“It is God's
holiness that makes Him faithful in all His promises. When the doubting man
reads the precious promises given to returning sinners, why cannot he take
comfort in them? Surely it is because he is still not sure God is faithful
enough to perform them.
But the strongest
argument which faith has to put this question out of doubt, and cause the
sinner to accept the promise as a true word, rests in the holiness of God, the
Promise Maker. He gently persuades the person to trust Him by prefixing His
promises with the attribute of holiness: "I will help you, says the Lord,
and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel" Isaiah 41:14. The Hebrew word
for "mercies" is often translated "holy things," and
because God's mercies are founded in His holiness, they are therefore sure
mercies, Isaiah 55:3. How many times did Laban change Jacob's wages after his
promise? Yet God's covenant with Jacob was always kept, although Jacob was not
faithful on his part. Why? Because he was dealing with the holy God.
Another of God's
attributes which kindles fear in the awakened sinner is His justice. The soul
sees no way except hell for God to vindicate His justice. But faith empowers
the soul to walk around in this fiery attribute with His comfort unsinged, even
as the Hebrew children prospered in the flaming furnace Daniel 3.
Faith relieves the
soul, which fears God's justice. One might wonder whether or not God can be
both just and righteous in pardoning a sinner. Faith shows that God may pardon
sins, no matter how great, with safety to His justice. This question was
settled, at the council board of heaven by God Himself and He has expressed His
decision in the form of a precious promise: "I will betroth you unto me
forever; yes, I will betroth you unto me in righteousness, and in judgment."
Hosea 2:19.”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings
in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617
No comments:
Post a Comment