Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland
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love [agape] of many shall wax cold"? Mat<strong>the</strong>w<br />
24:12. "Iniquity" here is anomia, hatred of God's<br />
law of agape {"agape is <strong>the</strong> fulfill<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> law,"<br />
Romans 13:10). The greatest s<strong>in</strong> of all time is that<br />
which kept ancient Israel out of <strong>the</strong>ir Promised<br />
Land—unbelief (see Hebrews 3:19),<br />
hardheartedness, lack of appreciation of <strong>the</strong> cross<br />
where <strong>the</strong> Pr<strong>in</strong>ce of glory was to die for us.<br />
Speak<strong>in</strong>g of Israel's unbelief, <strong>the</strong> author of<br />
Hebrews pleads with us, "Let us <strong>the</strong>refore fear, lest<br />
... any of you should seem to come short." Hebrews<br />
4:1. While fear is not <strong>the</strong> proper gospel motivation,<br />
an absence of gospel faith should cause us to fear,<br />
because this fatal unbelief is sure to rule <strong>the</strong> human<br />
heart where <strong>the</strong> gospel is not understood. Unbelief<br />
carries its own built-<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>capacity for sensibility. It<br />
is to "crucify ... <strong>the</strong> Son of God afresh, and put him<br />
to an open shame" without realiz<strong>in</strong>g what we do.<br />
Hebrews 6:6.<br />
One thoughtful writer has offered us a virtual<br />
def<strong>in</strong>ition of faith that is <strong>in</strong> perfect harmony with<br />
<strong>the</strong> New Testament concept: "You may say that<br />
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