Walk in the Old Paths...

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 ESV)

Here is a common error made by many when interpreting scripture. Jesus tells us to fear the one who can put us in hell. Who is this that can put us in hell? Many will immediately say, Satan. Wrong, Satan can lead us down the path to hell. He can control the weak. He can tempt us with those things that are sinful and in which we are weak: the flesh, money, lust of the eyes.

In the garden, Christ asked the Father to take this cup from me. Take this cup from me. What was in the cup? In the cup was the wrath of almighty God against sin. Christ drank that cup and tasted the sin of man.  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Christ became sin for us, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Christ was a propitiation; He appeased the wrath of God and paid for our sins.

My Brothers and Sisters, it is God who we must fear. It is God who can destroy both the body and soul in hell. We are saved from God, by God, for God. In Proverbs 9:10, we read, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” We are to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, but we are to understand the mighty power of God, His righteousness, and His holiness.

For those outside of Christ, it will not go well on the day of judgment. If we are saved in Christ, we will stand before God and answer for our life. Is that a trembling day for you? I pray it is because it means you understand your relationship with God. You understand who you are as His child. You read scripture and understand its meaning. You strive to live your life walking with Christ but also understand that you are a sinner and will sin. It will be a trembling day for all of us. Burgess wrote, “Heaven is not a place for sluggards of the word. Ignorance of truth is a curse, and if it is your choice, it will as surely be your destruction.” Daniel Burgess et al. A Biblical Guide to Hearing and Studying the Word of God.

Continue to be a student of the truth. Study the Word of God. “Walk in the old paths,” the paths of the Puritans. Understand the Reformation and its truth of salvation through Christ.

Peace and grace!