Genesis 15:6 Authorized (King James) Version: “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Romans 4:3 Authorized (King James) Version "For what saith the scripture? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Do you see the difference in those two verses? When, whom, what, why are questions to ask. Why did the Holy Spirit by Moses’s handwrite “he believed “IN” the Lord” and Paul by the same Holy Spirits wrote, “Abraham believed God”. Why the difference?
My understanding is this; Abram had many interactions with God that were recorded by the Holy Spirit. It took some time, as with us, to develop trust in God. “ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 Ask yourself did you believe the very first time you heard? I bet that when you did hear it wasn’t even the gospel that saves Paul gives for us today in this time [dispensation] of the grace of God. It took time for you in your then dead spirit and the Holy Spirit convicting your conscience with truth for one to accept “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. I’d bet there were times when something would happen that you could see the hand of God in. I’d bet again in every instance it was different. It took God and His divine attributes and Him only to do what seemed impossible but was revealed to you in your still dead spirit. He knew exactly what you needed and when for you to by freewill to believe. To believe what? “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 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:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Before salvation, the Holy Spirit worked on you by His Spirit through physical means to bring you to spiritual life in Him. “ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body**, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13 Think it through until Paul’s gospel was received by revelation from the ascended LORD Jesus Christ man remained physical, spiritually dead. Paul remained a physical being and spiritually dead until the visitation of Christ on the Damascus Road. Saul’s conversation didn’t happen through confession and repentance although those actions are implied “And he [Saul] said, Who art thou, Lord? [confession] And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? [repentance] And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
I’m saying that this is the way of it but that it should instill questions to you so that you may study and question what one reads. Every word in God’s Word is exactly where and how God wanted it. To me “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8. For one who must check and recheck different versions, translations commentaries of scripture aren’t depending upon the Holy Spirit for guidance but trusting what man has to say about spiritual things. Is that wise? Does that glorify the LORD Jesus Christ? Doesn’t that say I need mans help to prove what God has said.
Concerning then what scripture says, to base one's belief on, I advise the Authorized King James Bible. It alone is the Word of God given to English speaking peoples. It is exactly the way God gave it, in the exact order and every word in it is thereby His Divine sovereignty. Don’t be deceived by those who will and have said “It's antiquated and out of date.” Some say that they can’t understand it, that they like another version better. What does that say of your faith and faithfulness of the Holy Spirits' inability to do and teach ones what must still be dead spirit? “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. Read Romans through however many times it takes for it to be received into your spirit if it has been made alive. If not believe the scripture be made a new creation and discover God, the LORD Jesus Christ in His Word to you.
** That isn’t a physical body but one is baptized by the Spirit of God into the body of Christ; “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
Comments
Post a Comment