Should Every Christian Strive To Follow Apostolic Example, or is Doctrine Enough?

[Mr. M]

2 Thessalonians 3:

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother

who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day,

that we might not be a burden to any of you, 

9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

 

Hopefully all Christians follow the apostolic teachings of the New Testament.

Adhering to teaching is one thing, imitating the life of an apostle is another thing altogether.

Must every Christian "labor and toil night and day"?

This is what Christ meant when He said "Many are called, few are chosen".

This does not mean that the called are not saved, they are not chosen for full time ministry, as were the apostles. Many disciples He addressed turned away. The chosen apostles remained faithful. There is a false teaching that everyone who is saved is also chosen and one of God's Elect. (Chosen=Elect). This simply does not hold up under the full examination of the apostolic doctrine.

Edited October 31, 2024 by Mr. M

[other one]

More simple is just follow Jesus's commands and forget about everyone's ways.

[Mr. M]

9 minutes ago, other one said:

More simple is just follow Jesus's commands and forget about everyone's ways.

I have no idea why you would think that. Are you dismissing the apostolic doctrine?

There is a significant difference between doctrine and following the example of Paul.

The difference between called, and chosen. The difference between people who 

attend  church and are involved there as an important aspect of their lifestyle,

and those who are chosen for full time ministry.

Is this another response to the title situation?

Did you actually read and consider the scriptures and comments in the OP?

Edited October 31, 2024 by Mr. M

[BornAgain490]

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

There is a false teaching that everyone who is saved is also chosen and one of God's Elect.

Doesn't the Bible teach that everyone that is born again/saved, are those that are foreknown by God and predestinated by God to be conformed to the image of the Son of God Jesus Christ? 

And doesn’t the Bible teach that those whom God foreknew and predestinated, God also called? 

And doesn't the Bible teach that everyone who is foreknown by God, and predestinated by God, and called by God, also justified by God? 

And doesn't the Bible also teach that those who are justified by God, and are also glorified by God? 

So, when you get to Romans 8:33 and read "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?", isn't the Bible teaching us that the "elect" of verse 33 refers back to the ones whom God foreknew, predestinated, called, bornagain/saved,  justified, and glorified? 

Does anyone not saved, not born again, get justified and glorified by God?  

[BornAgain490]

You can know all the doctrine taught by the Bible and not be saved. You must know Lord Jesus Christ and be born again. Only then will you be justified and sanctified, and adopted into the fsmilybof God, at which God will begin to do a good work in you, and will complete it,  conforming you in the process to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. 

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, BornAgain490 said:

Doesn't the Bible teach that everyone that is born again/saved, are those that are foreknown by God and predestinated by God to be conformed to the image of the Son of God Jesus Christ? 

And doesn’t the Bible teach that those whom God foreknew and predestinated, God also called? 

And doesn't the Bible teach that everyone who is foreknown by God, and predestinated by God, and called by God, also justified by God? 

And doesn't the Bible also teach that those who are justified by God, and are also glorified by God? 

So, when you get to Romans 8:33 and read "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?", isn't the Bible teaching us that the "elect" of verse 33 refers back to the ones whom God foreknew, predestinated, called, bornagain/saved,  justified, and glorified? 

Does anyone not saved, not born again, get justified and glorified by God?  

FYI. I do not take pop quizzes.

If you have a comment to make, do so.

A reply to a post is a statement. Not 6 questions.

On the other hand, they all are answered in the OP,

but apparently you think you know better.

The best part is that you haven't answered the question

posed by the OP, but expect 6 answered by me?.

Once again, you pull one sentence from an explanation

and ignore all the support for it.

You seem to think that everyone who is saved/called

is also immediately chosen. Chosen for what?

Jesus told Peter "feed my sheep".

The called are the sheep. The chosen are shepherds. Not complicated.

[Michael37]

4 hours ago, Mr. M said:

There is a false teaching that everyone who is saved is also chosen and one of God's Elect. (Chosen=Elect).

Who has proved that to be false and by what means?

[Mr. M]

4 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Who has proved that to be false and by what means?

 

13 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Jesus told Peter "feed my sheep".

The called are the sheep. The chosen are shepherds. Not complicated.

 

[Mr. M]

21 minutes ago, BornAgain490 said:

You can know all the doctrine taught by the Bible and not be saved. You must know Lord Jesus Christ and be born again. Only then will you be justified and sanctified, and adopted into the fsmilybof God, at which God will begin to do a good work in you, and will complete it,  conforming you in the process to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. 

That has nothing to do with the saved who grow in Grace and the knowledge of God unto serving the Body of Christ in full time ministry. Every believer must mature and prove faithful. 

Is ANYONE going to actually answer the question? Does every Christian need to follow the example of Paul, or is adhering to the apostolic doctrine sufficient? Is this every Christian?

5 hours ago, Mr. M said:

you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 

8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day,

Most Christians are living godly lives and fully integrating over time their faith with their family and business life. The chosen, like Paul, are full time laborers for the Body.

[BornAgain490]

7 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

FYI. I do not take pop quizzes.

If you have a comment to make, do so.

A reply to a post is a statement. Not 6 questions.

On the other hand, they all are answered in the OP,

but apparently you think you know better.

The best part is that you haven't answered the question

posed by the OP, but expect 6 answered by me?.

Once again, you pull one sentence from an explanation

and ignore all the support for it.

You seem to think that everyone who is saved/called

is also immediately chosen. Chosen for what?

Jesus told Peter "feed my sheep".

The called are the sheep. The chosen are shepherds. Not complicated.

I was addressing your bold statement, which said: "There is a false teaching that everyone who is saved is also chosen and one of God's Elect."  It needed to be refuted because it's false.  Romans 8 proves it to be a false statement. 

That said, the Bible clearly and precisely answers each of the questions asked by me. If you care not to answer them, so be it.  But, if you insist on knowing: the answer to all is YES.