Title: GOD HATH SPOKEN Post by: Ambassador4Christ on June 22, 2004, 05:04:04 PM GOD HATH SPOKEN By Cornelius R. Stam In his farewell address to the nation Israel, Moses said: "Ask now of the days that are past... since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?" (Deut. 4:32,33). Moses referred, of course, to the giving of the Law, when God spoke to Israel by word of mouth amid the lightnings and thunders of Sinai. In Israel’s case alone "God spake all these words" audibly. Never before had He undertaken to address a nation personally. This was indeed a great honor for Israel, but God has since spoken to all mankind in an even more striking man- ner, for in Heb. 1:1,2 we read: "God... hath in these last days spoken unto us by [in] His Son...who... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." At Sinai God spoke the words of the Law, but now, in Christ, He speaks of mercy and grace. There He spoke of the righteousness which He demands, but here He tells of the righteousness which He provides in Christ. Some suppose that the absence of miraculous demonstra- tions, the want of divine intervention in the affairs of men, etc., indicate indifference on God’s part, but actually this apparent indifference speaks to us of His love and grace. Remember, the Psalms and all prophecy had predicted God’s judgment upon men for their rejection of Christ, yet today the Son still remains a voluntary Exile from His own world, while neither He nor the Father do anything to avenge His cruel crucifixion. Meanwhile, still lingering in mercy, He sends His ambassadors to offer reconciliation to His enemies by grace through faith. Thus His silence ac- tually cries: "The door of grace is still open. Be reconciled while you may. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Title: Re:GOD HATH SPOKEN Post by: MalkyEL on June 26, 2004, 10:56:24 PM very interesting writing - I have read it through several times - it intrigues me actually. Perhaps because so many ask "why does God allow this to happen to me - why won't He rescue me?"
unusual perception . . . as Jesus said to Thomas: blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe. Shalom, MalkyEL |