<TITLE>04. Par 12-15</TITLE>L-12 Now, we would have to go back then to the beginning of the New Testament. For they were called saints in the New Testament. And the first opening of the New Testament was John the Baptist. And he preached the message saying only this, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." So repentance would be part of the faith that was delivered to the saints. But John spoke, saying, "That there's coming One Who will be the Instructor."
And when Jesus came to John after His baptism, then the disciples and all begin to--to follow Jesus. And people went after Jesus; John said, "I must decrease; He must increase." Now, Jesus was the One Who introduced the faith, the Christian faith to the Christian church. And He was the beginning of the Christian faith.

L-13 Now, notice closely as we search reverently. Now, we will have to see what He did, and the life He lived, and the things He taught. And what He taught, He handed down to the disciples. And after about two rounds of them, then Jude sends back and said, "Now, wait a minute; you're getting off the line. Let's go back and contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints at the beginning," way back when they first started. They were getting off the beaten path. So if we can see what they had at the beginning, then we will know what to contend for now.
Jesus wasn't a--didn't claim to be a great person. He was very humble Man. He didn't dress any different from any other man. He didn't dress like one of the scribes or the priest. He walked right on in and out among men, and they didn't know Him. He looked like other men. We never have any record of the Scripture where He ever was learned in school books, yet He had more wisdom than any man that ever lived on earth, because He was both God and Man.

L-14 But we don't find Him where He had any schooling as said in the Scriptures. And we do not see Him going around bragging about what He was. He didn't make any statement said He was a Healer. (Pardon me.) Jesus never said He was Healer, very much contrary. He said that He was not a Healer. He said, "It's not Me that doeth the works; it's My father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." So you see, what type of Person He was?
What if He was here on earth tonight, where would you find Him? You'd find Him any place He'd be welcomed. He went about among the p--poor. The ecclesiastics of that day refused Him. They had... He had a contrary doctrine to what they'd been taught, yet His doctrine was purely Scriptural. I want you to hold that now just for a little bit and watch. It was Scriptural. Every word that He said was Scripture itself. Not one time did He break any Scriptures but fulfilled just exactly. But they're way of teaching it was contrary to what it really was.

L-15 I wonder sometimes after nineteen hundred years if we haven't strayed a little bit from the path, got just a little bit off of the path. If we have, let's come back now and look at it just for a little bit.
Now, when He was here He was baptized of John. Then He bare record, seeing the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, went upon Him. He went into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, nights come out preaching the Gospel. And all the regions around about gathered to Him. And He prayed for the sick and they were healed. Great signs and wonders begin to follow Him.
Now, as a preacher I don't think that Jesus was a great outstanding forceful preacher. John the baptist was a preacher, but he done no signs at all. He never performed a miracle.
But Jesus come by not preaching so forceful as John, but there were signs and wonders accompanying Him. He said, "If you can't believe Me believe the works that I do. If you can't believe Me believe the a vindication that the Father has given of Me, for the works that I do, the same testify that the Father has sent Me." What a statement.


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