THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Part 2)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 17, 2022

THE RELIGION OF THE BIBLE AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Part 2)

Jesus said: “But the hour cometh, and NOW IS, when the TRUE WORSHIPERS shall worship the FATHER in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: for the Father SEEKETH SUCH to worship Him. God is a SPIRIT: and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 4: 23, 24, KJV (emphasis mine).

Referring to Mark 12: 28, 29, A. T. Jones thus wrote: “All there is of any SOUL [the living person, not a separate, ‘disembodied spirit’ or “ghost” that leaves the person’s body at death!] is first due to God; because it all came from God. This, therefore, is the first of all commandments, NOT because it is the first one that was ever given by spoken word, or that was ever written out, but because it is the first that could POSSIBLY be.

“And this because it is the expression of the FIRST PRINCIPLE of the existence of any INTELLIGENT creature. The principle was there, INHERENT in the existence of the first intelligent creature [the first Adam], in the FIRST MOMENT of his existence, and there the principle abides ETERNALLY, UNMODIFIED AND UNFADING.

“Now, though that is the first of all relationships, and the first of all duties, though that relationship and duty are inherent in the very existence of intelligent creatures, yet even in that inherent OBLIGATION, God has created every intelligent creature FREE–free to RECOGNIZE that obligation or not, free to DISCHARGE that duty or not, just as he CHOOSES.

“Accordingly it is written, ‘Choose you this day whom you will serve’ [Joshua 24:15]. ‘Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely’ [Rev 21: 17]. Thus it is absolutely true that in RELIGION [of the Bible] –in the duty which we OWE to our Creator and the MANNER of discharging it—God has created man entirely ‘exempt from the domination of others and from restricting circumstances,’ has made him free to make his choice, and decide his conduct for himself, SPONTANEOUSLY AND VOLUNTARILY.’ Thus religious liberty is a GIFT OF GOD, inherent in the gift of RATIONAL EXISTENCE ITSELF.

“Any service to God that is NOT freely chosen [coerced, forced, intimidated, threatened] by him who renders it CANNOT be of God; because ‘God is love’ [1 John 4: 8, 16] and love and compulsion, love and force, love and oppression, can NEVER go together [they are ‘at enmity towards each other.’ See Rom. 8: 6-8 for example].” Individuality in Religion, pp. 6-8.

Even as “spiritual things are spiritually discerned,” true worship is in and of the spirit (from an honest, sincere, humble, and penitent heart). not merely “having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof.. . .ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3: 5, 7), ceremonial, mechanical, mere lip service. See Isa. 28:13; Matt. 15: 7-9; Mark 7: 5-9, KJV.

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.