Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Old T. and New T. | Matt 10:5 | Bill Mc | 12908 | ||
Dear WDC, I agree with Reformer Joe's answer above for the most part. God's attributes have never changed and never will. The Bible makes that very clear. But, for time's sake, as you know, I believe that God deals with mankind in different ways in different periods. Man has ALWAYS been saved by faith in what God says. But God has said different things to mankind down through the ages. (That is why your Bible is so thick) As you know, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham - none of these had 'the Law' as we know it. But they did believe in God's revelation to them during their respective time periods. They all had faith, and acted upon their beliefs. And, according to Hebrews, their faith was credited to them as righteousness. Old Testament saints were saved by belief in God's word to them. But, in these last days, as I'm sure you know, God has spoken to us through His Son. The Old Testament contained a progressive revelation of the 'once for all' sacrifice that Christ would make. There are many 'types' of salvation pictured in the OT. Hebrews says that the Law was a 'shadow' of the better things that were coming (Christ). Christ is the full revelation of God's plan to save mankind and, once again, to put His divine life back into His creation where it was designed to be. As to the seeming descrepancies of God's characteristics, I will leave that for others to reply to who may have a better answer than I. I'm not saying this as a cop-out. I'm just being honest. I don't understand why God has mercy on whom He will have mercy. There are too many specifics to answer every question as to the Lord's motives or actions, like, "Why did He allow innocent children to be slaughtered?" I believe that God gives us everything in the Bible that we need to know about Him and salvation. But He doesn't tell us everything He knows. His ways are not our ways. And I try not to use my limited understanding of Him to force Him into a box of neat little compartments so that I can fully comprehend Him. But, WDC, I can tell you this. I trust Him. He has ALWAYS been faithful to me. I, too, will have many questions to ask when I finally see Him face to face. This much I know - it was not just for the Son of God to leave heaven, take the form of a puny creation, live a perfect life amongst a sinful world, and to die a thief's death on a cross. It was not just for Christ to bear the sins on the world in His body. It was not just for Him to be separated from the Father when He never did one thing wrong. It was not just for Him to take my sins and for me to get His righteousness. It was not just for Him to take my death and to give me His life. It wasn't just, but it was love. And for that, I'm eternally grateful. In Him, Bill Mc |
||||||
2 | Old T. and New T. | Matt 10:5 | wdc | 13022 | ||
Thank you Bill, It is answers like this that keep me coming back to the forum. I may print this out and preach it next Sunday, with your permission of course. Your statement "Man has ALWAYS been saved by faith in what God says" is so simple, yet so profound, at least to me. Rom. 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This how I live my life. I don't understand everything about God, His ways, or the Bible, (and that doesn't stop me from trying to understand), but I do my best by the Holy Spirit to follow what He says. Even the parts I don't understand, I try to do. (For example, love your enemy.) Basically all I have is that He tells me He loves me and will save me if I call upon His name. I understand the principle of progressive revelation, that God reveals more to us we go along, and I know that is what He has done in the Bible. And I know that one day I will know all that I need to know, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." In truth, I know all I need to know right now, I just need to trust it and do it. Anyway, thanks for your help. I will be looking for more of your posting. In Christ, wdc |
||||||