0804 God's Eternal 'Light' Differs From All Earthly Light'

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(Blue entries in the meditation are links; clicking on them will take you to the verse(s) in the New International Version; to see the verse(s) in another translation, on that page under 'passage results' where the current entry is 'New International Version' click on the down arrow and select another English version; then click on 'update'. On this page entries in reddish brown are the words of Scripture (NIV). Occasionally links on my page are to another file of mine.

God's eternal 'light' differs from all earthly 'light'

By Cameron Paine

INTRODUCTION

^{Setting the Stage.}

^{In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said to his disciples, "}^{You are
the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.}^{" (Matthew
5:14}⁾

Many times in Scripture believers are exhorted to live in a way that is appropriate for the ‘children of light’. The apostle Paul addressing believers said, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)

In the New Testament (NIV) alone the term ‘light’ occurs 996 times. It is natural to associate what we on earth experience as physical light, or the ‘light’ of knowledge/experience, with biblical statements about ‘light’. While it is obvious that physical light such as that emitted by the sun or a light bulb is not the same as the light that the Bible frequently speaks about it is not so obvious when comparing the ‘light’ that worldly knowledge is often called and God’s light. In fact, it is hard not to mentally blend or merge together the ‘light’ of worldly knowledge with the light that God gives. But it is more than dangerous to do so because it blurs the vital difference. Doing so has a devastating effect on the significance of Jesus and the eternal salvation that he brought to every believer (=whoever believes).

The rest of this meditation presents a few of the reasons why I believe this is so.

I have grouped (some of) the ways that this blending occurs under 7 headings or ‘ways’.

None of the reasons or the categories are exclusive; between the categories there is much intertwining or overlapping or referring to the same truth from a different perspective and in different words.

WAY ONE

THE BELIEF THAT THE ‘LIGHT’ THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF IS THE SAME AS THE LIGHT OF THE SUN OR THE LIGHT OF
KNOWLEDGE WHICH UNBELIEVERS CAN SEE DEPRECIATES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS AND THE SALVATION
THAT HE BROUGHT BY IGNORING THE TEACHINGS IN THE BIBLE THAT SHOW THAT NEITHER
THE WORLD’S PHYSICAL LIGHT OR THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE IS THE SAME
AS THE ‘LIGHT’ WHICH THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF

Many statements in the Bible show that the ‘light’ of which the Bible speaks is a totally different kind of entity than physical light that illuminates. An English idiom that expresses this truth clearly says--‘Biblical light is an entirely different animal from physical light or the light of worldly knowledge’.

The ‘light’ that the Bible speaks of is not the kind of ‘light’ which the eyes respond to or register. What the Bible sets forth as the light is something more profound, more spiritual, more Christian than physical ‘light’.

The ‘light’ that the Bible speaks of is on a different ‘wave length’. It is in another dimension that is not part of this world. This dimension is the realm where God and his purposes exist, where ethics, good and evil exist. The words of the apostle Paul sums it up in his description of the mission God gave him. His mission to the Jews and Gentiles was "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’" (Acts 26:18; see also Colossians 1.12)

One of the eternal purposes God has for his people is that they should be blameless, purified of sin. (Ephesians 1:4; Titus 2:14) The ‘light’ which the Bible speaks of includes this awesome change or event.

The apostle John says to believers, "But if we walk in the light, as he (Christ) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

"In him (Christ) was life, and that life was the light of men." (John 1:4) (John 1:4)

Whether individuals were tangled up in sin was not an unimportant consideration with God. He did something about it as the Gospel tells us. "Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:13-14)

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins," (Colossians 2:13; see also Ephesians 2:3)

The apostle Paul addressing believers referred to the results of God’s accomplishment. He said, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)

The coming of the Christ, his sacrificial death, and The ‘light’ that the Bible speaks of is not just illumination but is connected to belief, specifically, to belief in Christ. Jesus Christ himself said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46)

And what was the significance of believing in the Christ? "But these (miracles) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

The resurrection of the one who fulfilled all the promises of God (2 Corinthians 1:20; see also 1 Corinthians 3:22) introduced an enormous change—One that is expressed or implied in many different kinds of statements in the New Testament.

Outward cleansing had no permanent effect. Re-defilement of some kind was always possible, even inevitable. And that would require another sacrifice to achieve another cleansing. And again, and again, and again...

The cleanness that God’s plan provided for prior to the sacrifice of Christ was concerned with appearance. "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean." (Hebrews 9:13) By offering of the ceremonial sacrifice the body was cleansed and was looked upon as acceptable by God. But now the depth of sin was to be dealt with on a deeper level and with a permanent result.. This required a remedy that was more radical and ‘eternity lasting’.

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man `unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him `unclean.' " (Matthew 15:19-20)

The New Testament describes the real problem and the real ‘solution’, saying, "It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things (for example the earthly temple) to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence." (Hebrews 9:23-24)

The apostle Peter referring to this momentous event says to the believers to whom he is writing, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day (when the Lord returns) dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19)

The apostle John refers to this change which the coming of the Christ wrought, saying, ""Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." (John 4:23)

"And again, "Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him (in Christ) and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining." (1 John 2:8)

What imagery is associated biblical light! The apostle Peter says to the believers for whom and to whom he is writing--"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9; see also Colossians 1:12-13)

"For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

"The god of this age has blinded the minds (not the eyes!) of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

The ‘light’ which the Bible speaks of is not mere illumination but is an attribute or quality of the Creator, the eternal God--"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

The ‘light’ that the Bible refers to is more than a physical phenomenon; there is an ethical side or dimension to it. The Bible says regarding biblical ‘light’, "for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 5:9)

The Bible says, "Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble." (1 John 2:10)

And again, "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness." (1 John 2:9)

The apostle Paul in his epistle (a letter) addressed to the believers in the congregation at Corinth, says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)

The ‘light’ that the Bible speaks of is not like the illumination that comes from the sun or from a light bulb; it has other qualities. It is a kind of armor; it protects from evil. "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12; see also Ephesians 6:11-13)

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

Not everything that ‘looks’ like ‘light’ is biblical light. Even the ‘leader’ of the opposition to God and his purposes makes use of ‘light’. What does the Bible say? "For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) Because of this truth even believers must use the minds God has given them to distinguish true biblical light from what just looks like biblical light. (1 John 4:1)

Perhaps the awesome significance of biblical light (including it’s ‘ethical’ component) stands out most clearly where the New Testament specifically contrasts it with physical light that comes from the sun, etc.

While physical life on earth would not survive or ever have come into being without the physical light of the sun yet the biblical light is greater. The Bible says so. In the last book of the Bible where it speaks of that blessed time when believers will experience ‘no more crying or death’ we read, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb (the crucified Christ) is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it." (Revelation 21:23-24)

The hymn writer Fanny Crosby in her hymn "Eye Hath Not Seen" expressed this contrast in the words of poetry and faith, " "No radiant beams from sun or moon adorn that land so fair, For He who sits upon the throne shines forth resplendent there."

And again, from the Bible, "There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light." (Revelation 22:5)

This time and this contrast with physical light was foretold in the Old Testament portion of God’s word. "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end." (Isaiah 60:19-20)

The light which the Bible speaks is not the kind of light which the world thinks of—more physical light to make the environment brighter (which enables anyone to see better to fix the car or accomplish other earth-bound purposes). This is what the world wants—more of the world’s light. Therefore the world uses this terminology thinking that what the Bible means by light is the same thing that the world means by light. Not so. Not so.

Believers must never forget that it is the very element that makes biblical light biblical light that is the one element that is totally unacceptable to the world, the world of unbelievers.

The world cannot know that the light of God is something that people who are under the dominion of sin cannot know. (The next collection of verses goes deeper into truth.) Therefore, although the world gladly accepts the term ‘light,’—it necessarily excludes any and all godly truth from it. Believers must not be sucked into the world’s interpretation of ‘light’—that light is light. To do so is to offset the grandeur, the awesomeness of the Christ and the salvation that he accomplished. To do so is to depreciate the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought.

Not only is biblical ‘light’ different from physical light but it is also different from the light of knowledge.

Perhaps an illustration from plant life will make the distinction between the world’s ‘light of knowledge’ and biblical ‘light’ clearer.

For example, Biblical principles or God’s commandments have no ‘life’ in them when they are divorced from God. Apart from the life, the power, from God biblical principles have no more life in them than a leaf of a plant that has been pulled out of the ground has life in it . Think of a lamp that is not connected to any socket or power source. Apart from God biblical principles or God’s commandments either individually or collectively do not constitute ‘The Light’ that the Bible speaks of constantly.

Not only are they not ‘the light’ but they also do not lead to ‘the light’. In fact, they often constitute a subtle threat to ‘THE LIGHT’. In what subtle way do they represent a threat to THE Light? By obscuring the true glory of God, the true glory of The Christ, the true glory of The Gospel. They take attention off of ‘The Light’. Worldly success that may follow the application of ‘biblical principles’ only encourages the idea that ‘biblical principles’ have a ‘life of their own’; that they can be used by anyone; not just believers. Belief in God is made to appear irrelevant, even stupid.

What could do more to hide the absolute importance of believing in God than worldly successes of unbelievers who make use of biblical principles? Would not the showering of approval and praise by believers upon such individuals who uses biblical principles have the same result?

How Satan who masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) must chuckle when unbelievers make use of biblical principles!

WAY TWO

The belief that anyone is free to choose to walk in the light depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation
that he brought by ignoring those verses which show that the attitude of believers and unbelievers
toward the ‘light’ that the Bible speaks of is built-in; is the response
that necessarily flows out of their different natures

The belief that anyone is free to choose to walk in the light depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought by ignoring those verses which show that the attitude of believers and unbelievers toward the ‘light’ that the Bible speaks of is built-in; is the response that necessarily flows out of their different natures

Not only is the light that the world knows and accepts entirely different from the ‘light’ the Bible speaks of but the attitudes of believers and unbelievers toward the light that the Bible speaks of is totally different, even diametrically opposite.

The fact that anyone can appear to behave according to biblical principles is like a road sign that has been turned around; it hides the truth by pointing away from it. This belief hides or keeps out of sight the meaning and the importance of salvation—that salvation means being part of God’s eternal family and having the same nature as God (2 Peter 1:4; see also Ephesians 5:9)

There is no question that unbelievers, that is, individuals who do not believe in God can outwardly conform their visible behavior to specific biblical principles or specific commands of God. Another way of saying this would be to say individuals who have not met the qualifications of believers, that is, who have not been redeemed, who have not been washed in the blood of Christ, who have not been effectively called out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9), who have not been transferred to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13, 12) can walk in apparent conformity with specific biblical principles or specific commands of God and do works of mercy..

Think of spies. People who do not belong to the group, that is, spies. Spies can make their own activities look like the actions of the people among whom they are mingling. If they couldn’t accomplish this they wouldn’t be very good spies! Visible similarities do not necessarily indicate basic similarities.

Are unbelievers like spies? Does the kind of deeds they are performing answer the question –whether what they are doing is pleasing to God or is it making their disguise ‘thicker’? Hebrews 11:6 seems to answer that question!

What does the Bible say about unbelievers? , What does the Bible say about the attitude toward God’s light of individuals whose ‘eyes’ have not opened, about individuals whose hearts have not been converted? Are they in ‘neutral’? No. It says that they hate the light, the truth. They hate God’s commandments. (Exodus 5:2)

The apostle Paul in his letter to the congregation at Rome make a very blunt statement on the matter, saying, "The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8)

And there is that verse (unquestionably the most quoted verse in this meditation) which says— "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

In the Gospel according to John, we read of the different attitudes towards the commands of God which unbelievers and believers have. "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:20-21)

Even the perfect law of God was inadequate to save people from the dominion of sin, from the power of sin. Why was that? The Bible states clearly that the power of sin within the sinful nature (within the unconverted nature) is too powerful to be overcome by will power. (Galatians 3:22) "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering." (Romans 8:3)

While the visible behavior of different creatures may appear the same that does not mean that the creatures are the same. There is a gap, a fundamental difference between the kind of creatures believers are and the kind of creatures unbelievers are. Think of a sheep. Is it the same kind of creature as a germ, an ant, a bird or a fish? This is the truth that is denied by the idea that every individual is free to choose ‘The Light’.

Humans think that what they see is the truth. Magicians use this habit. Thinking that anyone can choose to behave according to biblical principles sets aside as irrelevant the fact that God judges actions or activities according to an individual’s motivation, not according to the appearance of the overt behavior. He knows the motivation. He knows what is really going on and that unbelievers are not (and cannot be) walking ‘in the light' or behaving according to biblical truth or biblical principles. (Matthew 6:1ff. see also Hebrews 11:6)

The word of God is not vague. The word of God is not ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Believers and unbelievers are not the same in the eyes of him who can see the inclination of the heart. (Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16--above) The word of God says to believers, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Unbelievers do not have a choice whether to see God and his light or not. The Bible says, "The god of this age has blinded the minds (not the eyes!) of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4; see also Galatians 3:22)

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted." (Titus 1:15)

I believe only certain people—can please God, can walk in the light. Only individuals whom God has are already made ‘children of light’ can walk in the light. (Ephesians 5:8 below) An example which may illustrate some parallels would be to think of a basketball team. Who can participate? Only individuals who are already members of the team can get on the court and play the game. Only individuals who have already been accepted as members of the team can get on the court. No one else is qualified. Another example of this kind of situation would be to think of air traffic control. Only qualified individuals who have already met certain standards can sit at the controls. Only individuals who have already met certain standards can participate in the activity of air traffic control. The same thing is true of using God’s ‘tools’ –his truths, his principles, his commandments. It is only believers who are already ‘light’ who are qualified to use God’s tools—to walk in his light’. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, 8) Only individuals who are already believers possess the qualifications for participating in the activity of ‘walking in the light’. And only they can do so. (2 Peter 1:1, 3-4, 8; 1 John 3:1, 3)

The behavior of unbelievers may lead to the impression that anyone can exhibit behavior that appears to conform to some biblical principle or command of God. Believing that non-believers can behave in ways that are pleasing to God undermines the message of the Gospel. It takes attention off the fact that faith in Jesus (God come in the flesh) is indispensable to avoid condemnation and the wrath of God. Believing that non-believers can behave in ways that are pleasing to God is one way that message of the Gospel is make to appear peripheral, and of little or no consequence.

Behavior that appears to conform to biblical principles or God’s commands sheds none of God’s light when the behavior was exhibited by individuals who cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6); when the behavior was exhibited by individuals whom God has not called out darkness (1 Peter 2:9), when the behavior was exhibited by individuals whom he had not chosen a long time ago to be holy and blameless. (Ephesians 1:4-5)

Who is the Bible talking about and speaking to when it says, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:4-5)? Answer: Believers, the redeemed, the citizens of heaven, those effectively called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light, those whom God ‘qualified’, those whom God rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of God’s Son. (Galatians 3:13-14; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:12, 13)

Only believers can say truthfully, "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

WAY THREE

The belief that the ‘good’ appearing behavior which can be seen by human beings is evidence that a person is in god’s favor
      and is doing ‘good works’ that cause God’s name to be glorified (matthew 5:16) or is getting closer to that ‘condition’
         depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought by ignoring those verses which reveal that
                        what God is concerned with is not the behavior that is visible to human beings but is the quality of
                                                      the internal ‘spring’ out of which all observable behavior flows

The idea that what is important is changing the behavior that can be seen by human beings hides the very thing that God judges as being important (if we accept what the Bible says).

This being the case therefore it is important that believers do not get sucked into the belief that behavior that appears good to human beings and which may even appear to conform to God’s standards is pleasing to God.

Over and over again God’s word points out that what is important to him is not the visible behavior but what is on the inside of the person exhibiting the ‘behavior’.

It is not in what is observable by human beings that sin resides. It is not in what is observable that what is offensive to God resides. "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:1-2; see also Matthew 23:5-7; John 5:44)

"In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:28)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:25-28)

"He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." (Luke 16:15)

Believers are asked rhetorically, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1)

There are many groups of verses that teach that there is a great indelible gap between what is observable by human beings and what God
can see. What God is concerned with is t he quality of the spring out of which observable behavior flows. Is the water really clean that comes out of muddy fountain?
(James 3:11-12)

There is an unbreakable connection between the faith or belief that an individual has and the character of the behavior that that individual exhibits like…

What does the Bible say about this connection between belief, faith and behavior? "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) Put in different words the idea could be summed up like this: Belief in God precedes (underlies) the behavior that God’s law enjoins. Faith is the foundation upon which obedience is based. Or, to use another biblical illustration, faith is the
fountain out of which obedient thoughts and behavior springs. Or, to use yet another illustration, faith is like the soil that plants grow out of.

"What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ " (Matthew 15:11)

"At one time we (believers) too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another." (Titus 3:3; see also Ephesians 2:3)

"Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you." (Luke 11:39-41)

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." (2 Corinthians 6:17)

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." (Titus 1:16)

There are people who have "a (visible) form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:5)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," (Ephesians 3:20)

The Importance of belief. There is an unbreakable connection between the faith or belief that an individual has and the character of the behavior that that individual exhibits.

What does the Bible say about this connection between belief, faith and behavior? "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) Put in different words the idea could be summed up like this: Belief in God precedes (underlies) the behavior that God’s law enjoins. Faith is the foundation upon which obedience is based. Or, to use another biblical illustration, faith is the fountain out of which obedient thoughts and behavior springs.

"Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!" (Job 14:4)

"What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous? If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!" (Job 15:14-16)

"Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" (James 3:11)

"All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3; See also Romans 3:10-12)

We do not have the power to cleanse ourselves, to make ourselves pure as ‘the driven snow’. "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)

We did not create or give birth to our inner being. We did not choose the kind of heart we would have or the ‘fountain’ from which our thoughts, words and deeds flow any more than we created or changed our genes, our DNA.

It is not human beings that recreate themselves as they want to be and when they want to do so. No, it is God who performs these creative acts. What did Jesus tell his disciples? He said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16; see also John 1:12-13)

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." (Psalm 31:19)

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The next ‘way’ that is discussed speaks of the same gap between overt behavior and what is inside the person but the supporting verses focus on the ‘heart’.

WAY FOUR

The belief that the ‘good’ appearing behavior which can be seen by human beings is evidence that a person is in God’s
favor and is doing ‘good works’ that cause God’s name to be glorified or is getting closer to that ‘condition’
depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought by ignoring the verses
which teach that it is what God sees on the inside that is the criterion by which God determines
who are his people and whether their thoughts, words, and deeds are pleasing to Him

Sin (or that which is contrary to God) does not come from without like dirt. No, It comes from within, which means from within the old nature or the old creature. The idea
that what is important is changing the behavior that can be seen by human beings hides the very thing that God judges as being important (if we believe what the Bible says).

Over and over again God says what is important to him.

It is not in what is observable that sin resides. It is not in what is observable that the offense to God resides. "Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:1-2; see also Matthew 23:5-7; John 5:44)

On many occasions Jesus made statements to those people in Jewish society that were holding themselves out as leaders in the faith that pointed out the difference between appearance and what was inside that person.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:25-28)

"He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." (Luke 16:15)

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1)

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matthew 15:18-19)

"For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery," (Mark 7:21)

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3)

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? " (Jeremiah 17:9)

"Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, 'Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?' " (Matthew 9:4)

"He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight." (Luke 16:15)

" What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1)

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3)

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

"At one time we too (we believers) were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another." (Titus 3:3; see also Ephesians 2:3)

The presence of evil thoughts and evil hearts has been a 'fact of life' for a long time. "The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." (Genesis 6:5)

"Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!" (Job 14:4)

"All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Psalm 14:3)

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

"There is no fear of God before their eyes."" (Romans 3:18)

"Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." (Romans 8:8)

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." (Psalm 31:19)

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength," (Ephesians 1:18-19)

"What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ "" (Matthew 15:11) But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’" (Matthew 15:18)

"These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ "" (Matthew 15:20)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are fullfull of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." (Matthew 23:25-26; see also Luke 11:39-41)

"In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:28)

"""Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."" (2 Corinthians 6:17)

""The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean." (Hebrews 9:13)

"Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception." (Psalm 12:2)

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6) Now we know why Christ was necessary and what it is we have to be forever grateful for!

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." (John 4:23)

There are people who have the visible "form of godliness" but deny "its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:5)

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." (Titus 1:16)

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)

"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," (Ephesians 3:2)

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ...For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God .... For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:1- 6, 8, 10)

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." (Psalm 31:19)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," (Ephesians 3:20)

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)

The heart, the heart, the heart. How vital it is.

Listen to the apostle Paul’s prayer for us: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms," (Ephesians 1:18-20)

"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:27)

WAY FIVE

The belief that the ‘good’ appearing behavior which can be seen by human beings is evidence that a person is in God’s favor and is doing ‘good works’ that cause God’s name to be glorified or is getting closer to that ‘condition’
depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought by ignoring those verses
which teach that what is visible on the ’outside of a person’ is not an indication of the person’s
true character; that it is what is in the heart– an attitude of fear-reverence-worship towards God--
that counts in God’s eyes

And it is only in believers that the heart is ‘inclined’ towards God.

"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12)

"for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance." (Psalm 78:22)

It is only believers that benefit eternally from heeding God’s words, his commandments, which are often referred to as ‘biblical principles’.

"But you, brothers, are not in darkness … . You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. …. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, 8-11)

"The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." (Genesis 6:5)

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)

"… wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5)

The difference between apparent or visible conformity to God’s ways and commands and what God wants to see is clearly expressed in Isaiah 29:13 –"The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.’ " (Isaiah 29:13; see also Malachi 1:6ff)

What did Jesus say about behavior? "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. (What did he know?) I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts…. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" (John 5:41-42,44)

A hymn by Rowland Hill ‘Holy Ghost, with Light Divine’ puts it this way: "Shine upon this heart of mine; Chase the shade of night away, Turn my darkness into day."

WAY SIX

The belief that the ‘good’ appearing behavior which can be seen by human beings is evidence that a person is in God’s favor and is doing ‘good works’ that cause God’s name to be glorified or is getting closer to that ‘condition’
depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought by ignoring those verses
that speak of ‘where our heart is’— whether it is set on ungodly or godly objectives,
specifically, on earthly possessions in contrast with the kingdom of God

Of course, this applies only to believers—the only people who by definition, can be concerned with God and his kingdom. (2 Peter 3:11-14; see also Hebrews 11:6)

Whether our motivations--what we are really concerned about--are godly or ungodly makes all the difference in the way God ‘evaluates’ our actions. In the book of James we read the strong words James addresses to believers! "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:3-4)

Another way the difference between the ‘biblical principles’ that believers (the new creatures joined to God) apply and those that all other people apply is that the fruits or results of their application is that they last. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16)

How often the word of God reminds believers of the the continuous attention and effort required to resist the attraction of the pleasures and riches of this world.

"The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22)

"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." (Luke 8:14)

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10)

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Luke 21:34)

"but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19)

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25)

"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."" (Luke 12:15)

""This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."" (Luke 12:21)

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world." (1 John 2:15-16)

How many times Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious about matters of this life, not to be focused on life in this world as was the individual who thought as follows: "And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:19-21)

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." (1 Timothy 6:10)

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:9)

To his disciples Jesus said, "O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:30-33)

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Just a few verses later Jesus warns his hearers about the importance of where their attention should be focused, saying, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25)

"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:27-31)

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:32-34)

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Luke 21:34; see also Hebrews 9:23, 26)

In the Old Testament portion of God’s word the psalmist speaks of the ‘snares of death’. "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:27)

Are not the ‘snares of death’ the worldly possessions that stimulate the ‘flesh’ or the mind of the ‘old untransformed sinful nature’?

"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." (Luke 8:14)

There is an alternative: put your hope in God. The apostle Paul instructs a young leader of the new church this way: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." (1 Timothy 6:17)

Sometimes the Bible speaks in more general terms about the different destiny, the different ‘god’, the different mindset that unbelievers have. "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." (Philippians 3:19) Of course it is. Individuals who have not been rescued from the prison-house of sin, ‘the dominion of sin’ have no choice in the matter. "Their mind in on earthly things" Where else could it be? (Romans 8:7-8) God sees what their mind is set upon. This is what separates unbelievers from believers. The apostle reminds believer of their new status saying, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:22)

To repeat; "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:27)

"The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble." (Proverbs 19:23)

God speaks, saying, "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them." (Jeremiah 32:39)

"Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil." (Proverbs 16:6)

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:7)

"He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." (Isaiah 33:6)

Biblical principles, God’s commandments, God’s instructions are given to believers, to the individuals that God called out of darkness, etc. It is to them that God gave his instructions so that they who want to please God would know how to do so. It is only they that can please him. The Bible says so. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

The Bible says, "It (‘the grace of God’ v.11) teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age," (Titus 2:12) And who are the ‘us’ that are being taught to live this way? Believers. Who are the ‘us’ that are being taught to live this way? The people God called out of darkness into his wonderful light, the people God rescued from the dominion of darkness (sin), the people who are now free to follow his instructions.

How often the Bible reminds believers of the gap between where believers do (or should) focus their attention; where they should create and store their ‘treasure’ and where unbelievers focus their attention and store their treasure

The apostle Peter speaks kind words to his brothers/sisters in the faith to whom or for whom he was writing. "Dear friends, he says, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (1 Peter 2:11)

"As a result, he (the person who has been delivered from the power of sin) does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:2)

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day (when the Lord comes back) will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." (Luke 21:34)

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (Romans 6:12) What a ridiculous bit of advice this would be to people who have no choice in the matter because they are prisoners of the power of sin!

The apostle Paul speaking about himself said, "but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." (Romans 7:23)

"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:13-14)

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13:14)

It is to people who have been delivered from the power of sin that the apostle Paul says, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:16-17)

There was a time in history when everybody who is a believer now was not a believer. "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3) But God brought about a change. (To continue the above quote) "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- ….. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:4-6, 8, 10; see also Titus 2:14)

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)

And what are those passions and desires? Just in case a believer forgets--"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21; see also Revelation 21:7-8)

But this is not the only warning that God’s words sets before professing believers. One kind of instruction that he gives believers that the world of unbelievers would never respond to are the words of exhortation which say ‘always be prepared for the return of the Lord’.

It should of great concern to every believer that he or she be found busy about the Lord’s work when the Lord appears. How many of Jesus’ parables made this point. "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:44; see also the parable of the 10 virgins not all of whom were prepared—Matthew 25.1-13)

There is no time when believers do not need to be ready for the Lord since as the Bible says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:32-33; see also Matthew 24:36)

In another place in the Bible believers are told, "The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers." (Luke 12:46; see also Matthew 24:50)

And what will happen to the professing believer who will be observed by the Lord shirking from what he had been told to do? "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30)

Over and over again the Bible points to the gap between the new creatures God created and those God has not at this point in time visibly rescued from the dominion of darkness. Now let’s move on ‘Way’ Seven.

WAY SEVEN

The belief that the ‘good’ appearing behavior which can be seen by human beings is evidence that a person is in
god’s favor, is doing ‘good works’ that cause God’s name to be glorified or is getting closer to that ‘condition’
depreciates the significance of Jesus and the salvation that he brought by ignoring those verses
which teach that God’s salvation for all who believe (Galatians 3:22) included
a new creature-hood, a new birth of creatures that will never die

How enormous is the change that the coming of The Light represented! The beginning of eternal life! A verse in the New Testament which captures some of the enormousness of the change are the words of the apostle Paul in his letter addressed to the believers in Ephesus: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength," (Ephesians 1:18-19)

This is what distinguishes believers from all other human beings. A rabbit is not the same thing as a fish or a bird. Nor are the sons/daughters of God the same creatures as those born of the will of man. The Bible describes the new creature-hood of believers in many ways: they have been born from above (John 3:3); they have been made the children of God- "children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (John 1.13); they have been effectively called out of darkness by God (1 Peter 2:9); they have been made citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20); they have been "qualified -/- to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light"; they have been "rescued -/- from the dominion of darkness and brought -/-us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." (Colossians 1:12-13) (In this quote the figure ‘-/-‘ substitutes for the word ‘us’ i.e., the believers to whom the apostle was writing.)

It is to them, to believers, that "God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

How does the Bible speak of believers, of God’s people? "But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection." (Luke 20:35-36)

Salvation does not grow from what was born within (the old nature, the seed of Adam) but is a transformation or a formation that comes from without—from God. (Ephesians 2:3-9)

The Gospel message, the message of salvation, concerns creature-hood in Adam, in darkness—and the new birth into a new creature that God gave ‘birth’ to (John 1:13). It involves a total change, a change within (of the heart) as well as one that is apparent. Creatures that dwell in darkness (unbelievers) are still the same creatures even when they put on the clothes, ‘the external insignia’ (the uniform) of behaving according to some biblical principles

The world has a saying, 'The clothes make the man'. Clothing may impress or fool many people but it doesn't carry any weight with God who, to use an earthly comparison, has 'X-ray vision' and sees what is beneath all the trappings or disguises.

The apostle Paul spoke of the enormous change that began in history with the rescue operation in which God delivered his people from the bondage of sin. He said, "I declare to you, brothers (in the faith), that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. …. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ " (1 Corinthians 15:50, 53-54)

"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation." (Galatians 6:15)

"And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I (Jesus) tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham." (Matthew 3:9)

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins," (Colossians 2:13)

Salvation is not the final step of a step by step change or progression. On the contrary, it is as complete and thorough an event as a birth is. Salvation is not gradual change of what was there from the beginning (the old creation, the old nature inherited from Adam) but is the creation of new creature that an external power created. That power was God. That ‘person’ was God.

Those who are believers today were at one time in the bondage of sin until God rescued them. "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ...For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God .... for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:3-6, 8, 10; see also 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

The Gospel message, the message of salvation, concerns creature-hood in Adam, in darkness—and the new birth into a new creature that God gave ‘birth’ to. It involves a total change, a change within (of the heart) as well as one that is (or should be) apparent. Unbelievers, creatures that dwell in darkness, on the other hand, are still the same creatures prisoners of sin even when they put on the clothes, ‘the external insignia’ (the uniform) of Christians by appearing to behave according to some biblical principles.

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

The psalmist looks to the same God in whom there is no shadow of turning. "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." (Psalm 31:19)

The apostle Paul, addressing the Christians in Thessalonica said, "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

It is God who has brought about all these results; it is God who has brought the new creature-hood of believers into being.

And it is to them that God gave his instructions/commands about how to live to please him. A feeble illustration of God's power in believers is to think of a plant that has drawn its nourishment from the ground; when the plant is pulled up from the ground the leaves die. For the practice of biblical principles to work they must be connected to their source-God. Think of a light bulb: it sheds no light if it is not connected to a power source. While biblical principles may work-may have temporary successful results in this world (pragmatism) but that is not `light' within the biblical meaning of light because there is no living connection with God.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8-10; see also Romans 12:2)

In the week before his crucifixion Jesus said to the people, "Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." (John 12:36; The Old Testament expression of this truth is found in Isaiah 55:6-7)

^{CONCLUDING THOUGHTS}

"In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14)

Is ‘Light’ light? Can unbelievers see the ‘light’ that the Christ brought? Can unbelievers see the ‘light’ that burns inside of believers? Can believers reveal the light that the world of unbelievers will accept and benefit from? I believe the answer to all these questions is ‘No’.

When believers, individuals who "are children of light" are exhorted to "live as children of light" does that mean that their ‘light’ is the kind of light which the world wants more of? Ha! The Bible tells us that unbelievers hate the light (John 3:20) And they hate Jesus because he makes known to them that their ways are evil. Jesus said, "The world …hates me because I testify that what it does is evil." (John 7:7)

To look upon the ‘light’ which the Bible constantly speaks of as the same thing as physical light or the light of knowledge is easy to do and doing so appears to ‘create’ a common ground where believers can join hands with the world. I believe the Bible forbids this in no uncertain terms—2 Corinthians 6:14-15) But to make use of this ‘common ground’ for evangelistic purposes many efforts have been made to obscure the gap which God created when he rescued some people out of the dominion (the prison-house) of sin and transferred them to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13) while either leaving or appearing to leave some other individuals in bondage to sin. It has been the purpose of this meditation to reveal how wrong it is for believers to obscure the gap and join hands with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

It has also been the purpose of this meditation to point out some of the ways or the areas of ‘Christian’ thinking which appear to lead in this direction, the direction of obscuring the humanly insurmountable gap between the prisoners of sin (Galatians 3:22) and individuals whom God as rescued from that prison.

Believers must never forget that it is the very element that makes biblical light biblical light that is the one element that is totally unacceptable to the world, the world of unbelievers—the fact that there is the Creator who is running the show in the existing universe(s?) and in eternity.

Anything that gives the impression that there are gradations or steps that lead from being a person in bondage to sin (Galatians 3:22) to being free of sin (Romans 6:22) and being an immortal member of the kingdom of God and being a fragment of God’s light is not only putting forth an idea that is untrue, but doing so also has a devastating effect on the message that is the Gospel (the significance of the Christ and the salvation that he brought). To give that impression (that there are gradations or steps that lead from being a person in bondage to sin to being free of sin and being an immortal member of the kingdom of God) is the opposite of glorying in the total and complete salvation brought about by God alone, by Christ alone.

What better way is there to hide the fact that God’s salvation is a complete change, a new creation, a new birth, the creation of sons and daughters of God (Luke 20:35-36), the creation of a new creature that will never die (John 11:26) than to hide the gap between believers and unbelievers, the gap between believers and unbelievers that only God can blot out, the gap between those individuals God rescued from bondage to sin and those who are (or appear to be) still in bondage.

In the same way that deliberately switching of road signs to make them point in directions different from where they originally pointed is dangerously misleading, I believe encouraging people to think that ‘good ’appearing behavior such as works of mercy that cause God’s name to be glorified is evidence that a person is in God’s favor, or is getting closer to that ‘condition’ is dangerously misleading. What it hides from human view is the fact that God may not look upon behavior that looks ‘good’ to humans as ‘good’ at all because it sets aside as irrelevant and unimportant all the teachings in the Bible about the difference between the criteria human beings use to determine what they approve of and the criteria God uses to determine whether a work is ‘good’, that is, is pleasing to God. It sets aside the explicit teaching of Hebrews 11:6. It sets aside the fact that there is a humanly insurmountable gap between unbelievers who are prisoners of sin and believers who have been delivered from that state. Misleading people this way is more harmful than switching road signs which can only have consequences in this life.

It was God who created the gap in the first place by calling some people out of darkness, by rescuing them from the dominion, the absolute control of sin. But the world does not want to believe in God or that any human being is really a different creature from any other human being, that anyone is innately different from anyone else—especially if this innate difference was created by God.

Who that glories in the total and complete salvation brought about by God alone, by Christ alone, can think that there are gradations or steps that lead from a being a piece of stone to being a sheep, or from being a person in bondage to sin (Galatians 3:22) to being free of sin (Romans 6:22) and being an immortal member of the kingdom of God and being a fragment of God’s light?

(note: in this meditation in the description of 5 of the 7 'Ways the phrase was used 'or is getting closer to that ‘condition’. That sounded like steps or gradations. I do not believe anyone gets 'closer' to being either rescued from the dominion of sin or being still in the prison house of sin. Who gets closer to the condition of being alive or being dead?')

The sacrificial death of Jesus the Christ on the Cross saved all those who believe. And all those who believe were called out of darkness and into God’s wonderful light by God. The rest are still under the dominion of sin and are not free to choose God. (John 15:16) There is an enormous gap between these two categories of people that the Bible refers to or alludes to in many ways. Believers believe. Unbelievers don’t believe. That is the issue: belief.

What is the Gospel all about? Improving living standards in this world? No. Believing in God, the Son whom he sent. "And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief." (Hebrews 3:18-19) They did not fear the Lord.

"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did (the Jews in the wilderness); but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." (Hebrews 4:2)

If the belief in God (which, by definition, is only in believers) is not the foundation of all behavior, or the spring from which all behavior flows, the behavior is not what God wants to see no matter what it looks like to human beings, no matter how much success in this world it brings, no matter how much it seems to conform to biblical principles or God’s commandments. (Isaiah 29:13; Mathew 6:1-2; Hebrews 11:6)

Jesus Christ did not say that it was because people were poor, or were unmarried, or were being treated unfairly, or were being persecuted, or were….,or were… that they would die in their sins. No circumstance in this world is the cause of a particular eternal destiny awaiting anyone. The only explanation is a lack of belief—in Jesus the Christ. Jesus said, "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24)

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (James 1:6)

That which determines whether a person is saved or under condemnation and headed for hell (Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:5; 2:3, 4, 5) is a fact which cannot be seen (by human ‘eyes’). The determining factor is whether the individual truly believes in the Creator God, the God of the Bible and in the Son whom he sent into this world to die for the sins of whoever believes.

While expressions of faith or the out-workings of faith are vital, they still do not come first. "But someone will say, ’You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do’." (James 2:18) Deeds do not produce or increase faith. The belief comes first. But if genuine faith is present deeds or works will inevitably appear. ( ) Who believes God, who fears God, who trusts God and is supremely grateful for what God has done for him/her yet doesn’t care about behaving in ways that please God? Is it possible?

When the Bible says to believers, "You are the light of the world" believers need to remind themselves that the ‘light’ that we can let shine (the light of God) is not the kind of light the world wants to see. Our message, our light is different. Our light is more than wise; it comes from the eternal God and lasts for eternity.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10; see also Romans 9:15, 16;John 11:26;Luke 20:35-36) And who dispensed the mercy?

(If you appreciate what you read here please tell your friends about this URL and sign my guest book on the homepage. Also, if, as you read any of the meditations, you feel you know of a situation that beautifully illustrates any of the points made I would be delighted to learn of it. I might incorporate it.) mailto:camppp21355@comcast.net

If you wish to pursue your own study on issues (thoughts) raised or on the Scripture verses used try these links: The Goshen Bible Study Tools or Translate 2012 Bible Study Tools. An additional translation with many notes can be found at Net Bible. To search for related sermons, sermon outlines, articles, devotions and topical sermons go here: Sermon Links.com

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