The entire point of these messages were to instill me a desire to live holy. That's a good thing. But as you about to see, this mindset and presentation of God's plan for man in this dispensation is unbiblical. Most ministers who present the gospel of conditional grace frequently use Deuteronomy chapter 28 as their text.
'If you do this right, God will bless you...If you refuse to do this thing right, God will exact punishment on your rebellion.'
Now, listen carefully. I know perfectly well that our God is Holy, Just and wickedness will not go unpunished. In otherwords, a habitual sinner who enjoys their sin, is destined for eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. Scripture is clear in that regard.
But with respect to receiving the BLESSINGS of God, the church has it all wrong. Let's back up to Deuteronomy chapter 27 and verse 1. Look at 'what was actually being said', and to whom...
"Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people:"Keep all these commands that I give you today. (2) When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. (3) Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. (4) And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. (5) Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones."
1. God had given the people their land and all the blessings in it BEFORE THE PEOPLE DEMONSTRATED FAITHFULNESS AND OBEDIENCE.
2. God was honoring His covenant promise to Abraham. Therefore, God was fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant. As a result, the people were given the land and all the blessings in it; by grace, apart from works of their own. Their obedience or disobedience did not come into play until they actually took possession of the promise. It was after possessing the land that they were required to keep the terms of the covenant.
3. God established a Covenant with Moses because Moses obeyed the call. The people were stiffnecked and rebellious. They hadn't proved anything to God with respect to their faithfulness. In fact, they fell into rebellion, unbelief and began to murmur and complain. Yet, God blessed them!
Keep this fact in mind next time you think that God is blessing you because of your faithfulness. (Wake up and see how prideful we can get?)
All the people had to do was 'cross over Jordan'. The Jordan river was the designated placed of being washed clean from sin and bondage to Egypt. In the New Testament it's the place where John baptized many into repentance'preparing for the kingdom of God'.
The Jordan typifies our being buried by baptism into Christ, and transferred into "the kingdom" of Light, Perfection and GLORY. {Colossians 1:1-13}
Once we cross over, we need to write on our stonyhearts if you will, the commandments of the Lord. In other words, we really need a NEW HEART wherein theWORD of God is written in us by the Holy Spirit.
IN SUMMARY, God blesses us because JESUS CHRIST was faithful not us. God blesses us because the covenant was with Christ, who made us joint-heirs and partakers of His inheritance.
II Timothy 2:13 says,
".. if we arefaithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself." (English Revised Version)
