salvation. Watch, what does that grace that brings salvation teach us? Verse 12, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope in the doors of hearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. Note, redeem us from all iniquity and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. But notice, if you would, verse 12 tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us. That we're to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

[John Weaver] You must remember that the Apostle Paul, the author of the book of Ephesians, is also the author of the book of Philippians. And he said this in Philippians 3, verses 10 and 11, listen carefully, that I might know him, talking about Jesus Christ, that I might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death. Yet by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead." So according to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3 verses 10 and 11, to know Jesus Christ is not just simply to acknowledge Him, but is to be made conformable unto Him in life and in death.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you some questions that I hope will stimulate your mind. How well are we to learn Jesus Christ? What is to be the extent of our learning? I could also ask what is the evidence of our learning, which I will show you next week. But I want you to see a verse. The Apostle John answers that question or those questions for us. I want you to hold Ephesians 4, but turn right over if you would to 1 John chapter 4. 1 John chapter 4 and look if you would please at verse 17. This is an astounding verse. 1 John 4 and verse 17. How well are we to learn Jesus Christ? What is to be the extent of our learning? Well, John says it like this. 1 John 4 verse 17. Watch.

[John Weaver] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. What is going to give us boldness in the day of judgment? Because as He is, that is, as Jesus Christ really is, so are we in this world. Isn't that amazing? He said if you want to be bold in judgment day, You must live as Christ in this world now in time and history. As he is, whatever Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world. Isn't that amazing?

[John Weaver] So we have to consider this. How are we to be made to liken him in this world? Let me show you another verse. Hold Ephesians 4, but go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and look in verse 29. Romans 8 verse 29. We're talking about learning Christ. Look at Romans 8 verse 29. In this passage, the Bible says, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Now watch that carefully. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son. The Greek word conformed is the word sumorphos, which literally means to be conformed unto, to be fashioned like unto, to having the same form. Literally, here's what it means. It means to be pressed into the same mold.

[John Weaver] Long time ago, but I do remember, Alice used to make butter. We have those little hand churns that you would hit that, I forget what you call it now, but you just keep battering it up and down and you'd make butter. And when it got thick enough, she would pour it into a butter mold and put it in the refrigerator. And guess what? When it sat in the refrigerator and hardened, she could take it and dump it in a dish, and it was perfectly made like that mold that it was put in.

[John Weaver] So that's what the Bible says. We are to be pressed into the same mold of Jesus Christ. As He is, so are we in this world. So let me put it to you like this. We're to be duplicates of Jesus Christ in this world. In obedience, in submission, in character, in holiness. And if we're like Him, we will be able to say with Him, in John 8 and verse 29, to the Father, for I do always those things that please Him. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could say that to God the Father? I do always those things that please thee. Well, that's what he's talking about being made like unto Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back to Ephesians 4. I'm pointing this out. It's obvious. Verses 20 and 21. Let me read them again. Watch. Ephesians 4, verse 20 and 21. But you have not so learned Christ. If so, be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus. So here's the truth that you must grasp today. Jesus Christ is the lesson. And Jesus Christ is the teacher. We are taught by him. He is the lesson and he is the teacher. We must learn to look to Him not only as our lesson, but as our teacher. We are not learning about Christ. We're learning Christ. There's a big difference. You can learn about anybody. I can learn about Mohammed. I can learn about Gandhi. I can learn about Nixon. I can learn about anybody. But if I learn someone, I know them intimately. I know their heart's desire. I know their motives. I know everything about them and identify with them. So in order to learn Jesus Christ, we must take our seat and we must take our position as learners, as students, as disciples and followers.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back in verse 20. He says, but you've not so learned Christ. I told you earlier. That the Greek word mathetes is translated as disciple in the Bible. Guess what? Montano is the verb here. It's the same. It's the verb form. It literally means to be a pupil or a disciple. So the verb learn literally means to learn, to learn, to be apprised of, to increase one's knowledge, to be increased in knowledge, to hear, to be informed, to learn by use and by practice and be in the habit of and be accustomed to. And you're going to see the importance of that word, one word. Next Sunday, Lord willing. It literally means that we are to be in the habit and accustomed to living as Jesus Christ lived. In fact, this one word occurs 25 times in the New Testament. And the emphasis of this word is not on just simply importing knowledge, but it is awakening a thorough and complete commitment of oneself to Jesus Christ. So it means more than impartation of knowledge.

[John Weaver] Now, you remember the passage in Matthew 11, verse 29. Our Lord said, take my yoke upon you and what? Learn of me. For I am meek and lowly. And you shall find rest for your souls. Now, he said, take my yoke upon you and learn off me, not learn about me. And the little Greek preposition means to learn from Christ, out of Christ, off Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something else about a disciple. You might want to turn there, John 8, verses 30 and 32. Look at it, John 8, verses 30 and 32. Let's put this together. Because we're not just learning about Christ, we are learning Jesus Christ. He is the lesson. He is the teacher. Look at what he says. John 8, verse 30. And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed.

[John Weaver] And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Now, note what he said. If you continue in my word. By the way. The proof that you've ever savingly believed is that you continue to believe. The proof that you've ever savingly repented is that you continue in repentance. The proof that you've ever savingly received the Word of God is that you continue in the Word of God. So he said, listen carefully, in John 8 and verse 32, he said, if you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed. What does that little word indeed mean?

[John Weaver] It means absolutely, most certainly, surely, truthfully, in reality. Indeed. What is it that makes the mark of a true disciple is someone who continues. And the truth of Jesus Christ, he has learned Christ, he's learned from Christ, out of Christ and in Christ, and so he says, you're truly my disciple. So a real genuine disciple learns and holds on to the truth and continues in the truth.

[John Weaver] He does not give it up. I've heard people say, well, oh, so-and-so used to be a Christian, but he's no longer a Christian. Really? You know what the Bible says in 1 John 2 verse 19? 1 John 2 verse 19, they went out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not of us, For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.

[John Weaver] The proof that you are a real, genuine disciple is that you continue in the faith and you continue in what Jesus Christ has taught you. You understand Proverbs 23 and verse 23 when the Word of God says, buy the truth and sell it not. So the full sense of learning in being a disciple is the receiving of Christ and His work and the implications of Jesus Christ and His work in every area and every sphere of life.

[John Weaver] Because we are forever changed by Him. We learn Jesus Christ. We learn Him.

[John Weaver] Now, look in verse 21 of Ephesians chapter 4. He says, if so be that you have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus. Paul, in an effort here to excite their attention and earnestness even more, not only tells the Ephesians that they have not only heard Christ, they have been taught by Him. Wow! Let me ask you a question, and I don't have time to really develop this today, but have you heard Jesus Christ? You say, how in the world could I hear Christ?

[John Weaver] Well, that's another sermon in itself. But let me show you something. Turn in your Bibles to John chapter 10. John chapter 10. Yes, we hear Christ in and through his word, but look what he says, John 10, and let's begin reading there verse 23. John 10, verse 23. Watch carefully. Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him and said of him, How long dost thou make us doubt if thou be the Christ? Tell us plainly. Jesus answered them and said, I told you and you believe not. The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me, but you believe not because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. Hmm. Wow. What did he say? You believe not because you're not of my sheep? Watch verse 27. My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me.

[John Weaver] And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Notice if you would. My sheep hear my voice. John, have you heard the voice of the Lord? You say, I've never heard anyone speak from heaven. No. But you've heard him through his word in your heart, in your mind, in your life. You've heard him through the preaching and teaching of your word.

[John Weaver] Every time I read this passage, I think years and years ago, I was driving through Atlanta trying to get home. I don't know where in the world I was coming from. Ohio, Indiana, somewhere late at night. Alice wasn't with me because all the children were small. And I was just trying to stay awake. And I had the radio on. It was about one or two o'clock in the morning. I never will forget.

[John Weaver] I finally found some preaching. And there was an old black preacher. And I thought, he'll keep me awake. I'm going to listen to him. And he is preaching from John chapter 10. And he was reading this verse in verse 27, 28. He said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. And I never will forget another old gruff voice of that black creature.

[John Weaver] He said like this, Now if you had Christ Jesus. He said, You in the Father's hand. And he said, You in the Son's hand. And the Son's in the Father's hand. And he said, no man can pluck them out of his hand. He said, now, if you're there, he said, God, the Father won't pluck you out of his hand. God, the Son won't pluck you out of his hand. God, the Spirit won't pluck you out of his hand.

[John Weaver] And come to think of it, them's only three that can do any plucking anyhow. I thought, that's true. That's very, very true. It was worth it just to hear him say that. And that's true. But notice, he said, my sheep hear my voice and they follow me. So what does our Lord teach us? Number one, he tells us our Lord sheep hear his voice. Number two, he knows his sheep. And number three, his sheep follow him. And then when you look at John chapter 10 and verse three, the Bible says this to him, the porter openeth talking about Christ and the sheep hear his voice and he called his own sheep by name and leaded them out. So he called you. So the question is, have you heard Christ? Do you follow Him? Are you listening?

[John Weaver] Have you been taught by Him? He only teaches truth. Obviously, if you're holding error and heresy and falsehood, you have not been taught by Jesus Christ. He said, if so be that you have heard Him. The Greek word is akoulo. It means more than simple hearing or hearkening. It means to give audience to, to attend and to consider what is being said. It also means to give ear to a teacher, to hear and perceive by the ear that which is being announced in one's presence.

[John Weaver] So it has the implication then of comprehension and understanding. So it's not just that you hear with your ear, but you understand and you comprehend what is being said and what is being taught. Do you realize that even in the Old Testament, the mark of a true believer was being taught by God and receiving His words? I want you to turn to Deuteronomy 33. As you turn there, I want to quote Job 36 and verse 22. For in that passage, the Word of God says, Behold, God exalted by His power, who teacheth like Him. So God is the ultimate teacher. I want you to look in Deuteronomy chapter 33. And let's begin reading there with verse one. This may surprise you. I preached on this passage many, many years back, but it's a tremendous passage, and it reveals some great truths. Deuteronomy 33, verse 1, the Bible says this, and this is the blessing wherewith Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death.

[John Weaver] And he said, the Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seirah unto them. He shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of his saints. From his right hand went a fiery law for them. Note, for them. Yea, he loved the people. Watch, all his saints are in thy hand, and they sat down at thy feet. Every one of them shall receive of thy words." Isn't that amazing? Every one of them shall receive of thy words. So God's saints hear his words. He teaches them.

[John Weaver] Get ready, look in your Bibles to John chapter 6 and verse 45. Look what our Lord said. John 6 verse 45. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. John 6, look in verse 45. Here it is. John 6 verse 45. In fact, let's read verse 44 and verse 45 so you can see that in the context. Our Lord makes a tremendous statement in John 6 in verse 44.

[John Weaver] He says, No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day. Remember, can is the term of ability. No man has the ability to come to Christ apart from the power of God. No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him. Well, how does God draw? And by the way, the word is draw, not drag. How does God draw? We look in verse 45, it is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me. Wow. Now, he said, our Lord said, it's written in the prophets. Well, where is it written in the prophets? Well, let's see, let's go back in our Bibles to Isaiah 54 and let's look at verse 13, Isaiah 54 and verse 13, because our Lord is quoted. Isaiah 54, look, if you would please, in verse 13. Here he says it like this.

[John Weaver] And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. And great shall be the peace of thy children. All my children shall be taught of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now turn right over to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and look if you would please at verse 34. Jeremiah 31 and verse 34. Here it is, this is where our Lord is quoting from. Jeremiah 31 verse 34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord. For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the Lord.

[John Weaver] For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." What did he say? They shall all be taught of the Lord. That is exactly right. When God draws us, He opens our understanding. He teaches us. He illuminates us. He enlightens us. He releases our will from the bondage of sin. He elevates our affections that we may desire Him. And He gives us grace and the ability to come to Him.

[John Weaver] Now, when we're saved, God still continues to teach His people. If you would look in 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 4. Watch verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 4. Watch verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul says this. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 9. Watch. But as touching brotherly love, you need not that I write unto you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another. There are certain things that God just teaches us.

[John Weaver] He puts it upon our heart. Now, I want you to turn, since you're in 1 Thessalonians, turn right over, if you would please, to 2 Timothy and look in chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And look, if you would, at verses 14 and 15. Look what Paul tells Timothy. 2 Timothy 3, verse 14. He tells Timothy, but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, watch, and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures.

[John Weaver] which are able to make thee wise in the salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Continuing the things that thou hast learned, what did our Lord say? If you continue in my word, then are you truly my disciples?

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you a contrast. Turn back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter seven, Romans chapter 16, Romans 16 and verse 17, Romans 16 and verse 17. We'll read verses 17 and 18. Romans chapter 16, notice verses 17 and 18. Romans 16 verse 17, Paul says, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause division and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them.

[John Weaver] For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly. And by good words and fair speeches have saved the hearts of the simple." Note, if you would, he says, you mark those that cause divisions and offenses contrary to what? To the doctrine which you have learned, that you've been taught. So God's people do learn some things.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you. We learn that the truth is in Jesus Christ. We learn that Jesus Christ is the truth. We learn that His Word is truth. We learn that anything and everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ or His Word is untrue and an antichrist. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 1 John 2. Turn right on over to 1 John 2. 1 John 2, notice if you would please verse 22. 1 John 2, verse 22. Look at this. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. So if you tell me that Jesus Christ is not the Messiah, He's not the Anointed One, He's not the Sent One of God, God says you're a liar. And if you try to deny the Father and the Son are one, God says you're a liar. It's just that simple. Look in chapter 4 and verse 3. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God.

[John Weaver] Here's how you can discern. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. But every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist, wherever you've heard that it should come, and even now is already in the world. Look in 2 John chapter 1 and verse 7, 2 John 1 and verse 7. 2 John 1 verse 7. John again writes, for many deceivers are entered in the world and who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

[John Weaver] So what does he say? If you learn that Jesus Christ is truth. Then, you know, anything that's contrary to Christ. It's not true. And anything contrary to Jesus Christ is antichrist now. In Galatians chapter 2, without turning there, Paul said that he withstood those evil men that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. Do you understand that Jesus Christ is truth and Jesus Christ is the gospel? Without Jesus Christ, there is no gospel, and without the gospel, there is no salvation. So a denial of the gospel is a denial of Jesus Christ, and a denial of Jesus Christ is a denial of salvation.

[John Weaver] So how does God teach us? He said, everyone that has been taught of God comes to me. How does God teach us? And the answer is, He teaches us through His Word and by His Spirit as the Word of God is expounded, explained, and applied. Isn't that interesting? And if you read through the Scriptures, you will find that our God opens our hearts exactly the way He opened the heart of Lydia in Acts chapter 16. So the Lord opened her heart.

[John Weaver] With the result of that, she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. You'll find that the Lord opens our understandings, exactly the way He opened the understandings of those two men on the Emmaus road, when they said, dead and gone, our hearts burned within us when He spoke to us by the wayside. And how later on in Luke chapter 24, talking about His disciples, so then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Word of God. So we also find God enlightens us.

[John Weaver] For in Psalm 36 in verse 9, he says, For with thee is the fountain of light, and in thy light we shall see light. It's only in God that we see true light. And it's only in God that he gives us pastor teachers who will feed us according to knowledge and understanding. That's what he said in Jeremiah 3 in verse 15. And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

[John Weaver] So when we learn Christ, let me show you one last passage. I want you to turn to first Peter, first Peter, chapter one. When we learn Jesus Christ. We learn to be holy, we learn to be obedient, we learn to think May I remind you that you will find the word muse, M-U-S-E, in the Bible. To muse means to think, to meditate, to contemplate.

[John Weaver] You put an A on it and it negates it. Amuse means not to think. Why do you think TV is called amusement? Why do you think there are amusement parks? All entertainment is amusement. You don't have to think. God teaches us to think. Watch. 1 Peter 1, beginning there, verse 13. Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind. What does that mean? It means you better get ready to think and study and meditate. Gird up the loins of your mind.

[John Weaver] Be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Watch. As obedient children, Not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts of your ignorance, but as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. So God teaches us to think He teaches us to be obedient. He teaches us not to fashion our lives according to our former ignorance, which we'll see next week. He teaches us that we're to be holy as He is holy.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications. I want you to consider this fact. He said, but you have not so learned Christ. We must learn Christ. You must consider the fact that Scripture teaches that all of His sheep All of his people shall be taught of the Lord. When you consider that many professing Christians are not being taught. And they are not progressing in the Christian profession and are not becoming more and more holy and more and more submissive and godly. You must really wonder whether or not they're sheep.

[John Weaver] He does teach his own. And the evidence that he teaches his own is they follow him. What did he tell the Pharisees in John 10 in verse 26? He said, but you believe not. Because you're not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me. The sheep will always follow The shepherd. And if you're not following the shepherd, you may not be a sheep. One may object and offer for defense, but I'm really a sheep, I'm just not a good student, I'm just not an obedient child, really. Really. You know, Hebrews chapter 12 teaches us if we are not obedient, if we are really his child, we're going to be chastened.

[John Weaver] If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom he chastened not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. So if you can sin and get away with it and never be whipped and never be chastened, you don't belong to God. So when someone comes along and says, well, I'm saved, I'm just not a good student, I'm just not very obedient, really?

[John Weaver] If you're really his sheep, God's going to be whipping the living daylights out of you for your laziness and your slothfulness and your worldliness and your lack of study and obedience. And here's my question. If you want to tell me that you're really a sheep. And you're disobedient, I want you to explain to me 1 John 2, 4. For there, the scripture says, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

[John Weaver] Wrestle with that one for a while. My sheep hear my voice. If we're really His sheep, if we're really His elect, if we're really His children, we hear Him. We hear Him. And we will hear Him either in instruction or discipline. But we'll hear Him. And Hebrews 12 says, Now no chastening then, for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards, His chastening leaves a peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.

[John Weaver] So when God chastens us, it works. It always works. So here's my question. How do we know whether or not we're learning Christ? And what is the practical application of learning Christ? How do we actually apply it in our lives? Well, the answer is to be here next Sunday at the same time on the same channel. And I'll show it to you from the Scripture. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your love and grace and mercy. And help us, Father, to learn Jesus Christ. He's the lesson. He's the teacher. We don't need to know about him. We need to know him and receive of him.

[John Weaver] Lord, teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and make us godly and obedient. In thy name we pray. Amen.

Walking With God - 7

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	522161818153
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-03-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 146: Walking With God — Chapter 7
Source Timed Segments	73

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of the Series

Weaver introduces the message as part seven of the series, briefly reviewing previous topics such as walking by faith, walking before the Lord, and the call to walk differently from the heathen as described in Ephesians 4:17-19.

This is message number seven in the series Walking with the Lord. I'm not going to be taking a lot of time to do review. I will mention several things. If I take too much time, I'll be repreaching the previous six messages, so I don't want to do that. But the title of the message is Walking with the Lord, and the subtitle is actually Learning Christ. Last week we dealt with Ephesians 4 verses 17 through 19 and remember the whole series began walking with the Lord when we read from Genesis chapter 5 about Enoch walking with the Lord and how that Enoch pleased the Lord according to Hebrews chapter 11 verses 5 and 6. We also read how God told Abram, "I'm the Lord thy God, walk thou before me and be thou perfect."

The Grace of God Makes Us Differ

Weaver explains that it is God's grace that distinguishes believers from the world, citing 1 Corinthians 4:7 to show that everything we have is received from God, and that this grace leads to obedience.

"But you have not so learned Christ. If so be that you've heard him, have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus." Now, Paul has told us clearly that we're to walk with the Lord and we're to walk by faith. And he tells us that we are to walk differently. We're not to be like the heathen. We're not to be like the pagans or the other nations. We are to be different. The question is, what makes us different? Well, true, first and foremost, we would have to respond, it is the grace of God in our lives. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7, here's the question,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ one from another? And here's another question, what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory or boast as if thou hadst not received it?"

So everything that we have is by God's grace and God's mercy. It's God who made us to differ.

We did not save ourselves. We did not call ourselves. We did not justify ourselves. It's God who made us to differ. So obviously, it is God then who keeps us separate then from the other nations. We do not walk in the vanity of our minds. And I pointed out how the word vanity not only refers to uselessness and worthlessness, but it also refers to idolatry and to perverseness as well. And then he goes on in verse 18, having the understanding darkened and being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because the blindness of their hearts. And I pointed out all of these things.

And then he said, who being past feeling, that is, who are literally calloused. Nothing causes them any shame or remorse, they're past feeling, and they've given themselves over to lasciviousness, to nakedness, to perverseness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Now, although it is the grace of God that indeed makes us to differ, we must also confess that the grace of God that leads us to salvation also leads us unto obedience. You see, the Bible says in 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:2

"elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience."

So the same God that saves us from our sins and makes us different by His grace is the same God that leads us unto obedience. Now, he says in verse 20, "but you have not so learned Christ." I must point out that obedience not only implies learning, it requires learning. How can you be obedient if you have not learned what to obey and whom you must obey? So, obedience then requires learning.

The Necessity of Learning Christ

Focusing on Ephesians 4:20, Weaver stresses that obedience requires learning Christ, not just about Him. He defines 'Christian' as Christ-like and laments that many professing Christians show no difference from the world.

The Greek word for disciple is the word mathetes, which literally means a learner, a pupil, and a disciple. Now, I want you to look carefully at verse 20. He says, "but you have not so learned Christ." Has the thought ever crossed your mind that you must learn Jesus Christ? Have you ever thought about the necessity of learning Christ? I could ask it like this. Has the meaning of the word Christian ever entered or passed through your mind? Because the word Christian literally means Christ-like or a disciple or a follower of Christ.

Now, we're told in Acts 11 and verse 26 that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. But how can one be truly a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ if he is not Christ-like? All you have to do in order to ascertain as to whether or not we understand the truth of learning Christ is to look at the average Christian and the average church. If you look at the average professing Christian, you would have to admit that usually one cannot discern or tell the difference between the average professing Christian and an everyday unsaved worldling. Professing Christians usually look like, dress like, act like, even talk like the unsaved, attend the same movies, watch the same TV shows, vote for the same unsaved candidates, and are easily and quickly duped when it comes to biblical and spiritual knowledge. In fact, the average professing Christian usually will accept anyone else who professes to be a Christian regardless of how they live and how they act.

Now, let me give you a quote from J.C. Ryle. J.C. Ryle says this. Listen carefully, "If you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer, he is under a ruinous delusion and is not forgiven at all. I would not believe he is forgiven if an angel from heaven affirmed it. And I charge you not to believe it too."

Philip's Ignorance and Our Need to Know Christ

Using John 14:1-9, Weaver illustrates that even Philip, who walked with Jesus for three years, did not truly know Him, highlighting our greater need to learn Christ intimately.

How many sermons he can listen to, and never learn anything, and remain the same. In other words, hardly anything changes us, because we've never really learned Christ. Now let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians 4, but look in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 14, at a conversation that is carried on between Jesus Christ, Thomas, and Philip. I want you to watch. It's a very important question asked of Philip toward the end of the conversation. So look in John, chapter 14, beginning there with verse 1. We'll read through verse 9.

Our Lord says, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Now look what our Lord says. "And whither I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest. How can we know the way? Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If you had known me, note that, if you had known me, you should have known my Father also. And from henceforth, you know him and have seen him." Watch. "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, show us the Father?"

But look at that question. Look what he said. "Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip?" Philip lived with our Lord and walked with Him three years. He knew him personally and intimately and literally, and yet he did not know him. Now, the question is this, if Philip could live with our Lord for three years and really not know him, how much greater is our lack of knowledge, for we have not lived with Christ as personally and as closely as did Philip.

Now, when you go back to Ephesians 4, I want you to look at verses 20 and 21 again, because these are the two verses that I'm going to be dealing with today. Watch this, Ephesians 4, verse 20. He tells these Ephesian believers, "but you have not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth in Jesus Christ."

Christ as Both Lesson and Teacher

Weaver expounds Ephesians 4:20-21, explaining that Christ is the lesson and the teacher; we are to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) and be duplicates of Him in this world.

Now you have to remember that verses 20 and 21 follow verses 17 through 19 where the Apostle Paul is telling us to walk differently. We're not to walk as the other nations walk. We're not to walk as the heathen, as the pagans. No, we're to walk differently. He tells us how they walk and then he makes this statement, "but you've not so learned Christ." In other words, Christ didn't teach that trash. He didn't teach you to live like they live. So Paul is making an astounding statement and revealing a tremendous truth when he said that you have not so learned Christ. And the truth is we must actually learn Christ. And when someone is living as the heathen do, it's obvious that he has not learned Christ. Because Christ does not teach us to live ungodly lives. He does not teach us to live in vanity and in ignorance. He does not teach us to live in rebellion. He does not teach us to live in disobedience.

If we know anything at all about Jesus Christ, we know that He is the holy, harmless, sinless Son of God. We also know that He was obedient to the Father in all things, and He was submissive in all things. John Calvin said it like this. He's making a statement on the difference between verses 20 and 21 and 17 through 19, and he says this, "He, that is Paul, now draws a contrast of a Christian life so as to make it evident how utterly inconsistent it is with the character of a godly man to defile himself with the abominations of the Gentiles or the heathen. Because the Gentiles walk in darkness, therefore they do not distinguish between right and wrong. But those on whom the truth of God shines ought to live in a different manner. That those to whom the vanity of the senses is a rule of life should yield themselves up to base lust is not surprising. But the doctrine of Jesus Christ teaches us to renounce our natural dispositions. He whose life differs not from that of the unbelievers has learned nothing of Christ. For the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh." Wow. With that in mind, I want you to hold Ephesians 4 and turn right over to the book of Titus chapter 2, and let me demonstrate, if you would please, the truth of what Calvin just stated. Look in Titus chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Look what he says. Titus 2, verse 11. Just a few pages over, Titus 2, verse 11. Look what he says.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." Note now, this is the grace of God that bringeth salvation. Watch, what does that grace that brings salvation teach us? Verse 12, "teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." Note, redeem us from all iniquity "and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." But notice, if you would, verse 12 tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us that we're to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

You must remember that the Apostle Paul, the author of the book of Ephesians, is also the author of the book of Philippians. And he said this in Philippians 3, verses 10 and 11, listen carefully, "that I might know him," talking about Jesus Christ,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:10-11

"that I might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead."

So according to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3 verses 10 and 11, to know Jesus Christ is not just simply to acknowledge Him, but is to be made conformable unto Him in life and in death. Now let me ask you some questions that I hope will stimulate your mind. How well are we to learn Jesus Christ? What is to be the extent of our learning? I could also ask what is the evidence of our learning, which I will show you next week. But I want you to see a verse. The Apostle John answers that question or those questions for us. I want you to hold Ephesians 4, but turn right over if you would to 1 John chapter 4. 1 John chapter 4 and look if you would please at verse 17. This is an astounding verse. 1 John 4 and verse 17. How well are we to learn Jesus Christ? What is to be the extent of our learning? Well, John says it like this. 1 John 4 verse 17. Watch.

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment." What is going to give us boldness in the day of judgment? "Because as He is, that is, as Jesus Christ really is, so are we in this world." Isn't that amazing? He said if you want to be bold in judgment day, you must live as Christ in this world now in time and history. As he is, whatever Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world. Isn't that amazing?

So we have to consider this. How are we to be made to liken him in this world? Let me show you another verse. Hold Ephesians 4, but go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and look in verse 29. Romans 8 verse 29. We're talking about learning Christ. Look at Romans 8 verse 29. In this passage, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:29

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Now watch that carefully.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:29

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son."

The Greek word conformed is the word summorphos, which literally means to be conformed unto, to be fashioned like unto, to having the same form. Literally, here's what it means. It means to be pressed into the same mold.

Long time ago, but I do remember, Alice used to make butter. We have those little hand churns that you would hit that, I forget what you call it now, but you just keep battering it up and down and you'd make butter. And when it got thick enough, she would pour it into a butter mold and put it in the refrigerator. And guess what? When it sat in the refrigerator and hardened, she could take it and dump it in a dish, and it was perfectly made like that mold that it was put in.

So that's what the Bible says. We are to be pressed into the same mold of Jesus Christ. As He is, so are we in this world. So let me put it to you like this. We're to be duplicates of Jesus Christ in this world. In obedience, in submission, in character, in holiness. And if we're like Him, we will be able to say with Him, in John 8 and verse 29, to the Father, "for I do always those things that please Him." Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could say that to God the Father? "I do always those things that please thee." Well, that's what he's talking about being made like unto Christ.

Now, I want you to look back to Ephesians 4. I'm pointing this out. It's obvious. Verses 20 and 21. Let me read them again. Watch. Ephesians 4, verse 20 and 21. "But you have not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus." So here's the truth that you must grasp today. Jesus Christ is the lesson. And Jesus Christ is the teacher. We are taught by him. He is the lesson and he is the teacher. We must learn to look to Him not only as our lesson, but as our teacher. We are not learning about Christ. We're learning Christ. There's a big difference. You can learn about anybody. I can learn about Mohammed. I can learn about Gandhi. I can learn about Nixon. I can learn about anybody. But if I learn someone, I know them intimately. I know their heart's desire. I know their motives. I know everything about them and identify with them. So in order to learn Jesus Christ, we must take our seat and we must take our position as learners, as students, as disciples and followers.

The Meaning of Discipleship and Continuing in Christ

Weaver examines the Greek word for 'learn' (manthano) and its connection to discipleship, emphasizing that true disciples continue in Christ's word (John 8:30-32) and do not fall away.

Now, I want you to look back in verse 20. He says, "but you've not so learned Christ." I told you earlier that the Greek word mathetes is translated as disciple in the Bible. Guess what? Manthano is the verb here. It's the same. It's the verb form. It literally means to be a pupil or a disciple. So the verb learn literally means to learn, to learn, to be apprised of, to increase one's knowledge, to be increased in knowledge, to hear, to be informed, to learn by use and by practice and be in the habit of and be accustomed to. And you're going to see the importance of that word, one word, next Sunday, Lord willing. It literally means that we are to be in the habit and accustomed to living as Jesus Christ lived. In fact, this one word occurs 25 times in the New Testament. And the emphasis of this word is not on just simply importing knowledge, but it is awakening a thorough and complete commitment of oneself to Jesus Christ. So it means more than impartation of knowledge.

Now, you remember the passage in Matthew 11, verse 29. Our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:29

"take my yoke upon you and what? Learn of me. For I am meek and lowly. And you shall find rest for your souls."

Now, he said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:29

"take my yoke upon you and learn of me,"

not learn about me. And the little Greek preposition means to learn from Christ, out of Christ, off Christ.

Now, let me show you something else about a disciple. You might want to turn there, John 8, verses 30 and 32. Look at it, John 8, verses 30 and 32. Let's put this together. Because we're not just learning about Christ, we are learning Jesus Christ. He is the lesson. He is the teacher. Look at what he says. John 8, verse 30. "And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed."

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Now, note what he said.

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"If you continue in my word."

By the way, the proof that you've ever savingly believed is that you continue to believe. The proof that you've ever savingly repented is that you continue in repentance. The proof that you've ever savingly received the Word of God is that you continue in the Word of God. So he said, listen carefully, in John 8 and verse 32, he said,

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"if you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed."

What does that little word indeed mean? It means absolutely, most certainly, surely, truthfully, in reality. Indeed. What is it that makes the mark of a true disciple is someone who continues. And the truth of Jesus Christ, he has learned Christ, he's learned from Christ, out of Christ and in Christ, and so he says, "you're truly my disciple." So a real genuine disciple learns and holds on to the truth and continues in the truth.

He does not give it up. I've heard people say, well, oh, so-and-so used to be a Christian, but he's no longer a Christian. Really? You know what the Bible says in 1 John 2 verse 19? 1 John 2 verse 19,

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:19

"they went out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not of us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us."

The proof that you are a real, genuine disciple is that you continue in the faith and you continue in what Jesus Christ has taught you. You understand Proverbs 23 and verse 23 when the Word of God says, "buy the truth and sell it not." So the full sense of learning in being a disciple is the receiving of Christ and His work and the implications of Jesus Christ and His work in every area and every sphere of life.

Because we are forever changed by Him. We learn Jesus Christ. We learn Him.

Hearing and Being Taught by Christ

Weaver discusses what it means to hear Christ (John 10:27) and be taught by Him, showing from Scripture that God's people are taught by God and that this teaching leads to coming to Christ.

Now, look in verse 21 of Ephesians chapter 4. He says, "if so be that you have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus." Paul, in an effort here to excite their attention and earnestness even more, not only tells the Ephesians that they have not only heard Christ, they have been taught by Him. Wow! Let me ask you a question, and I don't have time to really develop this today, but have you heard Jesus Christ? You say, how in the world could I hear Christ? Well, that's another sermon in itself. But let me show you something. Turn in your Bibles to John chapter 10. John chapter 10. Yes, we hear Christ in and through his word, but look what he says, John 10, and let's begin reading there verse 23. John 10, verse 23. Watch carefully.

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him and said of him, How long dost thou make us doubt if thou be the Christ? Tell us plainly. Jesus answered them and said, I told you and you believe not. The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me, but you believe not because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you."

Hmm. Wow. What did he say?

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"You believe not because you're not of my sheep?"

Watch verse 27.

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me." "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

Notice if you would.

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"My sheep hear my voice."

John, have you heard the voice of the Lord? You say, I've never heard anyone speak from heaven. No. But you've heard him through his word in your heart, in your mind, in your life. You've heard him through the preaching and teaching of your word. Every time I read this passage, I think years and years ago, I was driving through Atlanta trying to get home. I don't know where in the world I was coming from. Ohio, Indiana, somewhere late at night. Alice wasn't with me because all the children were small. And I was just trying to stay awake. And I had the radio on. It was about one or two o'clock in the morning. I never will forget.

I finally found some preaching. And there was an old black preacher. And I thought, he'll keep me awake. I'm going to listen to him. And he is preaching from John chapter 10. And he was reading this verse in verse 27, 28. He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." And I never will forget another old gruff voice of that black preacher.

He said like this, "Now if you had Christ Jesus." He said, "You in the Father's hand." And he said, "You in the Son's hand. And the Son's in the Father's hand." And he said, "no man can pluck them out of his hand." He said, "now, if you're there," he said, "God, the Father won't pluck you out of his hand. God, the Son won't pluck you out of his hand. God, the Spirit won't pluck you out of his hand." "And come to think of it, them's only three that can do any plucking anyhow." I thought, that's true. That's very, very true. It was worth it just to hear him say that. And that's true. But notice, he said, "my sheep hear my voice and they follow me." So what does our Lord teach us? Number one, he tells us our Lord's sheep hear his voice. Number two, he knows his sheep. And number three, his sheep follow him. And then when you look at John chapter 10 and verse three, the Bible says this, "to him the porter openeth," talking about Christ, "and the sheep hear his voice and he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out." So he called you. So the question is, have you heard Christ? Do you follow Him? Are you listening?

Have you been taught by Him? He only teaches truth. Obviously, if you're holding error and heresy and falsehood, you have not been taught by Jesus Christ. He said, "if so be that you have heard Him." The Greek word is akouo. It means more than simple hearing or hearkening. It means to give audience to, to attend and to consider what is being said. It also means to give ear to a teacher, to hear and perceive by the ear that which is being announced in one's presence.

So it has the implication then of comprehension and understanding. So it's not just that you hear with your ear, but you understand and you comprehend what is being said and what is being taught. Do you realize that even in the Old Testament, the mark of a true believer was being taught by God and receiving His words? I want you to turn to Deuteronomy 33. As you turn there, I want to quote Job 36 and verse 22. For in that passage, the Word of God says, "Behold, God exalteth by his power, who teacheth like him?" So God is the ultimate teacher. I want you to look in Deuteronomy chapter 33. And let's begin reading there with verse one. This may surprise you. I preached on this passage many, many years back, but it's a tremendous passage, and it reveals some great truths. Deuteronomy 33, verse 1, the Bible says this, "and this is the blessing wherewith Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death."

"And he said, the Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them. He shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of his saints. From his right hand went a fiery law for them." Note, for them. "Yea, he loved the people. Watch, all his saints are in thy hand, and they sat down at thy feet. Every one of them shall receive of thy words." Isn't that amazing? Every one of them shall receive of thy words. So God's saints hear his words. He teaches them.

Get ready, look in your Bibles to John chapter 6 and verse 45. Look what our Lord said. John 6 verse 45. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. John 6, look in verse 45. Here it is. John 6 verse 45. In fact, let's read verse 44 and verse 45 so you can see that in the context. Our Lord makes a tremendous statement in John 6 in verse 44.

He says, "No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day." Remember, can is the term of ability. No man has the ability to come to Christ apart from the power of God. "No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him." Well, how does God draw? And by the way, the word is draw, not drag. How does God draw? We look in verse 45, "it is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me." Wow. Now, he said, our Lord said, "it's written in the prophets." Well, where is it written in the prophets? Well, let's see, let's go back in our Bibles to Isaiah 54 and let's look at verse 13, Isaiah 54 and verse 13, because our Lord is quoted. Isaiah 54, look, if you would please, in verse 13. Here he says it like this.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. And great shall be the peace of thy children." All my children shall be taught of the Lord. Now turn right over to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and look if you would please at verse 34. Jeremiah 31 and verse 34. Here it is, this is where our Lord is quoting from. Jeremiah 31 verse 34.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:34

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord. For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the Lord."

"For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." What did he say? They shall all be taught of the Lord. That is exactly right. When God draws us, He opens our understanding. He teaches us. He illuminates us. He enlightens us. He releases our will from the bondage of sin. He elevates our affections that we may desire Him. And He gives us grace and the ability to come to Him.

Now, when we're saved, God still continues to teach His people. If you would look in 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 4. Watch verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 4. Watch verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul says this. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 9. Watch. "But as touching brotherly love, you need not that I write unto you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another." There are certain things that God just teaches us.

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:9

He puts it upon our heart. Now, I want you to turn, since you're in 1 Thessalonians, turn right over, if you would please, to 2 Timothy and look in chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And look, if you would, at verses 14 and 15. Look what Paul tells Timothy. 2 Timothy 3, verse 14. He tells Timothy, "but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them," watch, "and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures."

The Truth in Jesus and the Mark of Antichrist

Weaver explains that learning Christ means recognizing that truth is in Jesus, and anything contrary to Christ is antichrist (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7).

Now, let me show you. We learn that the truth is in Jesus Christ. We learn that Jesus Christ is the truth. We learn that His Word is truth. We learn that anything and everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ or His Word is untrue and an antichrist. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 1 John 2. Turn right on over to 1 John 2. 1 John 2, notice if you would please verse 22. 1 John 2, verse 22. Look at this. "Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son." So if you tell me that Jesus Christ is not the Messiah, He's not the Anointed One, He's not the Sent One of God, God says you're a liar. And if you try to deny the Father and the Son are one, God says you're a liar. It's just that simple. Look in chapter 4 and verse 3. "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God."

Here's how you can discern. "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. But every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist, wherever you've heard that it should come, and even now is already in the world." Look in 2 John chapter 1 and verse 7, 2 John 1 and verse 7. 2 John 1 verse 7. John again writes, "for many deceivers are entered in the world and who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

So what does he say? If you learn that Jesus Christ is truth, then you know anything that's contrary to Christ is not true. And anything contrary to Jesus Christ is antichrist. Now, in Galatians chapter 2, without turning there, Paul said that he withstood those evil men that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. Do you understand that Jesus Christ is truth and Jesus Christ is the gospel? Without Jesus Christ, there is no gospel, and without the gospel, there is no salvation. So a denial of the gospel is a denial of Jesus Christ, and a denial of Jesus Christ is a denial of salvation.

How God Teaches His People

Weaver outlines that God teaches through His Word and Spirit, opening hearts and understandings, and giving pastor-teachers to feed with knowledge (Acts 16:14; Luke 24:32,45; Jeremiah 3:15).

So how does God teach us? He said, everyone that has been taught of God comes to me. How does God teach us? And the answer is, He teaches us through His Word and by His Spirit as the Word of God is expounded, explained, and applied. Isn't that interesting? And if you read through the Scriptures, you will find that our God opens our hearts exactly the way He opened the heart of Lydia in Acts chapter 16. So the Lord opened her heart.

With the result of that, she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. You'll find that the Lord opens our understandings, exactly the way He opened the understandings of those two men on the Emmaus road, when they said, "did not our hearts burn within us when He spoke to us by the wayside?" And how later on in Luke chapter 24, talking about His disciples, "then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Word of God." So we also find God enlightens us. For in Psalm 36 in verse 9, he says, "For with thee is the fountain of light, and in thy light we shall see light." It's only in God that we see true light. And it's only in God that he gives us pastor teachers who will feed us according to knowledge and understanding. That's what he said in Jeremiah 3 in verse 15. "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

So when we learn Christ, let me show you one last passage. I want you to turn to 1 Peter, 1 Peter, chapter one. When we learn Jesus Christ, we learn to be holy, we learn to be obedient, we learn to think. May I remind you that you will find the word muse, M-U-S-E, in the Bible. To muse means to think, to meditate, to contemplate.

Applications and Warnings

Weaver applies the message by urging believers to gird up their minds (1 Peter 1:13), warning that those who do not progress in holiness may not be true sheep, and that God chastens His own.

You put an A on it and it negates it. Amuse means not to think. Why do you think TV is called amusement? Why do you think there are amusement parks? All entertainment is amusement. You don't have to think. God teaches us to think. Watch. 1 Peter 1, beginning there, verse 13. "Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind." What does that mean? It means you better get ready to think and study and meditate. Gird up the loins of your mind.

"Be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Watch. "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts of your ignorance, but as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." So God teaches us to think. He teaches us to be obedient. He teaches us not to fashion our lives according to our former ignorance, which we'll see next week. He teaches us that we're to be holy as He is holy.

Now, let me make some applications. I want you to consider this fact. He said, "but you have not so learned Christ." We must learn Christ. You must consider the fact that Scripture teaches that all of His sheep, all of His people shall be taught of the Lord. When you consider that many professing Christians are not being taught, and they are not progressing in the Christian profession and are not becoming more and more holy and more and more submissive and godly, you must really wonder whether or not they're sheep. He does teach his own. And the evidence that he teaches his own is they follow him. What did he tell the Pharisees in John 10 in verse 26? He said, "but you believe not. Because you're not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me." The sheep will always follow the shepherd. And if you're not following the shepherd, you may not be a sheep. One may object and offer for defense, "but I'm really a sheep, I'm just not a good student, I'm just not an obedient child," really. Really. You know, Hebrews chapter 12 teaches us if we are not obedient, if we are really his child, we're going to be chastened.

"If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom he chasteneth not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons." So if you can sin and get away with it and never be whipped and never be chastened, you don't belong to God. So when someone comes along and says, "well, I'm saved, I'm just not a good student, I'm just not very obedient," really? If you're really his sheep, God's going to be whipping the living daylights out of you for your laziness and your slothfulness and your worldliness and your lack of study and obedience. And here's my question. If you want to tell me that you're really a sheep and you're disobedient, I want you to explain to me 1 John 2:4. For there, the scripture says, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

Wrestle with that one for a while. "My sheep hear my voice." If we're really His sheep, if we're really His elect, if we're really His children, we hear Him. We hear Him. And we will hear Him either in instruction or discipline. But we'll hear Him. And Hebrews 12 says, "Now no chastening then, for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards, His chastening leaves a peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby."

Study Guide

Major Themes

Learning Christ vs. Learning About Christ

Summary: The central theme is that believers must learn Christ Himself—intimately knowing and being conformed to Him—rather than merely acquiring information about Him.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Jesus Christ is the lesson. And Jesus Christ is the teacher. We are taught by him. He is the lesson and he is the teacher. We must learn to look to Him not only as our lesson, but as our teacher. We are not learning about Christ. We're learning Christ.' (23:18.5-24:55.2)

The Distinction Between Believers and the World

Summary: True Christians are made to differ by God's grace and must live differently from the heathen, not walking in vanity, ignorance, or lasciviousness.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Paul has told us clearly that we're to walk with the Lord and we're to walk by faith. And he tells us that we are to walk differently. We're not to be like the heathen.' (02:57.9-03:52.3)

Obedience as Evidence of Learning Christ

Summary: Learning Christ necessarily results in obedience; those who live in disobedience have not learned Christ, regardless of their profession.

Evidence: Weaver asserts, 'When someone is living as the heathen do, it's obvious that he has not learned Christ. Because Christ does not teach us to live ungodly lives.' (13:51.7-14:52.0)

The Necessity of Continuing in Christ

Summary: True disciples are marked by perseverance; they continue in Christ's word and do not fall away, proving the genuineness of their faith.

Evidence: Weaver quotes John 8:31-32 and comments, 'The proof that you've ever savingly believed is that you continue to believe... So a real genuine disciple learns and holds on to the truth and continues in the truth.' (27:48.4-29:14.8)

Divine Teaching and the Effectual Call

Summary: God teaches His people inwardly through His Word and Spirit, drawing them to Christ and enabling them to hear His voice and follow Him.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'When God draws us, He opens our understanding. He teaches us. He illuminates us. He enlightens us. He releases our will from the bondage of sin.' (40:18.4-40:50.7)

Conformity to Christ as the Goal of Learning

Summary: The ultimate purpose of learning Christ is to be conformed to His image, becoming duplicates of Him in character, holiness, and obedience.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We are to be pressed into the same mold of Jesus Christ. As He is, so are we in this world.' (22:25.3-23:18.4)

Key Arguments

Grace leads to obedience, not license

Summary: The same grace that saves us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly; therefore, a grace that does not produce obedience is not saving grace.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'The grace of God that leads us to salvation also leads us unto obedience... the same God that saves us from our sins and makes us different by His grace is the same God that leads us unto obedience.' (04:32.5-05:58.6)

Learning Christ is essential for true discipleship

Summary: One cannot be a disciple without learning Christ; the Greek word for disciple means 'learner,' and learning Christ involves a thorough commitment and transformation of life.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'The Greek word for disciple is the word mathetes, which literally means a learner, a pupil, and a disciple... the emphasis of this word is not on just simply importing knowledge, but it is awakening a thorough and complete commitment of oneself to Jesus Christ.' (05:59.0-06:44.3; 24:55.7-26:27.5)

Many professing Christians show no evidence of learning Christ

Summary: The average professing Christian is indistinguishable from the world in lifestyle, entertainment, and discernment, indicating they have not truly learned Christ.

Evidence: Weaver observes, 'If you look at the average professing Christian, you would have to admit that usually one cannot discern or tell the difference between the average professing Christian and an everyday unsaved worldling.' (06:45.2-08:15.2)

True sheep hear Christ's voice and follow Him

Summary: Jesus' sheep are characterized by hearing His voice and following Him; those who do not follow give evidence that they are not His sheep.

Evidence: Weaver cites John 10:27 and says, 'My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me... The sheep will always follow the shepherd. And if you're not following the shepherd, you may not be a sheep.' (32:27.1-32:52.2; 51:07.8-52:10.5)

God chastens disobedient children

Summary: If a professing Christian lives in disobedience without chastening, it is evidence they are not true children of God, because God disciplines all His sons.

Evidence: Weaver argues from Hebrews 12, 'If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons... But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.' (52:12.5-52:37.9)

The truth is exclusively in Jesus Christ

Summary: Learning Christ means recognizing that all truth is in Him; anything contrary to Christ or His Word is antichrist and a lie.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We learn that the truth is in Jesus Christ. We learn that Jesus Christ is the truth. We learn that His Word is truth. We learn that anything and everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ or His Word is untrue and an antichrist.' (43:31.0-44:57.1)

Scripture References

Ephesians 4:17-19

Context: Weaver reads these verses to describe the walk of the heathen, which believers are not to imitate.

Ephesians 4:20-21

Context: The primary text of the sermon, emphasizing that believers have not so learned Christ and must be taught by Him.

1 Corinthians 4:7

Context: Used to show that God makes believers to differ from the world by His grace.

1 Peter 1:2

Context: Cited to demonstrate that election leads to obedience through sanctification of the Spirit.

Acts 11:26

Context: Mentioned to note that disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, linking discipleship to being Christ-like.

John 14:1-9

Context: Used to illustrate that Philip did not truly know Christ despite being with Him, highlighting the need to learn Christ.

Titus 2:11-14

Context: Shown to prove that the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and live godly lives.

Philippians 3:10-11

Context: Quoted to show that knowing Christ involves being conformed to His death and resurrection.

1 John 4:17

Context: Used to emphasize that as Christ is, so are believers in this world, giving boldness in judgment.

Romans 8:29

Context: Cited to show that believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Matthew 11:29

Context: Referenced to show that Jesus commands us to learn of Him, not just about Him.

John 8:30-32

Context: Used to define true discipleship as continuing in Christ's word.

1 John 2:19

Context: Quoted to argue that those who fall away were never truly of the faith.

John 10:23-28

Context: Read to show that Jesus' sheep hear His voice and follow Him, and are secure in His hand.

Deuteronomy 33:1-3

Context: Cited to show that God's saints receive His words and are taught by Him.

John 6:44-45

Context: Used to demonstrate that all who are taught of God come to Christ.

Isaiah 54:13

Context: Quoted as the Old Testament promise that God's children shall be taught of the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:34

Context: Referenced as the source of the promise that all shall know the Lord and be taught by Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

Context: Cited to show that believers are taught by God to love one another.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

Context: Used to encourage continuing in what has been learned from Scripture.

Historical References

J.C. Ryle

Context: Weaver quotes J.C. Ryle on the incompatibility of pardon of sin and love of sin, emphasizing that those who live in sin are under a ruinous delusion.

John Calvin

Context: Weaver quotes Calvin's commentary on Ephesians, stating that the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh.

Important Quotes

Jesus Christ is the lesson. And Jesus Christ is the teacher. We are taught by him. He is the lesson and he is the teacher.

Significance: This quote encapsulates the central thesis of the sermon: that learning Christ means engaging with Him as both the content and the instructor of the Christian life.

If you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer, he is under a ruinous delusion and is not forgiven at all.

Significance: Weaver uses this J.C. Ryle quote to underscore the necessity of holiness as evidence of true forgiveness, challenging antinomian presumptions.

He whose life differs not from that of the unbelievers has learned nothing of Christ. For the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh.

Significance: This Calvin quote reinforces the argument that genuine knowledge of Christ inevitably produces a transformed, holy life.

My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me.

Significance: Weaver cites this verse as the definitive mark of true believers: they hear Christ's voice and follow Him, distinguishing them from false professors.

We are to be pressed into the same mold of Jesus Christ. As He is, so are we in this world.

Significance: This statement summarizes the goal of learning Christ—complete conformity to His character and life.

The proof that you've ever savingly believed is that you continue to believe. The proof that you've ever savingly repented is that you continue in repentance.

Significance: Weaver emphasizes the perseverance of the saints as evidence of genuine conversion, linking it to continuing in Christ's word.

Discussion Questions

What does it mean to 'learn Christ' as opposed to merely learning about Christ, and how can we practically pursue this in our daily lives?

Context: Weaver stresses that Christ is both the lesson and the teacher, and that learning Him involves intimate knowledge and conformity.

How can we discern whether we are truly hearing Christ's voice and following Him, as described in John 10:27?

Context: Weaver uses this verse to distinguish true sheep from false professors, emphasizing hearing and following.

In what ways does the average professing Christian today resemble the world, and what does this indicate about their learning of Christ?

Context: Weaver laments that many professing Christians are indistinguishable from the unsaved in lifestyle and entertainment.

How does the grace of God teach us to deny ungodliness and live godly lives, according to Titus 2:11-14?

Context: Weaver uses this passage to show that saving grace instructs us in holy living.

What role does continuing in Christ's word play in proving genuine discipleship, and how can we cultivate perseverance?

Context: Weaver explains from John 8:31-32 that true disciples continue in His word.

How should the reality of divine chastening affect our understanding of assurance and our response to sin?

Context: Weaver argues from Hebrews 12 that lack of chastening may indicate illegitimacy, urging self-examination.

Applications

Examine whether you have truly learned Christ

Summary: Weaver challenges listeners to assess if their lives show evidence of learning Christ, as opposed to mere profession, by evaluating their obedience, holiness, and distinction from the world.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'When someone is living as the heathen do, it's obvious that he has not learned Christ.' (13:51.7-14:52.0)

Gird up the loins of your mind for serious study

Summary: Believers are urged to engage their minds actively in thinking, meditating, and studying Scripture, rather than being passively amused by the world.

Evidence: Weaver exhorts from 1 Peter 1:13, 'Gird up the loins of your mind... you better get ready to think and study and meditate.' (49:02.7-49:41.9)

Continue in the truth and do not sell it

Summary: Weaver applies Proverbs 23:23, urging believers to hold fast to the truth they have learned and not abandon it, as true disciples continue in Christ's word.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'The proof that you are a real, genuine disciple is that you continue in the faith and you continue in what Jesus Christ has taught you.' (29:45.1-30:13.6)

Submit to God's chastening as evidence of sonship

Summary: Weaver warns that if one can sin without chastening, it may indicate not being a child of God; believers should expect and endure God's discipline as proof of His love.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you can sin and get away with it and never be whipped and never be chastened, you don't belong to God.' (52:12.5-52:37.9)

Pursue holiness and obedience as the fruit of learning Christ

Summary: The sermon calls for a practical outworking of learning Christ in holy living, denying former lusts, and being conformed to Christ's image.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'He teaches us that we're to be holy as He is holy.' (49:42.4-50:23.8)

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:14:59Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T02:25:58Z

Clean Transcript

Walking With God - 7

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

This is message number seven in the series Walking with the Lord. I'm not going to be taking a lot of time to do review. I will mention several things. If I take too much time, I'll be repreaching the previous six messages, so I don't want to do that. But the title of the message is Walking with the Lord, and the subtitle is actually Learning Christ. Last week we dealt with Ephesians 4 verses 17 through 19 and remember the whole series began walking with the Lord when we read from Genesis chapter 5 about Enoch walking with the Lord and how that Enoch pleased the Lord according to Hebrews chapter 11 verses 5 and 6. We also read how God told Abram, "I'm the Lord thy God, walk thou before me and be thou perfect."
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And I pointed out it's impossible to really walk with the Lord until you learn to walk before the Lord, because the word before literally means in the presence of the Lord or in His face. And then the most absolute, fundamental, basic principle is walking by faith, because the Scripture says without faith it's impossible to please Him. For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. We must walk by faith; that is basic, that is foundational. Then we looked in Ephesians 4 verses 1 through 7 where the Apostle Paul told us to walk worthy of the Lord with all lowliness and meekness and long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.
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endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And we dealt with lowliness. We dealt with meekness. And I pointed out that meekness is certainly not weakness. It's not cowardice. It's not a denial of your rights. But I did point out that it is the disciplined strength under Christ because we're yoked to Christ. And then we got to Ephesians chapter four, verses 17 through 19.
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And let me just read those and then we'll read through verse 21, where the Apostle says, "This I say therefore and testify of the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, or ethnos, or nations, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over into lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
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"But you have not so learned Christ. If so be that you've heard him, have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus."
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Now, Paul has told us clearly that we're to walk with the Lord and we're to walk by faith. And he tells us that we are to walk differently. We're not to be like the heathen. We're not to be like the pagans or the other nations. We are to be different. The question is, what makes us different? Well, true, first and foremost, we would have to respond, it is the grace of God in our lives. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 7, here's the question, "For who maketh thee to differ one from another? And here's another question, what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory or boast as if thou hadst not received it?" So everything that we have is by God's grace and God's mercy. It's God who made us to differ.
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We did not save ourselves. We did not call ourselves. We did not justify ourselves. It's God who made us to differ. So obviously, it is God then who keeps us separate then from the other nations. We do not walk in the vanity of our minds. And I pointed out how the word vanity not only refers to uselessness and worthlessness, but it also refers to idolatry and to perverseness as well. And then he goes on in verse 18, having the understanding darkened and being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because the blindness of their hearts. And I pointed out all of these things.
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And then he said, who being past feeling, that is, who are literally calloused. Nothing causes them any shame or remorse, they're past feeling, and they've given themselves over to lasciviousness, to nakedness, to perverseness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Now, although it is the grace of God that indeed makes us to differ, we must also confess that the grace of God that leads us to salvation also leads us unto obedience. You see, the Bible says in 1 Peter 1 and verse 2, listen carefully, "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience." So the same God that saves us from our sins and makes us different by His grace is the same God that leads us unto obedience. Now, he says in verse 20, "but you have not so learned Christ." I must point out that obedience not only implies learning, it requires learning. How can you be obedient if you have not learned what to obey and whom you must obey? So, obedience then requires learning.
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The Greek word for disciple is the word mathetes, which literally means a learner, a pupil, and a disciple. Now, I want you to look carefully at verse 20. He says, "but you have not so learned Christ." Has the thought ever crossed your mind that you must learn Jesus Christ? Have you ever thought about the necessity of learning Christ? I could ask it like this. Has the meaning of the word Christian ever entered or passed through your mind? Because the word Christian literally means Christ-like or a disciple or a follower of Christ.
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Now, we're told in Acts 11 and verse 26 that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. But how can one be truly a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ if he is not Christ-like? All you have to do in order to ascertain as to whether or not we understand the truth of learning Christ is to look at the average Christian and the average church. If you look at the average professing Christian, you would have to admit that usually one cannot discern or tell the difference between the average professing Christian and an everyday unsaved worldling. Professing Christians usually look like, dress like, act like, even talk like the unsaved, attend the same movies, watch the same TV shows, vote for the same unsaved candidates, and are easily and quickly duped when it comes to biblical and spiritual knowledge. In fact, the average professing Christian usually will accept anyone else who professes to be a Christian regardless of how they live and how they act.
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Now, let me give you a quote from J.C. Ryle. J.C. Ryle says this. Listen carefully, "If you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer, he is under a ruinous delusion and is not forgiven at all. I would not believe he is forgiven if an angel from heaven affirmed it. And I charge you not to believe it too."
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"Pardon of sin and love of sin are like oil and water. They will never go together. All who are washed in the blood of Jesus Christ are also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ." So he points out very clearly that all who say that they are saved and yet they love sin and wallow in it are indeed under a very ruinous delusion. So I understand there are weak Christians. There are ignorant Christians. There are foolish Christians. There are even childish or baby Christians. And unhappily, most Christians usually remain in those states. They never make progress.
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In their Christian lives, and so you have to ask why? If they're truly saved, why do most never ever really make progress? And the answer is, because they never really learned Jesus Christ. Now, I understand that there are some people who are saved, and yet they're ignorant. All of us are ignorant to a certain extent. Some are more ignorant than others. But ignorance is curable. Stupidity is not. So I understand that. But although a person may be in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, that does not mean that he's actually really learned Jesus Christ. I don't know about you, but it has always amazed me how much time the average professing Christian can spend in church.
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How many sermons he can listen to, and never learn anything, and remain the same. In other words, hardly anything changes us, because we've never really learned Christ. Now let me show you. I want you to hold Ephesians 4, but look in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 14, at a conversation that is carried on between Jesus Christ, Thomas, and Philip. I want you to watch. It's a very important question asked of Philip toward the end of the conversation. So look in John, chapter 14, beginning there with verse 1. We'll read through verse 9.
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Our Lord says, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Now look what our Lord says.
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"And whither I go, you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest. How can we know the way? Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If you had known me, note that, if you had known me, you should have known my Father also. And from henceforth, you know him and have seen him." Watch. "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus said unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, show us the Father?"
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But look at that question. Look what he said. "Have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not known me, Philip?" Philip lived with our Lord and walked with Him three years. He knew him personally and intimately and literally, and yet he did not know him. Now, the question is this, if Philip could live with our Lord for three years and really not know him, how much greater is our lack of knowledge, for we have not lived with Christ as personally and as closely as did Philip.
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Now, when you go back to Ephesians 4, I want you to look at verses 20 and 21 again, because these are the two verses that I'm going to be dealing with today. Watch this, Ephesians 4, verse 20. He tells these Ephesian believers, "but you have not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth in Jesus Christ."
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Now you have to remember that verses 20 and 21 follow verses 17 through 19 where the Apostle Paul is telling us to walk differently. We're not to walk as the other nations walk. We're not to walk as the heathen, as the pagans. No, we're to walk differently. He tells us how they walk and then he makes this statement, "but you've not so learned Christ." In other words, Christ didn't teach that trash. He didn't teach you to live like they live. So Paul is making an astounding statement and revealing a tremendous truth when he said that you have not so learned Christ. And the truth is we must actually learn Christ. And when someone is living as the heathen do, it's obvious that he has not learned Christ. Because Christ does not teach us to live ungodly lives. He does not teach us to live in vanity and in ignorance. He does not teach us to live in rebellion. He does not teach us to live in disobedience.
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If we know anything at all about Jesus Christ, we know that He is the holy, harmless, sinless Son of God. We also know that He was obedient to the Father in all things, and He was submissive in all things. John Calvin said it like this. He's making a statement on the difference between verses 20 and 21 and 17 through 19, and he says this, "He, that is Paul, now draws a contrast of a Christian life so as to make it evident how utterly inconsistent it is with the character of a godly man to defile himself with the
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abominations of the Gentiles or the heathen. Because the Gentiles walk in darkness, therefore they do not distinguish between right and wrong. But those on whom the truth of God shines ought to live in a different manner. That those to whom the vanity of the senses is a rule of life should yield themselves up to base lust is not surprising. But the doctrine of Jesus Christ teaches us to renounce our natural dispositions. He whose life differs not from that of the unbelievers has learned nothing of Christ. For the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh." Wow. With that in mind, I want you to hold Ephesians 4 and turn right over to the book of Titus chapter 2, and let me demonstrate, if you would please, the truth of what Calvin just stated. Look in Titus chapter 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 11. Look what he says. Titus 2, verse 11. Just a few pages over, Titus 2, verse 11. Look what he says.
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"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men." Note now, this is the grace of God that bringeth salvation. Watch, what does that grace that brings salvation teach us? Verse 12, "teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity." Note, redeem us from all iniquity "and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." But notice, if you would, verse 12 tells us that the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us that we're to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and that we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.
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You must remember that the Apostle Paul, the author of the book of Ephesians, is also the author of the book of Philippians. And he said this in Philippians 3, verses 10 and 11, listen carefully, "that I might know him," talking about Jesus Christ, "that I might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead." So according to the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3 verses 10 and 11, to know Jesus Christ is not just simply to acknowledge Him, but is to be made conformable unto Him in life and in death.
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Now let me ask you some questions that I hope will stimulate your mind. How well are we to learn Jesus Christ? What is to be the extent of our learning? I could also ask what is the evidence of our learning, which I will show you next week. But I want you to see a verse. The Apostle John answers that question or those questions for us. I want you to hold Ephesians 4, but turn right over if you would to 1 John chapter 4. 1 John chapter 4 and look if you would please at verse 17. This is an astounding verse. 1 John 4 and verse 17. How well are we to learn Jesus Christ? What is to be the extent of our learning? Well, John says it like this. 1 John 4 verse 17. Watch.
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"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment." What is going to give us boldness in the day of judgment? "Because as He is, that is, as Jesus Christ really is, so are we in this world." Isn't that amazing? He said if you want to be bold in judgment day, you must live as Christ in this world now in time and history. As he is, whatever Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world. Isn't that amazing?
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So we have to consider this. How are we to be made to liken him in this world? Let me show you another verse. Hold Ephesians 4, but go back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and look in verse 29. Romans 8 verse 29. We're talking about learning Christ. Look at Romans 8 verse 29. In this passage, the Bible says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." Now watch that carefully. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son." The Greek word conformed is the word summorphos, which literally means to be conformed unto, to be fashioned like unto, to having the same form. Literally, here's what it means. It means to be pressed into the same mold.
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Long time ago, but I do remember, Alice used to make butter. We have those little hand churns that you would hit that, I forget what you call it now, but you just keep battering it up and down and you'd make butter. And when it got thick enough, she would pour it into a butter mold and put it in the refrigerator. And guess what? When it sat in the refrigerator and hardened, she could take it and dump it in a dish, and it was perfectly made like that mold that it was put in.
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So that's what the Bible says. We are to be pressed into the same mold of Jesus Christ. As He is, so are we in this world. So let me put it to you like this. We're to be duplicates of Jesus Christ in this world. In obedience, in submission, in character, in holiness. And if we're like Him, we will be able to say with Him, in John 8 and verse 29, to the Father, "for I do always those things that please Him." Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could say that to God the Father? "I do always those things that please thee." Well, that's what he's talking about being made like unto Christ.
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Now, I want you to look back to Ephesians 4. I'm pointing this out. It's obvious. Verses 20 and 21. Let me read them again. Watch. Ephesians 4, verse 20 and 21. "But you have not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus." So here's the truth that you must grasp today. Jesus Christ is the lesson. And Jesus Christ is the teacher. We are taught by him. He is the lesson and he is the teacher. We must learn to look to Him not only as our lesson, but as our teacher. We are not learning about Christ. We're learning Christ. There's a big difference. You can learn about anybody. I can learn about Mohammed. I can learn about Gandhi. I can learn about Nixon. I can learn about anybody. But if I learn someone, I know them intimately. I know their heart's desire. I know their motives. I know everything about them and identify with them. So in order to learn Jesus Christ, we must take our seat and we must take our position as learners, as students, as disciples and followers.
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Now, I want you to look back in verse 20. He says, "but you've not so learned Christ." I told you earlier that the Greek word mathetes is translated as disciple in the Bible. Guess what? Manthano is the verb here. It's the same. It's the verb form. It literally means to be a pupil or a disciple. So the verb learn literally means to learn, to learn, to be apprised of, to increase one's knowledge, to be increased in knowledge, to hear, to be informed, to learn by use and by practice and be in the habit of and be accustomed to. And you're going to see the importance of that word, one word, next Sunday, Lord willing. It literally means that we are to be in the habit and accustomed to living as Jesus Christ lived. In fact, this one word occurs 25 times in the New Testament. And the emphasis of this word is not on just simply importing knowledge, but it is awakening a thorough and complete commitment of oneself to Jesus Christ. So it means more than impartation of knowledge.
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Now, you remember the passage in Matthew 11, verse 29. Our Lord said, "take my yoke upon you and what? Learn of me. For I am meek and lowly. And you shall find rest for your souls." Now, he said, "take my yoke upon you and learn of me," not learn about me. And the little Greek preposition means to learn from Christ, out of Christ, off Christ.
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Now, let me show you something else about a disciple. You might want to turn there, John 8, verses 30 and 32. Look at it, John 8, verses 30 and 32. Let's put this together. Because we're not just learning about Christ, we are learning Jesus Christ. He is the lesson. He is the teacher. Look at what he says. John 8, verse 30. "And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed."
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"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Now, note what he said. "If you continue in my word." By the way, the proof that you've ever savingly believed is that you continue to believe. The proof that you've ever savingly repented is that you continue in repentance. The proof that you've ever savingly received the Word of God is that you continue in the Word of God. So he said, listen carefully, in John 8 and verse 32, he said, "if you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed." What does that little word indeed mean?
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It means absolutely, most certainly, surely, truthfully, in reality. Indeed. What is it that makes the mark of a true disciple is someone who continues. And the truth of Jesus Christ, he has learned Christ, he's learned from Christ, out of Christ and in Christ, and so he says, "you're truly my disciple." So a real genuine disciple learns and holds on to the truth and continues in the truth.
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He does not give it up. I've heard people say, well, oh, so-and-so used to be a Christian, but he's no longer a Christian. Really? You know what the Bible says in 1 John 2 verse 19? 1 John 2 verse 19, "they went out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not of us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us."
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The proof that you are a real, genuine disciple is that you continue in the faith and you continue in what Jesus Christ has taught you. You understand Proverbs 23 and verse 23 when the Word of God says, "buy the truth and sell it not." So the full sense of learning in being a disciple is the receiving of Christ and His work and the implications of Jesus Christ and His work in every area and every sphere of life.
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Because we are forever changed by Him. We learn Jesus Christ. We learn Him.
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Now, look in verse 21 of Ephesians chapter 4. He says, "if so be that you have heard Him and have been taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus." Paul, in an effort here to excite their attention and earnestness even more, not only tells the Ephesians that they have not only heard Christ, they have been taught by Him. Wow! Let me ask you a question, and I don't have time to really develop this today, but have you heard Jesus Christ? You say, how in the world could I hear Christ?
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Well, that's another sermon in itself. But let me show you something. Turn in your Bibles to John chapter 10. John chapter 10. Yes, we hear Christ in and through his word, but look what he says, John 10, and let's begin reading there verse 23. John 10, verse 23. Watch carefully. "Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him and said of him, How long dost thou make us doubt if thou be the Christ? Tell us plainly. Jesus answered them and said, I told you and you believe not. The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me, but you believe not because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you." Hmm. Wow. What did he say? "You believe not because you're not of my sheep?" Watch verse 27. "My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me."
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"And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Notice if you would. "My sheep hear my voice." John, have you heard the voice of the Lord? You say, I've never heard anyone speak from heaven. No. But you've heard him through his word in your heart, in your mind, in your life. You've heard him through the preaching and teaching of your word.
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Every time I read this passage, I think years and years ago, I was driving through Atlanta trying to get home. I don't know where in the world I was coming from. Ohio, Indiana, somewhere late at night. Alice wasn't with me because all the children were small. And I was just trying to stay awake. And I had the radio on. It was about one or two o'clock in the morning. I never will forget.
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I finally found some preaching. And there was an old black preacher. And I thought, he'll keep me awake. I'm going to listen to him. And he is preaching from John chapter 10. And he was reading this verse in verse 27, 28. He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." And I never will forget another old gruff voice of that black preacher.
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He said like this, "Now if you had Christ Jesus." He said, "You in the Father's hand." And he said, "You in the Son's hand. And the Son's in the Father's hand." And he said, "no man can pluck them out of his hand." He said, "now, if you're there," he said, "God, the Father won't pluck you out of his hand. God, the Son won't pluck you out of his hand. God, the Spirit won't pluck you out of his hand."
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"And come to think of it, them's only three that can do any plucking anyhow." I thought, that's true. That's very, very true. It was worth it just to hear him say that. And that's true. But notice, he said, "my sheep hear my voice and they follow me." So what does our Lord teach us? Number one, he tells us our Lord's sheep hear his voice. Number two, he knows his sheep. And number three, his sheep follow him. And then when you look at John chapter 10 and verse three, the Bible says this, "to him the porter openeth," talking about Christ, "and the sheep hear his voice and he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out." So he called you. So the question is, have you heard Christ? Do you follow Him? Are you listening?
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Have you been taught by Him? He only teaches truth. Obviously, if you're holding error and heresy and falsehood, you have not been taught by Jesus Christ. He said, "if so be that you have heard Him." The Greek word is akouo. It means more than simple hearing or hearkening. It means to give audience to, to attend and to consider what is being said. It also means to give ear to a teacher, to hear and perceive by the ear that which is being announced in one's presence.
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So it has the implication then of comprehension and understanding. So it's not just that you hear with your ear, but you understand and you comprehend what is being said and what is being taught. Do you realize that even in the Old Testament, the mark of a true believer was being taught by God and receiving His words? I want you to turn to Deuteronomy 33. As you turn there, I want to quote Job 36 and verse 22. For in that passage, the Word of God says, "Behold, God exalteth by his power, who teacheth like him?" So God is the ultimate teacher. I want you to look in Deuteronomy chapter 33. And let's begin reading there with verse one. This may surprise you. I preached on this passage many, many years back, but it's a tremendous passage, and it reveals some great truths. Deuteronomy 33, verse 1, the Bible says this, "and this is the blessing wherewith Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death."
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"And he said, the Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them. He shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of his saints. From his right hand went a fiery law for them." Note, for them. "Yea, he loved the people. Watch, all his saints are in thy hand, and they sat down at thy feet. Every one of them shall receive of thy words." Isn't that amazing? Every one of them shall receive of thy words. So God's saints hear his words. He teaches them.
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Get ready, look in your Bibles to John chapter 6 and verse 45. Look what our Lord said. John 6 verse 45. I can quote it, but I want you to see it. John 6, look in verse 45. Here it is. John 6 verse 45. In fact, let's read verse 44 and verse 45 so you can see that in the context. Our Lord makes a tremendous statement in John 6 in verse 44.
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He says, "No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day." Remember, can is the term of ability. No man has the ability to come to Christ apart from the power of God. "No man can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him." Well, how does God draw? And by the way, the word is draw, not drag. How does God draw? We look in verse 45, "it is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me." Wow. Now, he said, our Lord said, "it's written in the prophets." Well, where is it written in the prophets? Well, let's see, let's go back in our Bibles to Isaiah 54 and let's look at verse 13, Isaiah 54 and verse 13, because our Lord is quoted. Isaiah 54, look, if you would please, in verse 13. Here he says it like this.
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"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. And great shall be the peace of thy children." All my children shall be taught of the Lord.
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Now turn right over to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and look if you would please at verse 34. Jeremiah 31 and verse 34. Here it is, this is where our Lord is quoting from. Jeremiah 31 verse 34. "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord. For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the Lord."
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"For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." What did he say? They shall all be taught of the Lord. That is exactly right. When God draws us, He opens our understanding. He teaches us. He illuminates us. He enlightens us. He releases our will from the bondage of sin. He elevates our affections that we may desire Him. And He gives us grace and the ability to come to Him.
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Now, when we're saved, God still continues to teach His people. If you would look in 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 4. Watch verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 4. Watch verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul says this. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 9. Watch. "But as touching brotherly love, you need not that I write unto you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another." There are certain things that God just teaches us.
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He puts it upon our heart. Now, I want you to turn, since you're in 1 Thessalonians, turn right over, if you would please, to 2 Timothy and look in chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And look, if you would, at verses 14 and 15. Look what Paul tells Timothy. 2 Timothy 3, verse 14. He tells Timothy, "but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them," watch, "and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures."
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"which are able to make thee wise in the salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus." Continuing the things that thou hast learned, what did our Lord say? "If you continue in my word, then are you truly my disciples?"
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Now, let me show you a contrast. Turn back in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 16, Romans 16 and verse 17, Romans 16 and verse 17. We'll read verses 17 and 18. Romans chapter 16, notice verses 17 and 18. Romans 16 verse 17, Paul says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause division and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them."
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"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly. And by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Note, if you would, he says, you mark those that cause divisions and offenses contrary to what? To the doctrine which you have learned, that you've been taught. So God's people do learn some things.
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Now, let me show you. We learn that the truth is in Jesus Christ. We learn that Jesus Christ is the truth. We learn that His Word is truth. We learn that anything and everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ or His Word is untrue and an antichrist. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 1 John 2. Turn right on over to 1 John 2. 1 John 2, notice if you would please verse 22. 1 John 2, verse 22. Look at this. "Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son." So if you tell me that Jesus Christ is not the Messiah, He's not the Anointed One, He's not the Sent One of God, God says you're a liar. And if you try to deny the Father and the Son are one, God says you're a liar. It's just that simple. Look in chapter 4 and verse 3. "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God."
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Here's how you can discern. "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. But every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist, wherever you've heard that it should come, and even now is already in the world." Look in 2 John chapter 1 and verse 7, 2 John 1 and verse 7. 2 John 1 verse 7. John again writes, "for many deceivers are entered in the world and who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
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So what does he say? If you learn that Jesus Christ is truth, then you know anything that's contrary to Christ is not true. And anything contrary to Jesus Christ is antichrist. Now, in Galatians chapter 2, without turning there, Paul said that he withstood those evil men that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. Do you understand that Jesus Christ is truth and Jesus Christ is the gospel? Without Jesus Christ, there is no gospel, and without the gospel, there is no salvation. So a denial of the gospel is a denial of Jesus Christ, and a denial of Jesus Christ is a denial of salvation.
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So how does God teach us? He said, everyone that has been taught of God comes to me. How does God teach us? And the answer is, He teaches us through His Word and by His Spirit as the Word of God is expounded, explained, and applied. Isn't that interesting? And if you read through the Scriptures, you will find that our God opens our hearts exactly the way He opened the heart of Lydia in Acts chapter 16. So the Lord opened her heart.
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With the result of that, she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. You'll find that the Lord opens our understandings, exactly the way He opened the understandings of those two men on the Emmaus road, when they said, "did not our hearts burn within us when He spoke to us by the wayside?" And how later on in Luke chapter 24, talking about His disciples, "then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Word of God." So we also find God enlightens us.
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For in Psalm 36 in verse 9, he says, "For with thee is the fountain of light, and in thy light we shall see light." It's only in God that we see true light. And it's only in God that he gives us pastor teachers who will feed us according to knowledge and understanding. That's what he said in Jeremiah 3 in verse 15. "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
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So when we learn Christ, let me show you one last passage. I want you to turn to 1 Peter, 1 Peter, chapter one. When we learn Jesus Christ, we learn to be holy, we learn to be obedient, we learn to think. May I remind you that you will find the word muse, M-U-S-E, in the Bible. To muse means to think, to meditate, to contemplate.
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You put an A on it and it negates it. Amuse means not to think. Why do you think TV is called amusement? Why do you think there are amusement parks? All entertainment is amusement. You don't have to think. God teaches us to think. Watch. 1 Peter 1, beginning there, verse 13. "Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind." What does that mean? It means you better get ready to think and study and meditate. Gird up the loins of your mind.
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"Be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Watch. "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts of your ignorance, but as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." So God teaches us to think. He teaches us to be obedient. He teaches us not to fashion our lives according to our former ignorance, which we'll see next week. He teaches us that we're to be holy as He is holy.
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Now, let me make some applications. I want you to consider this fact. He said, "but you have not so learned Christ." We must learn Christ. You must consider the fact that Scripture teaches that all of His sheep, all of His people shall be taught of the Lord. When you consider that many professing Christians are not being taught, and they are not progressing in the Christian profession and are not becoming more and more holy and more and more submissive and godly, you must really wonder whether or not they're sheep.
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He does teach his own. And the evidence that he teaches his own is they follow him. What did he tell the Pharisees in John 10 in verse 26? He said, "but you believe not. Because you're not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me." The sheep will always follow the shepherd. And if you're not following the shepherd, you may not be a sheep. One may object and offer for defense, "but I'm really a sheep, I'm just not a good student, I'm just not an obedient child," really. Really. You know, Hebrews chapter 12 teaches us if we are not obedient, if we are really his child, we're going to be chastened.
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"If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons. For what son is he whom he chasteneth not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons." So if you can sin and get away with it and never be whipped and never be chastened, you don't belong to God. So when someone comes along and says, "well, I'm saved, I'm just not a good student, I'm just not very obedient," really?
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If you're really his sheep, God's going to be whipping the living daylights out of you for your laziness and your slothfulness and your worldliness and your lack of study and obedience. And here's my question. If you want to tell me that you're really a sheep and you're disobedient, I want you to explain to me 1 John 2:4. For there, the scripture says, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
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Wrestle with that one for a while. "My sheep hear my voice." If we're really His sheep, if we're really His elect, if we're really His children, we hear Him. We hear Him. And we will hear Him either in instruction or discipline. But we'll hear Him. And Hebrews 12 says, "Now no chastening then, for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterwards, His chastening leaves a peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby."
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So when God chastens us, it works. It always works. So here's my question. How do we know whether or not we're learning Christ? And what is the practical application of learning Christ? How do we actually apply it in our lives? Well, the answer is to be here next Sunday at the same time on the same channel. And I'll show it to you from the Scripture. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your love and grace and mercy. And help us, Father, to learn Jesus Christ. He's the lesson. He's the teacher. We don't need to know about him. We need to know him and receive of him.
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Lord, teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and make us godly and obedient. In thy name we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T14:14:59Z

Walking With God - 7

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, John Weaver continues the 'Walking with the Lord' series by focusing on Ephesians 4:20-21, emphasizing that believers must not merely learn about Christ but learn Christ Himself—He is both the lesson and the teacher. Weaver argues that true discipleship involves a thorough, ongoing commitment to Christ, evidenced by obedience, holiness, and conformity to His image. He contrasts the life of the unregenerate with the transformed life of one who has truly learned Christ, warning that many professing Christians show no evidence of such learning. The sermon underscores that God teaches His people through His Word and Spirit, and that genuine sheep hear His voice and follow Him.

Introduction and Review of the Series

The Grace of God Makes Us Differ

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ one from another? And here's another question, what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory or boast as if thou hadst not received it?"

So everything that we have is by God's grace and God's mercy. It's God who made us to differ.

Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:2

"elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience."

The Necessity of Learning Christ

Philip's Ignorance and Our Need to Know Christ

Using John 14:1-9, Weaver illustrates that even Philip, who walked with Jesus for three years, did not truly know Him, highlighting our greater need to learn Christ intimately.

Christ as Both Lesson and Teacher

Weaver expounds Ephesians 4:20-21, explaining that Christ is the lesson and the teacher; we are to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) and be duplicates of Him in this world.

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:10-11

"that I might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead."

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:29

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Now watch that carefully.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:29

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son."

The Meaning of Discipleship and Continuing in Christ

Weaver examines the Greek word for 'learn' (manthano) and its connection to discipleship, emphasizing that true disciples continue in Christ's word (John 8:30-32) and do not fall away.

Now, you remember the passage in Matthew 11, verse 29. Our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:29

"take my yoke upon you and what? Learn of me. For I am meek and lowly. And you shall find rest for your souls."

Now, he said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:29

"take my yoke upon you and learn of me,"

not learn about me. And the little Greek preposition means to learn from Christ, out of Christ, off Christ.

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Now, note what he said.

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"If you continue in my word."

Scripture Reading — John 8:30-32

"if you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed."

Scripture Reading — 1 John 2:19

"they went out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not of us, for had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us."

Because we are forever changed by Him. We learn Jesus Christ. We learn Him.

Hearing and Being Taught by Christ

Weaver discusses what it means to hear Christ (John 10:27) and be taught by Him, showing from Scripture that God's people are taught by God and that this teaching leads to coming to Christ.

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him and said of him, How long dost thou make us doubt if thou be the Christ? Tell us plainly. Jesus answered them and said, I told you and you believe not. The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me, but you believe not because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you."

Hmm. Wow. What did he say?

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"You believe not because you're not of my sheep?"

Watch verse 27.

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me." "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

Notice if you would.

Scripture Reading — John 10:23-28

"My sheep hear my voice."

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 31:34

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord. For they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, said the Lord."

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:9

He puts it upon our heart. Now, I want you to turn, since you're in 1 Thessalonians, turn right over, if you would please, to 2 Timothy and look in chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And look, if you would, at verses 14 and 15. Look what Paul tells Timothy. 2 Timothy 3, verse 14. He tells Timothy, "but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them," watch, "and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures."

The Truth in Jesus and the Mark of Antichrist

Weaver explains that learning Christ means recognizing that truth is in Jesus, and anything contrary to Christ is antichrist (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7).

How God Teaches His People

Weaver outlines that God teaches through His Word and Spirit, opening hearts and understandings, and giving pastor-teachers to feed with knowledge (Acts 16:14; Luke 24:32,45; Jeremiah 3:15).

Applications and Warnings

Weaver applies the message by urging believers to gird up their minds (1 Peter 1:13), warning that those who do not progress in holiness may not be true sheep, and that God chastens His own.

Walking With God - 7

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	522161818153
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-03-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 146: Walking With God — Chapter 7
Source Timed Segments	73

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of the Series: Weaver introduces the message as part seven of the series, briefly reviewing previous topics such as walking by faith, walking before the Lord, and the call to walk differently from the heathen as described in Ephesians 4:17-19.
The Grace of God Makes Us Differ: Weaver explains that it is God's grace that distinguishes believers from the world, citing 1 Corinthians 4:7 to show that everything we have is received from God, and that this grace leads to obedience.
The Necessity of Learning Christ: Focusing on Ephesians 4:20, Weaver stresses that obedience requires learning Christ, not just about Him. He defines 'Christian' as Christ-like and laments that many professing Christians show no difference from the world.
Philip's Ignorance and Our Need to Know Christ: Using John 14:1-9, Weaver illustrates that even Philip, who walked with Jesus for three years, did not truly know Him, highlighting our greater need to learn Christ intimately.
Christ as Both Lesson and Teacher: Weaver expounds Ephesians 4:20-21, explaining that Christ is the lesson and the teacher; we are to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) and be duplicates of Him in this world.
The Meaning of Discipleship and Continuing in Christ: Weaver examines the Greek word for 'learn' (manthano) and its connection to discipleship, emphasizing that true disciples continue in Christ's word (John 8:30-32) and do not fall away.
Hearing and Being Taught by Christ: Weaver discusses what it means to hear Christ (John 10:27) and be taught by Him, showing from Scripture that God's people are taught by God and that this teaching leads to coming to Christ.
The Truth in Jesus and the Mark of Antichrist: Weaver explains that learning Christ means recognizing that truth is in Jesus, and anything contrary to Christ is antichrist (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7).
How God Teaches His People: Weaver outlines that God teaches through His Word and Spirit, opening hearts and understandings, and giving pastor-teachers to feed with knowledge (Acts 16:14; Luke 24:32,45; Jeremiah 3:15).
Applications and Warnings: Weaver applies the message by urging believers to gird up their minds (1 Peter 1:13), warning that those who do not progress in holiness may not be true sheep, and that God chastens His own.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Grace leads to obedience, not license

The same grace that saves us also teaches us to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly; therefore, a grace that does not produce obedience is not saving grace.

Weaver says, 'The grace of God that leads us to salvation also leads us unto obedience... the same God that saves us from our sins and makes us different by His grace is the same God that leads us unto obedience.' (04:32.5-05:58.6)

Learning Christ is essential for true discipleship

One cannot be a disciple without learning Christ; the Greek word for disciple means 'learner,' and learning Christ involves a thorough commitment and transformation of life.

Weaver explains, 'The Greek word for disciple is the word mathetes, which literally means a learner, a pupil, and a disciple... the emphasis of this word is not on just simply importing knowledge, but it is awakening a thorough and complete commitment of oneself to Jesus Christ.' (05:59.0-06:44.3; 24:55.7-26:27.5)

Many professing Christians show no evidence of learning Christ

The average professing Christian is indistinguishable from the world in lifestyle, entertainment, and discernment, indicating they have not truly learned Christ.

Weaver observes, 'If you look at the average professing Christian, you would have to admit that usually one cannot discern or tell the difference between the average professing Christian and an everyday unsaved worldling.' (06:45.2-08:15.2)

True sheep hear Christ's voice and follow Him

Jesus' sheep are characterized by hearing His voice and following Him; those who do not follow give evidence that they are not His sheep.

Weaver cites John 10:27 and says, 'My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me... The sheep will always follow the shepherd. And if you're not following the shepherd, you may not be a sheep.' (32:27.1-32:52.2; 51:07.8-52:10.5)

God chastens disobedient children

If a professing Christian lives in disobedience without chastening, it is evidence they are not true children of God, because God disciplines all His sons.

Weaver argues from Hebrews 12, 'If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons... But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards and not sons.' (52:12.5-52:37.9)

The truth is exclusively in Jesus Christ

Learning Christ means recognizing that all truth is in Him; anything contrary to Christ or His Word is antichrist and a lie.

Weaver states, 'We learn that the truth is in Jesus Christ. We learn that Jesus Christ is the truth. We learn that His Word is truth. We learn that anything and everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ or His Word is untrue and an antichrist.' (43:31.0-44:57.1)

Scripture References

Ephesians 4:17-19: Weaver reads these verses to describe the walk of the heathen, which believers are not to imitate.
Ephesians 4:20-21: The primary text of the sermon, emphasizing that believers have not so learned Christ and must be taught by Him.
1 Corinthians 4:7: Used to show that God makes believers to differ from the world by His grace.
1 Peter 1:2: Cited to demonstrate that election leads to obedience through sanctification of the Spirit.
Acts 11:26: Mentioned to note that disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, linking discipleship to being Christ-like.
John 14:1-9: Used to illustrate that Philip did not truly know Christ despite being with Him, highlighting the need to learn Christ.
Titus 2:11-14: Shown to prove that the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and live godly lives.
Philippians 3:10-11: Quoted to show that knowing Christ involves being conformed to His death and resurrection.
1 John 4:17: Used to emphasize that as Christ is, so are believers in this world, giving boldness in judgment.
Romans 8:29: Cited to show that believers are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Matthew 11:29: Referenced to show that Jesus commands us to learn of Him, not just about Him.
John 8:30-32: Used to define true discipleship as continuing in Christ's word.
1 John 2:19: Quoted to argue that those who fall away were never truly of the faith.
John 10:23-28: Read to show that Jesus' sheep hear His voice and follow Him, and are secure in His hand.
Deuteronomy 33:1-3: Cited to show that God's saints receive His words and are taught by Him.
John 6:44-45: Used to demonstrate that all who are taught of God come to Christ.
Isaiah 54:13: Quoted as the Old Testament promise that God's children shall be taught of the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:34: Referenced as the source of the promise that all shall know the Lord and be taught by Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:9: Cited to show that believers are taught by God to love one another.
2 Timothy 3:14-15: Used to encourage continuing in what has been learned from Scripture.

Historical References

J.C. Ryle: Weaver quotes J.C. Ryle on the incompatibility of pardon of sin and love of sin, emphasizing that those who live in sin are under a ruinous delusion.
John Calvin: Weaver quotes Calvin's commentary on Ephesians, stating that the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh.

Important Quotes

Jesus Christ is the lesson. And Jesus Christ is the teacher. We are taught by him. He is the lesson and he is the teacher.

This quote encapsulates the central thesis of the sermon: that learning Christ means engaging with Him as both the content and the instructor of the Christian life.

If you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer, he is under a ruinous delusion and is not forgiven at all.

Weaver uses this J.C. Ryle quote to underscore the necessity of holiness as evidence of true forgiveness, challenging antinomian presumptions.

He whose life differs not from that of the unbelievers has learned nothing of Christ. For the knowledge of Christ cannot be separated from the mortification of the flesh.

This Calvin quote reinforces the argument that genuine knowledge of Christ inevitably produces a transformed, holy life.

My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me.

Weaver cites this verse as the definitive mark of true believers: they hear Christ's voice and follow Him, distinguishing them from false professors.

We are to be pressed into the same mold of Jesus Christ. As He is, so are we in this world.

This statement summarizes the goal of learning Christ—complete conformity to His character and life.

The proof that you've ever savingly believed is that you continue to believe. The proof that you've ever savingly repented is that you continue in repentance.

Weaver emphasizes the perseverance of the saints as evidence of genuine conversion, linking it to continuing in Christ's word.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

What does it mean to 'learn Christ' as opposed to merely learning about Christ, and how can we practically pursue this in our daily lives?

[Context]

Weaver stresses that Christ is both the lesson and the teacher, and that learning Him involves intimate knowledge and conformity.

[Question]

How can we discern whether we are truly hearing Christ's voice and following Him, as described in John 10:27?

[Context]

Weaver uses this verse to distinguish true sheep from false professors, emphasizing hearing and following.

[Question]

In what ways does the average professing Christian today resemble the world, and what does this indicate about their learning of Christ?

[Context]

Weaver laments that many professing Christians are indistinguishable from the unsaved in lifestyle and entertainment.

[Question]

How does the grace of God teach us to deny ungodliness and live godly lives, according to Titus 2:11-14?

[Context]

Weaver uses this passage to show that saving grace instructs us in holy living.

[Question]

What role does continuing in Christ's word play in proving genuine discipleship, and how can we cultivate perseverance?

[Context]

Weaver explains from John 8:31-32 that true disciples continue in His word.

[Question]

How should the reality of divine chastening affect our understanding of assurance and our response to sin?

[Context]

Weaver argues from Hebrews 12 that lack of chastening may indicate illegitimacy, urging self-examination.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T02:25:58Z