Funny enough I think that God sets up blessings that men can enjoy even though they are not saved...
I have an optometrist friend you is very "blessed" yet he does not know the gospel.
He has very very nice children and a very nice home and they all seem to be so very healthy even to look at..
He has a nice home and a very good business.
I see places where God promises to bless *if* men do certain things:
Deuteronomy 28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
That verse promised Blessing in a "material" way.
Deuteronomy 28:17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
That verse promises Curses in a "material" way.
They have to do with obeying the Ten Commandments and the moral Law of God.
Duet 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
These blessing are still open to Christians who will honor God's Law.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
I return to say first..sorry I got a little impatient earlier.. but that God has blessed the Elect with the Spirit through faith and called us unto obedience is establish but we should not think that God does not want also to give us ALL THINGS even carnal blessings that we may enjoy.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
But more than what we may receive what is it that is required of us.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. |
