Weighing the evidence!
V25 n8
God
has given us full disclosure of His purpose and plan for reconciliation with
man. Yet, how much thought, how much attention to detail have you given in
coming to a full and complete understanding of the which
God has for you? For most, they have a very lazy or lackadaisical attitude
towards God and His promises, and have not taken the time or made the effort
required to operate in all that God has made available to them. With something
as vital as eternal life, they will hear what everyone else has to say about
it, but seldom go to God for His full disclosure.
Mark
For
God so loved the world that He gave. But, what did He give? With the fall of
Adam, man was no longer able to fellowship with God. Yet, in spite of man’s
shortcomings, God before the foundation of the world, made a way of reconciliation
with mankind. (Eph 1:3-6, John 17:24, Heb 4:1-3, 1 Peter 1:19-20)
If one does
not understand what has been given to them, how will they know what to receive,
or how to receive it, or how to properly utilize it once it has been accepted?
John 1:12, But as many as
received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name: KJV
Privilege,
honour, dignity, or right. He who is made a
child of God enjoys the greatest privilege which the Divine Being can confer on
this side eternity. Those who accept Jesus Christ, as he is offered to them
in the Gospel, have, through his blood, a right to this sonship; for by that sacrifice this blessing was
purchased; and the fullest promises of God confirm it to all who believe. And
those who are engrafted in the heavenly family have the highest honour and dignity to which it is possible for a human soul
to arrive. What an astonishing thought is this! The sinner, who was an heir to
all God's curses, has, through the sacrifice of Jesus, a claim on the mercy of
the Most High, and a right to be saved! Even justice itself, on the ground of
its holy and eternal nature, gives salvation to the vilest who take refuge in
this atonement; for justice has nothing to grant, or Heaven to give, which the
blood of the Son of God has not merited. (from
Adam Clarke Commentary)
Obedience
to His Word; this is what the relationship with the Father is all about. Learning, applying, living in that which the Word asks of His
children. It is amazing that people will do whatever it takes to get
ahead in this world, and yet miss eternity. What would happen if people applied
themselves as greatly to that which God asks of them, as they do towards their
earthly goals?
James
The law of liberty
must mean the Gospel; it is a law, for it imposes obligations from God, and
prescribes a rule of life; and it punishes transgressors, and rewards the
obedient. It is, nevertheless, a law that gives liberty from the guilt, power,
dominion, and influence of sin; and it is perfect, providing a fulness of salvation for the soul: and it may be called
perfect here, in opposition to the law, which was a system of types and
representations of which the Gospel is the sum and substance. Some think that
the word perfect, is added here to signify that the whole of the Gospel must be
considered and received, not a part; all its threatenings
with its promises, all its precepts with its privileges. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
Jesus
Christ lived a life in full and complete obedience to that which the Father
asked of Him. We see in the Word, that the Father was well pleased with His
Son, and told the people to hear Him. Yet, how often are people more concerned
with what is going on around them, then in giving their full and undivided
attention to the Message?
John 14:12, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go
unto my Father. KJV
People
often misconstrue what the Word is talking about here, when it says that those
that believe shall do the same works that He did, and greater, because He goes
to the Father. We are to live the Word as He did, overcoming the temptations in
the like manner as He did, by obedience to the Spirit of Christ within us. It
is not enough that one hears the Message; or maybe even memorizes the Message,
but one has to put that Message into practical application within their life.
Many talk about the Word, many more proclaim it, but
how many do you know that really live it?
Matt 17:5, While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold
a
voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. (KJV)
A person should be living their life
only to please God, not anyone else. If people have a problem with the way
we live, they can go talk to the Father, since it is only His opinion that will
have the final say in and on where one will spend eternity. Thus
why Paul tells us that one is justified by grace through faith, and that not of
works, but a life in total compliance with living the Word of God. One
should be striving so that they can hear Father say to them as He did to His
Son Jesus Christ, this is my beloved child, hear the Message from them and
their lifestyle.
1 John 4:1, Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world.
[Beloved,
believe not every spirit] Do not be forward to believe every teacher to be a
man sent of God. As in those early times every teacher professed to be inspired
by the Spirit of God, because all the prophets had come thus accredited, the
term spirit was used to express the man who pretended to be and teach under the
Spirit's influence.
[Try
the spirits] Put these teachers to the proof. Try them by that testimony which
is known to have come from the Spirit of God, the word of revelation already
given. (from
Adam Clarke Commentary)
1 John 4:6, We are of
God: he that knoweth God heareth
us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know
we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
[Hereby know we the Spirit of truth] The
doctrine and teacher most prized and followed by worldly men, and by the gay,
giddy, and garish multitude, are not from God; they savour
of the flesh, lay on no restraints, prescribe no cross-bearing, and leave
everyone in full possession of his heart's lusts and easily besetting sins. And
by this, false doctrine and false teachers are easily discerned. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
We are to study the Word
to show ourselves approved unto God. Yet how often do people study to impress
others? We are to weigh the evidence presented to us by God within His Word,
relying on the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth concerning
the revelation of Jesus Christ within our life. The more one will seek Father,
and His perfect will for their life, they will have that peace that passes all
understanding. The weight of the lower nature will be removed. For His yoke is
easy, and His burden light.
It
is given for you to know, the mystery, the secret of the
That you may know Him,
In the service
of Jesus Christ.
Larry Gazelka
J
Copyright ©2003 Rev Larry Gazelka All rights reserved