Daily Bread – March 23, 2024 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) Psalms 101:3 – I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the works of rebellion, none of it shall cleave to me. The Hebrew text actually says, “I will set no thing of Belial before my eyes…” ‘Belial’ is actually a synonym for “Satan” and “lawlessness”. Paul uses this word to describe everything belonging to the satanic realm in 2 Corinthians 6:15, “What agreement does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?” The Septuagint translates ‘Belial’ with the Greek word ‘anomias’, which although means “iniquity” or “lawlessness” is the word to describe the “man of iniquity” and the “mystery of iniquity,” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3,7. Those who are of ‘Belial’ have cast off the yoke of God, and they have become lawless (Psalms 2:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; Hebrews 1:9). Although, we are not under the law of Moses now in the New Testament, we are still under the law of God and the righteousness of God – which is the law of the Holy Spirit (Romans 3:21,31, 8:2,4,7; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Hebrews 8:10). We are bound to the law of divine morality which is godliness, righteousness, and holiness (Romans 8:4, 6:19, 14:17; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 4:24; Isaiah 62:1; 2 Timothy 2:19,22). There are far too many people who are supposed to be the saints (holy ones) of God who both live and confess lawlessness. By definition, this is the apostasy – this is lawlessness and iniquity (Luke 13:25-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,7; Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; Hebrews 3:8). Therefore, we must recognize that, just as there were sons of Belial among those of the First Covenant, there are now sons of Belial in the midst of the Church of the New Testament. Be certain you are one who follows Jesus and is led by the Spirit – Who has no agreement with sin (1 Peter 2:21-22; Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11, 11:1; Ephesians 5:11). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 3/23/2024
