Don’t Weaken Your Faith with Ifs in Front of Truth: RRE 25
Religion Ruins Everything Daily 10.5.16 from One Life Network on Vimeo.
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[16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”Matthew 3:16–17 ESV
[1] Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” [4] But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [6] and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’and“‘On their hands they will bear you up,lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”[7] Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” [8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9] And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” [10] Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your Godand him only shall you serve.’”[11] Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.Matthew 4:1–11 ESV
In this conversation that the devil has with Jesus, the devil continually puts an “IF” in front of what God already said was true. The devil is trying to weaken Jesus and make Him doubt with false tests of truth. Jesus paid no attention to such trickery, and stayed rooted in His identity. God has called you different things throughout the scriptures. Redeemed, forgiven, sanctified, a new creation, sealed, made complete in Christ. It is easy to get the thoughts in your head like
IF you were saved, you wouldn’t…
IF your sins were really forgiven, then you would…
Whether they come from the devil, your mom, or your own thoughts, you can’t add an IF to what God has already declared as truth.