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NASB | James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 1:25 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]. |
Bible Question:
Does anyone know why the Old Testament says that if we love God and obey his commandments we will be blessed and in the New Testament it says that if we love God/Jesus and obey his commandments we will be persecuted? I'm not asking this question because I'm persected. I'm asking a theological question. I would like a theological answer. Thanks! |
Bible Answer: James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Let me first make it clear that on many occasions in the New Testament we are also told that we will be blessed if we obey the Lord. So it is not only an Old Testament saying. As to persecution, that also is a blessing. Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. It may be that a person not used to thinking in eternal things may think that being persecuted is a curse, but Jesus calls it a blessing, because to be persecuted for your faith will also cause you to recieve eternal rewards. The person who thinks in eternal scope of things really believes eternity is just around the corner and they know that any temporary persecution in this life, even if it last your whole life (which is rare) is less than a blink of an eye compared to the eternity that awaits them. Theologically God has set things in such a way that the saints will be persecuted for their faith and testimony. Why? Because God wants to bless you. With eternal reward. Why? Because persecution weeds out the fakers, and shakers, and false brethren and generally leaves only the true saints purified as gold. God Loves you and wants to sift out of you things you may not realize are needing to be sifted. Nothing like a healthy dose of persecution to see if you are loving and kind or full of the wrath of man. And we know that wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Many do not experience persecution today and so they teach or say that not every generation of saints suffer persecution but just sometimes in history there will be such times and we should be lucky we are not dealing with it now. I say they are in error, all godly shall suffer persecution and if they do not know any or have never known any it could be that they should examine whether they are living godly. In this generation those that live like the disciples in Acts, who would preach publically as they did ,and contend with false teachers or call men to repent, or who will travel the world in missionary fervor will suffer persecution. Just ask them, they will tell you it is so today as well as then. May God bless you as you study His Word. |