Let’s negotiate? v23n12

Let’s negotiate?

V23 n12

Negotiation = the discussion and bargaining which goes on between parties before the terms of a contract, treaty or the like are settled.

For many Christians, since they have not taken the time, nor made the effort to study God’s Word, they do not have any real comprehension of who they are in Christ, and all that has been made available to them. Rather, because of what they have been taught, they try to negotiate or make deals with God. How often have you heard a preacher say, that if you will do something for God, then He would do something for you? (Rom 5:6-8) What exactly is it that you have faith in?

Romans 3:2-4, 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. KJV

Against what he had said of the advantages the Jews had in the lively oracles, some might object the unbelief of many of them. To what purpose were the oracles of God committed to them, when so many of them, notwithstanding these oracles, continued strangers to Christ, and enemies to his gospel? Some did not believe, v. 3. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

At the day of Pentecost, God poured out of His Spirit upon all flesh. This Peter attests to as recorded by Luke in the book of Acts. He, God, has made available to every human being His plan of redemption or salvation. For the believer, (those that have become that new creation in Christ, Jn 3:3-8, 2Cor 5:16-17, Rom 8:9), God has blessed you with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. So therefore, it is not necessary for a person to try to negotiate or barter with God, for that which He has already made available to you. As one takes the time to study His Word, seeking only His approval, they will be able to see and comprehend the fullness of Christ is already the right of the believer. It is up to you, to learn how to use or appropriate this gift in your life.

Daring sinners take occasion to boast in mischief, because the goodness of God endures continually, <Ps. 52:1>. Let us do evil that good may come is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners, so justifying themselves in their wicked ways. Mentioning this wicked thought, he observes, in a parenthesis, that there were those who charged such doctrines as this upon Paul and his fellow-ministers: Some affirm that we say so. It is no new thing for the best of God's people and ministers to be charged with holding and teaching such things as they do most detest and abhor; and it is not to be thought strange, when our Master himself was said to be in league with Beelzebub. Many have been reproached as if they had said that the contrary of which they maintain: it is an old artifice of Satan thus to cast dirt upon Christ's ministers, Lay slander thickly on, for some will be sure to stick. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Many, without realizing it, call God a liar. They keep pleading with Him, and continually asking Him for those things that He has already made available to the believer. It is by and through Christ, that one is able to become that new creation. Old things are past away. (Learning to die to the flesh daily) (Rom 8:1, Rom 6:23, Rom 7:5-6, Luke 1:74-75, 2Cor 3:3-6, Rom 8:13) All things do become new in the Spirit. In Him, dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you, the believer, are complete in Him. (Col 2:9-10, John 1:16, 1Cor 1:30, Heb 5:9, 1John 2:20-27) Note, that you are complete, or rendered full in Him. Now it is a matter of you learning His Word, and rightly dividing the truth, so that you will never have reason to be ashamed when you stand before Him. (2Tim 2:15, Heb 4:11, 2Peter 1:10)

Often times the Christian wants others to do the studying for them. They have more faith in that which other people will tell them, then they do in the Word of God, and that which Father wants to reveal to them. Thus, they spend little or no time studying for His approval. and if the blind lead the blind, both are sure to fall in the ditch. (Matt 15:13-14) So it is up to each believer to know what it is that they are believing in!

Many times you have heard me mention Matthew 2:11, and how the wise men (number or name unknown) never made it to the manger. Rather, the Biblical account shows us quite plainly that the wise men came into the house, and saw the young child (Jesus of Nazareth) (Acts 10:38) with Mary His mother. It is not negotiable to then depict three wise men at a manger, as it both adds to and takes away from the Word of God, no matter how good of a story it seems to make. (Rev 22:18-19) The thing that one has to realize, is that if they have lied to you and misrepresented something that is as obvious as this, then one has to ask how many other areas of the Word have they have done this with as well? What other scriptures have they twisted and perverted to keep the people in bondage? How do these fables get started? Why are these fables allowed to continue? (1Cor 6:5) Could this be why Paul used great plainness of speech when presenting the Word of God?

Col 2:8 Take care lest there be some one who leads you away as prisoners by means of his philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world's crude notions instead of following Christ. 9 For it is in Christ that the fulness of God's nature dwells embodied, and in Him you are made complete, (Weymouth translation)

If you are not a prisoner of the Lord and His Word, then who is it that you are a prisoner to? (Pro 6:2, 2Tim 2:26, 2Peter 2:18-20) It is either true or false! It is either faith or fear! There is no middle ground! One is either following the truth, or they are following a lie. This is not negotiable! This is what the Word of God clearly states and proclaims; whatever is not of faith, is sin! Yet, for the majority of people, they are quicker to defend man and his traditions and doctrines, then they are to take a firm stand for the Word of God.

What many fail to realize or recognize, is that God has already set the terms and conditions of and for salvation. (1Cor 3:11, Eph 1:4, Eph 2:20, Matt 25:34, John 17:24, 1Peter 1:18-20) Yet, many try to modify or change the terms or conditions that God has already set forth. Isn’t this exactly what the children of Israel did? They knew and understood that which God asked of them, and yet, a few men spread the rumor that they should build a golden calf to worship. And yet as clear as God had spoken to them, what did they do? What kinds of idols or false worship have you built or constructed in your life? How many things in your life come before God and His Word? In most instances, more then most would like to admit to.

What if some shall not believe God and His Word, shall they be able to overthrow the faith of God? Just because the majority of the people are doing it, does not make it right in God’s eyes. It was the majority of the people of Israel that built and then worshipped the golden calf. Because the majority did it, did that make it alright in the eyes of God? Yet, how often are the choices and decisions that you make, are they based in and on what other people are doing? Who, or what are you following?

Jesus Christ said quite clearly, that the last days should be as the days of Noah. It does not say might be, or maybe, but that they shall be. What was the majority of the people doing when the flood finally came? (Gen 6:5-8) How many were there that made it safely aboard the ark? (Gen 7:13) So then, would it have been a wise choice to have followed the majority of people in this instance? Yet, the Lord tells us clearly, that it shall be this way in the last days. (1Tim 4:1-2, 2Tim 3:1-7, 2Peter 2:1-9, 2John 1:7-11)

You and you alone are responsible for your salvation. (Phil 2:12, Rom 13:11-14) You are the one that needs to study for God’s approval. The only way that this can be done, is by allowing the Word of God to become a real way of life to you. (John 14:6) Jesus of Nazareth, by hearing and then being obedient to the Spirit of Christ within Him, established by the truth, a strait and narrow path that we too can follow. This is accomplished by accepting His Word as truth, and then continuing in it. The truth is able to set one free, and keep them free, as long as they continue in it. Learning to abide in Him all of the time, not just when it seems convenient or appropriate.

There are no short cuts or alternate routes into the kingdom of God. (Matt 7:13-14, Ezek 18:27-32, 2Cor 6:14-18, Pro 4:26-27, Isa 35:8-10, JER 6:16-17, Rom 12:2) There is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism! There is but one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus; there is no other way to Father, but by Him. Man can try to change and alter God’s Word, but that will not work; for His Word is forever settled in heaven. All will have to stand before God, and give an account to God by their own words. It will be by their own words that they will be justified or condemned. They will either be for God, or against Him. There is no room for negotiations here. (Amos 3:3, Matt 12:30, 2Cor 6:15-16, 1John 2:19-20, 2John 1:7-11) It is His Word that is able to clearly illuminate one’s path; not man made traditions and doctrines.

So what exactly is it that you have been listening to? Have you been listening to idle fancies devised by men? Have you been listening to and following the crude notions dreamed up by men, to get the people to follow them? How sure are you of that which you have been listening to, and coming into agreement with? Sure enough to risk where you will spend eternity?

Paul tells us that he wants all men to see the fellowship of the mystery of this gospel, which he preached. Something that had been hid, but now is revealed or made plain, by His Spirit. (John 16:13, John 14:26, 1Cor 2:9-12, 1John 2:27, Eph 3:3-5) In Christ, the power and wisdom of God, are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and you are complete in Him, as you abide in Him. (John 15:1-8, 1John 2:21-26) For it is in Christ, that you became a new creation. (only if you accepted God’s terms and conditions for salvation, not man’s), for it is by and through Christ that one has the strength and capabilities to do all that Father may ask of you. Are you complete in Him?

Are you still trying to negotiate with God?

That you may know Him,

In the service of Jesus Christ.

Larry Gazelka