Live by the Word

Exodus 9:19-21 English Standard Version

19 Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.”’” 20 Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field.

Here is an example of a warning sent out to all the people in Egypt. Those who feared the word of the Lord were saved from ruination, loss of livelihood. That is not the same thing as salvation.

When the Lord sends out a warning, it is to demonstrate His power and evidence of His authority. Heeding a warning in this case is a matter of self-interest and is not a matter of faith.

Living by the Word of the Lord is not a matter of heeding warnings to keep ourselves safe or prevent loss. We must look to all those who came out of Egypt with Moses to understand the differences between safety and salvation.

Hebrews 4:2 English Standard Version (ESV) For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.[a]

Footnote [a] Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers

There is no benefit of observance without faith. Living by the Word of the Lord is a matter of living by faith.

Romans 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Is it possible that some just do not accept they are righteous?

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