09.02.2017 Views

Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

thus judge, that if one died for all, <strong>the</strong>n were all<br />

dead: and that he died for all, that <strong>the</strong>y which live<br />

should not henceforth live unto <strong>the</strong>mselves [that is,<br />

<strong>the</strong>y will f<strong>in</strong>d it impossible to do so], but unto him<br />

which died for <strong>the</strong>m, and rose aga<strong>in</strong>." 2 Cor<strong>in</strong>thians<br />

5:14, 15. Just see<strong>in</strong>g what that love was resulted <strong>in</strong><br />

this "constra<strong>in</strong>t" go<strong>in</strong>g to work <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> heart<br />

immediately. Faith was a heart-appreciation of<br />

God's agape love.<br />

How <strong>the</strong> Apostles' Faith Becomes Ours<br />

We don't have to be one of <strong>the</strong> early apostles to<br />

"see" with eyes what <strong>the</strong>y saw. Through <strong>the</strong> Word,<br />

<strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit makes it all come alive for us now.<br />

See Galatians 3:1. Our alienated hearts are likewise<br />

reconciled to God by faith, and this means that we<br />

are also reconciled to God's law at <strong>the</strong> same time,<br />

for our natural "enmity aga<strong>in</strong>st God" consists <strong>in</strong> not<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g "subject to <strong>the</strong> law of God." Romans 8:7.<br />

And s<strong>in</strong>ce "love is <strong>the</strong> fulfill<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> law"<br />

(Romans 13:10), <strong>the</strong> "faith which worketh by love"<br />

(Galatians 5:6) immediately produces obedience to<br />

all <strong>the</strong> commandments of God, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

56

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!