Praise His Name for b-u-t!!! part 1

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Praise His Name for b-u-t!!! part 1

There are many words we, as Christians, consider beautiful. God, Jesus, love, salvation, Heaven, just to name a few, each hold a certain wonder and awe as we consider them, but there is one most people don't ever consider; yet it holds a distinct position for me, and I hope, for you too, as we consider a number of its usages in God's Word. Yes, you read the title, and see all the bold type, but, it still seems such a nondescript, unassuming, simple little 3 letter word. I always have a few special favorite passages with this word, but as I began researching for this message based on them, I came up with so many other great ones (a total of 49 after looking at well over 1,000 usages of the word in the New Testament), I had to make 1 of 2 choices. I could either just list them, or add a brief note about them and be compelled to divide this message into a number of parts. Since some of them may not be obvious to you if you are not very familiar with their contexts, I have chosen the second way. Therefore, let us begin part one of what will be an 11 part series.

The 2 most common usages of but in formal English are: On the contrary; Contrary to expectation. The definition of contrary is: opposite in nature or character; diametrically or mutually opposed. These definitions say to me our word is like a dividing wall. The things on each side are kept separated and one must choose one or the other, both is not normally an option (but with God, all things are possible - Mark 9:23).

My special favorite usage is this one: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23) The Word tells us we are all condemned sinners and have a paycheck due us for that fact. That paycheck with our names on it is eternal separation from HE Who is life itself, God. What we deserve is forever suffering His Wrath and the punishment for sin, but HE has made a way we can cross that wall and get the contrary. Instead of what we deserve, our wages, we can receive the most wonderful gift. Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

This is the second example of this beautiful word for your consideration: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Here, the preceding verses had spoken of the fact that Jesus died for His enemies (the ungodly), while among men, dying for someone else is nearly an unheard of matter. It stated that maybe there is a chance someone might give their life for a "good man", but, God showed such an unbelievable love for us that, while we were still "sinners", outside of any redeeming thing that might appeal to Him make us desirable; Jesus died for us! Remember, you are valued and loved so deeply by God the father that HE sacrificed His Son for your redemption, before you became His child, while you were His enemy. Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

Number 3 in my list is: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5) This is Divine confirmation that it is not our pitiful attempts at "good works" that God looks at to see if we are righteous and able to enter into His Home and live eternally with Him. If it were based on our works, we would never make it there, for as it says in Isaiah 64:6: But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. We would burn in the Lake of Fire eternally, except for the b-u-t found in Romans 4:5. God has made it where we can just use the faith to believe that HE gives us and HE credits that to our "account" and considers us as having the righteousness of Jesus, His Son. For HE (The Father) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

I will end part one on this beautiful word, b-u-t, with 3 passages that state our freedom from the terrible bondage of the Law of God: (1) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:5-6) (2) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 8:10) (3) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 8:26) We seldom, if ever, think about this, but, we need to, for the weight of that Law is incredible. Scholars have identified 613 commands (mitzvot) to obey in just the first five books of the Bible, the Torah. These are stated in 248 positive (you will do) and 365 negative (you will not do) commands. (For a look at all of them, I have included this link to a site listing them http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=411&o=91&dns=1 ) You can't even remember that many, much less obey them all. Scripture also tells us: For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10) Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

This concludes part 1 of this series.