Tuesday, August 27, 2013

God is not a tame lion as C. S. Lewis put it.

Galatians 3:12
  • But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."

The law is not of faith because by practising the law, we mistakenly believe that we deserve salvation of God.

One may think, "Of course, I should be saved because I do all these good things." That person is deluded, not regarding all the failures he has committed in his heart such as his evil, selfish thoughts, hidden motives and adulterous images of one's mind.

Yes, the law is of the external whereas faith is of the internal. Internal faith may produce external fruits whereas practising the external law may not produce any internal faith at all.

A robot can keep the law. However, a robot cannot have faith.

A person can keep the law but he may not have any faith at all.

The law and faith are very different. They are completely mutually exclusive.

God delights in faith of His people, His children. He does not delight in selfishly motivated people who keep His law to their own glory, honour and power.

Pharisees tried to keep the law of God with hidden motives of gaining glory out of the people of Israel. This practice was condemned by God.

Matthew 23:27, 28, 33

  • “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 

  • So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

  • "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

So it is about our hidden motives and the root of our hearts. Are they rooted in God's word and trust in the person and work of Jesus for us?

Or, do we have hidden motives? Are we using God for our own selfish ambition and motives? 

Are we regarding him as a Genie of the lamp?

Then, we have not come to know the God of the Bible.

I recommend the books of the Prophets. There, you shall see the God of the Bible. You'll find God who is not to be messed with by anyone including kings, emperors and presidents. He is truly not a tame lion as C. S. Lewis put it. 

But in the end, He wants the best for us. That is why he would allow suffering and pain in our paths to heaven. 

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