(x)wisdom

If the Bible says a thing is a blessing and a helpful thing, then it is. If the Bible goes on to warn that one should be careful not to use the thing to the extreme, including addiction, this does not negate the blessedness of the thing. The Bible is simply saying, "Don't turn a good thing into a god thing", to use Mark Driscolls phrase.

To prohibit a blessed thing completely on the grounds that sin is possible is stupid; worse, it's sinful.

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,

who put darkness for light and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

After being away from the office for two weeks I returned to find a thorny vine growing up in front of my window. I've noticed these vines growing in various areas around my house and they tend to grow as part of undergrowth, around trees and bushes that they can climb up and curl around. Sometimes they blend in so well that I only notice them once I'm being cut by the thorns. These thorny vines have a way of making beautiful things painful.

Isaiah 53:12 - The sins of the people who trust Christ for their salvation were imputed to Christ. Though not his own sins, he died to save those who committed them. He was the perfect sacrifice and as  the great High Priest he continually makes intercession with the Father for those who are his. God the Father has exalted Jesus and those who are his. Those who trust solely in Christ for their salvation, as a free gift of grace, will share in his inheritance. Believers are the bride of Christ and co-heirs with Christ. If our salvation is in Christ, we are his wife! It's impossible to imagine a better husband than the all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, Creator God of the universe?

When we think of idols and idoletry we tend to think of statues and carvings. While those are forbidden objects of worship, we must also remember that it is possible to set up other things, even philosophical concepts as idols. In Ezekiel 14:3 God says, "...these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces". Idolatry is a violation of commandments 1 and 2 and is the cause of violations against all the remaining commandments and laws (Deuteronomy 5:6-21), for which there are grave consequences if we do not repent.

Does God love everybody? Let us look to Genesis 20:1-7. God declares Himself personnal for a select group of people by saying to Moses, "your God." He declares Himself great by referring to some of His incredible activities recently witnessed by Moses, namely all of the events related to freeing Israel from Egyptian slavery. The main point of this passage is, "I the Lord your God am a jealous God..." Everything else that is said is related to this central point.

You can never be good enough to earn God's acceptance, there is nothing you can do to gain His favor. He provided His Law to show you what He requires of you, to illuminate your wicked ways, to show you that sin against infinite God demands infinite punishment, and finally to show you your need of a Savior. He provided His Son, Jesus, as an atoning sacrifice for your wickedness, as illuminated by the Law. However, His sacrifice will only apply to you if you believe that God will honor what Jesus did as a substitutionary payment for your sins and if you will worship Jesus for who He is and what He has done for you. If you repent of your sin and trust in Jesus your sin will be removed, you will be adopted by God as His child, and your nature will be forever altered to be inclined toward obedience. The result of this transformation will set you on a course of worship of God and love toward other people.

"God forgives you now you need to forgive yourself." Without further qualification this statement is no help to the Christian. If told to a non-Christian it is a lie.

In His wisdom He gave me the Law to show me my sin. (2 Kings 22:11-13; Romans 4:15) But I end up doing the evil things I want to avoid and I avoid doing the holy things I desire to do. (Romans 7:19) What a wretched man I am! Who can save me from the death penalty for my sinfulness? (Romans 7:24) I am not able to keep the Law, I cannot obey, and without a savior God will demand payment for my sins. (Job 34:21-30) But the very person I sinned against has crushed another in my place, His only Son.