Run Through the Streets: As The LORD Lives...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

As The LORD Lives...

The previous verse one we see that the call goes out to "Run...through the streets of Jerusalem...", to seek for anyone who "executes judgment, who seeks the truth", and if there is anyone then "I will pardon her", God says. This takes us to the second verse:

"Though they say, 'As the LORD lives,' surely they swear falsely" Jeremiah 5:2 (NKJV).

The phrase "As the LORD lives" is one which the prophets often used to proclaim divine oracles, or by people swearing oaths. This was a city and a land which made great promises to God, and refused to believe that God would judge a nation, a city as Jerusalem, or its temple which was the "abiding place of God" for the people. The priests and people of Judah seemed not to view the LORD in any greater capacity than they did the gods the surrounding nations worshipped.

Due to this unbelief; this pluralistic thought; God holds them in contempt of the Laws of His name. The arrogance of the hearts of men and women of that day against the LORD was very similar to many of today.

To think that we could go to church or worship in any place and appease God for all our sin is at the height of arrogance, when we know that God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross. To think that being baptized could appease the wrath of God against sin comes from the pride of a rebellious heart. To believe that to break the bread or drink the Lord's cup would appease the judgment of God for sin is against the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. These things are for the genuine believer, and can never put away our sins; can never atone for sin.

The LORD lives; there is no doubt about that. Since we believe that, genuinely, then we must genuinely believe Him and follow Him and believe and practice the principles, testimonies, ordinances, laws, judgments, words, statutes, commandments of His Word. Just attaching His name on the end of prayer does not mean that it is prayed in His name; and just because you may attach His name to a sermon, or speech, does not mean that sermon or speech is of God or from His Word.

These people of Jeremiah's day would speak in the name of the LORD, then lived their lives after the fashion of the surrounding nations. They were still worshipping God on the Sabbath, per se, and the rest of the week they worshipped the gods of the nations, either by practice or by neglecting the LORD.

We don't do that: do we? It happens far, far too many times. Be sure when you use the LORD's name it is in reverence, and in worship of Him whose name is reverend and holy -

"He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name." Psalms 111:9 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

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For Your Salvation

The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). The glory of God was the reason for our creation. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden it passed on to their children, and that is you and me. We also read in the pages of the Bible [God’s Word] that, “There is none righteous, no, not one”. (Romans 3:10). Righteousness is simply being right with God. Because we are sinners, yet God - who is holy loved us - sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. The Just One [Jesus Christ] for the unjust [You and I]. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Here is the gospel of Jesus Christ; “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures; and that He was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep [are with Christ]. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). BE SAVED TODAY.