The Strictness of God's Law
It is significant that nothing in the Bible is emphasized more than the
demand to respect and obey the commands of God. In both Old and New Testaments it is
significant that when people obeyed God they were blessed, but when disobedient
and incorrigible, they were punished. To
the apostles, Jesus said., "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he
that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (Matthew
Observe in John 16:13-15 that
God gave the Word to Christ, who in turn sent the Holy Spirit, who gave it to
the apostles. This is the source of all
authority in religion-God to Christ to the Spirit to the apostles through whom
the Word was first revealed and now recorded for the world to obey and abide by
to serve God and be saved eternally. In
the above quotes, our Lord simply meant that those who received the Word
received the Godhead, and those who rejected the Word rejected God, Christ,
and the Spirit. So it is now. When one rejects the authority of the Bible,
he is rejecting the Godhead.
In view of the widespread attitude that God's Word is not binding, that
it is not necessary to be so concerned about God's
Word as law, it is in order that we are reminded that nobody presumptuously
sets it aside without guilt. God's laws
are not given according to human wisdom (I
Corinthians
Some Apparently Foolish Laws
of God
The Passover
Unquestionably, God could have saved
The Brazen Serpent
results. Those
who looked in exercise of faith lived, others died. It was strict, but no amount of
rationalization could set it aside.
Naaman Healed of Leprosy
This captain of the host of the king of
Other examples could be given, but these suffice to show that God does
not order His own ways or design His laws according to human wisdom, but
demands compliance, regardless of what man thinks.
Examples of God's Strictness
Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:1-8 gives the first record of worship. God bore witness that Abel was righteous (Hebrews 11:4). This testimony was based upon Abel's faithful
obedience. Cain's offering was rejected.
Why? Cain was a liberal. He felt it unnecessary to abide within the
limits of God's law. He seemed to think
because he had faith-some kind of faith that he ought to be accepted. He was not accepted, and should serve as a
warning to us today. God is not now
pleased with some faith, or some kind of faith, but demands that we stay within
the bounds of "the faith which was
once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
Strange Fire
Nadab and Abihu offered incense in the tabernacle
service, using fire from an unauthorized source (Leviticus 10:1-2). The
incense burned and the odor ascended, but they were destroyed. They took undue liberty with God's law. The fire they used was not consecrated by the
sacrifices upon the altar. When Jehovah tells us what to do and how to do it that eliminates
all else. No act of worship,
unauthorized by the New Testament, reaches the throne of God. "Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove
thee, and thou be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).
Uzzah's
Innocent Act
In being removed from the house of Abinadab,
the Ark of the Covenant was hauled on a new cart driven by Uzzah and Ahio. When the ark
was shaken, Uzzah spontaneously put forth his hand to steady it, and when he
touched it, "The anger of the Lord
was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error:
and there he died by the ark of God" (2 Samuel 6:1-7). Why? Was he not honest? Was his heart not right? Perhaps.
But he violated a positive command of
God: "they shall not touch any holy
thing, lest they die" (Numbers
The liberties taken by the denominational world, and many of our
brethren to copy their ways, cannot be classified as innocent as this act by Uzzah.
Such departures from God's Word are
generally presumptuous. Upon what
ground, therefore, can anyone justify sectarian practices? How can anyone conclude that God does not mean
what He says, that one can do as he pleases as long as he is sincere? This is nothing short of perversion and draws
the wrath of God (Galatians 1:6-9).
The Law of Christ Is Stricter
Than Moses' Law
Seeing that every transgression under Moses' law received a just
recompense of reward the question is asked: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"
(Hebrews 2:1-4). Reference is made to that spoken by the Lord. There is no escape! Every soul that will not hear (obey) the voice
of Christ will be destroyed (Acts
To take undue liberty with God's Word is to despise it. Those who despised Moses' law died without
mercy (Hebrews
The Word of Christ is unalterable and in destructible (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter
From the examples given herein (which could be multiplied), nothing is
more plainly taught in the Word of God than that nobody is allowed the
privilege of taking liberties with it. God
has always forbidden addition, subtraction, or substitution in any way (Deuteronomy 4:2:
Those who are
inclined to liberalism-in or out of the church-should take another look at what
God has commanded and What He requires now. "He
that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). Roy J.
Hearn (Deceased); [The Saluter,