GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIIIIssue 23
Published occasionally for Zion’s mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

RELATIVITY

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:5

Just about every one who is familiar with the study of physics or has watched the Twilight Zone on TV is familiar with Albert Einstein’s famous equation E=MC2. This is an equation which purports to set forth what became known as the theory of relativity which supposedly says that energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared. This is a theory which is as clear as mud to the average person such as myself and has little practical value in our every day life but is reportedly the concept that ushered in the nuclear age and the atomic bomb which was a very useful invention for enhanced destruction and mayhem. .

While very few people actually know and understand the import of Einstein’s theory (which I believe is even questioned now by some leading physicists); every human being on the planet is born with a belief in the theory of “relativity” as it relates to their own sinful condition. It would be difficult to find more than a few folks who would confess that they have never sinned or committed transgressions either against GOD or their fellow man.

Yet it is equally as difficult to find any who understand the depths of the depravity of every human being by nature and choice. Usually when most Bible teachers and scholars look at the condition of men in the days preceding the flood they immediately consider that these whom the LORD determined to destroy in the flood were great sinners above what men are today. Yet the reality is that the wickedness of men is not any different in those men than in every son of Adam in every age.

GOD sees all men in the same condition in all ages and none are more acceptable in HIS sight by the deeds (or non-deeds) of their flesh than any of those who perished when those waters covered the earth. The scripture knows of no relative righteousness when it says. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom 3:10-18)

The man who imagines that this scripture is not speaking of himself is indeed blind and full of self-righteousness. This is the very notion that causes men to think that evil happens to particularly evil people even as the LORD knew that HIS disciples assumed as HE taught them in the following account. “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5) This same notion is manifest when they asked about the blind man. “And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) The underlying notion is that sin is often greater in others.

The truth is that every man born of woman is worthy of destruction. There is not one shred of righteousness in any one of us and apart from the grace and mercy of GOD we should every one be utterly destroyed. Many will try to tell us that the LORD saw Noah as righteous (see 7:1) because of “righteous deeds” which he performed. The reality is that the “RIGHTEOUSNESS” which the LORD saw when HE looked at Noah or Lot, was not theirs at all but rather the righteousness of the only ONE who is accepted in HIS sight, even JESUS CHRIST the RIGHTEOUS. For we read of the SOURCE of Noah’s righteousness in Gen .6:8; “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

The only difference between Noah and the other men of his generation was GOD’s sovereign grace. The LORD would demonstrate HIS love for HIS elect bride, in the salvation of Noah, while the world perished to demonstrate HIS judgment upon all flesh. “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.” (2Pet 2:5)

Unfortunately many who claim to believe in salvation by grace, nonetheless try to compare the deeds of sinful flesh in a relative fashion in order to make a case for receiving blessings from the hand of GOD. In this error they judge some to be “relatively” good compared to others and thereby form a basis upon which they believe the mercies of GOD are visited upon sinful men. This sinful flesh will never change nor improve in this present world but shall continually prove the necessity of grace for the blessings of salvation. “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1Cor 4:7)

The men of this world will continually seek to judge their own righteousness relative to others and take comfort that they have not committed mass murder, robbed banks, cut off people’s heads, or molested children. Yet relative to the only STANDARD of RIGHTEOUSNESS which is accepted in the courts of heaven, even the very best and most moral individual is false and full of corruption.

GOD does not judge men according to some relative comparison with the supposed merits or obvious faults of other men. Neither is a man considered a law keeper because he has been “faithful” to adhere to a portion of it. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:10-11)

GOD judgeth righteous judgment and no one can be said to be righteous who is not found righteous by the only STANDARD which is accepted in the heavens and demonstrated in the earth. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.” (Isa 28:16-17) This is speaking of the LORD JESUS CHRIST the SALVATION of GOD; and any one not found hidden in HIM by the grace of a sovereign GOD shall indeed be swept away regardless of their supposed safety in their refuge of lies which would cause them to think more highly of themselves compared to others.

Those who know themselves to be corrupt from head to toe cannot seek solace in any supposed obedience or “faith” they might possess compared to other men. Knowing the terror of the LORD and the immutability of HIS judgment; they have but one place of REFUGE in which they hope to be found. The self righteous man assumes that his “faith” or good deeds relative to the dregs of society will benefit him in some fashion in the day of judgment, and he fully expects to plead his case before GOD. While the man who is convinced of his own sinful state puts his hand upon his mouth and recognizes that he has no hope apart from the grace of GOD which imputes the righteousness of CHRIST to his account.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes ----And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”(Rev 7:9-14) “Oh precious is the flow that washes white as snow. No other FOUNT I know. Nothing but the blood of JESUS.”

mam