Amos 4:12 Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel: and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel. I. TO WHOM THIS COMMAND APPLIES. It is applicable to all those who have not made any preparation. 1. There are those who have not made religion a personal matter. 2. Those who defer the subject with the intention of preparing at some future time. 3. Those who are so engrossed with other matters as to banish this subject from their minds. 4. Those who have given some attention to religion. II. IN WHAT DOES SUCH PREPARATION CONSIST This is an important question. It does not consist in courage or bravery. Not in infidel stoicism. Not in beauty, wealth, etc. Not in amiability, honesty, justice, a fair character. Two great difficulties stand between a sinner and heaven: a legal one — man is a condemned sinner; a moral one — man is unholy. Justification will remove the legal difficulty; and regeneration will remove the moral one. Justification is that which God does for us; regeneration, that which He does in us. III. SOME REASONS FOR PREPARING TO MEET GOD. (J. D. Carey.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. |
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