Weekly Devotional 4-20-15 God Is At Work
Deism, advanced greatly in the seventeenth century, pictures God as the great “clockmaker” who created the clock, wound it up, and let it go. A Deist believes that God exists and created the world, but does not interfere with His creation. Deists deny the Trinity, the inspiration of the whole Bible, the deity of Christ, miracles, and any supernatural act of redemption or salvation. Deism pictures God as uncaring and certainly uninvolved.
True God however, The God of the Bible, is busy at work among men today, as He was from the day He created mankind. He created man for fellowship and as a testimony of His glory. When tempted to become like God, man fell out of fellowship with his creator and became a creature of self will. God’s will was no longer man’s will. God’s glory was no longer the desire of man. Self-glory became man’s desire. Not only did man by this choice separate himself from God, but God separated Himself from what man had become. This was and is not the end of the story however. God is a God of love, purpose and restoration.
As to love and purpose we read from John 3:16-21, “ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
As to restoration, Jesus, the only begotten Son of God—thus God Himself— endured such unbelievable scourging and beating that when He was finally nailed to the tree (the cross) He was so disfigured it was hard to recognize Him as being human (Isaiah 52:14). We are horrified at the cruelty of the Romans who inflicted such injury, but they were only the instrument (Acts 2:23).
The writer of Hebrews informs us that nothing short of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross could satisfy God’s judgment against sin. We read, “1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure” (Hebrews 10:1-6 NKJV ). Sacrifices of any type, including works, could not and will not accomplish what is needed for man’s salvation.
It was not only the terrible pain Jesus suffered on man’s behalf, but also the humiliation. He was the Creator of the world, now hanging on a tree; naked, being jeered at, having been spit upon and mocked by the very creation He came to save. However, as Dr. Charles Stanley—In Touch Ministries writes, “During the crucifixion, far more was happening than the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind, providing everything needed for salvation:
1. Redemption / Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression: death. His payment set us free from bondage to sin.
2. Forgiveness / God could now release us from the punishment we deserved.
3. Propitiation / Christ’s payment satisfied the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us.
4. Justification / On the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty. Although we will still sin in this earthly life, our standing before God is one of righteousness. This is a legal declaration that can never be reversed.
5. Reconciliation / The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ’s death on our behalf. We’re now God’s children—we have open access to Him and fellowship with Him.
The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity. If there had been any other way, the cross would have been a grotesque display of divine cruelty. But because so much was at stake, it can truly be called the greatest act of love by both the Father and the Son.” (End of Transcription).
So the Deists may see God as being uncaring and uninvolved, but such belief is refuted by the record.
Jesus counseled His visitor Nicodemus and us by extension, “18He who believes in Me (Him) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:18-21 NKJV).
And John, Jesus’ apostle (witness) wrote, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36 NKJV).
According to the testimony of Scripture, the Deists of yesterday and all such persons are eternally separated from God. The good news is the Deists of today and all such persons can turn to Jesus for their salvation and the mercies of God will flow to them.
God is caring and is involved.
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
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