Resources/Articles
The "IT" of God
The little word “IT” is such a small word, but so very important regarding the will of God toward man. It was quite important under the Old Covenant. “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” (Deuteronomy 12.32).
The “IT” constituted God’s command. The command was to observed without addition or subtraction. By so doing, God was pleased and blessed the obedient. Herein GOd’s authority was both recognized and exerted!
Occasions abound in the Old Testament scriptures of those who failed to observe and respect God’s “IT” toward them. King Saul was directed by God through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites with their flocks and herds (1 Samuel 15). Saul failed in observing the command of God by sparing King Agag and the best of the animals. The bleating of the sheep and lowing of the oxen testified to the fact that “IT” had been disobeyed by Saul. His failure to obey resulted in his being rejected of God and the kingdom being taken from him. Notice that, even though God’s authority was not recognized by Saul, God still exerted his authority!
Moses fell victim to the “IT” of God in the Desert of Zin (Numbers 20). The children of Israel were again murmuring for the lack of water. God told Moses to “speak unto the rock before their eyes” (Numbers 20.8), but Moses smote the rock twice. He failed to observe the “IT,” and, in his disobedience, God decreed, “Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20.12). God accredited his failure “because ye believed me not.” Observe that, had Moses believed God, he would have obeyed the command of God as “IT” was given to him. God’s authority again was not recognized, yet exerted.
The “IT” was the defeat of Nadab and Abihu. In Leviticus 10.1-3, these two sons of Aaron “offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.” God had directed them in what to do, but they had done contrary to “IT” and offered that which God had not commanded. “And there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord.” God meant “IT” as he said “IT.” The “IT” was God’s authority; exerted, even if man failed to recognize “IT.”
These things were written for our warnings and admonitions (1 Corinthians 10.21; Romans 15.4). The Lord expects the observing of his “IT” in this age. “For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2.2-3).
While John wrote, “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1.17), grace does not nullify the importance of obedience to any command from God. Quite the contrary; obedience complements grace and affords us the spiritual blessings that are in Christ Jesus. Paul often spoke of the grace of God in the Roman letter and was quite definite as to how the saints at Rome had been benefitted by the grace of God: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6.17-18). The “form of doctrine” stated in Romans 6.3-5 constituted the “IT” of God that they had obeyed and which gave them freedom from sin through the grace of God. Without obedience, the grace of God is received “in vain” as pertaining to the salvation of the soul (2 Corinthians 6.1). Grace teaches that only the obedient will benefit and be blessed (Titus 2.11-12).
Paul was very precise in his preaching when he declared to the Galatians that the gospel he preached was the only true gospel and those who preached any other were to be accursed (Galatians 1.6-9). Paul, speaking by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1.11-12), said that this is “IT” and there is not another.
Satan has deceived men in all ages in regard to God’s “IT.” In doing so, they have incurred God’s wrath (Romans 1.18). Trusting in their own wisdom (Romans 1.22), religion has come to be viewed in a broad sense and anyone proclaiming the “IT” of God is strongly opposed. A freedom of expression has come to be desired wherein no one can say that this is “IT” to the rejection of other concepts in religion. Men find it exceedingly difficult to bring themselves to accept the singleness of truth or the “IT” of God. Men crave the choice of religions with the “church of their choice” and the “faith of their choice” in defiance of the “IT” of God (Ephesians 4.4-6). They can’t bring themselves to view God as being so narrow as having arranged the “IT” of truth to the rejection of other procedures that fit men’s wisdom.
Notice what Paul said of Christ and his church from Ephesians 5:
- Christ is the “Savior of the body” (v. 23).
- Christ “gave himself for it” (v. 25)…
- …”that he might sanctify and cleanse it” (v. 26).
Likewise, the gospel is the “IT” of God in his power/means to save man. Paul said he was unashamed of the “IT” of God (Romans 1.16)! What about our attitude? Have become bored and weary of hearing o the “IT” of God or do we love “IT” as we should?
