The Bible often makes me think. Whilst thinking was allegedly "a dangerous pastime" for Gaston in Disney's "Beauty in the Beast," careful thought is most necessary to read the Bible with understanding. The Christian life often today is tragically whittled down to catch-phrases and cliches which are totally inadequate to convey God's truth contained throughout scripture. The strides taken in producing translations for modern readers cannot reduce the complexity and necessity of sound theology. The Bible is comprised of 66 books, and we need every single one of them for the full revelation God has provided.
I have heard people say many times "Christians are not under God's wrath," and this is true - but this hackneyed cliche doesn't tell the whole story. It is true we are no longer under wrath because Jesus took our punishment on Calvary. As followers of Jesus Christ through faith, we have been saved by eternal wrath by Him. We all deserve hell, but Jesus has atoned for our sins. The wrath of God is reserved for the wicked who will drink this cup to the dregs. Plenty of verses back up this position. So what is the problem?
There's no problem, but a verse I read this morning provides a condition everyone who claims absolute immunity from God's wrath ought to know. Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah who was invited to a feast by the Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. The reason for the special feast? Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat's help to fight his enemies - enemies God likely had stirred up against Ahab to chasten him to repentance. Because they were both children of Abraham and Israel, Jehoshaphat agreed to an alliance with Ahab to help him. After Jehoshaphat returned safe from battle because God helped him 2 Chronicles 19:2 says, "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you." This verse teaches us though God has spared His faithful followers from eternal wrath, should we support evil we can unwittingly place ourselves under God's wrath. Hopefully these words from God caused Jehoshaphat to think about supporting those who showed contempt towards God through their actions and to repent himself.
How good it is to be circumspect in our reading of God's Word and our lives! We know we ought to love one another as God has loved us, but in helping his wicked brother Jehoshaphat was heading for judgment and a world of pain and loss. His soul was secure but he should not have been surprised after making an alliance with wicked Ahaziah his ships sank (1 Kings 22:44-48, 2 Chron. 20:37). I am grateful God did not give us the "Reader's Digest" version of his Word, modernised and abridged to make it easier for us to read faster. He has held nothing back we need to know to live righteously and godly in this world, and there is no fine print or hidden charges. The King James Version can be made plain to us by the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides us into all truth. When we read with thought, intending to obey, God will reveal new things to broaden our understanding for the purpose of application to our lives. Praise the LORD we are no longer children of wrath, and God-forbid through our ignorance of His Word we enter into alliances we ought to refuse and bring wrath from God upon us.
I have heard people say many times "Christians are not under God's wrath," and this is true - but this hackneyed cliche doesn't tell the whole story. It is true we are no longer under wrath because Jesus took our punishment on Calvary. As followers of Jesus Christ through faith, we have been saved by eternal wrath by Him. We all deserve hell, but Jesus has atoned for our sins. The wrath of God is reserved for the wicked who will drink this cup to the dregs. Plenty of verses back up this position. So what is the problem?
There's no problem, but a verse I read this morning provides a condition everyone who claims absolute immunity from God's wrath ought to know. Jehoshaphat was a godly king of Judah who was invited to a feast by the Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. The reason for the special feast? Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat's help to fight his enemies - enemies God likely had stirred up against Ahab to chasten him to repentance. Because they were both children of Abraham and Israel, Jehoshaphat agreed to an alliance with Ahab to help him. After Jehoshaphat returned safe from battle because God helped him 2 Chronicles 19:2 says, "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you." This verse teaches us though God has spared His faithful followers from eternal wrath, should we support evil we can unwittingly place ourselves under God's wrath. Hopefully these words from God caused Jehoshaphat to think about supporting those who showed contempt towards God through their actions and to repent himself.
How good it is to be circumspect in our reading of God's Word and our lives! We know we ought to love one another as God has loved us, but in helping his wicked brother Jehoshaphat was heading for judgment and a world of pain and loss. His soul was secure but he should not have been surprised after making an alliance with wicked Ahaziah his ships sank (1 Kings 22:44-48, 2 Chron. 20:37). I am grateful God did not give us the "Reader's Digest" version of his Word, modernised and abridged to make it easier for us to read faster. He has held nothing back we need to know to live righteously and godly in this world, and there is no fine print or hidden charges. The King James Version can be made plain to us by the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides us into all truth. When we read with thought, intending to obey, God will reveal new things to broaden our understanding for the purpose of application to our lives. Praise the LORD we are no longer children of wrath, and God-forbid through our ignorance of His Word we enter into alliances we ought to refuse and bring wrath from God upon us.
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