Should Not, Could Not, Would Not

by Greg Gordon

A message to ever hearing and never believing believers

EVER HEARING

God is speaking, we are not hearing. God is pleading we are not believing. This generation is without excuse, never has the word of God gone out in such measure yet so little response has occurred from its proclamation. We are ever hearing and never believing. God has given warnings, pleadings, to His Church not just in New Testament Scripture but alas in the entire Old Testament Scriptures.

This truth is clearly laid out in this verse: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." As we look at the word of the prophet Amos give to Judah over 2000 years ago we also then, see a word to the Church of our day. The prophet Amos wrote to a people that should not, could not, and would not!

"Thus saith the Lord: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked."

SHOULD NOT

"They have despised the law of the Lord" - What a terrible time in Israel's history when they began to disdain, scorn, and loathe the very laws of God! Does this surprise you that the people of God can begin to inwardly despise the words of God Himself by whom they are called?

Jesus Christ spoke these words which share this same principle: "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." There will be a crowd of "many" in the last day that will confess to know God yet deny Him by their works. The word iniquity in the Greek is lawlessness, therefore they have a show of godliness but inwardly they have a heart that is lawless, apart from and hating the law of God.

John Calvin spoke on this passage with clear vision and insight: "I come now to the words: 'For they have despised, he says, the law of Jehovah.' Here he charges the Jews with apostasy; for they had cast aside the worship of God, and the pure doctrine of religion. This was a most grievous crime.

We hence see, that the Prophet condemns here freely and honestly as it became him, the vices of his own people, so that there was no room for defamation, when he afterwards became a severe censor and reprover of the Israelites; for he does not lightly touch on something wrong in the tribe of Judah, but says that they were apostates and treacherous, having cast aside the law of God.

But it may be asked, why the Prophet charges the Jews with a crime so atrocious, since religions as we have seen in the Prophecies of Hosea, still existed among them? But to this there is a ready answer: the worship of God was become corrupt among them, though they had not so openly departed from it as the Israelites.

There remained, indeed, circumcision among the Israelites; but their sacrifices were pollution, their temples were brothels: they thought that they worshiped God; but as a temple had been built at Bethel contrary to God's command, the whole worship was a profanation." What a terrible time in the life of God's people when religion that was God-ordained becomes man centered and man honoring.

Cannot we see how much of evangelical Christianity in our day has a form of godliness and is apostate and apart from the 'pure doctrine of religion'? It is time to repent and follow God's ways that are best. The Church needs to stop striving after what is second best or what we think it best, only God's best will do in these days.

A.W. Pink expounds on this point of lawlessness: "In His Olivet discourse the Lord Jesus prophesied that 'Because iniquity (Greek, lawlessness) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold' (Matthew 24:12). Surely no appointed eye can fail to see that this prediction is now being fulfilled. Lawlessness abounds on every side.

Men are bent on pleasing themselves. Authority is openly flouted. Discipline is becoming a thing of the past. Parental control is rarely exercised. Marriage has, for the most part, degenerated into a thing of convenience.

Nations regard their solemn treaties as 'scraps of paper.' In the U.S.A. the 18th Amendment is despised on every side. Yes, "lawlessness" is abounding. And God's own people have not escaped the chilling effects of this; the love of many of them has waxed cold.Church, we should not despise the law of the Lord. Let us not move ourselves into a place where we despise the commandments of God and the life abiding by the principles of the Word of God.

J.C. Ryle stated many years ago: "For another thing, let us beware of despising the law of the Ten Commandments. Let us not suppose for a moment that it is set aside by the Gospel, or that Christians have nothing to do with it. The coming of Christ did not alter the position of the Ten Commandments one hairs breadth. If anything, it exalted and raised their authority (Romans 3:31).

The law of the Ten Commandments is God's eternal measure of right and wrong. By it is the knowledge of sin; by it the Spirit shows men their need of Christ, and drives them to Him: to it Christ refers His people as their rule and guide for holy living. In its right place it is just as important as 'the glorious Gospel.'

It cannot save us: we cannot be justified by it; but never, never let us despise it. It is a symptom of an ignorant ministry, and an unhealthy state of religion, when the law is lightly esteemed. The true Christian 'delights in the law of God' (Romans 7:22). May we say with David "I love thy law!" We "should not" despise the law of God.