Views: 1<\/p>
[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in\u00a0 <\/strong>larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n When theological liberals want to cast the strongest possible aspersion on those who still believe God said what He means and means what He says in the Bible, they call him a \u201clegalist.\u201d True Bible believers accept this term as a compliment. Its primary meaning is one who believes in \u201cstrict adherence to the law.\u201d The hurler of legalist<\/i> thereby implies his own disregard for the Bible (liberals have always believed they could read between the Bible\u2019s lines for the \u201ctrue meaning,\u201d regardless of the words, comparable to the attitude of political liberals toward our Constitution).<\/span><\/p>\n In the view of theological liberals, every Bible character who carefully followed God\u2019s commands was a \u201clegalist.\u201d That being so, it follows that every Bible character who disobeyed God (disregarded His Word) was a liberal. fact, the essence of liberalism in religion is \u201cfreedom from tradition and authority in matters of belief.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Let us consider Noah, the famous builder of the ark that saved a remnant of mankind from the great flood. Genesis 6:5 tells us that men had become so utterly and universally wicked that God could no longer tolerate their existence. However, Noah was the exception, and God looked upon him with grace\/favor (v. 8). Moses stated the basis of God\u2019s grace toward No-ah: \u201cNoah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God\u201d (v. 9). God was obviously pleased with Noah before<\/b> he built the ark. Just as obviously, we learn here that God\u2019s grace toward Noah was conditional, based up-on his obedience. If grace were unconditional, then God would have spared all of that wicked generation of liberal rebels.<\/span><\/p>\n God specified the ark\u2019s materials (gopher wood and pitch), dimensions (300 x 50 x 30 cubits), and layout (1 window, 1 door, 3 floors, various rooms) (vv. 14\u201316). Moses described Noah\u2019s response to these specifications: \u201cThus did Noah; ac-cording to all that God commanded him, so did he\u201d (v. 22). God was obviously pleased with Noah after <\/b>he built the ark. Let us suppose Noah decided to build the ark 51 cubits wide? Had he been a liberal, he would have done so without a second thought, but would he have continued to enjoy God\u2019s favor?<\/span><\/p>\n Noah built the ark \u201cby faith\u201d (Heb. 11:7), which God\u2019s Word produces (Rom. 10:17). He did not \u201cread between the lines\u201d; he read\u2014and obeyed\u2014only what the \u201clines\u201d said.<\/span><\/p>\n What have we learned? (1) God was definitely pleased with Noah\u2019s obedience. (2) By definition, Noah was thereby definitely a \u201clegalist,\u201d not a \u201cliberal.\u201d (3) God definitely approves of \u201clegalism\u201d and rejects \u201cliberalism\u201d that despises His Word.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/b> I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/i>Denton, TX, May 20, 2016.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/b> From thescripturecache.com<\/i>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in\u00a0 larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0 page.] When theological liberals want to cast the strongest possible aspersion on those who still believe God said what He means and means what He says in the Bible, they call…<\/p>\n