Scared to Death (2)
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with all that is hidden, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 Jay Green
Judgment – “The strength of the yetzer ha’ra is precisely in convincing us that we do not need these words of instruction because we are above believing in such simple notions as reward and punishment.”[1] If Ira Stone’s commentary on the writings of Moses Luzatto is correct, then this is a damning and disastrous indictment of the contemporary Christian preoccupation with grace. Haven’t we been taught, aren’t we convinced that God is not a simple God of reward and punishment? Don’t our theological texts persuade us that grace is above such pedestrian ideas of moral accounting? What Christian is there who doesn’t recoil at the thought that God exacts obedience through rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior? No, it just can’t be! Our God isn’t so crass. Our God is much more complicated and elegant in His display of hesed.
But Stone simply leans on Scripture. Over and over it implores us to obey in order to be rewarded with a full life. Over and over it warns us of impending punishment for disobedience. How then have we become complacent to its cry? Could it be that the power of the yetzer ha’ra (the evil inclination) is most active and most subtle in the church itself? Who has convinced us that our sins no longer count? Who has taught us to eschew the doctrine of “works righteousness”? Who has determined that forgiveness extends into the infinite past and future?
I rode the harbor tour cruise from Battery Park around the Statue of Liberty. The recorded lecture of the history of New York suddenly shifted gears. Now the announcer interviewed a young woman residing in the United States illegally. She complained that she couldn’t get a driver’s license, she couldn’t get government grants for education, she couldn’t vote. She said, “I’m not hurting anyone by being here. I should have all these rights. I work hard.” The announcer exhorted listeners to support her and the millions like her. Apparently the fact that she was breaking the laws of the land made no difference at all. In her mind, she was entitled. Keeping the law wasn’t important if it stood in the way of achieving her goal.
I wonder if we Christians haven’t taken the same attitude toward God’s kingdom. We want the privileges of being citizens. In fact, we expect and demand them since we have been ushered into the Kingdom by invitation. But we have decided that the regulations that govern God’s order just get in our way. We haven’t hurt anyone so why should we have to keep all the rules. Are we any different than the woman who complained about the immigration laws? Hasn’t the yetzer ha’ra convinced us as much as it has convinced her that laws are just unnecessary roadblocks when the goal is right?
It’s so simple, isn’t it?
Topical Index: yetzer ha’ra, judgment, law, illegal alien, Ecclesiastes 12:14
What’s so wrong with “simple?” – ”
Christ died for sinners- of whom I am chief.”
“All have sinned”- all include me (and possibly you or you or you)
The purpose of the law is to establish sin. I had not known sin except by the law. Thou shalt not..- I shalted. I have broken the Torah of YHWH- therefore I have sinned.
Sin is what separates.
Man from G-d and man from man.
Sin also destroys,corrupts, pollutes. Sin stinks.
-Adam and Eve were provided a covering of animal skin. Blood was shed for this ‘covering.’
G-d provided for Abraham (and don’t forget Isaac!)- He gave unto them a Lamb- a male Lamb.
Blood was sprinkled on the doorposts of each household in Egypt, according to the instructions of YHWH.
Each household was delivered because of the blood sprinkled on the threshhold of the dwelling places. First mention ever of the ‘threshhold covenant. “Passover” was established for a memorial.
Christ was foreshadowed in the O.T. Multiple times, multiple stories- the promise of a coming Messiah was announced in pictures, prophecies, and poetry.
“Time” (as we know it) was split in two at the birth of the Messiah.
The promised ONE has come. His Name is “Salvation.” His virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death was like unto no other. He is the incomparable Christ- the (only) G-d-man, the union of two houses, the human and the divine. The Word became flesh and lived among us.
So what did we do? Did we receive Him gladly and warmly welcome Him to earth? No. We spit into the face of Love and tore His body to shreds with a whip. This is the way we humans respond to love. Not that we are sick or evil or any such thing as that.. No- we are now far too educated, too sophisticated. -We still reject Christ- even unto this day. Evil still exists. – “We will not have this Man to reign over us” is still the mindset of many.
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? – (and the answer is..?)
Is sin still ‘offensive’ to our Elohim? Or have we ‘modernized’ it and called it “sickness” instead? What once was known as sin is now referred to as “issues.” Instead of we are sinners- now we may say- “we have issues..” We have lost our sensitivity to sin and by doing so have taken leave of our sense and sensibility. Sin is a form of insanity. Sin is so stupid. -“All we like sheep” is not a compliment..
Did I mention “simple?” Good. – By grace, through faith, unto good works. 1.2.3. Let us do all things decently and in order.
1. By grace- G-d started this- He will finish this.
2. Through faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please G-d.” “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by (or through) the word(s) of G-d.”
3. Unto good works. G-d knows I belong to Him, but you don’t. How may I demonstrate the love of G-d to you. Through good works. Love must be demonstrated or shown. We must possess a “show me” faith. They will know we are Christians by our love- and love must be demonstrated. We may say to our wives “I love you sweetheart”- but we also must “demonstrate our love” by opening the car door for her, speaking words of tenderness and encouragement, giving gifts unto her- “demonstrating” our love for her. Not just “saying”- but in “doing.” BTW- I am highly motivated to do so. I “love” loving her! For she is my beloved! lol!
Christianity, dear friends, is a relationship. G-d is now my Father and I am His son. When I pray, I now may say “Abba Father.” Yes, grace is amazing- but far from “cheap.”
Am I motivated to obey? Sir, yes sir- I am. And today (by the grace of G-d) I will. I will walk by faith- according to His instructions. Faith which works through love. Love G-d, love people. Too simple? – try it for one day and see just how easy it is..
One last thing. He said:- ‘without Me- you can do nothing.” Zero, with the edges removed.
Good comment Carl, you always tell it like it is for sure. I or most of my friends that have true relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ/God/Holy Spirit don’t have a problem with punishment of sin & even though we might still be considered sinners we live like saints. We judge ourselves & others hardly ever judge us – like we see & judge others & rightly so because of the fruit that is non-existent in our brother or sister’s lives. We don’t have a problem with non-obedience produces punishment (aren’t you the one that does not like the word “punish?”). Sin is sin & it is ugly & God/Jesus do not like nor put up with sin – they love the sinner but not their sin & judging sin starts in the house of God. I don’t run around with people who are not believers – i may rub elbows with them occasionally but they are not in my sphere of influence. i get flack from the world or those who are still worldly but consider themselves Christians that are always preaching love & grace & no judgment – because they don’t know any better – seems to me they haven’t reached full maturity yet.
None of us truly have any rights – especially those of us who are God-fearing Covenanters – are only rights are in Him & what HE gives us. I think that is one reason the scriptures warn us not to find ourselves in a court of law (especially in these times & days).
“We may say to our wives “I love you sweetheart”- but we also must “demonstrate our love” by opening the car door for her, speaking words of tenderness and encouragement, giving gifts unto her- “demonstrating” our love for her. Not just “saying”- but in “doing.” BTW- I am highly motivated to do so. I “love” loving her! For she is my beloved! lol!” AND EVERY SINGLE GODLY WOMEN PRAYS FOR THIS… ♥ A HUSBAND THAT WILL LOVE HER OR DOES LOVE HER LIKE CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH…
i don’t even see this in the House of God or men professing to be Believers???
what does “zero, with the edges removed” mean – the edges removed???
Grace (to me) is empowerment to NOT SIN – not grace to cover sin – it is not a protection it is power to enable us to be obedient, not to sin & have God/Jesus look the other way…
jan
My husband and I were just discussing this this morning. We went for a Sabbath walk yesterday and visited a neighbor that we hardly know. She asked us “What faith are you?” That happens a lot when you wear tzitzit and profess Christ.
We explained that we were solidly grounded in the gospel of Jesus and that we practiced the instructions of God in the OT as well as the new. That since we have been ushered into the kingdom of God who is not a God of anarchy, we believe we should be good obedient citizens of that kingdom by practicing the only set of instructions given to us for living in that kingdom until He gives us a different set. We did not earn our salvation and adoption into His household but obedience to the rules of the house is an obligation. We believe it’s neither safe nor profitable to do what is good in our own eyes. He hung His clock and calender up in the sky for everyone to see, so we should pay attention to it because everything he does is set by that clock and calender. All of the important things in Bible history happen like clock work on the same days over and over again.
It took us about an hour and a half to have this discussion and we went on to small talk before leaving. The simplicity of this argument is foolishness to Christians so she was unconvinced but she didn’t declare us anathema and kick us out either.
It’s just a good thing YHVH doesn’t give up on stiff necked people!
!LIKE ME!
“Over and over it warns us of impending punishment for disobedience.”
Rom 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in that the Messiah died on our behalf while we were still sinners. 9 Therefore, since we have now come to be considered righteous by means of his bloody sacrificial death, how much more will we be delivered through him from the anger of God’s judgment! 10 For if we were reconciled with God through his Son’s death when we were enemies, how much more will we be delivered by his life, now that we are reconciled!
Now there needs to be “proof of ownership.”
Rom 6: 1 So then, are we to say, “Let’s keep on sinning, so that there can be more grace”? 2 Heaven forbid! How can we, who have died to sin, still live in it? 3 Don’t you know that those of us who have been baptized into the Messiah Yeshua have been baptized into his death? 4 Through baptism into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was put to death on the execution-stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For someone who has died has been cleared from sin. . . .
22 However, now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you do get the benefit – it consists in being made holy, set apart for God, and its end result is eternal life. 23 For what one earns from sin is death; but eternal life is what one receives as a free gift from God, in union with the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
G-d says what He means and He means what He says. We may see His handiwork in creation, but we see His heart in Christ. G-d became a man. A man like you and a man like me. Fully G-d and fully human. Both. – How can these things be? – I don’t know- this is far beyond my pay grade or limited abilities to comprehend. – I only know- “it is so.” G-d did become a man. A man fully obedient to the Father- this Second Adam- only this time around- this Adam did it right. Perfection personified: the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ- Son of G-d and son of man.
Yes, Jan, that was me who said- we punish criminals- we chastise our children. Sin was punished and paid for in full by our LORD. Short answer?- He took upon Himself the hell that was meant for me. Yes, -“the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
There is therefore now no condemnation (none) to those who are in Christ Jesus. None, nada, zip. What I am attemting to convey by a “zero with the edges removed.” The number “0”- now remove the edges and you have ” “. Gone, with nothing remaining. No condemnation. I wish I had an arrow key to point out the period after condemnation. (there goes another one!) No condemnation (period). The slate is wiped totally clean and our hearts are now “rightly related”- right with G-d and in right alignment or rightly aligned- “righteous.”
“and the blood of Jesus Christ G-d’s Son (and G-d the Son) cleanses from “all” sin. Past, present, future- all. In the sight of G-d I am clean.
But do I travel in a dirty world? I believer the only word here is “oy!” Filthy, filthy- mondo filthy. I need a shower just thinking about it. No, this world is not the “perfect place.” This world is our training ground- our boot camp- preparing us to be all He wants us to be in Phase 2. What will phase 2 be like? – lol!- It’s gonna be good, and actually better than we can ever imagine. “Better,” is the only word I can come up with to describe “heaven.”
Now please.. don’t go to thinking I’m one of those “pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by-when-I-die kind of people. I am not. Even Paul who wrote the words “if in this life only we have hope- we are of all men most miserable” did not know Christ in all of His fulness. He did not hold in his hands the same Book we now enjoy and employ today. We have been given much- and of course- to whom much is given- much shall be required.
Chastisement is one of the marks of “sonship.” Ouch! – thanks Dad, -I needed that!- When is the last time you heard one of your children say that? lol! We do not (at least I hope not) ‘chastise’ the neighbors kids..- ever tho’ sometimes I would.. – (oh, nevermind..)
If you endure chastening.. Chastening is not enjoyable. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like it. But G-d knows what our needs are and if we are in need of a little discipline (see the word disciple/learner in here?) G-d will supply “all of our needs” according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Were we aware “chastening” was one of our needs? – Youch! Afterward, (there is an “after”) it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteouness (right-relatedness). (Hebrews 12.11)
Yes, it was grace that bought my liberty, but liberty is not license. I cannot do as I wish, but I am empowered, energized and authorized to do as I ought. This is the glorious liberty of the children of G-d.
look beow, this is a O with the edges removed.
how’s that!!
WELL, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SEVERAL LINES OF SPACE IN BETWEEN THE 2 SENTENCE LINES!
OH WELL, I TRIED. 😉
Robert, if you were addressing my questions: “what does “zero, with the edges removed” mean – the edges removed???” thank you for trying… sorry it didn’t work for us… jan
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5.10)
“Carl, -how did you steward the gifts I gave unto you during your Aliyah upon the earth?” The gifts of G-d are not necessarily for our enjoyment, but rather for our employment. We are laborers together with G-d. We are His hands, His feet while we are here on this planet. (the Body of Christ). We must work while it is day for the night is coming when no man can work. “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. The night is coming when no man can work.” (John 9:4). Christ was (is) the Sent ONE and He is ‘both’ the Messenger and the Message.
What are we doing with what G-d has given unto us? – and what has He not given unto us? For He has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. “Every” good gift and “every” perfect is from Above!.. Yes, – “come Thou fount of every blessing- tune my heart to sing Thy praise..”- “Streams of mercy- never ceasing, – call for songs of loudest praise.