October 2006

THE LAW – HOW WILL YOU PLEAD?

Part 2 – Objections to Justify 

Two quotes to ponder:

“The chief danger of the 20^th century will be religion without the Holy Spirit, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.” – William Booth. 

“Our God is a consuming fire, and we try to reduce Him to something we can handle or are comfortable with … we are religious consumers. We want our religion to be convenient. It’s the perpetual job of writers, preachers, the church and the gospel to help people respond to God as He reveals Himself.” – Eugene Peterson. 

                Often while trying to raise three young boys I am challenged by them with various questions concerning the nature and existence of God. There is something in the freewill nature of man that causes one to question truths. It is the inherent sinful nature of man, his depravity that blinds his ability to see clearly causing doubt. I guess without such questioning there could be no progression to true faith, - “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 

Now as a father, I try to assure my boys that there is nothing wrong in asking questions, even questions that question the existence of God; as long as they are willing to seek the truth, even if that truth is something they don’t want to hear. In this I speak from my own experience and from observing other adults. We ‘grown-ups’ tend to favor our own preconceived perceptions and opinions. Yet, when it comes to matters concerning God it doesn’t matter what I or anybody else thinks, all that really matters is what God’s Word has to say. 

Last issue I stated that the effect of or use of God’s Law was to show us our guilt, our transgression leaving us helpless when we stand before the Judge. And it is because of this conviction, this knowledge of sin (sin is breaking God’s Law) that many people don’t like to talk about God’s Law. They equate talk of God’s Law and judgment with fire and brimstone preaching or they say that God doesn’t exist; therefore the Ten Commandments don’t apply. There are others who say they don’t believe that God will judge them based on the Ten Commandments that the god they believe in would never do that because their god is loving and forgiving and would never send anybody to hell. Still there are some people who say that the Law is dead, that Jesus did away with it, that they are no longer under the Law. Those are a few of the most common objections by people when it comes to obeying God’s Commandments and we need to take a look at each. 

Objection: “It’s just fire and brimstone preaching.” Scripture says that ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Usually when someone is referring to a fire and brimstone preacher they are making reference to the style of delivery of the message. Lots of yelling, references to calling fire on down from heaven, and banging hands on the pulpit to emphasize the point being made. Actually the use of God’s law and the judgment to come is only explaining the warning of the scriptures and not fire and brimstone preaching. If a people were truthful with themselves and examined themselves against each of the Ten Commandments then they would see that they would be found guilty on Judgment Day. That thought should put fear into a person’s mind. The beauty of the law is that it breaks proud hearts and shows people their guilt before God. It is the harsh demands of God’s Law that magnify His free gift of grace. Without the Law, the message of Jesus on the cross would not make sense. The Law enables grace to make sense. If there is no conviction of guilt, there is no confession and no repentance. God gave us the Ten Commandments to show us that we have violated an eternal Law, offended the Judge of the universe, and will be guilty when tried in ‘the court of no compromise.’ Would you rather be told the truth of God’s Word or just be mislead by having someone tell you God has a wonderful plan for your life?