Building on the Foundation

  “Tomorrow is a feast to YHWH,” Aaron told the people (Ex. 32:5). But the Israelites assembled on a day of their own choosing and worshiped the golden calf. To this lifeless idol, they ascribed the wonders of the true, invisible God: “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (Ex. 32:4). And as they worshiped, the people cast off restraint, for Moses, upon returning to the camp, “saw that the people were naked; for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies” (Ex. 32:25; KJV). God had commanded no such feast, He had forbidden the making of idols, and He hated drunkenness and sexual immorality. But the Israelites invoked His name on the proceedings!  “And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them’” (Ex. 32:7-8). This statement summarizes most of Israelite history. Though instructe...

Every Pastor, I’m sure, is familiar with Christ’s instructions to Peter, and the chances are good that these instructions are the guiding creed that they follow. The instructions are as follows. John 21:15-17 CSB When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," he said to him, "you know that I love you." "Feed my lambs," he told him.  16 A second time he asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? " "Yes, Lord," he said to him, "you know that I love you." "Shepherd my sheep," he told him.  17 He asked him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? " Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, "Do you love me? " He said, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." "Feed my sheep," Jesus said.   These instructions should guide not only every pastor but every man ...

  The psalmist prayed to the Lord, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97). Again, “I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law” (Psa. 119:163). And again, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psa. 119:165). Psalm 1 describes a righteous man thus: “His delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psa. 1:2). King David wrote, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:8). It’s safe to say that mainstream Christianity views God’s law much differently than King David and the other psalmists did! Those men loved God’s law; Christians hate it. Mainstream Protestants declare God’s law to be abolished. Null and void. As Psalm 119 laments, “It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void” (Psa. 119:126). Many professing Christians will tell you that God’s law is a burden. But the apostle John wrote, “For this is the lo...