July 26
2 Chron 17:1-18:34 | PS 20:1-9 | Prov 20:2-3 | Rom 9:25-10:13
The word of man should never be lifted up to the level of the word of God. Never! Lifting up interpretation, teaching, commentary, church doctrine, points made in seminary, quotes made by those famous Christians before us, all can contain error. The two are not the same. We need to place our full trust in God and not what others say about Him. Though I pray what I put forth on these short messages are Spirit led, it is the Word of God which is inerrant, and nothing else. It very often comes down to what one places their trust in, which either leads them astray or places them on the correct path. We read in Romans 9:30-33, "What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced." What is it that you place complete trust in?
The Jewish people were given everything. They were and are the apple of God's eye. But sadly like many, they misdirected their trust onto the law, onto law-givers, and currently on rabbis, and less on God, Himself, as we read in Romans 10:1-4, "Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God." Realize that Paul, who wrote this, is Saul, the former member of the Sanhedrin, not a Gentile.
So, God, knowing the frailty of man, knowing how easily led astray that we are, has made it all quite simple for us, as we read in Romans 10:9-10, "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." No crazy religious hoops to jump through, or rituals to follow, just coming to God, trusting Him in faith. Former divisions are done away with, as we read in 10:12-13, "Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" If you have not already done so, please come to the cross and place your hope and trust in the One who died for your sins. Please place your trust in the Author of God's inerrant Word. Stop placing your trust in anything or anyone else.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: