I Would Have Perished

Psalms 119:92-95 ESV

“If your law had not been my delight,

    I would have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget your precepts,

    for by them you have given me life.

I am yours; save me,

    for I have sought your precepts.

The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

    but I consider your testimonies.”

“The law” for us today is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is what we are to live by as followers of Jesus Christ. James called it the “perfect law, the law of liberty,” which is not liberty to keep sinning, in practice, but it is being set free from our slavery (addiction) to sin so that we can now live righteous and holy lives in obedience to the Lord, by the grace of God, and in his power and strength, and for the glory and praise of God, and not for our own glory or praise (James 1:22-25). And the word “law” is also sometimes used in Scripture to describe God’s commandments under the New Covenant.

[Lu 9:23-26; Jn 8:51; Jn 14:15-24; Jn 15:10; Matt 7:21-23; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10,24; 1 Jn 5:2-3; 2 Jn 1:6; Rom 2:6-8,13; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14-21; Gal 6:2; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 5:9; 1 Pet 1:1-2; Jas 1:21-25; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Php 2:12-13; Jn 10:27-30; Acts 5:32]

The primary word of God for us Christians is found in the New Testament, but not to the exclusion of the Old Testament, for much of what is taught in the Old Testament is repeated for us in the New Testament. For we still have to obey the commandments of our Lord, but those under the New Covenant. We still have to obey God’s moral laws. Our Lord still requires repentance and obedience as part of believing faith which saves us from our sins and which promises us eternal life with God. For if we do not obey, but we continue living in sin, we will not inherit eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

So, the Word of the Lord is not to be shunned and ignored just because we are not living under the Old Covenant but we are under grace. For God’s grace does not give us free reign to keep living in sin. God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, instructs us to renounce ungodliness and fleshly lusts and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s soon return. Many people today are turning God’s grace into a license for lasciviousness and they are giving their adherents permission to keep on living in sin, but God forbid! For we are to walk in obedience to our Lord.

Now the Word of God, the gospel of our salvation, the teachings of Jesus and of his New Testament apostles, and all God’s word which agrees with the New Covenant is to be our delight and our counsel and what leads us in the way that we should go. And it is to be what encourages and strengthens us in our walks of faith when we are going through hard times, and when we are being persecuted for the sake of Christ and his righteousness. So, no matter what you are going through, do not give up on God and his Word. For by keeping the Word of the Lord it will give you life.

I Would Have Perished

Video Talk

December 9, 2022  

https://youtu.be/xAlOuiNagQw

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O Come All Ye Faithful

By John Francis Wade

O come, all ye faithful,

joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold him,

born the King of angels.

Sing, choirs of angels,

sing in exultation,

sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!

Glory to God, all glory in the highest

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n!

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

O come, let us adore him (3X),

Christ the Lord!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTg4BhoKevE

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