William & Betty Hill
Also available in "Fill in the blanks" Bible Study Lessons
What Is God's Name? And What Difference Does It Make
CONCLUSION
I want to use the word
conclusion
in a different sense than is ordinarily implied when it appears at the close of
a book.
Instead of using
conclusion
to call attention to
the end,
final part, that’s it,
etc., let us look at the word
conclusion
as it applies to a
reasoned judgment, the necessary
consequence, the right
answer, or
proper goal.
It has been emphasized in
this book that knowing the
Names of God
does not only inform
us of who and what He
is, but also
points out
to us who and what we
should be. This is extremely important
in this day when it seems that
God’s Grace
has been emphasized at the
expense
and to the detriment
of His Holiness.
When Isaiah had his vision of
God in Isaiah 6:1-8, he heard the seraphims crying one to another, “Holy, holy,
holy” and not “Grace, grace, grace.” Somehow
this generation seems to be encouraged to believe that Jesus Christ “Made
Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made
in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man he humbled Himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians
2:7,8) so that we can live as carelessly as we like and still be
assured of Heaven.
Think about it! Does it seem reasonable
that Christ would be born, live a perfect life, suffer a horrible, torturous
death by crucifixion so that we can claim salvation, and then live an insincere,
haphazard Christian life, or even a life of outright sin and still go to Heaven?
Christ came to save us by His
Blood and by His Spirit. He did not come to save us
in
our sins, but from
them.
[1] What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God
forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:1-2
He did not die to enable us
to sin without consequence. Today we hear ministers of the gospel proclaim that
God will take sinners to Heaven because at some point in their lives they prayed
a sinner’s prayer.
It has become so ridiculous
that people say that murderers and practicing homosexuals and adulterers will go
to Heaven when the trumpet sounds because they once were saved. Can you even
imagine, sinners going to a Holy Heaven where there are Holy Angels, and a Holy
God?
[9] Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor abusers
of themselves with mankind,
[10]
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians
6:9-10
There will no doubt be those who will take the
Mark of the Beast
believing that God’s Grace is more powerful than any little mark by the devil.
But what does the Bible say?
[9] And the third angel
followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
[10] The
same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without
mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
[11] And
the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest
day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the
mark of his name. Revelation 14:9-11
It
is
my strong desire and encouragement that the effect of this book on you will not
only reveal God’s
Greatness to you, but also point out
your responsibility
to Him.
[3] For this is the will
of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
[4]
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification
and honour;
[5] Not in the lust of
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
[6] That
no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is
the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
[7] For
God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1
Thessalonians 4:3-7
[11] And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie:
[12] That
they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 In a
final word, let me remind you that the
True Grace of God
does not just lead us to salvation, it also
becomes our teacher.
[11] For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
[12]
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;
[13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
[14] Who gave himself
for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:11-14
There is a disproportionate
amount of time and effort spent in emphasizing
grace
and faith
to the neglect of
holiness and
righteousness.
Considering that the Bible mentions
holiness
and righteousness
well over twice as many times as
grace
and faith
are mentioned, shouldn’t we consider that something is out of balance?
Why is it that “Bible
Teachers” can only see scriptures that make us feel good, and neglect Bible
verses that should govern how we are to live?
In my written
conclusion
I feel like the preacher who said in his sermon,
“And now, lastly”
and then continued to
last for quite awhile.
I can only hope that this
conclusion
will help you make the
right conclusion.
