But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall
live by faith. (Galatians 3:11)
The current Christian
concept sees God restoring Adam and Eve to Eden, not on the basis of a
transformation of their personalities into the image of God but on the basis of
mercy and forgiveness. This would be to change what God is. It would be to
change God to the point that He is willing to dwell with lawlessness.
What, then, is the
meaning of this expression that originated in the Old Testament and is repeated
three times in the New Testament? The entire Scriptures are the definition of
"the just shall live by faith," for this principle always has
governed men—it is not just for the Christian Era. In addition, the Spirit of
God has summarized the principle in Hebrews 10:38-11:40.
Now the just shall live
by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
(Hebrews 10:38)
The Book of Hebrews was
written to careless believers. The theme of the Book of Hebrews is pressing on
toward the promised rest of God. The author of Hebrews was writing to seasoned
saints. They had suffered much but now had become complacent. They were
neglecting their salvation. They were in danger of "dying in the
wilderness."
The first aspect of
faith that we notice (in Hebrews 10:38) is, it is a pressing forward ("but
if any man draw back"). God takes pleasure in us when we press forward in
Christ each day. The moment we become careless or disinterested the Lord is
displeased. This is what is so dreadfully incomplete about the current
"make a profession of Christ and then you will go to Heaven when you
die."
The just shall live by
faith means if we would please God we must make our life a continual quest for
the Kingdom of God. The just shall live by faith covers men of all ages. The
expression is found first in the Old Testament (Habakkuk 2:4).
Note carefully that the
Holy Spirit, when instructing us concerning the faith that saves (in Hebrews,
Chapter 11), uses examples from the Old Testament!
It is not only in
Christianity that men please God by faith. No person at any time or in any place
has ever pleased God by any means other than faith.
The Law of Moses was
given to help the Israelites cope with sin until the Redeemer should come. In
several instances in the Old Testament writings we find God was not satisfied
with the offerings made to Him because they were not presented in faith.
Ye said also, Behold,
what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and
ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an
offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. (Malachi 1:13)
"What a weariness
is it!"
It was not enough just
to bring an animal. The heart of the worshiper had to be full of faith toward
the Lord.
But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
The only manner in which
God can be pleased is by our joyously seeking His face continually, understanding
that the Lord is a rewarder of all who seek Him with their whole heart. This
was true under the old covenant. It is true today. It always shall be true.
Faith is our conviction that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek
Him diligently. Also, everyone who has faith in God is sternly obedient to God.
The concept that under
the old covenant men pleased God by works, and that under the new covenant men
please God by doing nothing but believe in doctrine, has arisen from Paul's
controversy with the Judaizers. Paul declared to the Judaizers that now that
Jesus has come, it is not possible to please God by continuing in the numerous
statutes of the Law of Moses.
Christian teachers, not
having the background of the Law and therefore not understanding Paul's
argument with the Jews, and not striving for righteousness as was Paul, convey
the concept that men please God under the new covenant by doing nothing.
"We are saved by unconditional grace," they preach, a doctrine
completely alien to the Old and New Testaments, and the bulk of the followers
of such teaching have little knowledge of the Holy One of Israel and are
drowning in the lusts of the flesh because they are not seeking God diligently.
Notice, in the following
verse, the presentation of faith as an attitude toward God that governs our
behavior:
But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition [destruction]; but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39)
Drawing back to
destruction does not mean changing our mind about the theological facts
concerning salvation. To draw back to perdition means to cease pressing forward
in prayer, holy living, and obedience to God. To believe to the saving of the
soul is to lay hold by faith on the living Jesus and to take up our cross and
follow Him daily. It is not a case of mental belief but of coming out of the
world and serving God's Christ.
If we would save
ourselves and those who hear us (I Timothy 4:16) we must continue pressing
toward Christ each day. There is no time or strength left for us to become
entangled in the world. Either we attain the glory of the Kingdom or we come
under the judgment of the Lord. Either we use our talents diligently or we will
be thrown into outer darkness. Either we press on to perfection or we fall back
to destruction.
It always is today. In
the life of faith, yesterday is forgotten except for the lessons taught to us
by the Holy Spirit. If the sinner turns from his sin and begins to live
righteously, God forgets about his sin. If the righteous individual turns from
his righteousness and begins to sin, God forgets about his righteousness.
To
be continued.
Copyright © 2014
Trumpet Ministries Inc.
No comments:
Post a Comment