Sunday, December 11, 2016, 10:22 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Seek the Lord.” Speak, Lord, your words
to my heart. I read Romans 2:12-29
(ESV).
Hearers and Doers (vv. 12-16)
For all who have sinned without the law will also
perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by
the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but
the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have
the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even
though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written
on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their
conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to
my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
In Romans 1 we learned that
God has made himself known to all humans. So, it isn’t that humankind is
unaware of God, or that they lack knowledge of him, but rather that many humans
suppress what knowledge they have of God by their own wickedness. Thus, everyone
is without excuse.
So, whether or not you were
brought up being taught the scriptures, or whether or not you have attended
church services your whole life, you will still have to stand before God one
day and give an account for what you did with his Son Jesus Christ. Our Bible
knowledge or church background is not what effects our eternal salvation. Those
of us who have such knowledge may be judged more severely than those who have
not, but what some people may regard as their Christian heritage, which was
passed down to them from previous generations, is not what saves us.
In other words, it doesn’t
matter to God if you were raised Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran,
Episcopalian, Independent, Non-Denominational, Pentecostal or C&MA. It
doesn’t matter, either, if solely you were physically baptized and went through
catechism, or if you have a degree in Bible and theology from a reputable seminary.
It also is not essential to God that you attend church services every Sunday
morning in an institutional church. What matters to God is that you not be
hearers of the Word only, but that you be doers of the Word (See: Jas.
1:22-25).
In James 2 we read that faith
without deeds is useless, and that even the demons believe, and they shudder.
What this means is that genuine faith in Jesus Christ is not just something we
experience, or that we feel inside ourselves, but it is accompanied by doing
what we say we believe.
In other words, if we say we believe
Jesus died to deliver us out of slavery to sin, then we should turn from our sin
and turn to God to walk in obedience to Him, for Jesus died that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness. He died that we might no longer live for
ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us. And, he died that the
righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us who walk not
according to the flesh, but who walk according to the Spirit. For, if we walk
according to the flesh, we will die (in our sins), but if by the Spirit we are
putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live (with Christ for
eternity) (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15; Ro. 8:1-14).
Religious Hypocrisy (vv. 17-24)
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and
boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are
instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to
the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish,
a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against
stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you
commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the
law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God
is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
If you call yourself a
Christian, and you go through all the appropriate religious exercises that you
feel are expected of you, and if you feel somewhat sure of yourself because of
your Bible knowledge or your Christian service, and so you think you are
qualified to lead others in their walks of faith with Christ, do you first
teach yourself the Word, and apply its truths to your own life, before you try
to teach others? I believe this is a very important question, and one we need
to answer for ourselves. I’m asking the Lord if I am talking beyond where I am
living in any area. I want to know if I am, so that I can correct that, in the
Holy Spirit’s power.
In other words, are we ONLY talking
the walk, even if in just one area, or are we walking the walk (and the talk)?
i.e., are we talking beyond what we ourselves are living? Do we put on airs and
pretend to be more spiritual than what we are so we will be accepted by others,
and so people will think more highly of us than they ought? And, are we guilty
of instructing others in what not to do, while we are guilty of doing the same
or similar things? Or, are we daily putting to death the deeds of the flesh, by
the Spirit, and are we walking in daily surrender and in obedience to our Lord,
with all integrity, to the best of our knowledge? I pray that I would not ever be
guilty of teaching beyond where I am living, for I make it my goal to please my
Lord in all that I do, and to live with complete integrity, honesty and
faithfulness.
Not Outward but Inward (vv. 25-29)
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the
law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if
a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his
uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically
uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and
circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one
outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly,
and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.
His praise is not from man but from God.
Man looks on the outward
appearance, but God looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). God is not impressed with
our religious performance or with how good we appear on the outside to others
who do not really know us. If we were to try, we could probably fool many
people, but we can never fool God. He sees everything we do, and he sees beyond
the outward performance to what lies within our hearts. He knows who is faking
it and who is not. He knows, too, the motives of our hearts, and who is serving
him out of love for him, and who is making the appearance of being a servant of
the Lord for dishonest gain.
We can make all the
appearance of doing the right kinds of things, and we may even impress others
with our religious performance, but God knows exactly what is going on in our
hearts and lives. We may be able to hide our true identity from others, too, but
we can’t hide from God. Jesus said his sheep listen to him, he knows them, and
they follow (obey) him, and these are the ones who can’t be snatched out of his
or the Father’s hands (Jn. 10:27-30). He also said that those who would come
after him must deny self, take up their cross daily (die daily to sin and self)
and follow (obey) him. He said if we hold on to our old lives (of living for
sin and self), we will lose our lives for eternity. But, if we lose our lives
for his sake (die with Christ to sin), we will gain eternal life (Lu. 9:23-25).
In other words, just because
we say we are a Christian doesn’t mean that we are. Just because we were
baptized, or joined a church, or went through religious training, it doesn’t
mean we are saved from our sins. We need to turn from our wickedness, and we
need to turn to God in obedience, and we need to live according to the Spirit,
and no longer according to our sinful flesh. For, God’s grace is not a free
license to continue in sin without guilt and without remorse. It matters to God
when we sin! His grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say “No” to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and
godly lives while we wait for Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). God called us to
be holy, set apart (unlike, different) from the world because we are becoming
like Jesus. If we say we have fellowship with God, but our lifestyle is one of
gratifying our sinful flesh, the Bible says we are liars, and the truth is not
in us (1 Jn. 1:6).
True faith in Jesus Christ
means we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are resurrected with
Christ in newness of life (new birth), “created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness” (See: Eph. 4:17-24). “Our old self was
crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to
nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who
has died has been set free from sin” (Ro. 6:6-7). And, this is the
essence of the gospel message, that Jesus died that we might die to sin and
live to righteousness. So, if you have not yet given your life to Christ in
death to sin and in living to his righteousness, I pray you will repent today,
and from this point forward you will walk in such a way so as to please your Lord
always.
Seek the Lord / An
Original Work / July 20, 2012
Based off Isaiah 55
“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to
waters.
Listen to Me, and eat what’s good
today,
And your soul will delight in richest
of fare.
Give ear to Me, and you will live.
I have made an eternal covenant with
you.
Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call on Him.
Let the wicked forsake his way, in
truth.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will
receive mercy.
Freely, God pardons him.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord, our God.
“My word that goes out of My mouth is
truthful.
It will not return to Me unfulfilled.
My word will accomplish all that I
desire,
And achieve the goal I intend.
You will go in joy, and be led forth in
peace.
The mountains will burst into song…
before you,
And all of the trees clap their hands.”
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