I thought I'd share a little about what's on my mind the past few days.
When I think of the "fear of God" I generally accept that to mean a healthy, reverent respect for the Lord. At the same time, I can't ignore some passages of Scripture that tell us differently either.
Hebrews 10:26-31 -- "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (NIV)
Now, I know that traditionally there are some who have used those verses as proof that we can lose our salvation. I'm not here to comment on or debate that today. Instead, I want to focus on something else I think it speaks to -- holiness.
Boy, are those verses sobering or what? Man, I should read that every morning if not a few times throughout the day because it's a powerful reminder and encouraging word for desiring holiness. I hope it is clear that "holiness" does not equate to "salvation" either. That is to say, you don't need to become "holy" before you can become "saved". still, we're told that we should make every effort (relying on the Holy Spirit of course) to live holy lives.
Plus, this is precisely why I believe we should be examining ourselves DAILY to guard against sin from creeping back into our lives and establishing a stronghold. You know what they say, "Give the devil and inch, and he'll become your ruler..."
I recall what I once heard about how before we're saved we're sinners who are sometimes saints, but after salvation we become saints who sometimes sin. I was thinking about that today.
Of course, Revelation 19:6-8 connects to this discussion as does Jude 1:3-4. That being said, perhaps we should ask ourselves the following:
Have we rationalized our ungodly lifestyles and behaviors because of the blood of Jesus Christ and His grace to love and forgive?
Ecclesiastes 12:13 -- "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man." (NIV)
Lastly, please also understand that I'm not promoting a works-based theology here as if the way you live determines your salvation. However, the Bible has a lot to tell us about how we're supposed to try and live once we're saved by the faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God.
That's what I wanted to call our attention to here today.
What We're Praying/Talking About
July 1, 2009
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7 Comments:
I am in Total agreement with you brother! I have prayed and meditated a lot on this subject as of late-to check my spiritual growth thermometer. I never want to hear those words- away from ME, I NEVER knew you! That keeps this saint, who sometimes still stumbles, on my toes. I believe in Salvation Alone- in the sacrificial atonement of Yeshua's work on the cross-"IT IS DONE", BUT we must not confrom to this pagan world and resist temptation when ever it comes our way, until we are tranlated into our unperishable bodies at the coming of our Lord and Saviour Yeshua Ha' Mashiach.
I cannot rationalize my sin. I rely completely on Christ for my justification; of which I am wholly undeserving.
I've come to realize though that the sanctification process has been severly hindered by the life I've lived. I thought it was my job to live but it isn't. Rather it is to let Christ live through me. This is the hardest thing to do because as soon as I step in the right direction, there are roadblocks put up.
I'm at the point where I understand why all of the saints cast their crowns at the feet of our Lord; we don't deserve them.
I think the saints that are chosen as the bride are the ones that understand this simple concept and have given up their lives for His sake.
God bless
I know you said you didn't want to get into the "you can lose your salvation" issue...but I need you to please. This scripture has been given to me as a reprimand, as I am living with my fiancee and our little baby. I know this is wrong and we have been in this situation for a long time. We hope to be married in several months, but we have other problems too. We are not young at all and I have walked closely with the Lord before this. I have been heartbroken by my choices almost right from the minute I made this choice. I believe I still belong to the Lord, but in light of this scripture, what should I think. How do you explain this scripture other than thinking it is stating that we can lose our salvation if we are still in a situation we should not be. I am convicted over this and want things different. I want to serve Him in Holiness. This was my testimony when I was baptized over 17 years ago. Before they put me under the water I said I wanted to live in Holiness. And now I feel, look what happened to me. The very thing I counseled others not to do, I have done and have been in this situation over 5 years. God help me. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it.
Indeed Jeff. I'm afraid that the modern church has swalled the lie that Jesus is our good buddy, and forgets that He shed His precious blood for our sins and will demand an account of what we did with our lives as those who claim to believe in Him. Love Him? Yes. Fear Him? We'd better.
What He did to the pretenders of Israel of old, He will do to the pretenders of today.
May we not play games with the Almighty One. For our God is a consuming fire.
He forgive sin, but not that which is known and not repented of.
I too have been thinking about God's holiness quite a bit lately. We have no idea just how holy He is. He is so holy that the angels fly around His throne day and night saying "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." (Revelation 4:8) If we are sinning and feeling no condemnation about it, the Holy Spirit does not live in us. It is the Holy Spirit that chastens us about our sin. The Lord can take his Holy Spirit from us. Remember when David cried out to the Lord after his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51: 10 - 12? "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." It is the Holy Spirit that keeps us walking in His ways. If you are no longer feeling His Holy Spirit, I would encourage you to cry out as David did and make the Lord the center of your life. The things of this world will very soon pass away.
Regarding your comment about 'works', although they cannot save us, they are very important to God. I just returned from church this evening where the pastor gave the example of faith and works like this: You cannot go anywhere in your walk without both faith and works. It is not works that gets you to Heaven, but we are commanded to do the Lord's work for which we will be held accountable and rewarded for when we meet Him at the Bema Seat Judgement that occurs right after our rapture where we receive our rewards. While here on earth, you may not think that rewards will be all that important; however, one day soon you will realize the worth of those rewards and there is no way to go back and get them once we are in His presence.
James 2:26 tells us: "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead". Our pastor explained that scripture like a man rowing with two oars, one faith, the other works. If you have only the faith oar or only the works oar and row, you will go in circles and get no where. But when you have both the faith oar and the works oar, you are able to row along in the center of God's will and you will get very far.
If you have never been saved, there will be no Bema Seat Judgement for you; no matter what works you do, you cannot be rewarded for them. First you must be saved and Jesus tells us in John 14:6: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me".
I pray for each of you brothers and sisters. I remember when I was away from the Lord for a time and but by His grace He pulled me back. I was living away from the Lord. My joy was quenched and I felt no conviction for my sin. This went on for a number of years, then at the invitation of a friend I went to a church revival and once again felt the Holy Spirit call to me and I couldn't help but respond. I am so in love with Him now that I will never walk away again. He is my all in all and I have joy unspeakable. People even remark about my joy, but it is not of my doing.
But as JRed says, we must fear God, we must keep His commandments and strive to be like Him each and every day as we walk in faith. Yes Christ came and He died and we are saved by His grace but we are told to submit ourselves to God. Even in the NEW TESTAMENT it says in James 4: 4-8 says: You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely? But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God bless you all!
Brother Jeff, I've been remembering your wife in my prayers. Thanks for sharing this with us. I think Hebrews 10:26-31 can be quite controversial in the Christian community, it's good that you try to read it from the holiness perspective.
Holiness has a connotation of separation, consecration, or set apart the pure, white and unblemished from this world, cosmos. Like the consercation and sacrifices in the Old Testament.
On the coming NWO, tribulation, persecution, let's remember these verses by heart:
"Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." (Rev 15:4)
"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)
"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God." (Lev 20:7)
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." (Heb 12:14)
These days I've been constantly mediating on holiness too, as I'm playing Brahms' Chorale Prelude this evening "O Gott, du frommer Gott" (O God, thou holiest) in an organ masterclass - the text to the chorale in English:
O God, thou righteous God,
Thou fountain of all blessings,
Without whom nought exists,
From whom is all our treasure,
My body grant good health,
And let within my flesh
An uncorrupted soul
And conscience pure e'er dwell.
Holiness. Purity. Conscience.
We have spent the last few months studying Hebrews in great detail. One of the key things to remember is the very title of this book. Who was the author addressing. Based on the way this book is written, in addition to its title, it is very Jewish centric. The author was writing to a Jewish audience, many of whom truly believed in YHWH and followed him according to the Jewish laws. The author also takes great pains in explain the sacrifice, the priesthood, the order of Melchizedek and so on. Look at any study bible and you will see that it is chock full of literal quotation from the Old Testament, especially the books of the law.
You may ask, why should the audience matter. It is the same way if I wrote to an American familiar with our current culture, and tried to explain my point of view using numerous current US colloquialisms and examples . This same explanation would not be effective with one who is say living in the middle of China with little interaction to the US culture.
That being established, we proceed to see how the faithful Jewish believers would have clung to the Law. As we learn from Paul in Romans, the Law is a teacher and does not bring life but death.
Hebrews 11 is the part of the message which you can compare to a sermon invitation. Again, the context is the Jews who are being invited to put their faith in the High Priest who's sacrifice is accepted by the Father.
In light of this, when you get to verse 26, you can see that the sin that the Jewish person could commit after receiving/hearing the truth, is detailed in verse 29, often referred by some as the unpardonable sin. That is the rejection of God's Spirit who is trying to reach the sinners heart.
I have in the past got hung up about the fact that I have sinned as a Christian, and my good religious upbringing taught me to go get the Christian bar of soap refered to in 1 John to be clean.
After being frustrated for years with this, the Lord has shown me clearly, that he dwells in me and will not leave. His sacrifice was done once and for all. Now I simply thank him for his sacrifice, know that it is covered in his blood and ask him to take greater control of my life.
I now understand the process of sanctification as what John referred to in John 3:30 - Less of me and more of Him. As I allow the Lord to operate in all my life, not just the 10% some folks would like you to believe, I find more victory, blessing and peace.
I pray that you carefully consider the book of Hebrews as a gem and an incredible archive of God's plan for his people in whom he so desired to dwell within. Through their gift to world of the awesome son of God, we too can partake in that gift as shared in Romans.
I encourage you brothers and sisters to seek deeply within you, Him who you have accepted and believed in for your eternal salvation. The learn more about him contextually from his word.
Selah
Ash
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