We have finished the series of Promises in the Bible, daily looking at over 1800 promises of God to us. Today we begin a new series of daily studies: Human Response to God’s words and actions, commands and promises. In the Bible, the responses to God are all over the map, from the negative, hostile, rebellious, disobedient, and evil, to the positive, friendly, obedient, faithful, thankful, and joyful, and more. In summary, we will respond with either faith or unbelief.
God shows up, God speaks, God does something: How do we respond? We can learn by the Spirit’s teaching, for ”all Scripture is…profitable for teaching…and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete [1 Timothy 3:16-17].” We will let the Word of Law show us what to do, and the Gospel give us the power to do it. In short, we pray the Lord’s Prayer: make us better people!
The proper response to the Law is repentance. Contrition and godly sorrow leads us to the Gospel. The proper response to the Gospel is faith. The Holy Spirit induces penitence and creates faith in Jesus, and its fruit, eternal life. The improper response, of course, is prideful impenitence, stubborn rebellion, willful disobedience, spurning of God’s love, rejection of grace, and simple unbelief. But another more subtle improper response is to “try” to do better, and to use our own reason and strength, willpower and resolve, to be a better person. Jesus is not an example to follow but He is the only way.
We will be looking at hundreds of responses to learn by faith the only Way. The Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth.