ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE, SAME ATTITUDE

 ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE, SAME ATTITUDE

Wayne Roberson

October 27, 2009

Aaron, Saul and the Church at Galatia demonstrated an attitude that says Faith and Faith alone is not enough.

This is an attempt to establish or affect ones relationship with God by human means.  The opposite of legalism is grace whereby one accepts what God has done.  Grace says, “I place my trust in the faithfulness of God as I submit to His commands and receive His redemption, by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary.”

Until we begin to see the concept of being a man “after God's own heart” we can not begin to understand where we must live to know peace and the assurance of salvation.  It is not until then that we rest in Him. 

It has been my personal experience that assurance of salvation was not realized until I understood it as an act of God and not a joint venture or act of man.  It is not as the country artist wrote, “Me and Jesus got our own thing going...me and Jesus got it all worked out.”

Nevertheless, even though I have never waxed or waned in the area of Eternal Security, yes “Once Saved Always Saved” it is a daily process to remind myself that the same God who provided my redemption is the same God who is sovereignly in control of my life.  This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. 

The “by faith” transition from salvation to sanctification is one that requires an exercise in faith. Until we surrender our desires and allow our will to be conformed to His will we are torn between two worlds. 

I have asked myself, “What does a believer after God's own heart look like?”  I believe this question addresses one's attitude and raises the question of passion.  Truth is we love what we are passionate about and vise versa. 

So, the preliminary conclusion of the matter is: Our attitude, love and passion can be seen in how we spend our time, monies and thought life.  The opposite is referred to in scripture as “Stiff necked”.

Not unlike the people of Exodus 32, as well as Saul in 1 Samuel 13, the Church at Galatia had received the truth of salvation by faith and yet returned (fell from Grace) to keeping the law.  It is my opinion that the law is an easier taskmaster because you can see the law and there are no gray areas.  Grace on the other hand requires accountability, relationship and fellowship as one discerns and yields to the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The “man after God's own heart” meditates on His Word day and night, teaches his children, speaks of the things of God in his house, when he walks by the way, when he lies down and when he rises up.

Deut. 11:19

    You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Sounds to me like the believer who loves God has a passion for the things of God and lives in fellowship with Him as if He were a friend closer than a brother.

   

Exodus 32:1-4

    Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." [2] And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." [3] So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. [4] And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!"

1 Samuel 13:11-14

    And Samuel said, "What have you done?" And Saul said, "When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, [12] then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering." [13] And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. [14] But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."

Galatians 3:1-4

    O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? [2] This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?