Righteousness by Fiat
Many people really think this way. I used to. (No, the title wasn’t a typo.) Fiat: commanding something into existence from nothing; an authoritative or arbitrary decree, sanction, or order. Many people believe that all that is required of them is to command someone to obey them, and that individual must conform. They don’t see the need to first prepare the heart and mind of the misbehaving individual before demanding obedience, like a farmer prepares the soil before expecting anything out of it. They know no nurturing, admonishing, winning the heart first. And they think God’s method is the same as theirs.
But, “My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways: saith the Lord.” “Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me; that I exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” “[The Lord] is longsuffering.” “He that winneth souls is wise.” Is. 55:8; Jer. 9:24; 2Pet. 3:3; Prov. 11:30.
The Lord doesn’t just snap His finger and demand obedience from His children. It isn’t Him arbitrarily commanding, “Jump!” and us immediately answering, “How high?” He says like Jacob, “I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before Me and the children are able to endure.” Gen. 33:14. The patience of Job was nothing compared to the patience of God.
He does command; those aren’t ten suggestions. He doesn’t cajol us into obedience; righteousness is not the result of His being politically correct with us. He is the King and He speaks with authority, but grace tempers each command. He knows who are His and He has faith in them. He speaks with assurance and with a confidence that makes us assured and gives us a confidence that responds to His. Behold, the secret to His lordship over His people. Here is His secret for making the devils run. And in the transfer of loyalties we move from the service of sin and temptation to righteousness. This mighty transaction can only be accomplished by His gentle commands, wooing our hearts and settling our trust in His kindness. Thus, returning to our first Master, we rise from death in sin to a life of blessing.
Sometimes He must lay aside His patient overtures and pick up His scourge. But in all His scourging, as many as He loves He rebukes and chastens. He will never overstep justice, and mercy will always and forever temper His judgments. We can trust in divine love. And in that trust, through good times and bad, times of His mercy and times of His justice, we find ourselves able to give Him our righteousness and to glorify Him. Until the day that we are sanctified and sealed, having learned never to distrust Him again, but to distinguish the presence of grace poured into all that He says and commands.
His righteousness comes by faith that works by love. Righteousness by fiat is the tool of the devil; righteousness by fiat is the strength of sin. Righteousness by faith is the power of God unto salvation.
Righteousness by anything else than faith is just a close and subtle counterfeit.
But, “My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways: saith the Lord.” “Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me; that I exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” “[The Lord] is longsuffering.” “He that winneth souls is wise.” Is. 55:8; Jer. 9:24; 2Pet. 3:3; Prov. 11:30.
The Lord doesn’t just snap His finger and demand obedience from His children. It isn’t Him arbitrarily commanding, “Jump!” and us immediately answering, “How high?” He says like Jacob, “I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before Me and the children are able to endure.” Gen. 33:14. The patience of Job was nothing compared to the patience of God.
He does command; those aren’t ten suggestions. He doesn’t cajol us into obedience; righteousness is not the result of His being politically correct with us. He is the King and He speaks with authority, but grace tempers each command. He knows who are His and He has faith in them. He speaks with assurance and with a confidence that makes us assured and gives us a confidence that responds to His. Behold, the secret to His lordship over His people. Here is His secret for making the devils run. And in the transfer of loyalties we move from the service of sin and temptation to righteousness. This mighty transaction can only be accomplished by His gentle commands, wooing our hearts and settling our trust in His kindness. Thus, returning to our first Master, we rise from death in sin to a life of blessing.
Sometimes He must lay aside His patient overtures and pick up His scourge. But in all His scourging, as many as He loves He rebukes and chastens. He will never overstep justice, and mercy will always and forever temper His judgments. We can trust in divine love. And in that trust, through good times and bad, times of His mercy and times of His justice, we find ourselves able to give Him our righteousness and to glorify Him. Until the day that we are sanctified and sealed, having learned never to distrust Him again, but to distinguish the presence of grace poured into all that He says and commands.
His righteousness comes by faith that works by love. Righteousness by fiat is the tool of the devil; righteousness by fiat is the strength of sin. Righteousness by faith is the power of God unto salvation.
Righteousness by anything else than faith is just a close and subtle counterfeit.
posted by David | 7:57 PM
4 Comments:
Hi David. You are also such a precious brother in the Lord. Thanks for your loyalty.
I agree, it's all about faith, trust and a willingness to learn.
Who better to rely upon than Jesus??
Gabrielle, what a nice surprise! Good to hear from you, long-time friend (I almost said, old friend!). But we are as young as we feel and that eternal life from Jesus keeps us feeling pretty dapper. I hope you are doing good and the barnstorming is over. Love you, sister.
Trailady, another great friend. I'm glad we're on the same sheet of music. Speaking of music, when and where is MofM performing next? Maybe I can get out there.
Hello again Orange Cross.
I will try to answer your questions, but I may not do it perfectly to your satisfaction, partially because I may not understand what you are asking.
I hesitate on the subject of international law because its not my forte. But as a layman on that topic, its my understanding that God has allowed, or even programmed into us, that, as with individuals, sovereign nations have the right to defend themselves against attackers. In the case of today's modern situation, America, as the leader among the nations has the responsibility to protect weaker nations and provide stability in the world for peace and free economy. Many nations look to us for this.
Self-interest was a policy that George Washington believed in and worked into our governmental thinking. Nations must be independent and self-interest based. But religion and the church was to be self-sacrificing, and out of its training men would arise to take the reins of government and to balance the self-interest and -sacrificing principles, giving peace in the country and in its place in the world.
I can't speak for the agendas of President Bush. If it was simply to gain possession of Iraqi oil, that sounds imperialistic. But if the attack on Iraq was to prevent Saddam Hussein from creating havoc on world trade just out of envy or spite, that may be a different issue.
I believe in justice, but only if its mixed with mercy. That is what I see in all of God's dealings with humanity as revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
Yes, God is big and powerful enough to do anything He wants with us puny earthlings. But He doesn't. He waits long and patiently before giving us what we deserve, if it must come to that. And then after doing what must be done for the sake of justice, He hurts forever afterward and yearns for us.
Many of God's plans have been ruined. He wants everyone to prosper and be happy, but He has an enemy who is more bitterly envious and hateful to Him than Saddam is to America. Satan loves to incite in people his same spirit and then see them destroyed by the God of justice and mercy, the God of love.
So, while God isn't tyrannical, He must do the hard thing, and often be resented and be character maligned for it. Its lonely at the top.
Take care, Orange Cross. If my answers offended you or didn't satisfy, then please write back and I'll try to be clearer.
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