Chapter 21 Conclusion Part III In the Parts I & II we talked about the two states of man. We also found out what we must do to be saved, and thereby return to the original state that God originally put us in. While in Part III we have talked about problems assailing the saved. These problems, we have found, are coming from Satan's camp. Rather obliquely, but not stated flatly, we have come to understand that, the weapons used in the spiritual war going on around us are diametrically opposed. On the Lord's side the weapon is the truth of God, while on Satan's side we find that the weapon is deception. We have found that in order to have the truth of God, we must first be saved. After salvation we must study constantly to come into an ownership state of the truth of God. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Having claimed ownership, we must use the truth of God. The only way to use it is to share it and live it. If we don't use it we lose the heart attitude that prompts sharing and we fall into, what some call a back- slidden state. At any rate we become ineffective in the warfare going on around us. For all intents and purposes we become Satan's prisoners of war. Hogwash, you say. Spreading the gospel is for some, but not for me. I just couldn't talk to people about the gospel. Consider Ezekial 36:16 through 37:28, "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they entered into the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for mine holy 175 _______________________________________________________________________________ name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from the heathen and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you; be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to live in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by, And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate cities are become fenced and inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the 176 _______________________________________________________________________________ |
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