Hope in Your Ways?
“Is not your fear of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?
Job 4:6
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Hope in Your Ways?
Up to this point Eliphaz has been respectful towards Job and his situation, but now he questions whether Job really ever had faith. He believes that Job is suffering because of his past transgressions. You must have made God mad and that is why these terrible afflictions have fallen upon you. We often run into this kind of think in our society. The idea of karma is rampant, even amongst Christians. The idea is if you do good, good will come back to you and if you do bad, bad things will happen in return. However, this is not a Biblical doctrine. God is not weighing your good and bad works against you and determining how to respond. If this was the case no one would ever be righteous in the eyes of God. James warns against this way of thinking, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10) Eliphaz is right when he questions Job concerning his hope being placed in the “integrity of your ways.” It is indeed foolishness to believe we can live a life holy enough to merit our salvation. It is just as foolish to believe that we can contribute anything whatsoever to our salvation. Yet Eliphaz is mistaken to attribute Job current situation as a direct result of his past actions and God punishment for them. God wrath was indeed poured out upon your sins, but thankfully for all of us, Jesus born them and received the punishment meant for us. So now we do not need to hope in our ways but simply trust in Christ’s work on the cross. It is He who has justified us. It is Christ’s merit which, for us, which saves.
Job 4:6
+
Hope in Your Ways?
Up to this point Eliphaz has been respectful towards Job and his situation, but now he questions whether Job really ever had faith. He believes that Job is suffering because of his past transgressions. You must have made God mad and that is why these terrible afflictions have fallen upon you. We often run into this kind of think in our society. The idea of karma is rampant, even amongst Christians. The idea is if you do good, good will come back to you and if you do bad, bad things will happen in return. However, this is not a Biblical doctrine. God is not weighing your good and bad works against you and determining how to respond. If this was the case no one would ever be righteous in the eyes of God. James warns against this way of thinking, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10) Eliphaz is right when he questions Job concerning his hope being placed in the “integrity of your ways.” It is indeed foolishness to believe we can live a life holy enough to merit our salvation. It is just as foolish to believe that we can contribute anything whatsoever to our salvation. Yet Eliphaz is mistaken to attribute Job current situation as a direct result of his past actions and God punishment for them. God wrath was indeed poured out upon your sins, but thankfully for all of us, Jesus born them and received the punishment meant for us. So now we do not need to hope in our ways but simply trust in Christ’s work on the cross. It is He who has justified us. It is Christ’s merit which, for us, which saves.
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