Here is an excerpt from Matthew Henry's comments on Joel 2:12,13.
Our fasting and weeping are worth nothing if we do not with them turn to God as our God. When we are fully convinced that it is our duty and interest to keep in with Him, and are heartily sorry we have ever turned the back upon Him, and thereupon by a fixed resolution, make His glory our end, His will our rule, and His favour our felicity, then we return to the Lord our God.
When the heart is rent for sin, and rent from it, then it is prepared to turn entirely to God, and be devoted entirely to Him, and He will have it all or none.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Work out your salvation.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in His sight.
-2 Peter 3:14 (ASV)
Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy,
-Jude 24 (ASV)
So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12,13 (ASV)
We have been called to live lives of holiness, lives that reflect the very character of Christ. At one time we all walked in rebellion against God, spiritually dead, our hearts and lives stained with sin. through repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new.
We are called to walk in newness of life. Many people think that salvation means we can live however we please without incurring God's wrath. In reality, salvation is a life changing experience. The very Spirit of God takes possession of our hearts, and begins to direct our lives. It is up to us to walk by the Spirit, following Him in obedience to His leading. The Holy Spirit will always lead us in the truth of God's word. As we allow Him to lead us, we will become more Christ-like in our lives. We are to be diligent. This means that we take great care, make every effort, to live our lives in a way that pleases Christ. There is no room for a half hearted commitment, we must be serious with God.
When we are dirty we take a shower and get cleaned up. Now we want to stay clean so we try not to get dirty right away. In a similar way we are cleansed by the blood of Christ. God desires us to be clean, pure in heart. It is His will for us to live our lives in conformity to His will. He does not want us to plunge back into the sinful lives that He just cleansed us from. He leads us, we follow and obey. He supplies all that we need to walk in holiness before Him. It is up to us to step out in obedient faith. The grace of God will never lead us where the grace of God cannot keep us.
-2 Peter 3:14 (ASV)
Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy,
-Jude 24 (ASV)
So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12,13 (ASV)
We have been called to live lives of holiness, lives that reflect the very character of Christ. At one time we all walked in rebellion against God, spiritually dead, our hearts and lives stained with sin. through repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new.
We are called to walk in newness of life. Many people think that salvation means we can live however we please without incurring God's wrath. In reality, salvation is a life changing experience. The very Spirit of God takes possession of our hearts, and begins to direct our lives. It is up to us to walk by the Spirit, following Him in obedience to His leading. The Holy Spirit will always lead us in the truth of God's word. As we allow Him to lead us, we will become more Christ-like in our lives. We are to be diligent. This means that we take great care, make every effort, to live our lives in a way that pleases Christ. There is no room for a half hearted commitment, we must be serious with God.
When we are dirty we take a shower and get cleaned up. Now we want to stay clean so we try not to get dirty right away. In a similar way we are cleansed by the blood of Christ. God desires us to be clean, pure in heart. It is His will for us to live our lives in conformity to His will. He does not want us to plunge back into the sinful lives that He just cleansed us from. He leads us, we follow and obey. He supplies all that we need to walk in holiness before Him. It is up to us to step out in obedient faith. The grace of God will never lead us where the grace of God cannot keep us.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
The faith of a child
And they were bringing children to Him, so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
-Mark 10:13-15 NASB
" Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
-Matthew 18:4 NASB
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The God of creation.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodlines and unrighteousness of men who supress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20 (NASB)
Over the course of the last one hundred fifty years or so, biblical doctrines have been attacked and eroded. While it is true that error has always been around, I am thinking more of the attacks on the biblical accounts by the use of higher criticism by theologians, attacks on the inspiration and authority of the bible by many pastors and denominations today, and in particular the attack on the biblical account of creation by Darwin, which still continues today.
I have seen polls where christians are asked what they believe. The results are quite shocking. Many do not believe in the sinlessness of Christ, His virgin birth, His deity, and His humanity. Others do not believe the account of the flood, or the accounts of the miracles found in the scriptures. We live in a time when people believe what they want to believe, and reject what they don't like, without considering the implications. Once again, it is true that heresies have always been around, but we live in an age when almost anything seems to go in christianity.
Many individuals reject the biblical account of creation, choosing to believe in evolution, or the big bang theory. They believe that the biblical account is too far fetched, and feel that it is better explained by scientific means. The amazing thing is that many of these individuals consider themselves to be christians.
There are some doctrinal differences between denominations, that are not that important to the spiritual life of a believer, but the doctrine of creation is not one of them. The above verses tell us that God has revealed Himself to mankind through creation. What is known about God, His invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature are clearly seen. Deep within the heart, individuals know. The text tells us that these things are clearly seen, so man is without excuse! To reject the biblical account of creation is to reject the God of creation. You cannot say that you believe in God, and also hold to the big bang theory, evolution, or any other theory. It is not compatible with a true saving faith. This amounts to elevating the creature above the creator. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four footed animals and crawling creatures (vs 21-23).
The text is very clear. Those who reject the true God and choose instead a god of their own making, are given over to sinful passion, plunging deeper and deeper into a depraved lifestyle. True biblical doctrine is important. We need to understand it and apply it. To follow a Jesus who sinned, and was not born of a virgin, is to follow a completely different Jesus. To deny His deity or His humanity is to create a new Jesus, one who cannot save you.
You do not have to pour over volumes of systematic theology to understand true doctrine. It is found in the word of God. Know what you believe, and why you believe it. It matters.
Romans 1:18-20 (NASB)
Over the course of the last one hundred fifty years or so, biblical doctrines have been attacked and eroded. While it is true that error has always been around, I am thinking more of the attacks on the biblical accounts by the use of higher criticism by theologians, attacks on the inspiration and authority of the bible by many pastors and denominations today, and in particular the attack on the biblical account of creation by Darwin, which still continues today.
I have seen polls where christians are asked what they believe. The results are quite shocking. Many do not believe in the sinlessness of Christ, His virgin birth, His deity, and His humanity. Others do not believe the account of the flood, or the accounts of the miracles found in the scriptures. We live in a time when people believe what they want to believe, and reject what they don't like, without considering the implications. Once again, it is true that heresies have always been around, but we live in an age when almost anything seems to go in christianity.
Many individuals reject the biblical account of creation, choosing to believe in evolution, or the big bang theory. They believe that the biblical account is too far fetched, and feel that it is better explained by scientific means. The amazing thing is that many of these individuals consider themselves to be christians.
There are some doctrinal differences between denominations, that are not that important to the spiritual life of a believer, but the doctrine of creation is not one of them. The above verses tell us that God has revealed Himself to mankind through creation. What is known about God, His invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature are clearly seen. Deep within the heart, individuals know. The text tells us that these things are clearly seen, so man is without excuse! To reject the biblical account of creation is to reject the God of creation. You cannot say that you believe in God, and also hold to the big bang theory, evolution, or any other theory. It is not compatible with a true saving faith. This amounts to elevating the creature above the creator. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four footed animals and crawling creatures (vs 21-23).
The text is very clear. Those who reject the true God and choose instead a god of their own making, are given over to sinful passion, plunging deeper and deeper into a depraved lifestyle. True biblical doctrine is important. We need to understand it and apply it. To follow a Jesus who sinned, and was not born of a virgin, is to follow a completely different Jesus. To deny His deity or His humanity is to create a new Jesus, one who cannot save you.
You do not have to pour over volumes of systematic theology to understand true doctrine. It is found in the word of God. Know what you believe, and why you believe it. It matters.
Study all things.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...
-Hosea 4:6
The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesian church that false teachers would arise from within their own ranks. He warned of a time when people would not endure sound teaching, but would instead find teachers who would tickle their ears with false teachings. False teachings have been around since the day that the serpent deceived Eve in the garden. False prophets and priests existed in the days of ancient Israel. The epistles of the new testament address many false doctrines that were spreading throughout the church in the first century. Nothing has changed today as well. Different gospels are finding their way into many churches, churches that were at one time pillars of truth! Often we can spot a cult quite easily. Some teaching is obviously wrong, and a lot easier to reject as false. However some things can be quite subtle. It looks biblical, sounds biblical, sound evangelical preachers are promoting it....we need to be so careful! Deception creeps in and gains a foothold when individuals fail to carefully examine what they hear by the word of God. Generations of christians grow up mindlessly believing everything they hear without really looking into it to see if it is right or not. Doctrines taught by various denominations are adhered to and taken at face value, when in fact they are nothing more than the traditions of man.
We must immerse ourselves in the truth of God's word. When Paul was preaching the gospel in Berea, the individuals there studied the scriptures to see if he was telling the truth or not. There are plenty of preachers, teachers, authors, etc. today who teach nothing more than a soft watered down feel good gospel that makes people feel good about themselves, giving them a false sense of security, but doing nothing to save their souls. What good would it be if a doctor told an individual who was dying of a terminal disease, that all was well, the illness was not severe, could be treated with asprin,and then sent him happily on his way, all because he wanted this individual to feel good about the situation he was in, rather than confront him with the truth of his disease, and the hard options that could save his life? That is what we see too many times today within evangelical christianity! A false representation of God, and a false representation of man's fallen condition, as well as a false gospel designed to make us feel better without really saving us. This lack of knowledge leads countless numbers to hell with a false assurance that all is well between them and God. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. To him it was the power of God unto salvation. He took great care to ensure that the truth was upheld. We must do the same today. Jesus spoke of a broad way full of people leading to destruction, and a narrow less traveled road leading to life, make sure you are on the right road!
-Hosea 4:6
The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesian church that false teachers would arise from within their own ranks. He warned of a time when people would not endure sound teaching, but would instead find teachers who would tickle their ears with false teachings. False teachings have been around since the day that the serpent deceived Eve in the garden. False prophets and priests existed in the days of ancient Israel. The epistles of the new testament address many false doctrines that were spreading throughout the church in the first century. Nothing has changed today as well. Different gospels are finding their way into many churches, churches that were at one time pillars of truth! Often we can spot a cult quite easily. Some teaching is obviously wrong, and a lot easier to reject as false. However some things can be quite subtle. It looks biblical, sounds biblical, sound evangelical preachers are promoting it....we need to be so careful! Deception creeps in and gains a foothold when individuals fail to carefully examine what they hear by the word of God. Generations of christians grow up mindlessly believing everything they hear without really looking into it to see if it is right or not. Doctrines taught by various denominations are adhered to and taken at face value, when in fact they are nothing more than the traditions of man.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Holiness.
The concept of holiness can be confusing to people. To many it is one of those terms that we use as christians without ever considering what it truly means. To many, it means that somehow God sees us as okay no matter how we are living our lives. A sinful lifestyle can be justified by people who think that they are holy in God's eyes.
The true concept behind holiness is one of separation. It involves being separated from sin, and self. It is a separation from the way the world lives and operates. "Come out from among them and be separate" (2 Cor 6:17) is a call to holiness, a call to the church to remain pure and separated from idolatry. Holiness requires devotion to God. We are separated from the world for the purpose of serving God. We are exhorted to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1). This act of devotion is considered holy, acceptable to God. Paul goes on to say " Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds". We are called to be different from those around us. We are to prove the will of God in our lives, by putting it into practice. In 1 Peter 1:15, we are told that we are to be holy in all of our conduct. Holiness is a way of life. It is a life lived for the glory of God. Sin is put away, self is put aside, all that matters is God.
Holiness is vital to our walk with Christ. Without holiness, being separated out for God's use, we cannot see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Holiness begins in the heart and from there it finds its way into our actions. It is the pure in heart who will see God (Matt 5:8), those who come to Christ with an insincere, divided heart will find no peace. Jesus asks for our all. The cost of following Christ is great. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself" (Mark 8:34). "Come out from among them and be separate" say the Lord, "and do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters" (2 Cor 6:17-18).
The intent of salvation is to transform sinners into holy people. A salvation that leaves an individual still in his or her sins, a salvation that does not radically change the life of one who believes, is no salvation. This is a hard saying, but true. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:1-10, deals with this fact. Far too often we underestimate the actual power of God exhibited in Christ.The atonement is a powerful thing. The one set free by the Son is free indeed! We can live victorious, we can walk in purity and holiness before the Lord. It is all grace, it was all purchased for us by Jesus Christ on the cross. Salvation is a complete package. Forgiveness as well as a new life. A saved individual is a new creation. In one respect, the possibility of sin exists, and often is fallen into. However one who truly knows Christ will go to Him in repentance and faith, and find forgiveness and grace to go on with the Lord. That is different from one who claims to know Christ, and believes he is forgiven and saved, but has no real desire to turn from sin, makes no effort to obey Christ. Such a one is not holy, is not separated from the world, is not devoted to God, and is still dead in trespasses and sins.
God is holy, and commands us to be holy as He is holy. The good news is that the same God who calls us to holiness is also faithful to produce this purity in our hearts and lives (1 Thess 5:23-24).
The true concept behind holiness is one of separation. It involves being separated from sin, and self. It is a separation from the way the world lives and operates. "Come out from among them and be separate" (2 Cor 6:17) is a call to holiness, a call to the church to remain pure and separated from idolatry. Holiness requires devotion to God. We are separated from the world for the purpose of serving God. We are exhorted to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1). This act of devotion is considered holy, acceptable to God. Paul goes on to say " Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds". We are called to be different from those around us. We are to prove the will of God in our lives, by putting it into practice. In 1 Peter 1:15, we are told that we are to be holy in all of our conduct. Holiness is a way of life. It is a life lived for the glory of God. Sin is put away, self is put aside, all that matters is God.
Holiness is vital to our walk with Christ. Without holiness, being separated out for God's use, we cannot see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Holiness begins in the heart and from there it finds its way into our actions. It is the pure in heart who will see God (Matt 5:8), those who come to Christ with an insincere, divided heart will find no peace. Jesus asks for our all. The cost of following Christ is great. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself" (Mark 8:34). "Come out from among them and be separate" say the Lord, "and do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters" (2 Cor 6:17-18).
The intent of salvation is to transform sinners into holy people. A salvation that leaves an individual still in his or her sins, a salvation that does not radically change the life of one who believes, is no salvation. This is a hard saying, but true. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:1-10, deals with this fact. Far too often we underestimate the actual power of God exhibited in Christ.The atonement is a powerful thing. The one set free by the Son is free indeed! We can live victorious, we can walk in purity and holiness before the Lord. It is all grace, it was all purchased for us by Jesus Christ on the cross. Salvation is a complete package. Forgiveness as well as a new life. A saved individual is a new creation. In one respect, the possibility of sin exists, and often is fallen into. However one who truly knows Christ will go to Him in repentance and faith, and find forgiveness and grace to go on with the Lord. That is different from one who claims to know Christ, and believes he is forgiven and saved, but has no real desire to turn from sin, makes no effort to obey Christ. Such a one is not holy, is not separated from the world, is not devoted to God, and is still dead in trespasses and sins.
God is holy, and commands us to be holy as He is holy. The good news is that the same God who calls us to holiness is also faithful to produce this purity in our hearts and lives (1 Thess 5:23-24).
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The fear of the Lord.
We are told in the scriptures, that the fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom (Prov 1:7). The concept of fear takes on several meanings in the Bible. It is used to mean reverence, awe, a proper understanding of who we are, who God is, and how we stand in relation to Him. This is the begining of wisdom, to understand that God is God, and we are not! He has created us, His character is upright, He is perfect in every way, without sin of any kind. His justice is perfect, His love is perfect, His mercy is perfect. God is Holy, and demands the same of us, to be separated from sin and self, and to live our lives in devotion to Him. He demands our love, loyalty and obedience. He is perfect and requires that we be perfect as well.
These demands placed on us by God stagger the mind. A life free from the taint of sin seems out of reach, perfect obedience to the will of God seems impossible. As a Holy and Just God, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished, there are consequences to our actions. All of this should work on us to create a healthy fear, or respect of God. He desires that we revere Him alone, that we stand in complete awe of Him. That we take Him and His word seriously. He means what He says, where He demands obedience, He expects obedience. When He says He will punish, He means He will punish. David, in Psalm 36:1, observed that the actions of the wicked show that they have no fear of God. The Hebrew word for fear in this verse deals with the concept of guilt and punishment. Individuals know right from wrong, know that sin deserves to be punished (Romans 1:32), but do not take God or His word seriously. They deceive themselves into thinking that all is well, and progress deeper into sin. Paul concludes that there is no one righteous, no one who seeks after God, no one who takes Him at His word and fears Him (Romans 3:10-18).
A true fear of the Lord is evidenced by a life of obedience. Job is an example of this. In the eyes of God he was perfect, upright, feared the Lord, and turned from evil (Job 1:8). Job's life was not driven by a slavish dread of God, or fear of punishment, but by a proper understanding of who God is, and how he needed to relate to Him. Satan desired to prove to God that Job acted out of self interest (vs 9,10). God knew the integrity of Job, and allowed him to be tested. The Bible recognizes those who truly love and serve God as fearing Him.
The fear of the Lord is not an old testament concept. It was Jesus who warned that we must not fear man, but God (Luke 12:4,5). Often we worry about what others may think of us, or what may happen to us if we stand for Christ. We allow this fear to hold us back. Instead we need to understand that if we are ashamed of Christ in this world, He will be ashamed of us. We need to understand that a lack of the fear of God carries heavy, eternal consequences.
The writer of Hebrews desired that we would have the grace to serve God with reverence and awe (godly fear), because God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28,29). God desires us to walk before him in obedience, and we would do well to understand this in all its implications. Through the offering of Jesus Christ on our behalf, we have been given everything that we need for life and godliness. There is nothing that we lack, in Christ, to live a life that pleases Him. We have been given much, but where much has been given, much is required. We often look at Old Testament passages with the understanding that God was very severe at that time, but now under grace He is more relaxed. Sure we shouldn't sin, but if we do God understands right? It is true that Christ understands our weakness (Heb 4:13), but the context of this verse deals with receiving help in time of temptation. It is also true that when we do sin we have Christ as an advocate. If we confess our sin, He will forgive our sin (1 John 1:8, 2:1). However, these verses do not give licence to live a sinful life. The writer of Hebrews tells us that if God was severe in the days of Moses, we should expect Him to be much more so now. To sin wilfully is to trample on the Son of God, count His blood as unholy, and to insult the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:26-31). This passage was written as a warning to the Church, people already saved! They were warned of the danger of sin, but also encouraged to press into Christ, where they would find grace for every need. The demands of God placed on man have not changed. The command to love Him with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, is still binding today. We are still bound to love our neighbor as ourselves. The ten commandments were never relaxed by grace, rather Paul declared that faith established the law (Rom 3:31). The old covenant could show man what God required, but left him powerless to fulfill it. Under grace we are now able to live the lives that God requires, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We read in Hebrews 11 of individuals who possessed great faith, overcame great obstacles, and were used in mighty ways by God. There were individuals in the Old Testament days such as Job, Enoch, or Noah, who walked blamelessly before God. Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God, even though they were captives in a foriegn land. How much more today, should we be living an overcoming, victorious life, as we have all the advantages that Christ has procured for us?
To walk in purity of heart and life is vital to the life of the christian. We want to avoid legalism, but we also need to understand that grace sets us free from the power sin once held on our lives. A healthy fear of the Lord is a necessary element in the life of one who truly desires to know and experience God in all His fulness. It truly is the begining of wisdom.
These demands placed on us by God stagger the mind. A life free from the taint of sin seems out of reach, perfect obedience to the will of God seems impossible. As a Holy and Just God, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished, there are consequences to our actions. All of this should work on us to create a healthy fear, or respect of God. He desires that we revere Him alone, that we stand in complete awe of Him. That we take Him and His word seriously. He means what He says, where He demands obedience, He expects obedience. When He says He will punish, He means He will punish. David, in Psalm 36:1, observed that the actions of the wicked show that they have no fear of God. The Hebrew word for fear in this verse deals with the concept of guilt and punishment. Individuals know right from wrong, know that sin deserves to be punished (Romans 1:32), but do not take God or His word seriously. They deceive themselves into thinking that all is well, and progress deeper into sin. Paul concludes that there is no one righteous, no one who seeks after God, no one who takes Him at His word and fears Him (Romans 3:10-18).
A true fear of the Lord is evidenced by a life of obedience. Job is an example of this. In the eyes of God he was perfect, upright, feared the Lord, and turned from evil (Job 1:8). Job's life was not driven by a slavish dread of God, or fear of punishment, but by a proper understanding of who God is, and how he needed to relate to Him. Satan desired to prove to God that Job acted out of self interest (vs 9,10). God knew the integrity of Job, and allowed him to be tested. The Bible recognizes those who truly love and serve God as fearing Him.
The fear of the Lord is not an old testament concept. It was Jesus who warned that we must not fear man, but God (Luke 12:4,5). Often we worry about what others may think of us, or what may happen to us if we stand for Christ. We allow this fear to hold us back. Instead we need to understand that if we are ashamed of Christ in this world, He will be ashamed of us. We need to understand that a lack of the fear of God carries heavy, eternal consequences.
The writer of Hebrews desired that we would have the grace to serve God with reverence and awe (godly fear), because God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28,29). God desires us to walk before him in obedience, and we would do well to understand this in all its implications. Through the offering of Jesus Christ on our behalf, we have been given everything that we need for life and godliness. There is nothing that we lack, in Christ, to live a life that pleases Him. We have been given much, but where much has been given, much is required. We often look at Old Testament passages with the understanding that God was very severe at that time, but now under grace He is more relaxed. Sure we shouldn't sin, but if we do God understands right? It is true that Christ understands our weakness (Heb 4:13), but the context of this verse deals with receiving help in time of temptation. It is also true that when we do sin we have Christ as an advocate. If we confess our sin, He will forgive our sin (1 John 1:8, 2:1). However, these verses do not give licence to live a sinful life. The writer of Hebrews tells us that if God was severe in the days of Moses, we should expect Him to be much more so now. To sin wilfully is to trample on the Son of God, count His blood as unholy, and to insult the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:26-31). This passage was written as a warning to the Church, people already saved! They were warned of the danger of sin, but also encouraged to press into Christ, where they would find grace for every need. The demands of God placed on man have not changed. The command to love Him with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, is still binding today. We are still bound to love our neighbor as ourselves. The ten commandments were never relaxed by grace, rather Paul declared that faith established the law (Rom 3:31). The old covenant could show man what God required, but left him powerless to fulfill it. Under grace we are now able to live the lives that God requires, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We read in Hebrews 11 of individuals who possessed great faith, overcame great obstacles, and were used in mighty ways by God. There were individuals in the Old Testament days such as Job, Enoch, or Noah, who walked blamelessly before God. Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God, even though they were captives in a foriegn land. How much more today, should we be living an overcoming, victorious life, as we have all the advantages that Christ has procured for us?
To walk in purity of heart and life is vital to the life of the christian. We want to avoid legalism, but we also need to understand that grace sets us free from the power sin once held on our lives. A healthy fear of the Lord is a necessary element in the life of one who truly desires to know and experience God in all His fulness. It truly is the begining of wisdom.
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