But even if we, or an
angel from heaven,
preach any other
gospel to you than
what we have preached
to you,
let him be accursed.
As we have said
before, so now I say
again, if anyone
preaches any other
gospel to you
than what you have
received,
let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8–9
Liberal
theology has done just what Paul was warning the Churches in Galatia about;
those who would preach and teach what the apostles had preached, and what they
had received from the apostles. When a person, a Church, a denomination, strays
from the Gospel, those things that were first preached, then all sorts of
absurdities abound. Things of absurdities can be seen in so–called Christian
Baptist Church, Westboro Baptist Church were they attempt to thrust upon people
under the guise of Christianity their form of religion which is not what Paul
taught and as what we have been studying in the 13th chapter of
Romans. Or, Churches that that teach that Christians are not to be involved in
political affairs which is not what Paul was writing to the Romans to become,
apathetic, solely submissive and be under subjection no matter of being under
this subjection was of God ministering to them by the ministers of God,
ordained of God, government(s). Christians are the ekklesia, the called out
ones, called, enabled by God and we, the called out ones are to ensure that the
nature of God is what is expressed by members of our Church, family, friends,
and especially it is essential for our government. The call of God is not so
that we do what we would like to do for Him, no, we are called to be the
expression of Him, His nature to this world. To be a Christian is to follow His
commands and His commands were summed up for us by Jesus Christ: “A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that
you have love for one another” (John 13:34). If we are to follow that
command then we must not sit by apathetically and do little or nothing. Few
called to do just that, to reveal Jesus Christ to the world. God is getting you
ready by living in you by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in you and out of this
comes a two–fold application. One, we are expressive of the love of God by
revealing Jesus Christ, and two from the nature that is being formed in us we
through faith in His Son service extends to the world. The two work together,
faith in God, and out of that faith works. The Son of God having been revealed
in me, I serve Him, not in what I think that I should do, unless what I think
is in conformity with His will, no, it is in the ordinary ways of life that out
of devotion to God I serve Him. This service then having a foundation of God,
our love for God, and for His Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit
indwelling me I will not sit by idly and allow others to make decisions for me,
those decision that will affect my progeny. This would not be showing the love
of God in us, nor found upon our devotion to His Son Jesus Christ. Do you
believe that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ? If so: “by this all will
know that you are My disciples, ‘if you have love for one another” (John
13:35). If we are not doing that which is ensuring that the will of God is
taking precedence of evil then we are not keeping the commands of God: “Jesus
answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him”(John
14:23). If we are not doing those things that are of the nature of God then
it causes wonder about whether or not our nature is being conformed into the
image of His Son. This is serious! We are not to owe anyone anything: “Owe
no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has
fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). How we can quote verses from the Bible,
familiar to us and good, but often not from the true meaning for us; i.e., “For
the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You
shall not steal,” You shall not bear false witness,’ “You shall not covet,” and
if there is any other commandment are all summed up in this saying, namely,
‘You shall love you neighbor as yourself” (Romans 13:9). If we do nothing
about how our government that is to be a minister of God so that what they do
and decide is according to the nature and purpose of God, are we really loving
our neighbor? Are we not doing harm? Is this actually following Biblical
standards: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10)? Yes, it is true that our true
neighbor is our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, but this is also true of
those outside the Church. Do you know who is one of God’s elect? Are we not to
preach the word, the gospel to all and then allow God to enable the faith given
to a person so that that person repentance and turns their life to God
revealing the Son of God to their world? Time is now! Not tomorrow! It is now!
Wake up! Paul ended this chapter that spoke of governments and how the children
of God are to act towards government. We are to walk as Christians and that
means to properly reveal God, His Son, in all aspects of life: “And do this,
knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our
salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the
day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put
on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and
drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not I strife and envy. But put on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts”
(Romans 13:11–14).
Praise the LORD!’
Praise the
LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing
praises to my God
While I have my being.
Do not put
your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psalm 146:1–3
How Are you spending the Sabbath?
No comments:
Post a Comment