27) Esaias also crieth
concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand
of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28) For
he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29) And
as Esaias said before, Except
the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been
as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
30) What
shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness,
have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31) But
32) Wherefore?
Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33) As
it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
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any
still mistakenly believe that they gain merit or favor with God by what they do
for Him. It is surprising that this myth has been perpetuated, for the Lord
makes it perfectly clear in scripture that this is not how we make it to
heaven. In fact, what we “do” has even been given a name: “works.”
Scripture
explains to us that the law given unto Moses by God was a mere schoolmaster to
point us to Christ. In that the law effectively serves as a tutor, once Christ
is attained, tutoring is no longer needed. You see, the law was given for us to
keep or live by. From the beginning, its intent was to cast a harsh light on
our deficiencies. Only those saved and sanctified can fulfill its purpose; for
it is by recognizing our deep need of Christ that we come to salvation.
Anything
that the Lord institutes is superior in its scope and thorough in its
execution. So, why present us with a law which could not be kept, where
breaking one of its ordinances constituted breaking it entirely? It was
presented to dramatically show us that only through the mercy of God would any
be saved. We are to recognize the sanctity of salvation and the necessity of
serving and believing an omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God.
The
Jews of the Old Testament, though “called-out,” were only a type and shadow of
the Church to come. Chosen as they were, they were able to accomplish only so
much because they lacked the Holy Ghost on the inside. When the
In
that the type of the early Church has been fulfilled and entry into the Church
made through the “New Birth” experience, there remains no justification for
keeping the law and not being born again. Of those who are born again, many are
still lost, though sincere. It is these we must reach.
The
faith it takes to gain salvation must be place and rooted in the death, burial
and resurrection of Jesus. If here is where one plants one’s hopes and dreams,
he will be as happy and blessed as he was meant to be. For the Lord has a
better plan for the people of God than worry, poverty, illness or anything else
with which the world must deal. But how do we inherit this “better plan”? By taking a stand on the Word. This is the only way to be
completely prosperous and the only way in which to bring others in. Remember:
having and taking a stand is an indispensable element of salvation. “For if the
righteous shall scarcely be saved,” where are sinners and the ungodly to
appear?
We
must face the fact that the Lord has pledged to cut short His work on earth.
With world events such as they are, it is no surprise that many are convinced
the end will come as early as the year 2000. Even with the signs of the times,
too many waste much time trying to decide whether they are ready or willing to
be saved. Of all of the nations being blessed to receive this latter day
outpouring of the Word of God, ours too often appears the least grateful. When
we should be “head and shoulders” above those just receiving bibles and the
truth of the Word, we yet lag behind, arguing among ourselves over “milk”
issues, proving our need to be “retaught” the
“...first principles of the oracles of God.”
We
have seemingly degenerated to the point where we feel that anything is
acceptable to the Lord. Few know or recognize the difference between
righteousness and the works of the flesh. As in the days of
With
all the pressures being exerted by a desperate Enemy and a corrupt world,
the only people who will prove to be victorious and accomplish God’s purpose
for them will be those who believe God. Therefore, if you thought you might
“work” your way into heaven, you will have to change your plan of attack,
for “salvation is by faith, not works.”