The Second Commandment

[seekeroftruth]

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.​

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This is from the commentary.

Regarding holiness, we are told without which no one will see the Lord. A lack of holiness is a critical obstacle to a close relationship with God.​

“Unholy Christians are the plague of the church. They are spots in our feasts of charity. Like hidden rocks, they are the terror of navigators. It is hard to steer clear of them: and there is no telling what wrecks they may cause.” (Spurgeon)​

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Spurgeon described four types of people who try to get on without holiness:​

• The Pharisee: Confident in outward ceremonies instead of true holiness.
• The moralist: Feels no need for holiness because his life is so good.
• The experimentalist: Their entire Christian life is lived inward, never looking to outward conduct but only to feelings.
• The opinionist: Their Christian life is all about believing the right doctrines and is unconcerned about the way one lives.

I think the idea here is to live like a Christian inside and out. Don't talk about love and adoration, and then beat your wife to death because the gravy was lumpy. Don't talk about sharing, and then steal from the hat when it's passed to you. Don't profess to be a child of God and then sleep with the preacher.

I know there are a lot of people who say the Bible is just a work of historical fiction. I know there are a lot of people who say it's all made up to keep people in line. I know there are a lot of people who say if they keep their noses clean, and they are good to our neighbor, God will let them in.

On one hand people say He doesn't exist, and Jesus was just a bastard who got hung on a cross for smarting off to the authorities about taxes, but.... Then when they need to grow their businesses, they go to church and get chummy with the flock, claiming to be all "agape".

BUT.... what if I'm right and acceptance is THE key to Salvation... and because someone went along with the crowd... rather than listen to a longwinded old half-blind woman who doesn't have any Seminary Training... they will go to hell because they went along with the wrong crowd.

Back when these verses were written, Christians had to hide their faith. Christians were jailed and murdered. They were stirring a pot that should not be stirred. The Priests were born to the job and they were not about to let some bastard baby... who grew up in Nazareth of all places... get in their way. The money changers couldn't have those Christians taking away their business. The sword makers certainly didn't like the "love" not "hate" rhetoric, costing them money.

We have to strive to be a Christian inside and out all the time.

The Second Commandment says.... "Love others as you would have them love you!". If you accomplish that, you will be showing your Christianity. You don't have to "say His name" if you "show His actions".

It's not about the Second Amendment.

It's about the Second Commandment.