The Only Sure Word

Just thinking this morning about how so many have been judged by religious ideology, on one point of the Law or another. The Scriptures are clear that if we '…have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment", James 2:10-13. We must not judge according to the Law, but according to that which is the fulfillment of the Law, Love. We are warned not to judge the Salvation of others, and casting those away because they have not obeyed the Law (of Moses) to some extent comes very close. God knows those that belong to Him. Love believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Many out there calling themselves Christians have certainly offended, but they don't put themselves to the same standard. If judged by the Law, we would ALL be found guilty. If righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain. He fulfilled the Law, and that is why He says, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us", (Romans 8:32-34). So, does that mean we can just 'do whatever'? Again, the Scriptures are clear, 1 Jn 2:9, "…He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now". We must rightly divide the Word, letting the Holy Spirit lead and guide without fear. If we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, He WILL direct our paths! God is not man that He should lie. Just because we cannot understand His ways, doesn't mean that He is not in control. He is. We need to lean on Him, not on our own understanding! We cannot go around judging others using the Mosaic Law. He that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. God will judge me. There will be many standing before Him in that Day, believing that they spent their lives serving Him, but He will say to many of them, "Depart from me..." They will actually argue the point! Didn't we cast out demons in Your Name? Didn't we do this or that for You?
Look at the evidence in Scripture, just because someone does something bizarre, does not mean they are cast away. Actually, look at the psalmist David…David HAD to marry Bathsheba, both the lines of Christ go back to her two sons, Solomon and Nathan. Those two lines came together in Christ making him the legal and regal Heir. Yet, he was wrong in the way he went about it. God corrected him, taking his firstborn. What about the story of Ruth? Naomi's sons were forbidden by the Law to marry outside of Israel, yet Ruth (a Moabitess, (a particularly evil idolatry)), became the grand-mother of David! We are responsible only to our mighty God…to yield to Him, to rely on Him, to trust Him, to love others and to pray for them that they might grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. When we make a mistake, when we do the wrong thing, when we say the wrong words...God will deal with it. WE are charged with loving one another. That kind of love is learned over a lifetime under God's direct tutelage, if its ever learned at all. We each have particular capacities, which is another reason not to be so harsh.
When David sinned before God, the people didn't want to listen to him anymore, but God said that His Word is the same no matter who is speaking it. We need to hear it and not ANYONE else. The Bereans were "…were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so". Here, the apostles are preaching in the synagogue and yet the Bereans went home and searched the Scriptures, which goes along with what Paul said in Galatians 1:8,  "…But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." The Word of God stands, no matter what we think of it, or our reaction to it. Let our hearts seek after Him Who is the Word and all of His truth, no matter what. There is coming a time when men's hearts will fail them for fear of the things coming upon the Earth and everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Are we standing firm on that Rock? Will we trust Him when the stalls are empty and there is no food or will we find ourselves among the Great Falling Away? Will we be the ones running to buy oil from the wise virgins? Will we be deceived by the Great Lie that will put even the very elect into danger of believing it? Father, search us and try us and see if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us in the Way Everlasting. Let us be sure of our Salvation. It is based on one thing alone, the atoning Blood of Jesus. After we have entered in, we are His responsibility and He is faithful, even when we are not. Praise His Holy Name! Amen.