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THE SCORNFUL REFUSES GOD'S GRACE, Verses 7-8.
A scornful person mocks the one who reproves him. The admonition "reprove not a scorner" is given to God's people and not to the Holy Spirit, because He reproves all men, including the scorner (Prov.1:23-30; 29:1; Acts 7:51). Heb.3:7-19 tells us that many people provoke the Holy Spirit by their unbelief. Thus the Spirit reproves all men because some men are despising His reproofs. However, the Lord says, "My Spirit shall not always strive with men...." (Gen.6:3). If a person continually resists the Holy Spirit and rejects the truth, the Spirit's influence decreases, until he is left to his depraved nature. The result is, he becomes a reprobate person (Rom.1:21-28). . It is the Spirit himself who withdraws His influence after constant reproofs were given to a man in a gracious period of time, and yet that man refuses to believe because of pride. The Bible says, "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins...Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?" (Heb.10:26,29). Despite means INSULT. So after the Spirit has graciously dealt with him, and he persistently refused and mocked Him, the Spirit will give him up. (Rom.1;21-28; Prov.1:23-32). A continuous refusal of God's grace is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Apart from the grace and calling of the Spirit, man cannot come to God to receive forgiveness (Heb.10:26; Matt.12:31-32; Jn.6::44). Those who always resist the Spirit will surely be punished (Prov.29:1; Acts 7:51). Though the book of Proverb is telling wise men not to reprove a scorner, yet God reproves the scorner. God commands that we are not to be jealous, yet God is jealous. He also commanded us not to take vengeance, yet He will take vengeance on those who rejected and mocked His word.
God uses instruments in making known His truths. A person, who keeps hearing the truth and mocks it, is depriving himself of the opportunity to learn more. Most preachers do not want to waste time preaching and teaching a person who will not listen and would only mock him. The best thing for God's servants to do is to be faithful to God and pray for the mockers before dealing with them. If he strives to win them, he must teach them patiently and demonstrate God's love to them (II Tim.2:24-26; Titus 2:7-11). Every true Christian must seek to please the Lord and strive to live in peace and harmony with one another. (Mat.5:9; Col.3:13-15; Ps.133:1). Sin breaks our fellowship with God and affects our fellowship with fellow believers ( I Jn.1:5-10). God has laid the principle of keeping the unity in the church -- that is forbearing and forgiving. However, if a person will not repent, and will continue living in sin, even mocking God's word and will influence others to cause trouble in the church, then the troublesome person must be dealt accordingly. Those who already know the truth and do not live by them must be reproved sharply (II Tim.4:2-4; Titus 2:15;1:13; I Tim.5:20). The Bible says, "Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom.16:17-18). If the mocker is a church member, and is causing a lot of trouble in the church then after the first and second admonition, the church must "Cast out the scorner and contention will cease". (Prov.22:10).
THE WISE RECEIVES MORE GRACE, Verses 9-10.
Fear comes by intellectual knowledge of who God is. When one intellectually
believes God's truth, and he humbles upon knowing it through the guidance
of the Spirit, the Spirit of Truth will teach or guide him more.(Jn.16:13;
I Sam.2:30). Rom.1:20 tells us that even the environmental natures
show the truth that there is God. The Holy Spirit starts to influence
men and reason with them in their hearts and minds through natures and
circumstances, and those who fear and humble, are led to hear God's word.
(Psa.10:17; Isa. 57:15; Psa.34:2) Such is the case of Cornelius. (Acts
10:22). He was a religious and God-fearing man, and the Spirit led
him to hear the word of God. However, I would like to emphasize this
point that no person can be regenerated apart from hearing and believing
the Gospel (Rom.1:16; I Pet.1:23). If one humbles before God under
the Spirit's influence, then the Spirit will touch the heart of someone
and lead that person to share to him the Gospel (Acts 8:27-35; Isa.57:15).
In heathen places where the gospel is rarely preached, the influence of
the Holy Spirit is less. It requires hearing of the gospel and believing
in Jesus in order for a person to be saved. (Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:13-17).
In places where people often hear the gospel, the influence of the Spirit
is more, and more grace is bestowed upon an individual depending upon his
response. That's why you can't read in the Old Testament of
men who got saved in heathen lands which were not reached or had not come
in contact with the Hebrew people. For more grace had been bestowed
upon the Israelites because of Abraham, the father of faith. If one is
faithful, he receives more grace and blessings, and he also becomes a channel
of blessings to his family and others around him (Psalm 115:14; Acts 16:30-31).
That is why many of the elect came from the lineage of faithful families
just like John the Baptist. And others who were not in the lineage of faithful
families were men who had been in constant exposure to godly men and the
gospel such as Paul. Election in eternity is according to God's foreknowledge
of those who will hear, humble, repent and believe under the
influence of the Spirit and the word ( Eph.1:4; Jam.2:5; I Cor.1:27;
II Thes.2:13). Just like the many Israelites who had the greater
privilege of hearing God's word and still rejected the Lord, many people
today who have the opportunity of hearing God's word still resist it and
choose to continue sinning.
Before the pastor preaches, he usually prays to God to prepare the
hearts of his listeners, and that God will speak to their hearts before
he speaks to them. (Ps.10:17). A depraved person strives with
the Holy Spirit whether he will listen to God's word or not. When he humbles,
he will gladly listen. (Ps.34:2). While listening from the preaching of
God's words, he will again argue in his heart and mind with the Spirit
concerning the truth heard. God challenges men : " Let us reason together"
(Isa.1:18). Yet many who run out of reasons in an argument won't humble,
rather they would close their ears and understanding because of pride.
When a person hears God's word and intellectually believes the truth, and
is convinced of his sinfulness, the Holy Spirit will give him the ability
of and aid him to exercise repentance. He is given the ability (gift) to
forsake sins (change his mind), and then God gives him the grace, strength,
and ability to turn to Christ (Faith). (Isaiah 55:7; ). At the point
he exercises faith in Christ, God regenerates and saves him. A regenerated
person can then be called as a wise person.
WHICH COMES FIRST, FEAR OF GOD OR HUMILITY?
Will a person fear God because he is humble? No. Will a person humble because he fears God? Yes! Will a person humble himself if he does not fear God? No! If a person fears God because he is humble, then his fear of God is a result of his humility. If that is so, then man can take pride in his humility. By the way what made him humble if he does not fear God? So, FEAR COMES FIRST BEFORE HUMILITY. What made him fear God? The answer is - THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD (Deut.28:58). So if he fears God, that is the beginning of wisdom (Prov.9:10). Fear of God tends to life (Prov.19:23). So, the sequence is:
Election according to God's foreknowledge -- Holy Spirit's influence -- Hearing of God's words - Intellectual belief - Fear of God - Humility -- Godly sorrow -- Repentance - Faith -- then Regeneration - Salvation.
Some Scriptures concerning Fear of God:
Without fear, a person is high minded. (Rom.11: 20). If a person
fears God, he begins to think wisely. When he believes in God and is regenerated,
he becomes a wise person (Prov.9: 10). God extends more grace
to the wise so that he grows in knowledge and grace (Prov.9: 9; II Pet.3:18).
Not only that, God's great grace secures the believer (John 10:28-29).
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| Another related topic is: "Greater Grace to Saul" By Edwin Jardinel |