Nothing can separate us?
Certainly, one of the most commonly misunderstood passages in the"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."In quoting this passage, the eternal security adherents argue that it proves that once we are saved we are always saved; and even though "sin" isn't mentioned in Paul's list, it is understood to be included, hence no sin committed after initial salvation will condemn a person!
The first thing that needs to be stressed is there is a definite DIFFERENCE between the "LOVE" of God as mentioned in Rom. 8:38-39 and the "LIFE" of God, according to Scripture! This is easily proven by noting that UNSAVED people are LOVED by God, even though they are devoid of His LIFE! A clear case in point is the rich, young ruler who was certainly UNSAVED, yet LOVED by Jesus (Mk. 10:21)!
It must be further noted that this same unsaved man, like all unsaved people, are "separated from the LIFE of God," (Eph. 4:18) but, again, not separated from His LOVE! Since one only has salvation when he has the LIFE of God, Rom. 8:38,39 does NOT assure an unconditional salvation on the basis of God's infinite love!
"Your Iniquities Have SEPARATED You From Your God"
Finally, those who read the word "sin" into the list cited by Paul in Rom. 8:38-39 contradict the clear and the plain truth for Isa. 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have SEPARATED you from your God"! Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, even a fluent-speaking, popular TV and/or radio teacher or author! The Apostle Paul wrote,"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10).To try to limit this listing to only those that never tasted salvation, as some do, is to deny the basic meaning of these words, according to the
WHAT IS SIN, NOT ACCORDING TO THE WORLD (BUT ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD).....THE SCRIPTURES!!
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW. (1 John 3:4 KJV)
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, IS THEREFORE CHRIST THE MINISTER OF SIN? GOD FORBID . (Galatians 2:17 KJV)
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that THE PROMISE BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST might be given to them that believe . (Galatians 3:22 KJV)
So Christ was once OFFERED TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28 KJV)
but if you show partiality, YOU COMMIT SIN, AND ARE CONVICTED BY THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS. (James 2:9 NKJ)
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11 KJV)
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then WITH THE MIND I MYSELF SERVE THE LAW OF GOD; but WITH THE FLESH THE LAW OF SIN. (Romans 7:25 KJV)
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. (Romans 3:20 KJV)
WHAT THEN? SHALL WE SIN , because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD FORBID. (Romans 6:15 KJV)
What shall we say then? IS THE LAW SIN? CERTAINLY NOT! On the contrary, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN SIN EXCEPT THROUGH THE LAW. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7 NKJ)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. (Romans 8:2 KJV)
But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded , saying , The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, BUT EVERY MAN SHALL DIE FOR HIS OWN SIN. (2 Chronicles 25:4 KJV)
And if Christ be in you, THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10 KJV)
"THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. (2 Samuel 22:21 NKJ)
Therefore THE LORD HAS RECOMPENSED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, According to my cleanness in His eyes. (2 Samuel 22:25 NKJ)
THE LORD SHALL JUDGE THE PEOPLES; Judge me, O Lord, ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, And according to my integrity within me. (Psalms 7:8 NKJ)
THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. (Psalms 18:20 NKJ)
THEREFORE THE LORD HAS RECOMPENSED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. (Psalms 18:24 NKJ)
And forgive thy people that have SINNED AGAINST THEE, and all their transgressions wherein they have TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THEE, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive , that they may have compassion on them: (1 Kings 8:50 KJV)
And I WILL CLEANSE THEM FROM ALL THEIR INIQUITY, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned , and whereby they have transgressed against me. (Jeremiah 33:8 KJV)
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, NOR WITH ANY OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned , and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 37:23 KJV)
Yea, ALL ISRAEL HAVE TRANSGRESSED THY LAW, even by departing , that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we HAVE SINNED AGAINST HIM. (Daniel 9:11 KJV)
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED , AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD; (Romans 3:23 KJV)
Wherefore , as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that ALL HAVE SINNED :(Romans 5:12 KJV)
For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to THE LAW OF SIN WHICH IS IN MY MEMBERS. (Romans 7:23 KJV)
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh HATH CEASED FROM SIN; (1 Peter 4:1 KJV)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. (1 John 1:7 KJV)
My little children, these things write I unto you, THAT YE SIN NOT. And if any man sin,we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1 KJV)
And IT SHALL BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, IF WE OBSERVE TO DO ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, as he hath commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:25 KJV)
My tongue shall speak of thy word: for ALL THY COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Psalms 119:172 KJV)
O that thou hadst HEARKENED TO MY COMMANDMENTS! then had thy peace been as a river, and THY RIGHTEOUSNESS as the waves of the sea: (Isaiah 48:18 KJV)
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But MY SALVATION WILL BE FOREVER, AND MY RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NOT BE ABOLISHED. (Isaiah 51:6 NKJ)
For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But MY RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE FOREVER, AND MY SALVATION FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION." (Isaiah 51:8 NKJ)
"LISTEN TO ME, YOU WHO KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOU PEOPLE IN WHOSE HEART IS MY LAW: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. (Isaiah 51:7 NKJ)
Thus says the Lord: "KEEP JUSTICE, AND DO RIGHTEOUSNESS, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. (Isaiah 56:1 NKJ)
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 NKJ)
Above when he said , Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and OFFERING FOR SIN thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; (Hebrews 10:8 KJV)
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24 NKJ)
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: Grace to you and peace be multiplied (1 Peter 1:2 NKJ)
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD FOR A SWEET-SMELLING AROMA. (Ephesians 5:2 NKJ)
ON THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED OUT, SAYING, "IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK. (John 7:37 NKJ)
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHO WERE IN THE WORLD, HE LOVED THEM TO THE END. (John 13:1 NKJ)
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENS THE WHOLE LUMP? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER, WAS SACRIFICED FOR US. Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NKJ)
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that THE PROMISE BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST might be given to them that believe . (Galatians 3:22 KJV)
So Christ was once OFFERED TO BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28 KJV)
but if you show partiality, YOU COMMIT SIN, AND ARE CONVICTED BY THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS. (James 2:9 NKJ)
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11 KJV)
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then WITH THE MIND I MYSELF SERVE THE LAW OF GOD; but WITH THE FLESH THE LAW OF SIN. (Romans 7:25 KJV)
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. (Romans 3:20 KJV)
WHAT THEN? SHALL WE SIN , because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD FORBID. (Romans 6:15 KJV)
What shall we say then? IS THE LAW SIN? CERTAINLY NOT! On the contrary, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN SIN EXCEPT THROUGH THE LAW. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7 NKJ)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. (Romans 8:2 KJV)
But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded , saying , The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, BUT EVERY MAN SHALL DIE FOR HIS OWN SIN. (2 Chronicles 25:4 KJV)
And if Christ be in you, THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10 KJV)
"THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. (2 Samuel 22:21 NKJ)
Therefore THE LORD HAS RECOMPENSED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, According to my cleanness in His eyes. (2 Samuel 22:25 NKJ)
THE LORD SHALL JUDGE THE PEOPLES; Judge me, O Lord, ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, And according to my integrity within me. (Psalms 7:8 NKJ)
THE LORD REWARDED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. (Psalms 18:20 NKJ)
THEREFORE THE LORD HAS RECOMPENSED ME ACCORDING TO MY RIGHTEOUSNESS, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. (Psalms 18:24 NKJ)
And forgive thy people that have SINNED AGAINST THEE, and all their transgressions wherein they have TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THEE, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive , that they may have compassion on them: (1 Kings 8:50 KJV)
And I WILL CLEANSE THEM FROM ALL THEIR INIQUITY, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned , and whereby they have transgressed against me. (Jeremiah 33:8 KJV)
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, NOR WITH ANY OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned , and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 37:23 KJV)
Yea, ALL ISRAEL HAVE TRANSGRESSED THY LAW, even by departing , that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we HAVE SINNED AGAINST HIM. (Daniel 9:11 KJV)
FOR ALL HAVE SINNED , AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD; (Romans 3:23 KJV)
Wherefore , as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that ALL HAVE SINNED :(Romans 5:12 KJV)
For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to THE LAW OF SIN WHICH IS IN MY MEMBERS. (Romans 7:23 KJV)
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh HATH CEASED FROM SIN; (1 Peter 4:1 KJV)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. (1 John 1:7 KJV)
My little children, these things write I unto you, THAT YE SIN NOT. And if any man sin,we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1 KJV)
And IT SHALL BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, IF WE OBSERVE TO DO ALL THESE COMMANDMENTS BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD, as he hath commanded us. (Deuteronomy 6:25 KJV)
My tongue shall speak of thy word: for ALL THY COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Psalms 119:172 KJV)
O that thou hadst HEARKENED TO MY COMMANDMENTS! then had thy peace been as a river, and THY RIGHTEOUSNESS as the waves of the sea: (Isaiah 48:18 KJV)
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But MY SALVATION WILL BE FOREVER, AND MY RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NOT BE ABOLISHED. (Isaiah 51:6 NKJ)
For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But MY RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE FOREVER, AND MY SALVATION FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION." (Isaiah 51:8 NKJ)
"LISTEN TO ME, YOU WHO KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOU PEOPLE IN WHOSE HEART IS MY LAW: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. (Isaiah 51:7 NKJ)
Thus says the Lord: "KEEP JUSTICE, AND DO RIGHTEOUSNESS, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. (Isaiah 56:1 NKJ)
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 NKJ)
Above when he said , Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and OFFERING FOR SIN thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; (Hebrews 10:8 KJV)
to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24 NKJ)
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: Grace to you and peace be multiplied (1 Peter 1:2 NKJ)
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD FOR A SWEET-SMELLING AROMA. (Ephesians 5:2 NKJ)
ON THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED OUT, SAYING, "IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK. (John 7:37 NKJ)
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHO WERE IN THE WORLD, HE LOVED THEM TO THE END. (John 13:1 NKJ)
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENS THE WHOLE LUMP? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER, WAS SACRIFICED FOR US. Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:6-8 NKJ)
LEAVEN IS SIN...."SYMBOLICALLY, SPIRITUALLY"...we are to "purge" it and keep purging it, we remember this after Passover when we keep the Days of Unleavened Bread for 7 days--with a holy 'sacred' assembly--'church'--is commanded in the beginning (the 1st day of the Feast) and the end (the 7th day of the Feast).
Many, in these last days, have an inaccurate impression of Who God is and what He is like. Often, their impression is not based on knowledge from the Gospel, but is made up of things they hear and wish to believe. The Bible tells us, MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE-Hos 4:6.
ReplyDeleteOthers may feel that God is all mercy. They do not seem to know the verse, MERCY REJOICETH AGAINST JUDGMENT-Ja 2:13. God is a righteous God. God is a holy God. God hates sin. Because of God’s righteousness, all sin must be paid for. All rebellion (which is sin) must be paid for. Because of sin, man is under the sentence of death: the lake of fire prepared for Satan and his angels.....TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO "GOOD", AND DOETH IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN-Ja 4:17.
Now, to be forgiven of your sins by God, you need to believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and that He died on the cross for you. You are to believe on the name of Jesus, and receive Him as your personal Saviour by faith. You are to repent of all your sins and renounce them. You should be sorry for your sins with godly sorrow. Be willing to give up all intentional sin in your life and do an about-face. You need to give up living for the flesh and living for this world, and begin living for the next world. You begin living according to the Spirit, which enables you to overcome the lusts and pleasures of this world. Begin to obey all of God’s Word. Once you have made the decision to commit your life to Jesus, by faith, you need to follow in baptism by immersion. It is written, REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE-Acts 2:38. From this point on, you begin to grow in obedience to the Gospel. Jesus BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM-Heb 5:9.
ReplyDeleteThis is what the "love of God" is: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE-Jn 3:16. God’s wrath abideth on everyone that rejects (or does not believe the words of) Jesus their Saviour-ref Jn 3:36.
ReplyDeleteThose that reject this love and the blood of Jesus are partaking of Satan. It was Satan and his followers (as all of us once were) that crucified God’s only begotten Son. WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?-Ex 32:26. HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME-Mt 12:30.
You are either on God’s side, by receiving Jesus as your Saviour, or you are on the side of Satan. There is no in-between. If you are not on God's side, then you are on Satan’s side. Satan and his angels rebelled against God. You are also in rebellion against God, if you have not surrendered your life totally to Jesus. If you have not given up all willful sin, you are in rebellion to God. You will be with Satan and his angels in the eternal lake of fire, as you also are a partaker of those who crucified Jesus. You may say, "I didn’t crucify Jesus." If you drive a get-away car for a robbery, you partake of the robbery. If you have not committed your life to Jesus, then you are on the same side as those who killed God’s only begotten Son.
ReplyDelete“Let no MAN therefore judge you.....but the Body of Christ.” THE TRUE 'CHURCH' KNOWS AND KEEPS (ALL OF)GOD'S TRUTHS...INCLUDING GOD'S SABBATHS AND HOLY DAYS...FOR GOD CHANGES NOT AND CHRIST IS THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY N FOREVER!!
ReplyDeleteIn this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteFor the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. (Hebrews 13:11-14 NKJ)
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ReplyDeleteTherefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteNow may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJ)
Believe
ReplyDeleteThis verb "aman" is used 110 times in the Old Testament. Let us now look at another passage using this same verb and see what it says.
Genesis 15:6 "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness"
The word "believed" is the very same Hebrew verb "aman". The picture we have from this is that Abram was firm in his devotion to God. Just as a stake planted in firm ground supports the tent even in a storm, Abram will support God even in the storms of life. The question we now ask is, how did Abram remain firm? The verse just before states;
Genesis 15:5,6 '[God] took [Abram] outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.'
We usually read this to mean that Abram believed God's promise in verse 5. The problem with this is that the Hebrew verb "aman" means more than just knowing something to be true. Why did God give this promise to Abram?
Genesis 26:4,5 "I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My requirements, My commands, My decrees and My laws (Torah in Hebrew)".
God made this promise to Abram because he was firm in his obedience to God. The Hebrew in Genesis 15:6 does not say Abram believed God, it says he was firm in God. From Genesis 26:5 we see that he was firm in his obedience to God and His laws (Torah in Hebrew)
TO BELIEVE IS TO OBEY--WHEN WE BELIEVE GOD WE OBEY HIS WORD, IF WE BELIEVE CHRIST WE OBEY THE WORD OF GOD. FOR EVEN SATAN BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND SO DID THE DEMONS BUT THEY DID NOT 'OBEY THE WILL OF GOD'.
GOD'S WAY IS THE ONLY WAY; HIS LAW IS JUST, THERE ARE MANY WAYS BUT "ONE" RIGHT WAY (ONE GOD).
WHEN WE BREAK GOD'S LAW WE DON'T BELIEVE WHAT HE SAY, ABOUT TRUE LIVING AND SALVATION. WE HAVE TO 'REPENT' OF THIS REBELLIOUS SPIRIT WHENEVER IT ARISES, FLEEING FROM SIN, PRAYING FOR GOD'S STRENGTH (FOR IT IS GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US THAT IS GREATER THAN THE 'PHARAOH' OF THIS WORLD.
The concrete meaning to "sin" is "to miss" as when aiming at a target. From the parellels between "believe not" and "sin" we find that if one "sins" they do not believe God showing that a belief in God is dependent upon our actions.
So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. (Ezekiel 33:31 NKJ)
ReplyDeleteFor I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more. (Hosea 2:17 NKJ)
Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16 NKJ)
They set their mouth AGAINST THE HEAVENS, And their tongue walks through the earth. (Psalms 73:9 NKJ)
For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. (Micah 6:12 NKJ)
'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. (Matthew 15:8 NKJ)
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. (Jude 1:16 NKJ)
"So you shall say to them, 'This is a nation that DOES NOT OBEY the voice of the Lord their God nor RECEIVE CORRECTION. TRUTH HAS PERISHED and has been cut off from their mouth. (Jeremiah 7:28 NKJ)
For there is NO FAITHFULNESS IN THEIR MOUTH; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; THEY FLATTER WITH THEIR TONGUE. (Psalms 5:9 NKJ)
For THE SIN OF THEIR MOUTH AND THE WORDS OF THEIR LIPS, Let them even be taken in THEIR PRIDE, And for the CURSING AND LYING WHICH THEY SPEAK. (Psalms 59:12 NKJ)
They only consult to cast him down from his high position; THEY DELIGHT IN LIES; THEY BLESS WITH THEIR MOUTH, BUT THEY CURSE INWARDLY. Selah (Psalms 62:4 NKJ)
MY MOUTH SHALL TELL OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND YOUR SALVATION ALL THE DAY, For I do not know their limits. (Psalms 71:15 NKJ)
The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid." (Zephaniah 3:13 NKJ)
And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. (Revelation 14:5 NKJ)