| Chapter 8 ~ Enmity Against Righteousness ~ |
There is a promise and, in a true sense, a prophecy given in 2Thessalonians 2:1-4, which says:
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”This is being fulfilled in the world today as the "man of sin," Satan, is being revealed. It is clear, in Scripture, in that Satan has, many times, represented himself in man. We have seen evidence of this phenomenon, throughout history and it has manifested itself in the most evil of times and under the most evil of circumstances. It was mentioned, in an earlier chapter, that God is allowing Sin to run its course, so that Sin may be seen for what it really is. (Romans 7:13) The Lord gives everyone the opportunity to choose to do evil and receive eternal death or to do good and be rewarded with eternal life. In fact, time and time again we are given opportunities to enhance our relationship with Christ and surrender our lives completely to him. This is not in our nature to do and, because of evil enmity, in one way or the other we deny Christ, thereby choosing the wrong path because the human heart, by nature, is "…carnal, sold under sin…" (Romans 7:14) Paul, the Apostle struggled with this, and wrote, "… the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." (Romans 7:19-23)Many of us, including Paul, “think” to do good things, but evil is present, even as we are "thinking" to do good. Quite often, we choose to do that which is in our nature to do, which is evil, instead of doing that which we "thought" to do. In addition, life’s perplexities, cares of the world, dilemmas and sorrows seem to loom large, establishing their own priorities, while the good that we "would do," remains undone. We can choose to surrender our lives to Satan and serve sin, resulting in "evil-doing" and death, or we can choose to surrender our lives in service to Jesus, which results in "right-doing," which is wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit and leads to life eternal. We are assured in Philippians 2:13 that; “…it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good service.”And Psalms 15:2-5 lists many attributes of the followers of God, in that, “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”Psalms 101.4-8 compares faithful servants of God, working righteousness and those that slander their neighbors, which God also calls "wicked doers." “A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.”Evil = Death / Good = Life The life and death of which I speak is not the life and death of which most people speak; that is the life and death that afflicts us in this age of Sin, but rather, eternal life and eternal death; the life that Jesus offers or the second death that is spoken of in Revelation 20:6, where is stated, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”And in Revelation 2:11, Jesus admonishes us, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."See also Revelation 20:14 and 21:8. This topic will be discussed more fully, later, in Chapters 15 and 16, for the sake of continuity, let it be stated here, that the Life we are speaking of here, is the Life that is in Christ Jesus. It is the Life we receive, when we make the choice to surrender to Him rather than going our own way, regardless of how right "going our own way" may seem to have been. Thorough, determined study of Scripture enables us to gain a knowledge of God’s Righteousness (Jesus is His Righteousness.) Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”In Romans 10:1-5, Paul describes one of Israel’s greatest shortcomings in this way: “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”Romans 12:1-3 states, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”We are also told in Proverbs 1:33-2:9, “…whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.”Many, believing that they already know God “well enough,” forego the necessity of Bible study, and this is not according to the desires of God. It is God’s desire that we “know” Him and His will because He knows that our very lives depend on it – that is the way He planned it and that is why we have His Word, both in the flesh (John 1:1-3 & 14.) and in the written form, today know as the Holy Bible. If the Word of God were to be distilled into one word, that word would be love. The Bible is the fullest revelation that God could bestow upon the world, and he meant for it to stand the test of “time,” just as His love will stand the same test. In “the fullness of time,” it will be seen that God, is indeed, 100% correct and always has been. It will also be seen that the Bible has been especially preserved for those who are to live at the close of Earth’s history. God knew that those who live in the end times (also known as the “last days”), during which Jesus Himself told us that there would be tribulation such as never was nor to that same time, and that those who “endure till the end, the same shall be saved.” He knew we would need the Scriptures as a safeguard and a fortifier of our faith. Please read Matthew 24:21. It would be good to read all of Chapter 24 to the end of the Book of Matthew. In them are contained the major prophecies concerning the treatment of God’s people during the days in which we now live. Another reason that it would be good for all of Jesus’ follower to read these chapters is because Jesus, in verse 14 of chapter 24 He specifically tells us; “…this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:”Why does Jesus direct our attention to the Book of Daniel, the prophet? In the final chapter of the Book of Daniel, we find this same scene depicted and expanded upon as the time of trouble. Please read the first three verse of Daniel Chapter 12 and give special attention to one of the final statements (verse 3) where it is stated, “…they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”In Ephesians 2:13-17, we are encouraged that, “…now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”In Romans 5:8 God’s promise of forgiveness is revealed in that’ “...God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”And Romans 5:17-19 continues promise continues to be revealed because, “…if by one man's offence (Adam's sin [Ed.]) death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”The texts in Ephesians, listed above, are a fulfillment of the promise given in Genesis 3:15. The Lord promised that He would put enmity between the seed of the serpent and the “seed” of the woman. Then at the appointed time (Ephesians 1:10) Jesus became that “Seed” and broke down the wall that separated us from the Father and from each other. He came to Earth and lived a perfect (righteous) life “in the flesh.” (See John 1:1-3, 14.) He showed us the love with which the Father loves us; that is, He loved us enough to let His Son die a horrible death on a cross as a sacrifice for Sin. He allowed His Son to be treated in a way that He did not deserve to be treated, so that we might be treated in a way we did not deserve. He was crucified and died that we might have eternal life. He did only good; healing the lame, curing the sick, and making the blind to see. He didn't even raise His hand in self defense, when He was beaten, spat upon and nailed to a tree on our behalf. In the horrific treatment heaped upon Our Lord, we see the enmity of Satan expressed in its fullness; we actually see Satan killing the Son of God. In all this, however, we also see the love of God manifested in that even as His Son was being put to death, He cried out on man's behalf, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” By this act, evil enmity was abolished in that the height, depth, length and width of God's love had now been demonstrated in the Life and death of His blessed Son. How can we not love a God who is willing to go to such a length to win us back to Himself? Does God truly care? Is He a tyrant as Satan claims Him to be? Does He not deserve our love and allegiance? Is there any reason to fear One who loves us so completely and unconditonally? Should these questions persist even as we see God's sinless, yet crucified Son, hanging on a cruel cross, pleading for our forgiveness, while dying for our sins? Each of us has a void in our lives that only God can fill. Many try to fill the void by various means such as: drugs, sex, wealth, and meaningless achievements. But they are still left with a longing that cannot be satisfied by Earthly means. Only God can bring the peace we long for, and yet, we choose to seek it where it cannot be found. So true are the words, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” But we seek for love in a world where less and less love can be found each day. Only in seeking God, can we find true love, for "GOD IS LOVE." 1 John 4:8. The main point of Romans, chapter 5, is that God has bestowed upon all those who will receive it, the gift of righteousness. While this is not to say that God’s people are perfect. It is meant to say just what the Bible says: that the “gift of righteousness” has been given and many shall be “made righteous.” This, in turn agrees with Daniel, who stated in 12:3, that “the wise”…“shall turn many to righteousness.” Many being turned to righteousness means that many will be turned to Christ, the Righteous. He will be lifted up and, consequently, He will draw the World unto Himself. (See John 12:32) This, being the case, Satan will, of course, be working to see that this does not take place. He will do all in his power to interrupt, intercept and otherwise deny us the opportunity to be "made righteous." He will, first of all tell us that it is not possible for us to be righteous – that we are too sinful to ever accomplish this task. And of course, in most cases, he is correct, because, in most cases people will believe him, thereby, making him correct. Or, perhaps, disbelieve him and go about "to establish their own righteousness," which is the result of not submitting themselves to the righteousness of God. (See Romans 10:1-3.)
God, in Ezekiel 32:12-19 is recorded as saying, ̶The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. 13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. 18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. 19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.”The last 2 verses (verses 18 and 19), are a summary of the plan of salvation. The preceding verses serve as examples and amplifications that are given before God makes His final statement. If a person turns from his evil ways, and becomes righteous, he/she will receive eternal life. But if a person, who is righteous, turns from his/her righteousness (that is turns from Christ, Who is his/her righteousness) then they will receive the same reward as the workers of evil. God could not be more fair, but in verse 17 God reveals that his people say the this is "not equal," (not fair) which is to say that God is not fair. But God says in the very next sentence. It is mankind who is not equal, or, perhaps, it is mankind that doesn’t know how to be fair – how to treat one another "equally." Psalms 106:3 tells us, “Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.”And finally, in 1John 3.7-11, we find, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” It is not the intent of this chapter, to explain how this is done – how one is “made righteous.” However, from the texts compiled above, it can be seen that, according to God’s Word it is His intent that we be “made righteous.” The Scriptures are sufficient to prove this point, and immerse ourselves in the pages that God so lovingly prepared, is the only way to be assured of this crucial element of truth. The reason why this truth is so crucial will be further examined in the following chapter, “Enmity Against the Faith,” Where we will explore a three-fold focus at the very center of the Gospel. |
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