Amos 5:18-27: So you really want the end to come?
Amos 5:18 Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord?
The coming of the day of the Lord was scary for Israel, and I wonder if most Christians today realize how terrifying God can be. We know that we have been saved from his wrath by the blood of Christ, so that takes some of the edge off. However, the message of Amos speaks loud and clear: "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your gatherings. Even though you bring burnt offerings to me, I will not accept them. " (Amos 5:21-22)
If we think that God is near, and perhaps that the day of the Lord is near, then we should react with fear and trembling with much repentance. Yes, we are forgiven. But how sure are you that your current lifestyle and actions totally please the Lord? He took his people to task with Amos because they were prideful in their religious accomplishments. Will he view today's church in America in the same manner?
It scares me to think about it.
Labels: Amos, Eschatology, repentance
posted by Randy Rogers at
11:38 AM
7 Comments:
If God will not countenance sin, then how will we enter in? The atonement and confession of said atonement. But, after we are judged, forgiven and entered in, and we are no longer sinful, have we then left a part of us behind and in so doing become new? Will this involve a pair of scissors, saw or nippers?
In trying to work through the above post, I see the following:
1. I agree that atonement brings forgiveness. Our sins are not absent, but forgotten under the covers of Christ's blood.
2. This, then, does not leave us free from sin. As long as we live in this mortal body, we are slaves to sin. Romans 6:11ff implies that sin is still a part of us. We just are not mastered by it--or don't have to be mastered by it. The power of atonement is the freedom to hold some measure of control over sin, depending on the measure of discipline in our mortal bodies.
3. Thus, the part left behind is the lordship of sin over us. Christ is now Lord. This means we are able in some way to be overcome sin--but we must still deal with it as long as we have these mortal bodies.
4. Nippers sound much less invasive to me. Whatever must be done, let it happen quickly!
I was speaking more to that time many call 'The Day of the Lord' when I suppose LIFE (not everyday living and lifestyle although by definition they may have ended) as we know it will be over and all things are transitioned to a more spiritual and Heavenly condition. Surely Heaven has no sin. So where did it go and how did we leave it behind? nippers in your case! lol
Thanks for the clarification.
I suppose it all gets dumped into the lake of fire--and all evil will continue to exist but totally separate from God.
Thus, evil on earth is the corruption of good. Evil in the hereafter will be the absence of good--and thus good and evil will be absolute (all they can be) and fully separated, never to meet again.
I meant to conclude..'a probable AXE in my case! no laughing matter that.
If God is omnipresent, how does that work?
Good question. By ominpresent, do you mean that God is present everywhere, or that he is actually in everything?
I am not sure that the Greek term "omnipresent" truly measures the character of God, especially the Old Testament Creator Yahweh.
The Jewish concept captured in the Old Testament is that God is one, and he is on his throne in heaven. He has the ability to reveal himself in this world without vacating his place on the heavenly throne. He often does this through surrogates like Angels, prophets, and his own Spirit. For Christians, Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's revelation--the ultimate image of the divine on earth. The mystery of the Trinity is that God still remains on the throne, even though he fully interacts with humanity through the divine Christ. By remaining separate God himself can be in control of creation without tolerating sin or allowing sin in his presence.
I do not think that "omnipresence" is a proper biblical concept. There is no place that God has not touched, nor is it out of his reach. However, the holy God and the sinful creation remain separated to some extent.
Of course, by definition, if God wants to participate in creation he may do so--but it is a great risk to the sinful who would perish in his presence. Thus, it is mercy that stays his hand and his terrible holiness--and only gives us the revelation that we can endure.
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