RUNNING AWAY
IN FEAR,
OR BOLDLY APPROACHING GOD?
| March
28, 2004 Genesis 3:6-10 (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Hebrews 10:16-23 (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Let us look at Paul the Apostle's statements, keeping in mind that he had such boldness to present himself before God, and to minister for Him. 1 Timothy 1:9-15 (9) Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; (11) According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Act 23:1 (1) And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. ALT 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (3) But to me it is as an insignificant [thing] that I should be examined by you* or by [any] human day [fig., human court], _but_ I do not even examine myself. (4) For I have been conscious of nothing against myself [fig., my conscience is clear]; _but_ I have not been justified [or, acquitted] by this, but the One examining me is [the] Lord. 2Co 1:12 (12) For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 2 Timothy 1:3 (3) I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How could Paul be so bold and without bad conscience after living the life he did before salvation? I have found that the reason many people are not used by God, and simply come to church every week and nothing more, is because of GUILT, whether it's genuinely founded on actual problems in the person, or simply a feeling people have when they think of serving God without knowing anything specifically wrong with themselves. Rom 6:13 (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. This verse teaches us that we are to YIELD or PRESENT ourselves before God for His use. One problem many people have is that they do not even realize they are to give themselves to God so He can direct, speak and instruct them.
Rom 6:8-11 (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And think of it!
I want to use a biblical picture that God ordained in the bible to deal with this issue.
Genesis 2:25 (25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 3:6-10 (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. Rev 3:17-18 (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Rev 19:7-8 (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Isaiah 64:6 (6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. From Genesis we see a naked and unashamed Adam and Eve in God's Garden by the tree of life.
Hebrews 4:12-13 (12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Adam put on a fig leaf apron and went on his merry way.
Genesis 3:21 (21) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Coats versus aprons. Not only would leaf aprons fade away, but aprons are significantly less a covering than God's provision of COATS of animal hide.
(21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Recall that righteousness is a WHITE LINEN ROBE compared to our filthy rags.
(33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Rom 10:3 (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. Phi 3:9 (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: The only way you are going to stand before God is to be clothed in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
2Co 5:14 (14) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And since HE TOOK OUR DEATHS as our substitute, He became what we were, and was made in the state we actually were... NAKED without righteousness.
We can have white raiment because JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SUITABILITY BEFORE GOD.
Rom 5:17 (17) For if by one man's offence 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.) Col 3:9-10 (9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: When God's presence came into the Garden, Adam was no more physically naked than before he sinned.
(3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4) And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Rev 1:17 (17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: Eze 1:28 (28) As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. Dan 10:5-8 (5) Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: (6) His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. (7) And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. (8) Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. His holiness would SMITE and destroy anyone with sin! You are not going to be able to stand before God of that HOLINESS in your own righteousness.
IN FEAR. Hebrews 10:19-23 (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) What a contrast!
Hebrews 10:10 (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:14 (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:16-22 (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. You need to boldly go and present yourself to God. Rom 6:10-11 (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:13 (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. You died with Jesus, so as much as He presented HImself to God alive from death, you shared that death as well and can therefore present yourself with just as much boldness!
1 Corinthians 1:30 (30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: When He died you were baptized to be put into His death!
(5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Eph 2:8-10 (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Imagine a crooked person intending to hurt and to damage a person, and feigning it with such kind words to that same person.
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: The faith of Christ is TRUST IN THE WORK THAT THE CROSS ACCOMPLISHED IN PROVIDING US WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE FINE WHITE LINEN ROBES! |
