He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11).
God was under no constraint, no obligation, no necessity to create. That He chose to do so was purely a sovereign act on His part, caused by nothing outside Himself, determined by nothing but His own mere good pleasure; for He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11). That He did create was simply for His manifestative glory. If God so pleased He might have continued alone for all eternity, without making known His glory unto creatures. Whether He should do so or not was determined solely by His own will. He was perfectly blessed in Himself.
before the first creature was called into being. How vastly different is the God of Scripture from the “god” of the average pulpit!
He is solitary in His majesty, unique in His excellency, peerless in His perfections. He sustains all, but is Himself independent of all. He gives to all, but is enriched by none. When we approach, God for anything or making any supplication, while we must trust in his omnipotence, we must also rest in His sovereignty to act in accordance to His own will. It is this recognition that caused the 3 Hebrew boys to say in the face of death (a fiery furnace) that “our God can but even if He CHOOSES not to, we STILL will NOT bow.” May our faith be rested in God’s sovereign will and never in our own expectations or desires.
00Philip Holderhttp://www.hoperoadnazarene.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hrn-logo-520x140-1.pngPhilip Holder2015-11-04 02:35:482015-11-04 02:35:48HIS SOVEREIGN WILL
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).
Those who deny the reality of their sin affirm the unreality of their salvation.
Ours society rejects the concept of individual responsibility. People blame society, their parents, their genes—anything but their own actions and choices—for their problems. The biblical teaching that all people are responsible for breaking God’s holy law is scoffed at as primitive, unsophisticated, and harmful to a healthy self-esteem. Even some who claim to be Christians refuse to acknowledge their sin. They say, “I make mistakes. But I’m a good person. Surely God won’t reject me!” Such people are tragically deceived and will miss out on salvation; those who don’t see themselves as lost will not seek God’s gracious salvation. In the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). The apostle John gives three characteristics of those who deny their sin.
First, they walk in darkness (1 John 1:6). That reveals that they are not saved, since only those who “walk in the light” are cleansed from their sins by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7).
Second, they are self-deceived (1 John 1:8). The Bible makes it unmistakably clear that all people are sinners (2 Chron. 6:36; Rom. 3:23); there are no exceptions (Rom. 3:12).
Third, they defame God, making Him out to be a liar (1 John 1:10) by denying what His Word affirms—that they are sinners. That is a serious, blasphemous accusation to make against the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), whose word is truth (John 17:17).
In Luke 18, Jesus described two men praying in the temple. One, a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, denied his sin. The other, a despised tax-gatherer, cried out, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” Which of the two do you identify with?
Thank God, “who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
00Philip Holderhttp://www.hoperoadnazarene.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hrn-logo-520x140-1.pngPhilip Holder2015-11-03 07:04:142015-11-03 07:04:14CHILDREN OF DARKNESS
“God is light’ and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
God’s truthfulness and holiness are powerful motives not to sin. Light and darkness are familiar metaphors in Scripture. Intellectually’ light refers to truth’ and darkness to error; morally’ light refers to holiness’ and darkness to evil.
Intellectually’ the Bible reveals God as the God of truth. In Exodus 34:6 God described Himself to Moses as “The Lord’ the Lord God’ compassionate and gracious’ slow to anger’ and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.” Both Psalm 31:5 and Isaiah 65:16 refer to Him as the “God of truth.” In the New Testament’ Jesus called Himself “the way’ and the truth’ and the life” (John 14:6). Not only is God true’ but so also is His Word. In 2 Samuel 7:28 David exclaimed’ “O Lord God’ Thou art God’ and Thy words are truth.” The Lord Jesus prayed to the Father’ “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The Bible’ “the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15)’ imparts the light of knowledge. In the familiar words of the psalmist’ “Thy word is a lamp to my feet’ and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). Morally’ light describes God’s absolute holiness and separation from evil. Psalm 5:4 says of Him’ “No evil dwells with Thee.” “Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil'” said the prophet Habakkuk to God’ “and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor” (Hab. 1:13). Because God is light in the sense of truth’ He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). When His Word promises that things will go well with the righteous (Isa. 3:10) and that sin brings consequences (Prov. 11:5)’ we can be certain that is exactly what will happen. Because God is moral light’ we know that He is neither the cause of any evil we encounter’ nor the source of our temptation (James 1:13). Understanding the truth that God is light is foundational to dealing with sin in our lives. Praise God that He has revealed His truth in the Bible.
Let us pray that God would give us a deeper understanding of His holiness as we study the Scriptures.
00Philip Holderhttp://www.hoperoadnazarene.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hrn-logo-520x140-1.pngPhilip Holder2015-11-02 03:36:162025-11-21 13:17:05GOD IS LIGHT
HIS SOVEREIGN WILL
/in Steadfast HopeCHILDREN OF DARKNESS
/in Steadfast Hope“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).
Those who deny the reality of their sin affirm the unreality of their salvation.
Ours society rejects the concept of individual responsibility. People blame society, their parents, their genes—anything but their own actions and choices—for their problems. The biblical teaching that all people are responsible for breaking God’s holy law is scoffed at as primitive, unsophisticated, and harmful to a healthy self-esteem. Even some who claim to be Christians refuse to acknowledge their sin. They say, “I make mistakes. But I’m a good person. Surely God won’t reject me!” Such people are tragically deceived and will miss out on salvation; those who don’t see themselves as lost will not seek God’s gracious salvation. In the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). The apostle John gives three characteristics of those who deny their sin.
First, they walk in darkness (1 John 1:6). That reveals that they are not saved, since only those who “walk in the light” are cleansed from their sins by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7).
Second, they are self-deceived (1 John 1:8). The Bible makes it unmistakably clear that all people are sinners (2 Chron. 6:36; Rom. 3:23); there are no exceptions (Rom. 3:12).
Third, they defame God, making Him out to be a liar (1 John 1:10) by denying what His Word affirms—that they are sinners. That is a serious, blasphemous accusation to make against the God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), whose word is truth (John 17:17).
In Luke 18, Jesus described two men praying in the temple. One, a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, denied his sin. The other, a despised tax-gatherer, cried out, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” Which of the two do you identify with?
Thank God, “who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
GOD IS LIGHT
/in Steadfast Hope“God is light’ and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
God’s truthfulness and holiness are powerful motives not to sin. Light and darkness are familiar metaphors in Scripture. Intellectually’ light refers to truth’ and darkness to error; morally’ light refers to holiness’ and darkness to evil.
Intellectually’ the Bible reveals God as the God of truth. In Exodus 34:6 God described Himself to Moses as “The Lord’ the Lord God’ compassionate and gracious’ slow to anger’ and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.” Both Psalm 31:5 and Isaiah 65:16 refer to Him as the “God of truth.” In the New Testament’ Jesus called Himself “the way’ and the truth’ and the life” (John 14:6). Not only is God true’ but so also is His Word. In 2 Samuel 7:28 David exclaimed’ “O Lord God’ Thou art God’ and Thy words are truth.” The Lord Jesus prayed to the Father’ “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The Bible’ “the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15)’ imparts the light of knowledge. In the familiar words of the psalmist’ “Thy word is a lamp to my feet’ and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). Morally’ light describes God’s absolute holiness and separation from evil. Psalm 5:4 says of Him’ “No evil dwells with Thee.” “Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil'” said the prophet Habakkuk to God’ “and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor” (Hab. 1:13). Because God is light in the sense of truth’ He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). When His Word promises that things will go well with the righteous (Isa. 3:10) and that sin brings consequences (Prov. 11:5)’ we can be certain that is exactly what will happen. Because God is moral light’ we know that He is neither the cause of any evil we encounter’ nor the source of our temptation (James 1:13). Understanding the truth that God is light is foundational to dealing with sin in our lives. Praise God that He has revealed His truth in the Bible.
Let us pray that God would give us a deeper understanding of His holiness as we study the Scriptures.