What is the reason?
My grandpa used to tell a story about one of his most memorable sermons that he preached. This sermon was inspired by an event that happened the night before he preached the sermon. In his story, he said that he got up to preach and said, "I beat the fire out of my wife last night, and I did right." The congregation gasped according to him. He then asked the congregation how many believed that he did wrong. Everyone raised their hand. He went on to explain that he did right, and it is not what you do as much as it is why you do it. He then explained that it was cold last night when his wife took a shower. After she got out, she put on her gown and backed up to the space heater. Her gown then caught fire. In her fear, she ran. He had run after her, caught her, and put her on the ground to beat the fire out of her. If he would not have beat the fire out of her, she could have died. He then asked then again if he had done right. Everyone agreed that he had done right.
In the Bible Jesus implied that you could do things outwardly correctly but still not be right with him. Let's look at a few scriptures.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:27-28
According to this they appear righteous unto men, but they are full of sin. They are so busy trying to follow all the rules that they forget the most important.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:7-9
It looks like it is a heart issue. Just doing things is not good enough.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-23
From this we get that you must have a relationship with Jesus. Just keeping commandments and doing good will not get you to heaven. You cannot work your way to heaven.
That is not to say that obeying the Bible is wrong. Jesus also said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15.
Now let's look at the teaching of Paul.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. I Corinthians 13:1-4
Charity is translated love in many Bible translations. Jesus pointed out that they were doing things, but their hearts were far from him. Paul teaches that we need love.
Jesus likewise teaches love.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40
Comments
Post a Comment