‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them (Romans 1:18, 19).’
‘Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)?’
The amazing thing is that God saves His *people ‘through faith’ and not by works (Ephesian 2:8, 9), but at the same time faith without works is dead. The apostle James pointed out that, ‘…. …. faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:17, 18).’
In doing good works as a result of faith, the Christian carries out God’s will: ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).’
By obeying God’s Word, we act in line with His will, but this is only possible for those who have been born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8). God gives those who are called (Romans 8:30) by Him the ‘gift’ of faith (Ephesians 2:8), without which it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).
To be found guilty of disobedience one has to be judged by a legal authority. In the context of the above, the legal authority is God Himself! In fact, He is the Sovereign King of the Universe, since He made everything (John 1:1-3) according to His will and for His pleasure (Ephesians 1:5). So you might ask, “Why does He make everybody accountable to Him?” and “How can people be culpable if they don’t know of Him or of His Word?”
Quite clearly, each and everyone of us is accountable (cf. Romans 3:19) for our words and actions – even our **thoughts! Do they please or displease God? Are they in line with His will? There will be no escape for any of us from the time of judgment when we shall be judged by God for the way in which we have lived (Jude 15).
The redeemed will be judged at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) and all others at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
At that time on the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10) we shall not be able to plead ignorance of God’s testimony, because He testifies of Himself in different ways: 1) Through His creation, 2) Through His Son, 3) Through His Word and 4) Through our conscience.
He does not leave us in ignorance, but gives us these means to ‘grope’ (Acts 17:26-30) for Him and to ‘find’ Him (Luke 11:10).
The Testimony of Creation
Paul the Apostle makes the case that everybody knows that there is a God, because He reveals Himself through His creation: ‘For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (Romans1:20).’
The things God has made have His fingerprints all over them, as is evident when you examine them. When you look at the night sky, you can be left in doubt that an intelligent Being created the moon, the stars and the planets (Psalm 19:1, 2). They haven’t got there by accident, and they weren’t made from nothing..
When you look at the oceans and peer into their depths and observe all the wonderful creatures of the deep, you can be in no doubt that a God who has life made them and gave them ***life (John 1:3, 4). When you see mountains, volcanoes, deserts, forests, rivers and streams, you cannot deny that they were made by a Super Being.
You may not want to admit it, because if you do, you will have to be honest with yourself. Then you will have to admit that He made you, and if that is the case, you cannot shy away from asking why?
Having had these truths revealed to you, you have no alternative than to seek God for an answer. To encourage you He says in His Word, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Matthew 7:7, 8).’
The Testimony of Jesus and His Word
For you to have no doubt in your mind why He made you, God the Father sent His Son Jesus to bring you face to face with Him. Furthermore He inspired the writers of the ****Bible and put it into their hearts what they should write (2 Timothy 3:16) – specifically, but not uniquely, for you to hear and to understand (Matthew 13:23) in order that you may come to Him in repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
The central and integral theme of God’s Word is Jesus Christ, the Saviour who saves His people from Hell. He saves through faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8). Paul wrote: ‘But they have not all obeyed the gospel, For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:16, 17).’ With faith comes obedience to Jesus (Romans 1:5; 16:26; John 14:23; 17:6).
Were it not for the Bible we would not know of Jesus who is One with His Father (cf. John 17:11). The Bible explains that Jesus came to the earth to die for the sins of those who would believe in Him (John 3:16). He would rise from the dead, and ascend to His Father (cf. John 20:17) in heaven where He would reign in power at His right hand (Acts 2:33) until He comes again to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5). But please note, Jesus came not to condemn, but to save (Jon 3:17) sinners (Luke 19:10).
The Testimony of Our Conscience
In addition to the revelation of the Son of God and His Word, and His revelation of Himself in the things created, God equips each one of us with a conscience, so that we know what is right and what is wrong, what is just and unjust, and what is good and what is bad. We all have this knowledge (Romans 2:14-16), and yet our natural tendency is to choose wrong rather than right, because the ‘intent and the thoughts of’ our hearts are evil (cf. Genesis 6:5), and we are tainted with the sin of Adam (Romans 5:12-14).
Those who deliberately choose evil, sin against God. They rebelliously oppose the King of the universe, and they are deserving of death (Romans 1:32).’
None of us can be excused (Romans 2:1) from not obeying Him. None of us can plead ignorance (1 Corinthians 15:34; Hebrews 5:2).
‘Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things (Romans 2:1),’ ‘And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practising such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God (v. 3).’
*The Redemption of God’s People
https://thebiblicalway.blog/2018/12/03/the-redemption-of-gods-people/
**Inner Thoughts
https://thebiblicalway.blog/2020/08/07/inner-thoughts/
***Life
https://thebiblicalway.blog/2020/03/13/life/
****Bible Versions
The Biblical Way 