| Salvation in the Bible |
| Salvation in Deuteronomy Not By Bread Alone |
| Do the Command – The nation of Israel had made their way through the wilderness to the Jordan, only to fail in their faith to conquer the land. Then they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Now they have come to the Jordan again, ready to cross into Canaan. They have had a history of ignoring God’s commands. Moses reminds them they need to do what God says. It is not all about believing, it is also about doing. Hebrews 11:1-2 (1) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (2) For by it the people of old received their commendation. Hebrews 11:6 (6) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Matthew 7:21 (21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Humbled with Hunger – Israel needed to swallow their pride, and humble themselves before God. There is a need to humble ourselves in the sight of God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Matthew 18:4 (4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. James 4:10 (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Taught with Manna – God used the time of wandering in the wilderness to teach the nation of Israel a lesson. They needed to lean upon the Lord for their help. They needed to learn that there are more important things in life than bread to feed the physical man. They needed to learn to pay heed to God’s word. Learn the lesson. Matthew 4:1-4 – (1) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ¬¬¬¬(2) And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (3) And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (4) But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” John 6:43-51 (43) Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. (44) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (46) Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (47) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (48) I am that bread of life. (49) Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. (50) This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 1:1-14 (1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Walk in His Ways – Israel, if they were to receive the blessings of Yahweh (Jehovah), needed to walk in the ways of God. They had murmured, complained, and rebelled in the wilderness. Their path needed to change if they were to please God. Life is a journey. Continue to do what God commands. It is not a one time event. Exodus 18:19-20 (19) Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: (20) And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Psalms 1:1-6 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalms 86:11 (11) Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. Jeremiah 6:16 (16) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Jeremiah 18:15-16 (15) Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; (16) To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head. Jeremiah 42:2-3 (2) And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) (3) That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. God will Reward – Israel would be rewarded for their obedience to God. They would receive the land which flowed with milk and honey – the Promised Land – Canaan. They would receive a physical reward. God will reward those who are faithful. Unlike Israel, we may never receive a physical reward. We shall, however, receive a spiritual reward – forgiveness and eternal life – Heaven. Hebrews 11:6 (6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Is a rewarder (μισθαποδότης) Note the difference of the verb: not simply exists, but comes to pass as; proves to be, habitually, so that he who approaches God has, through faith, the assurance that his seeking God will result in good to himself. Μισθαποδότης rewarder, N.T.o. Comp. μισθαποδοσία recompense of reward, Heb_2:2 (note); Heb_10:35; Heb_11:26. Vincent’s Word Study Romans 2:2-11 (2) But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. (3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (6) Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (8) But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; (10) But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: (11) For there is no respect of persons with God. |
| Deuteronomy 8:1-20 |
