What Must One Do to Gain God’s Approval?

approved

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. “
–Isaiah 1:17

The Bible is often portrayed as a book of “do’s and don’ts.”

HOWEVER, there are still those who are a bit confused as to what, exactly, is God looking for in His creation (man)?

In the first chapter of Isaiah, God instructs the children of Israel on what to do in order to “do well.”

The four things are

  1. Seek judgment
  2. Relieve the oppressed
  3. Judge the fatherless
  4. Plead for the widow

For those who do not regularly follow God’s Word, “seek judgment”  means to demonstrate your devotion to God by regularly exercising fair and impartial judgment on the less fortunate or the NON-connected.

SO, if a man performs those four behaviors, he is “doing well” in God’s eyes.

But Isaiah is not the only place in God’s Word where such suggestions are made to men.

“Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. “
–Jeremiah 22:1-4

The commands in Jeremiah are more succinct.

  1. Execute judgment
  2. Execute righteousness
  3. Deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor
  4. Do no wrong/violence to the stranger, the fatherless nor the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

BUT, the commands in Jeremiah are essentially the same as in Isaiah: righteous judgment, relieve the oppressed, look out for orphans and widows.

These same commands are basically repeated in Micah.

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
–Micah 6:8

Though the love of mercy appears to be a NEW command, mercy is an essential part of both judgment and righteousness. Mercy is also a prime motivator behind a desire to relieve oppressiion.

Zechariah echoes both Isaiah and Jeremiah’s declarations.

“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.”
–Zechariah 7:9-10

These commands are further condensed a chapter later in Zechariah 8.

“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.”
–Zechariah 8:16-17

In conclusion, to do well in the eyes of God, a man must

  1. Execute true, righteous judgment at every opportunity
  2. Relieve the oppressed by showing mercy
  3. ESPECIALLY protect orphans
  4. ESPECIALLY defend widows
  5. BUT look out for ALL who are less fortunate, both in goods and in circumstance

DOES the reader regularly follow the commands in God’s Word to “do well“?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: October 19, 2020.]

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image:  Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.com

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Author: Jeremiah J Jameson

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