The
Truth In Print, Volume 12 Issue 1, Feb. 2006
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
Why God Delivers From Death
By Bob W. Lovelace
Deuteronomy 32:4 gives due respect to God in stating, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all
his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is
he.” All Christians acknowledge that the Kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of truth
(Cf. John 18:36-37). Truth is in our birth just as James declared in stating,
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind
of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).
As Christians we commit ourselves to God who
can redeem us from adversity: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed
me, O Lord God of truth” (Ps. 31:5). This is
because we made our choice to be the way of truth. Again, the
Psalmist says “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before
me” (Ps. 119:30). He placed God’s law or ordinances before him. In the
preceding verse the way of lying had to be removed as he asks for God’s law
graciously (Ps. 119:29). My own study of His word reflects that choice: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2
Tim. 2:15).
Our words manifest that choice (or
having not so chosen): “The lip of truth shall be established for ever:
but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Cf. Prov. 12:19; compare Zech. 1:4-6;
Matt. 24:35). In His goodness God has given us an answer to give to others: “Have
not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, [21] That I
might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest
answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Prov. 22:20-21). I
certainly believe He has! Preachers should seek to find and use these words of
truth correctly (Cf. Eccl. 12:10). Moreover, all members of the church are in
this together are we not? Paul says, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every
man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25).
Like Levi, “The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not
found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many
away from iniquity” (Mal. 2:6).
Our conduct manifest God’s truth. Thus, let
your conduct be “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left” ( 2 Cor. 6:7). Each Christian
is to be zealous of good works (Cf. Titus 2:11-15, 3:1, 14), thus presenting
their own body to Him as a living sacrifice for we are not our own (Cf. Rom.
12:1-3; I Cor. 6:9-10). We do this knowing “that he would grant you, according to
the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the
inner man” ( Eph. 3:16). Moreover, this pattern of good works in our lives is
accomplished with the understanding that “my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). We have the
assurance that this will result in a true knowledge of God — “that their hearts
might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the
full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God,
and of the Father, and of Christ” (Cf. Col. 2:2). Above all we do so “for the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col.
1:5). And we know all the while that those who are of God hear and understand
for John said, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not
of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of
error” (I Jo. 4:6).
We do and experience all of the above
knowing the judgment of those who do not hear nor do they understand: “But the
fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). Thus I
will accept the truth that I must repent myself when I have committed sin.
God’s law demands repentance (Cf. Mk.
1:15; Lk. 16:30 – Those in Hades still don’t get it for God’s instruction in
the Word is what matters!; I obey the command to repent just as I obeyed it to
be baptized to enter the Kingdom - Cf. Acts 2:38; 8:22; Rev. 2:21). Christ is
the One “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). Because I need
Christ as my mediator I will accept the truth that I must confess myself when I have committed sin
(Cf. I John 1:8-9).
Elihu, speaking of what God expects when He keeps one from death says,
“He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which
was right, and it profited me not; [28] He will deliver his soul from going
into the pit, and his life shall see the light. [29] Lo, all these things
worketh God oftentimes with man, [30] To bring back his soul from the pit, to
be enlightened with the light of the living” (Job 33:27-30). In fact, he says
that God does this “oftentimes”!
Hear the Psalmist,
“If thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? [4] But there
is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Ps.
130:3-4).
Again, we find what God expects and what one must do. He forgives in order that we might fear Him! Thus
I must keep myself with all who choose to call upon God for forgiveness, having
repented: “ For thou, Lord, art good,
and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee”
(Ps. 86:5). Again he says, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and
gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Ps. 86:15). Hear
Isaiah, “And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you,
and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord
is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him” (Isa. 30:18).
Thus I’ll strive to keep myself always among the blessed who “wait” (long) for
His goodness.
Concerned reader
understand that He requires that we acknowledge our iniquities. Hear Jeremiah,
“Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou
backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall
upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for
ever. [13] Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that
thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered
thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my
voice, saith the Lord” (Jer. 3:12-13).
God expects this, “That thou mayest remember, and be
confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame,
when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God”
(Ezk. 16:63).
Certainly there will be no arrogance left having just witness, at times,
what He took you through!
One returns in humility. Concerning the prodigal son Jesus said,
"And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my
father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I will
arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against
heaven, and before thee, [19] And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make
me as one of thy hired servants” (Lk. 15:17-19).
Hosea speaking of the fear of God said, “Afterward shall the children of
Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall
fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:5).
Finally, we do so knowing that He can restore lost possessions and He
will care for us:
Psalm 104:24
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all:
the earth is full of thy riches.