Return to.... Sovereign Grace Chapel Home Page"Hath God Said?"
From the very beginning man has been "short" in his ability to believe God. The master of liars tempted our first parents by questioning whether God’s word was true or not. With Eve being deceived, and Adam who willingly and willfully rebelled against God, the world has fallen into the state of corruption. And since that "fall" the human race has been burdened with a heart that "...is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer.17:9)
It hasn’t changed. When Jesus came and walked the earth He taught to those around him the "word" which was given Him from above. But many did not believe him, even the many deciples who followed him around and finally walked away when they could not abide by the words which he spoke (John 6:60-66). Jesus pointedly made it clear that only those who the father had given to him, would hear and come. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (Jn. 6:44,45) And even in stronger language Jesus conveyed this truth when he said, "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, ...". (Jn 8:43,44a).
But in His Grace God has covenanted with his elect people, by promising to "enable" them by giving them a "heart of flesh" in which he will engrave his laws. "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."
This is indeed a marvelous truth and the very heart of the new covenant which was promised through the Prophets long ago. Belief in God is no accident.
We Welcome your comments- Jeffrey Thomas, jthomas1@maine.rr.com
John Robertson, jlr@exploremaine.com
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