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Jay Graham Throughout the Scriptures, there is a common thread for those seeking to please their Creator. The righteous responded to God in faith and obedience. It was faith and obedience that justified Abel, Noah, Abraham, and others throughout the Old Testament. It was a lack of faith that led to disobedience for the many others that neglected the Lord’s will. This divine principle applies to us today as it did to those of old. We have examples throughout the New Testament such as the 3,000 at Pentecost in Acts 2, the Samaritans and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8, the Philippian Jailor in Acts 16, and others. They responded to God in faith and obedience. Their faith led them to obedience which continued to be exhibited in their lives long after they became Christians. This commonality is what ties God’s people together through all ages when they choose to respond to their Creator. Granted, we do not respond to God in the same manner as the Patriarchs of old who lived under a law of conscience, nor are we responsible to God through the Law of Moses as were the Hebrews until the death of Christ. Our relationship to God today is to be one of a special people, for we can all be priests and kings to God no matter what race or culture we come from. This is why Christ died for us. This is why He paid the price of our sin, (2 Cor. 5:21). This is why He reigns as Lord of His kingdom-- His church --His body, (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:13-14). Jesus prayed for us in Jn. 17:20 when He said, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” How can we believe in Jesus today through the word of His Apostles and Prophets? Through the divine Scriptures, for in them we can become “wise to salvation”, (2 Timothy 3:14-17). They teach us of God’s plan for us, they teach us of Christ’s sacrifice, they teach us of what God expects from each of us, and they teach us of Christ's body that He died for, (Acts 20:28). Through the Scriptures God has provided us all things that pertain to life and godliness. For this reason, God’s people everywhere depend upon His Word alone for instructions to righteousness and salvation. Certainly, we can find many other sources from men that claim to be filled with instructions regarding God, but only the divine Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit, ( 2 Peter 1:16-21), and only from these same Scriptures can we be assured of truth regarding God and His will. For many have been and will be deceived by other claims, but those who truly seek the Lord and His will for their lives will turn only to His Word. God has granted each of us an opportunity to seek His will. Every day he allows us to live is another day to seek faith and obedience, for the next day may never come. Heb 5:8-9 “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,”
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