Friday, February 2, 2018

February 3, 2017

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:29-31

This is an amazingly profound statement from Abraham. I guess that is what you might expect from the Father of Faith!

What he says is this: "The one thing that will keep you out of Hell is knowing and believing the Word of God!"

Think about that!

Unless and until you are willing to believe and trust the Bible as the Word of God you are incapable of faith. And without faith you cannot be saved. That is what cost the Rich Man his eternity.

You must believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and it is your guide through life and to eternity. And before you actually believe that you must be willing to believe it. By that I mean you must be willing to give God's Word the benefit of the doubt. It must become the basis of your reality. When circumstances or situations or events of life seem to contradict what the Bible says, you choose to believe what the Bible says. That is faith!

So knowing and believing the Word of God will get you to Heaven and keep you from Hell shouldn't you commit yourself to the Word of God? Hear's what the Bible answers that question:

"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)  “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:1-17

So what should you do?

Stop procrastinating when it comes to reading and studying the Bible! Don't be like the Rich Man in the parable and wait until it is too late!

Listen to the Word!

Learn the Word!

Lean on the Word!

Live by the Word!