“God Is Just”

Jarrod Jacobs

            Thomas Jefferson once said, “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” The Hebrew writer said, “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). Considering the fact that God is just, and that He will judge righteously, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

            The justice of God ought to be a great comfort to all those who are His children (Acts 2:38, 11:26). While men may be bribed, threatened, and otherwise coerced to make judgments in favor of certain ones, God is not like this. Regardless of social status, God is just. “Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands?” (Job 34:18-19). Peter said, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35). David rightly said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage” (Ps. 33:12).

            Seeing that God is just, life is short (Jas. 4:14), and the judgment is certain (II Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27), what have you done to make your life right with God (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38)? Mr. Jefferson got it right when he considered the just nature of God and trembled. What are you doing? Are you trembling or ignoring? Think about it! Our “second chance” is right now (II Cor. 6:2)!

A few weeks ago, I published a work by brother Bill Crews. Here is another article he wrote some years ago. Let us read it and benefit from it.

“What Man Says Vs. What God Says”

Bill Crews

• Man says: “The important thing is whether or not one loves God, not the keeping of commandments.”
• God says: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (I Jn. 5:3).
• Man says: “Thank God for the many churches so that man may find the one that is best suited for Him.”
• God says: “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4). “He is the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18).
• Man says: “Join the church of your choice, but join a church.”
• God says: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). “Every plant, (religious) which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13). “...and that there be no divisions among you” (I Cor. 1:10).
• Man says: “Each person should follow the way that seems right to them and that honesty and conscience direct.”
• God says: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12). “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
• Man says: “Faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort.” “Ye see that by faith only a man is justified.”
• God says: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24). “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6).
• Man says: “Baptism is not necessary to one’s salvation.”
• God says: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16). “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
• Man says: “Baptism is an ordinance that can be administered by sprinkling or pouring on of water as well as by immersion in water.”
• God says: “We are buried with him by baptism into death” (Rom. 6:4). “They came unto a certain water: .... and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water …” (Acts 8:36-39).

Learning Lessons From Naaman The Leper (#7)

Jarrod Jacobs

            For the past few days, we have studied II Kings 5:1-14 in connection with the healing of the leper, Naaman. What applications can we make from this account?

            From the young maid (II Kings 5:2-3), let us learn that God’s word is understandable, and can be obeyed by the young as well as the old. God’s word is just as understandable today as it was in the days of Naaman (Eph. 3:4, 5:17).

            Let us learn that only God can save us, and His salvation is not for sale (II Kings 5:5, 15-16; I Pet. 1:18-19). Just as Naaman was cleansed on God’s terms (II Kings 5:10, 14), we will be saved on God’s terms, or not at all (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38).

            We need to realize that we are known by what we do (II Kings 5:8). Our words only go so far. If we are a Christian, or are wicked, our actions will show it (Matt. 7:12, 21; I Jn. 3:18).

            Instead of fighting against the Lord (II Kings 5:11-12), let us willingly obey God. Naaman was the first on record to suggest that cleansing power was in the water. It was not true then, nor is it true today when someone cries “water salvation” when we teach baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16; I Pet. 3:21).

            Finally, let us learn that we will be blessed by God only when we submit completely to the will of the Lord, just as Naaman did (II Kings 5:14; Rev. 22:14)! Are we obedient to the Lord? (Jas. 2:24, 26)

Some people wish to teach us that faith and works are mutually exclusive. Not so! Faith and works are joined together, as we see in the book of Hebrews 11. Please read this chart below and see the connection between faith and works. -- Jarrod

                         Faith                                                          Works