So far we have focused on the Word of GOD being Divinely Inspired and I will continue to do so with a look at the Word being Prepared in Abundance for all who would Believe. But before I move into that I will again look at what Pastor Hoekstra, with some edition, has written and is found in E-Sword this time dealing with the Law being without ability to save. And I will again make use of the ESV translation.
"The Inability of the Law"
"For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the Law (as found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a Better Hope, through which we draw near to GOD." (Hebrews 7:18-19)
"GOD reveals through His word that His Law has a strategic inability. There is an arena in which the the Law has "weakness and unprofitableness." The Law demands perfection, but it offers no perfecting resources. This incapacity is not due to any oversight on GOD's part. Rather, this inadequacy is related to that which GOD never intended for His Law to accomplish.
GOD's Law was not given to man as a means of being perfected, that is, of being spiritually changed. The Law tells us what GOD wants to see in lives, but the Law provides no resource to effect the necessary changes. Thus, attempting to begin or to develop a relationship with GOD by dependency upon our best performance will always be a hopeless venture.
Anyone who desires to approach a Holy and Perfect GOD must have a more effective expectation than one's best personal performance, measured by GOD's Holy Law can accomplish this high goal. Anyone who wants to get to Know GOD, to walk with Him, to live with Him through time and eternity, must find a Better Hope, a Better Way than the Law of GOD originally was thought to provide. This the ignorance of man and his veiled perception of sight can not do by way of self effort or the works of man.
The Law of GOD cannot give us an initial standing before GOD, that is, it cannot justify us. The Law is also unable to develop an ongoing walk of godliness before the LORD, that is, it cannot sanctify us. For either of these precious blessings of GOD, a "Better Hope" is needed. GOD's Grace is the far "Better Hope" and superior Hope that allows us to "draw near to GOD," initially in new birth and then a continuing on to a maturing intimacy."
Spiritual Food Prepared in Abundance for Believers:
Proverbs 9:1-6, 7-12 "Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight."
"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the Knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it."
Isaiah 25:6-12 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And He will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the LORD GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our GOD; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His Salvation." For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill. And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust."
Matthew 22:1-10, 11-14, 15 "Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city (this actually happened in 66-70 AD). Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment (he was not clothed in Christ, a spiritual state)?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few (are they that have chosen the Better and Living Hope) are chosen."
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words."
Mark 14:22-25 "As they were eating, He took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is My body." Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Luke 14:15, 16-24 "When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
He said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. At the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' The servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
Revelation 19:9-10 "The angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship GOD." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
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