The book of Job
Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law.
You now live under God’s grace.
(Romans 6:14)
Explain JOB
On the surface, the book of Job seem like God is torturing the most faithful servant on earth just
to deal with satan.
How can He claimed God is loving after something like that.
But actually this book bring important messages for Christian today.
We need to understand God has a good reason to allow what
happened to Job.
In Job chapter 1,
The story begin with explaining the character of Job who is
a man blameless and upright and who feared God. The skeptic will say ‘see he is
faithful and no reason for God to hand him to satan.'
We need to know that good works does not mean a person is
following God. You can live a good life and still completely miss the point of
gospel.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no
one can boast.
Let’s see this two character
JOB and NOAH
Genesis 6:9 –
These are the generation of Noah, Noah was a righteous man,
blameless in his generation, Noah walked with God.
The key word is 'walked with God'
The bible teaches that being a good person is not enough. For all have sinned and fall short of glory of God. You can’t earn salvation but salvation is a gift by grace. It’s about walking with God.
Let’s continue read on.
This show that Job is not relying on the relationship he have with God, but relying on the works and sacrifices he is offering up. Job want to follow God but he thinks it is all about what he thinks it is all about what he does to earn God’s grace and blessing.
Job is a man who don’t believe
by faith but try to earn it.
In other book in the bible, most of the character cried out
to God when things are difficult and not like how Job. We can see Job is
talking of God and not talking to God such as “God who give and take away” He
is still not walking with God.
End of chapter 1, In all this Job did not sin or charge God
with wrong.
End of chapter 2, In all this, Job did not sin with his
lips. He didn’t speak what he feels in his heart.
End of chapter 3, Job began to wish for death. Wish he never
been born and still not speaking to God. It is like Job id writing love letter
to death.
He point on he is blameless, we will notice by now that Job
talk about his morality, sexual purity, generosity etc. He abstrain from Lust,
greed, violent etc.
That is the problem,
nothing in his list he mention faith in God or trust in Him.
He clearly shows he has faith in his own works, which should
deliver him.
His formula is good God + good works = good Life
It wasn’t a personal relationship with God.
Story of prodigal son: It is harder for a moralist to
realize they are prodigal than it is for hedonist.
Moralist look for his works and say God owe me.
The ones who don’t see
themselves as lost but believe they have earned grace and blessings.
God gave Job over to satan
to get him to realize he was lost in himself.
Message for Christians today:
Jesus didn’t come to convict only hedonist and praise moralists, He came to convict both sides.
Don’t be hedonist or moralist. Both are the
trouble of the world today.
Moralist may appear clean on
the outside but self-indulgence in the inside.
Sometimes as we are worshiping God, it may become an
auto-pilot mode that’s when we fall in moralism.
C.S Lewis : Diabolical self is the worse of the two. That is
why cold, self-righteous person who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to
hell.
Job finally realizes that it was God who blessed him out of love and not because Job had earned it.
God knew that Job didn’t build his true identity on things.
He had only lost his way and began to focus on how he thought he was able to
obtain things. God uses Satan to wake Job up. God only allow satan to go thus
far and not kill Job.
It is good to do good thing, but it is equal important to
have the right motives to carry out the actions.
Do good to appease God in an attempt to earn His favour or
Seek repentance to get closer to God.
Some people follow a certain cult such as abstain from vaccination, no going to cinema, having no Tv at home, compulsory tithing, worshipping Mother mary/Pastors, using Rock music concert to lure people to join and place the visitor in a position to accept Christ and condemned sinner, attending another church is consider a back slider.
These cult usually say "its a choice, we didn't force them to, but yet they condemned/ judge others and preach depressing sermon to lock the member in. The member will be so afraid to leave and end up obey the rule to be a christian.
Putting a Jam packed schedule, discourage further study causing burden to the member. Be filled with the work of God is fine but if you depend on that more than depends on God is wrong.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
In the book of Revelation chapter 2 was a letter to Church in Ephesus.
2.I know what you do, I know that you work and never give up. I know that you don't accept evil people. You have tested those who say they are apostles but are not. You found they are liars. You never stop trying. You have endured troubles for my name and have not given up.
3. But I have this against you, you have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first.
If you do not change, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
(Romans 7:13)
Does that mean that something that is good brought death to me? No, it was sin
that used the good command to bring me death. This shows how terrible sin
really is. It can use a good command to produce a result that shows sin at its
very worst. (Romans 7:13)
I used to believe that those minor cult rules help me to be
a good person. But this scripture say otherwise. Being good and depending on
your own work instead of depend on Jesus who died on the cross is hypocrite.
" It’s a paradox but not a contradiction? "
But should we all just rest in God grace? and do no good at all?
OF COURSE NO.
Good works helps in your testimony for man to see. But if you were to think that everything you do is the reason you enter Heaven then you are wrong.
:)
The question is
‘do you prefer church that 100% follow bible’
or vs
‘church that follow bible 100% but with some compulsory cult rules’
Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of prophesy in this book: If anyone adds anything to these, God will give that person the plagues written about in this book.
Follow God, don't compromise and accept any sort of cult in your walk with God. It is not a sin to have a TV at home alright. You will secretly watch video on your small screen phone. Dont lie yo.
BUT remmeber:
Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God’s grace.
(Romans 6:14)
signing out. CHAO!
Happy Niu year peep.
Amazing reading! I wish many peoples, including me came to know this earlier!
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