"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

(12) It is like one of their own prophets once said, "The people of Crete always tell lies. They are greedy and lazy like wild animals." (13) That surely is a true saying. And you should be hard on such people, so you can help them grow stronger in their faith. (14) Don't pay any attention to any of those senseless Jewish stories and human commands. These are made up by people who won't obey the truth. (15) Everything is pure for someone whose heart is pure. But nothing is pure for an unbeliever with a dirty mind. That person's mind and conscience are destroyed. (16) Such people claim to know God, but their actions prove that they really don't. They are disgusting. They won't obey God, and they are too worthless to do anything good.

Contemporary English Version copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.

The Apostle Paul mentions the Cretans, but then quickly shifts his focus to “Jewish fables.” Of what is he accusing these people? Of a practice that follows the Israelites throughout their history: believing that God indeed exists but showing by their conduct that they do not truly believe Him. He charges them with exposing in their behavior that they do not believe that they are truly, personally answerable to the sovereign God. In other words, they do not fear Him. The reality of what God truly is and requires has not affected them enough to make a difference in how they live their lives in actual day-to-day practice.

Since we live within this environment, it brings up a question for us to resolve: How can we live by faith if we do not have sufficient knowledge of the greatness, the closeness, and the awesome grace of God shown in the mercy He has already given? It is this mercy that allows us to begin even the barest of a relationship with Him, build on it, and come to know Him and fear Him.

A recent Barna poll revealed that over 80% of Americans believe God exists, but that belief has little influence on their conduct. Just about anything goes in this nation anymore. The great immorality of the American people reveals that they are not very concerned about being answerable to Him. Considering what has happened in Israel's history, should we not be concerned about what this might lead to in the near future?

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One)



 

Topics:

Belief and Conduct

Building a Relationship with God

Conduct

Cretans are Always Liars

Fearing God

Jewish Fables

Living by Faith

Relationship with God

Responsibility to God

Responsibility to Obey




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