Which Jesus?

The teaching challenges traditional views of Jesus by presenting an "Actual View" where biblical events from the Old Testament to Revelation have been fulfilled, suggesting that Jesus' teachings and the apostles' messages were for past fulfillment and not reliant on current denominational structures or church doctrines. This interpretation emphasizes a personal faith journey guided by inner spiritual conviction rather than adherence to traditional church authorities or debates over scriptural interpretation.

The teaching emphasizes allowing individual believers to be led by the Spirit, suggesting that the Bible should be seen as a spiritual guide rather than a literal modern manual, fostering peace among Christians by avoiding divisions and disputes. Spiritual maturity is highlighted by reliance on the Spirit's wisdom rather than human intellect, while promoting the idea that spiritually minded individuals should have the freedom to discern without being judged by others.

Religious leaders often misuse scripture as a tool to trap those who interpret spirituality differently, drawing parallels to the Pharisees who sought to entrap Jesus. This mindset often stems from educated individuals using their analytical skills meant for secular fields like science and mathematics to systematize religious beliefs, leading to rigid interpretations that kill spiritual life and provoke conflicts reminiscent of those described by Paul in the Bible.

A comparative study between the Biblical Jesus and the Postmodern Jesus highlights the distinctions between traditional interpretations and contemporary perceptions; the Biblical Jesus is described as God incarnate who warns against sin and commands repentance, while the Postmodern Jesus is portrayed as a man elevated to deity who encourages self-love and ignores sin. The teaching stresses the importance of understanding Jesus’ messages within their historical context, emphasizing that Jesus came primarily to address the sins of the house of Israel, while the Postmodern Jesus aligns with modern perspectives that prioritize personal comfort and political correctness over adherence to scriptural doctrine.

Shawn McCraney emphasizes that for gentiles, faith in Christ precedes repentance; repentance follows faith as a change of mind led by the Spirit, focusing on faith in Christ and love for God and others as the true forms of repentance, rather than repentance from fleshly sins already paid for by Christ. He stresses that following Jesus brings spiritual joy despite earthly suffering, challenges the notion of a health and wealth gospel, asserts Christ's authority and truth in loving correction rather than legalism, and refutes any suggestion that Jesus condones sin or seeks acceptance from worldly standards.

The teaching emphasizes that Jesus promoted both division when necessary and unity at other times, countering the misuse of His message for creating discord and advocating for peace. It also highlights that Jesus’s teachings centered on God's righteousness, love, and prioritizing God's will over human desires, warning against placing signs, wonders, emotions, experiences, and opinions above sound doctrine.

Shawn emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the teachings of the Word of God and advocates for a personal transformation by dying to self and allowing Christ to work through individuals, rather than relying on authoritative commands. He promotes a message rooted in peace, love, and the invitation to willingly follow Christ, opposing any form of teaching that encourages self-indulgence or aligns with a post-modern interpretation of Jesus.