37 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
37 lines
4.5 KiB
HTML
|
|
<html>
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
|
|
<script src="../../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="head">
|
|
Day By Day By Grace
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="subhead">
|
|
Bob Hoekstra
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center">
|
|
<div class="pad2020">
|
|
August 17
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="main-just">
|
|
<div class="pad2030">
|
|
<h1>The Importance of God's "Unpopular" Promises</h1>
|
|
<div class="block"><i>"Therefore I said to you that <b>you will die in your sins</b>; for if you do not believe that I am He, <b>you will die in your sins</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 8, '24-24');">John 8:24</a>)</div>
|
|
<p>Generally speaking, God's promises are "popular" with many people. When most of the Lord's promises are read or taught, people are delighted. <i>"Therefore if the Son makes you free, <b>you shall be free indeed</b>…Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and <b>I will give you rest</b>…Follow Me, and <b>I will make you fishers of men</b>."</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 8, '36-36');">John 8:36</a>; <a onClick="return mV('Mat', 11, '28-28');">Matthew 11:28</a>; and <a onClick="return mV('Mat', 4, '19-19');">Matthew 4:19</a>)<i>.</i> Promises like these are so often received with favor, because they are so encouraging. They are embraced with approval, because they are so comforting. On the other hand, some of God's promises are definitely "<b>unpopular</b>" with certain segments of humanity. This type of promise is scorned or rejected because of its convicting or sobering character. Nevertheless, these promises that are not always well-received have great <b>importance</b> in God's plan.</p>
|
|
<p>One such promise is given two-fold in our present verse. <i>"<b>You will die in your sins</b>… <b>you will die in your sins</b>."</i> In a "tolerant" world that wants to deny the reality of sin and its consequences, this is an unpopular promise. Yet, the promise is true nonetheless. Sin brings spiritual death. From the beginning, this has been the case. <i>"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in <b>the day that you eat of it you shall surely die</b>'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gen', 2, '16-17');">Genesis 2:16-17</a>). This truth was restated by the prophets of Israel. <i>"The soul who <b>sins</b> shall <b>die</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eze', 18, '20-20');">Ezekiel 18:20</a>). It was also repeated by the apostles in the early church. <i>"For the wages of <b>sin</b> is <b>death</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 6, '23-23');">Romans 6:23</a>). Since everyone has sinned, this warning by promise that Jesus gave applies to us all. <i>"For <b>all</b> have <b>sinned</b> and fall short of the glory of God"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 3, '23-23');">Romans 3:23</a>).</p>
|
|
<p>To escape the inevitable consequences of sin, one must trust in Jesus as the promised, divine Savior. <i>"If you do not <b>believe</b> that <b>I am He</b>, you will die in your sins."</i> This statement (<i>"<b>I am He</b>"</i>) points to Jesus' deity. Shortly thereafter, He openly declares that He is God, the Son. <i>"Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, <b>I AM</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 8, '58-58');">John 8:58</a>). Here, Jesus applies to Himself the same name that God revealed to Moses. <i>"Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, '<b>I AM</b> has sent me to you'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Exd', 3, '14-14');">Exodus 3:14</a>). This important promise by Jesus warns that only faith in Him as the divine Savior will deliver a person from the certain consequences of sin.</p>
|
|
<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, I thank You for this important warning given by promise. I am delighted to have yielded to its truth and certainty. I rejoice that my sins are forgiven. Use me to pass on this promise to others who need to respond to it, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="desc-center">
|
|
<div class="pad2020">
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/08/0816.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
|
|
<a href="./devotions/daybyday/08/0818.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="return"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/index.html">Return to Day By Day By Grace Page</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|