28 August 2012

The Law of Approbation


Joshua 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

The Scofield Study Bible offers this brief, insightful note: “The law of appropriation. God gives, but we must take.”  Is that not the truth?  The land was theirs.  God had given it to them.  The victory was theirs.  God had already promised it to them.  The battle was the Lord’s.  He had said that He would fight for them (Deuteronomy 1:3; 3:22; 20:4).  But they still had to go out to the battlefield and fight.  They still had to engage the enemy and claim the victory God had given.

Consider these applications of this simple truth:

SALVATION

·       God gave us His Son, but that love only benefits those who believe on Him (John 3:16). 

·       The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23), but we must receive this gift (John 1:12) by placing our faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

·       The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ is unto all but only upon all them that believe (Romans 3:22). 

·       Whosoever will may come, and the water of life is free, but we have to come and take it (Revelation 22:17).

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

·       God has given unto us all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), but we must diligently add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5). 

·       We already have the eternal life (John 10:28) that we’re told to lay hold of (1 Timothy 6:12).

·       We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God (John 7:37-39), but we must be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) by yielding control of our members unto Him (Romans 6:13).

·       The whole armor is available in the person of Jesus Christ (truth – John 14:6; righteousness – 1 Corinthians 1:30; peace – Ephesians 2:14; salvation – Acts 4:12; faith – Galatians 2:20; word – John 1:1-3, 14), but we must take it (Ephesians 6:13) and put it (Ephesians 6:10; Romans 13:12) or Him (Romans 13:14) on. 

·       He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), but we must rest in Him (Psalm 37:7).  His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), but we must obtain it by coming to His throne (Hebrews 4:14-16).  He is our refuge (Psalm 46:1), but we must lean on His everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).

There are many, many more examples.  Leave your comments and help me add to this list.    

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