How Obedient does God Demand us to be?

Transcription

1 How Obedient does God Demand us to be? William J.D. Shaw updated: Sept 23, Introduction: A critical question one needs to ask oneself is how obedient does God demand us to be to His commandments and laws. You need to use God s Holy Word in order to answer this question. Much of the answer is found in examples of the Nation of the Israelites and of specific individuals in their disobedience to God, these are located throughout the Old Testament. They have been recorded as directed by God s Holy Spirit working through those that were given the task to write the various books that comprise our current Bible. 2. Background: First and foremost before starting to search out the answer, one needs to recognize that Jesus was the mediator and the Son of God throughout the Old Testament. He was the Word, the Rock, the Cloud and was the one acting on the Fathers behalf, that made everything including man, He was the mediator that dealt with Abraham, Moses, the Israelites, David and all the prophets. He existed in the beginning and was given the responsibility to deal with man, and in the New Testament He was introduced to us as the Son of God, who in turn introduced the Father to us. The Ten Commandments were written on the tablets of stone by the finger of the Son of God. It was His back that Moses saw when he was placed in the clift of a rock. The Son of God was the one that rewarded and punished throughout the Old Testament books. If you do not know this look at the following verses; Joh 1:1-3, Joh 1:14, 1Co 10:1-4, Heb 1:8-10, Tit 2:13, Col 1:14-18, Rev 19:13, Eph 3:9 and Psa 45:6-7. If you look at Jesus as only a Being that loves and does not punish, you deceive yourself. We are told to fear God, to reverend God, to worship and to serve God and to obey God. All of these refer to God the Father. Deu 8:6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment

2 is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Rev 19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. Recognize what God said about the Israelites, who were His chosen people. Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Understanding that Jesus was the mediator of the Old Testament, and that when Jesus walked on earth as a man in the flesh, there was only the Old Testament. All of the statements made by both Jesus and His disciples refer back to the Old Testament. There is no difference between the Old and New Testament with respect to the Words of God and what obedience is required of us. We are to live by every Word of God. If you believe there is a partition between the Old and New Testament you deceive yourself. God does not change, He is the same Past, Present and Future. God speaks truth, God does not change what He says. What Jesus spoke came directly from the Father. Now let us examine what God has told us about obedience. Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Deu 11:27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: Deu 11:28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. Deu 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. Deu 27:10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

3 1Sa 12:14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 1Sa 12:15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. Job 36:12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. Jer 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; What one should learn is that obedience to God is rewarded, or a blessing is bestowed upon those that obey. However those that do not obey receive a curse or are punished. The punishment is one of discipline of the Father to His children, hoping to correct the disobedience. Note that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God (Act 5:32 above). Did Jesus tell us to obey? Yes He did, examine the following verses from both Jesus and His disciples. Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Notice that keeping of the commandments is tied to showing love for God and to obtaining a right to the tree of life or eternal life. Recognize that when you really consider what God asks of us in keeping His commandments is not an unbearable burden, rather it is not at all grievous. Keeping the commandments makes a person more righteous, the law makes the present world a better place to live in. We are to keep the intent of the laws, written on our heart, not the legalistic approach to keeping laws. Keeping God s Word is keeping God s commandments and this then sets God s chosen people apart from the rest of the world. Note that God s commandments and laws are Holy. Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. In the end we are judged by Christ and the judgment is based upon how we went through life, what were the actions that we made as we encountered challenges, what were our works, did our actions show love to God and love to others. Repenting requires going forth and sinning no more, changing to a new person, obeying God s laws, going forth in action or in works. This results in growing in faith and love to God and others, it is going forth by active works, not by fuzzy warm emotional feelings. Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the

5 dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 3. Examples: Let us now examine examples of those in the Bible who did not keep the commandments or the instructions given to them from God the Son. This is well documented in the Old Testament. A. Adam through to Babel: First there was Adam, he ate the fruit that God told him not to eat. This led to Adam being removed from the Garden of Eden. Next Cain killed his brother Abel and God cursed the earth towards him. Recognize that Cain was a farmer initially. Later man became so evil in thoughts of his heart and wickedness prevailed. So God destroyed man and started anew with Noah and his family. Following this as the world repopulated the people were building the tower of Babel, so God created different languages and scattered the people abroad. B. Abraham through Lot: Then God made a Covenant with Abram and his people, even the strangers that dwelt with Abram. Later in the days of Abram or now Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked sinners and God destroyed their cities and all the people in them except for Lot and his two daughters. Lot s wife looked back as they fled and was turned into a pillar of salt. She disobeyed what God told them. Gen 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Lot s wife must have thought what can a short look do, she did not obey what God directed through His angels, she thought it was a meaningless little thing. That mistake resulted in the immediate loss of her life. C. The covenant and Moses:

6 Then Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Joseph evolve as families of the chosen people. The Israelites are God s chosen people starting from the Covenant with Abraham. Later things become clearly defined with commandments, laws, statutes, and ordinances being given to Moses. In other words the Covenant and laws with the Israelites is stated in very clear and specific terms that leaves no doubt on what God expects of His chosen people, how they are to live and to be examples for all other nations. Since God does not change, those laws are still the directives that we have to guide us forward through this present life. D. The Sabbath: Now that the commandments are clearly defined, God expects His people to follow them and not to deviate from any one of the rules in the manner which they are to walk. The first example of how serious God was with respect to having His word followed is seen by the punishment to a man who went out and gathered wood on the Sabbath day. Num 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. Num 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. Num 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. Num 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. Num 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. In other words God explicitly forbid doing any work on the Sabbath day and gathering wood was work. The penalty for breaking the rules for God s Sabbath day was death. Note that the Sabbath Day is the last day of the week or the seventh day, which is Saturday. God has never changed this day which He sanctified and made as a Holy Day at creation of the world. It is a day of rest and of growing close to God. E. Moses error: Next consider the error of Moses in not obeying God s instructions to him, where in the second event of providing water to the people in the wildreness, he was to speak to the rock in order to have water flow out of it, rather Moses struck the rock with his staff in anger to the rebellious people. Num 20:7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

7 Num 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. Num 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. Num 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? Num 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. Num 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This angered God, that His instructions were not carried out, therefore a penalty to Moses was made, that he could not enter the promised land. So Moses wandered in the wilderness, leading the Israelites for forty years and after all this time was not allowed to go into the promised land. Note that Moses had a special and exceptionally close relationship with God, yet his disobedience in not following what was commanded of him, resulted in a very severe punishment. F. Disbelief by the Israelites: Also God s anger at the people for not believing Him and sending spies into the promised land, that came back reporting that the people were too strong for them. For this God made the people wander in the wilderness for 40 years until the last of the original men that left Egypt had died, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb. God had directed the Israelites to go into the land and take it as their possession. They failed to trust in God and do what he told them. They were trusting in themselves. G. Aaron s Sons: Next consider what happened to Aaron s two sons. They were made priests serving God in the tabernacle that was in the wilderness. They were given instructions by God on what incense to burn and how. They through they knew better and would please God by taking the initiative and burning some other incense offering strange fire. Lev 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. Lev 10:2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

8 They paid with their lives for doing what they thought would please God, rather than following what God told them to do. H. Miriam and Aaron Opposition to Moses: When Miriam and Aaron opposed Moses, God became angry and made Miriam become leprous. If it was not for Moses asking God to punish her for only seven days, she would have been ostracized and died a leper. Num 12:9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. Num 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. I. Korah s rebellion: Then there was Korah s rebellion against Moses. This angered God such that first had the earth open and swallow Korah and His people. The next day when the people rebelled against Moses, God sent a plague to destroy the people. It was only by Moses action that the plague was stayed. Num 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. Num 16:20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. Num 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? Num 16:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Num 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Num 16:25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. Num 16:26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. Num 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. Num 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow

9 them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. Num 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. Num 16:36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Num 16:37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. Num 16:38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. Num 16:39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: Num 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses. Num 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. Num 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. Num 16:43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. Num 16:44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Num 16:45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. Num 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. Num 16:47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. Num 16:48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Num 16:49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. J. Achan s disobedience:

10 Then there was the sin of Israel in taking spoils and the accursed thing form the destruction of Jericho. This was taken by Achan in difference to the commands of the Lord, in not taking anything. This lead to Israel s defeat against the people of Ai. When Achan was found out, he and his family were stoned in order to turn the fierce anger of the Lord away from the people. Here we see that the action of one can have very serious consequences on the whole nation. Jos 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. Jos 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: Jos 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. K. Saul s disobedience: Next consider Saul, when he was sent by God to destroy the Amalekites entirely. Saul did not follow and carry out the instructions of God as were made to him. He took a spoil of the livestock in order to sacrifice to the Lord. 1Sa 15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 1Sa 15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 1Sa 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 1Sa 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. Saul thought he knew best and ignored Gods instruction to destroy all. Saul thought he was honoring the Lord by taking the spoil for sacrifice and that it would please the Lord. Rather God wants obedience above sacrifice, so Saul was then rejected by God as being King.

11 L. Uzzah s disobedience: The instructions by God were that the ark of the covenant was not to be touched, it was to be carried and positioned only by the Levites through the use of wood poles. When the ark was in a cart, the oxen shook it, making it appear as if it was going to tip or fall. Uzzah put forth his hand to steady the ark. In anger God smote him for his error in touching the ark which would not of happened if it had been carried properly. 2Sa 6:6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. Uzzah intended to save the ark from tipping and disobeyed God s warning to all in not to touch the ark under any circumstance. Uzzah should have trusted in God, that God would look after the ark in the cart. So the intent of Uzzah was an act to save the ark but this contravened God s commands and therefore he was killed by God. M. Punishments of the Nation for disobedience: There are other examples where the Israelites disobeyed God s rules to them. This often resulted in the penalty of death or in other punishments to the nation as a whole. This resulted in defeat from enemies that God used to send against the Israelites, being taken into slavery, being dispersed throughout the world, which these various punishments happened a number of times. When the nation of Israel did not follow God s laws they were punished. From these examples we can see that God requires our obedience to His laws and commandments. God is very serious when it comes to our obedience to Him. Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 4. God is very serious on obedience: You need to ask yourself, when you do something that the Bible, God s Word, does not tell you to do, are you really pleasing God. When you take the initiative and think you know better than God, you had better reflect and consider again. God knows more than man, His ways are Higher than ours, we either obey or we do not. There is no partial way of obedience to some of God s laws,

12 it is either all or nothing. God s laws and commandments to us do not change, they are truth, God does not change. Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 5. Examples of today: If you change God s Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, you go against the instructions God gave to His chosen people. If you believe that Jesus rose on Sunday and you are honoring Him by changing the Sabbath day to Sunday or the first day of the week, you are going against His laws. If you say the laws were only for the Jews, when in fact they are for all of God s chosen people, Jew or Gentile, then you have stated by your action that you are not one of God s chosen people. There is no verse in God s Holy word that changes the Sabbath from the last day of the week to the first day of the week. If you go in this deceptive direction you are not obeying God s Will. Think hard on what you follow that are man s traditions or man s commandments and how they contravene the commandments of God. When you accept Christ as your savior and follow Him, you now are the seed of Abraham, you are grafted into the tree of God s chosen people, there is no difference between Israelite and Gentile. Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; There is one law and one judgment that is for all of God s chosen people.

13 Think about Easter, what are you doing there that contravenes God s instructions to you? The Bible or the Holy Word of God tells you to keep God s Holy Days of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. Passover is according to God s calendar on Nisan 14 th, where the day of the week that it falls on changes every year. It is in the night portion, or starting portion of the 14 th, that Jesus established the act of communion for His broken body and spilled blood, until He returns. It is in the day portion that He was crucified and died. Nisan 17 th is the day of Jesus resurrection, three days and three nights later, we are not instructed by God to celebrate this day, only to accept Jesus death and resurrection by faith as atoning for our sins. We are told to keep the days of Unleavened Bread and the Holy Convocation of the first day of Unleavened Bread. We are told to keep the day of First Fruits that occurs within the days of Unleavened Bread. Nowhere are we instructed to celebrate what the Catholic and Protestant Churches call Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. These in fact are traditions of man and they contravene God s instructions to us, for in obeying God we are to keep these first three of His Holy Days that contain the crucifixion, resurrection and Jesus presenting Himself, as the first of the resurrected, before God on the Day of First Fruits or waving of the spring sheave. God s calendar and timing is different from man s. The day of Christ s death and resurrection are set according to the first two of God s Holy Days, these days are tied to the new moon in the month of Nisan and the days of the week on which they fall changes every year. They do not coincide with the days set by the Catholic Church and followed by all the Protestant Churches. These are but two of the traditions of man that contravene God s laws and commandments to us, there are others. We are to obey God s Holy Days and not man s Holidays. 6. Summary: Recognize that God is very, very serious when it comes to our obedience to His Will. His Will is given throughout the books of the Bible. They are basically the laws and commandments given by God to His chosen people, they are to help us grow and mature as God s children, to shape our heart and mind to become holy. If you truly and deeply love God, you will strive to please him, keeping His laws and commandments is showing our love for God. We should now find His laws and commandments a joy in our heart, not a burden and not grievous. Jesus told us how to pray, thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is when Jesus returns to set up the kingdom of God on earth at the beginning of the millennium. This is where the whole world will be required to follow God s laws and commandments. God s chosen people are expected as part of the covenant with God, to follow His laws and commandments at present, and to be an example to all others around us. In keeping God s commandments and laws, we become God s children and if we persevere to the end we are one of God s chosen saints. We are His saints if we are following in the same manner as the early congregation as set up by Christ, just after His resurrection. Providing we walk the narrow path God laid out for us and are faithful to doing God s Will, then we will be ready and found acceptable when Jesus returns to collect His chosen bride. The first resurrection is

14 a relatively small or medium sized group, it is the summer harvest. This occurs prior to the millennium. The large group of those saved occurs at the second resurrection, which is the fall harvest. This occurs at the end of the millennium. ***