Brotherly Love
Thesis: To teach by this bad example of the brotherly relationship, the love we are to show to all the children of Adam, whether saint or sinner (Gal 6:10).
Text: Obadiah 1:1-17
Introduction,
The name “Obadiah” means “servant of the Lord,” there about 13 people in the Bible who were given this fairly common name, we are not sure if any of these 13 are this Obadiah, but we do know this, Obadiah was a prophet of God, for all Scripture is inspired of God (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-22).
There has been some debate over when the book was penned, and the evidence seems to slightly shift towards the earlier of the 2 main dates given (845 BC; 586 BC), which would place it at about 845 BC and thereby make it the earliest of the Minor Prophets.
Some interesting facts about the book of Obadiah are that it is the shortest book in the OT (21 verses), also it is one of the 7 OT books that are not quoted in the NT, the other 6 are Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Nahum.
This prophetic book with its judgment was purposed for the cause of the pride and cruelty of the Edomites who rejoiced concerning the fall of Judah.
We need to consider the background of this book in order to properly understand the situation between Edom and Judah. Those of the tribe of Judah were descended from Jacob (who was renamed Israel), and the Edomites were descended from Esau, these (Jacob and Esau) were the twin brothers who were the children of Isaac (Abraham’s son of promise) and Rebekah.
These two were said to have struggled in the womb (Gen 25:22), and were at odds even in childbirth (Gen 25:26) . . .
Gen 25:26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Therefore we see Jacob (which means “supplanter”; “one that takes by the heal”; “one who trips up”), living up to his name, with the main target of his tripping to be his twin brother Esau.
The one incident that really stands out between these two is Esau’s selling of his birthright of the firstborn for a mere bowl of pottage (vegetable and lentil soup) to Jacob (Gen 26:34), who was not faultless in the matter, though he did not force Esau, but none the less he did entice him (becoming a stumbling stone; a tripper upper) in the matter.
The birthright of the first born included quit a few important things
1) He was next in honor to the parents,
2) He received a double portion of the father’s estate
3) And most importantly (in God’s point of view), the first born would have been the religious leader, the family priest under the patriarchal system
Seeing that gave all this up in order to fill a moment’s desire it is written in Gen 25:34, “so Esau despised his birthright,” and in Heb 12:16 it states “Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal.”
How often many are led astray, believing that they are unable to live “by faith” looking to the heavenly things of “there and then,” but rather acting like Esau living “by sight” in the “here and now,” the truth is “a full belly was more important to Esau than a relationship with the Most High” in other words he put food (and self) before God.
Esau and his descendants (Edomites) are pictured throughout Scripture having 2 basic traits, 1) the want of earthly things over that of those of a spiritual nature, 2) and their state of ongoing enmity with the descendants of Jacob (Israel; God’s people).
A few more notable incidents concerning the Edomites and Israel is the Edomites refusal to allow Israel to pass through their land on Israel’s journey to the promised land (Num 20), Israel under king Saul warred against Edom (1 Sam 14), Edom joined with Moab and Ammon against Judah (2 Chro 20), and Edom rebelled against Judah in the days of king Jehoram, and set up their own king (2 Chro 21).
And because of the Edomites attitude towards God and His people, this statement is made by God concerning them in Mal 1:2-3 . . .
Mal 1:2b "Yet I have loved Jacob
Mal 1:3a but Esau I have hated.
With all this in view we will enter into out text and break it down into 4 sections . . .
1) The sins of Edom (v 1-11)
2) The warnings to Edom (v 12-14)
3) The promise of Judgment to Edom and to all of those at enmity with God (v 15-16)
4) The promise of redemption in mount Zion to Edom and to all of those at enmity with God (v 17)
I. THE SINS OF EDOM (Oba 1:1-11)
A. (v 1-9)
Oba 1:1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!
Oba 1:2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.
Oba 1:3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, "Who will bring me down to the ground?"
Oba 1:4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.
Oba 1:5 If thieves came to you, if plunderers came by night— how you have been destroyed!— would they not steal only enough for themselves? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings?
Oba 1:6 How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures sought out!
Oba 1:7 All your allies have driven you to your border; those at peace with you have deceived you; they have prevailed against you; those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you— you have no understanding.
Oba 1:8 Will I not on that day, declares the LORD, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?
Oba 1:9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.
1. In verse 1 the prophet declares that what is being said originated from God and concerned Edom, God would stir up the nations against her in war.
2. In verse 2 the LORD declares that He was the reason they were a nation at all, and He chose them to be a small nation (Gen 25:23), keep in mind, “God is over all” (Eph 4:6).
3. Yet in verses 3-4 they were prideful, they exhibited the “pride of life” (1 Jn 2:16), they thought because of their location (which was an easily defendable mountainous region) that they could never be conquered.
1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires (lust) of the flesh and the desires (lust) of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires (lust), but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
4. But the LORD could and would bring them down, and the destruction would be complete (verses 5-9), here again we see the Edomites trusting in self, and not seeming to give a thought about God even though all they have and are (their defendable location and even their very selves) originate from Him (John 3:27; 19:11; 1 Cor 4:7; Ja 1:17).
1Co 4:7 . . . What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
a. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, many in the church today act as if “they” are the reason for “their” successful situation in life.
b. We need to remember as the children of God, to disclude Him in any aspect of our lives, to not give credit where it truly is due, is the sin of omission that James speaks of in Ja 4:17 (Ja 4:17) . . .
Jas 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
c. Instead, our mouths, thoughts, and even our very lives ought to state (Ja 4:15) . . .
Jam 4:15 . . . If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. (and; Heb13:15) . . .
Heb 13:15 Through him (Jesus) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (sovereign authority).
d. As God’s children we out to be outwardly recognizing God’s sovereignty and working in this world (1 Cor 10:31; Eph 4:6)
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Eph 4:6 (there is) one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
e. We as members of God’s family have been given the wonderful blessing of spiritual sight, this is something not privileged to the unconverted (2 Cor 4:3-4; John 3:3; 9:39)
2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Joh 9:39 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."
B. (v 10)
Oba 1:10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.
In this verse God states the second of their sins, the violence that they perpetrated against their own flesh and blood (Jacob; i.e. Judah), so basically two general sins are brought forth, one spiritual (pride) and one physical (violence).
1. This (v 10-11) is a key section of this book, this dates the book, and specifically spells out the second reason for this upcoming judgment.
a. This “violence” probably includes all we spoke of earlier, the refusing to allow Israel to pass through their land, the warring against Saul, the aiding others in battles against Judah, the rebelling, and so on.
b. Besides individuals of this nation not being in a covenantal relationship with God, which will be dealt with at the Judgment (Rom 14:12), God expected this nation, to act in a certain way, and especially towards their own kinfolk.
2. There are certain commands given us as Christians that transcends beyond that of just our siblings “in Christ”
a. We are to love all, even our enemies (Mt 5:44-48).
Mat 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Mat 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Mat 5:47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Mat 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
b. We are to do good to all people (Gal 6:10).
Gal 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
c. We are to honor our parents, whether they be Christians or not (Eph 6:2-3).
Eph 6:2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),
Eph 6:3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
d. We are to speak evil of no one, and act godly towards all (Tit 3:2)
Tit 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
e. We as Christians ought to understand that the evil that the unregenerated do they do because Satan has made them putty in his hands through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, we can and should speak against the sins they commit, but we should understand the mechanics involved and not speak evil against inconsequential matters, but rather speak the Truth in love (Eph 4:15; 6:12) . . .
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
f. We are to treat everyone as we would want to be treated (Mt 7:12).
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
g. The reason for this is because of God’s unchangeable law of sowing and reaping (Gal 6:7) . . .
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
h. Therefore, in accordance with these precepts, we are indeed our brother’s keepers (Gen 4:9).
3. Under the OT All nations have been accountable to God’s commands, whether they be in the family of God, or not, in certain limited ways (Ex 9:16; Ps 96:3; Jer 12:16-17).
Jer 12:16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'As the LORD lives,' even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.
Jer 12:17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD."
a. And in all matters in the NT (Mt 28:20; Col 3:17; Acts 3:22-23; 17:30; 1 Tim 2:4; Tit 2:11).
Act 17:30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Act 17:31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
b. With this in view we need to be persuading individuals to repent and believe in the gospel (2 Cor 5:10-11a) . . .
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2Co 5:11a Therefore, knowing the fear (terror; KJV) of the Lord, we persuade others.
C. (v 11)
Oba 1:11 On the day that you stood aloof (on the other side), on the day that strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them.
They should have acted like their family (which they were; v 10), but when trouble came upon Israel, they acted as an enemy.
1. This verse is that which dates this book, if this is referring to the day that Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple (586 BC) then the book is dated late.
a. But for the fact that the temple is not spoken of, it seems to be slightly favorable that this is speaking of when the Philistines and the Arabians ransacked Judah in the days of king Jehoram as seen in (2 Chro 21:16-17).
2. The same, sadly, is seen many times today, people outside of Christ often jest concerning their family members who are of that one body, they see it as a joking matter, and often pal up with other unbelievers and speak reproachfully concerning their own flesh and blood.
a. We can see a very similar example with our Master and His earthly brethren (turn to John 7:2-7).
Joh 7:2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand.
Joh 7:3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.
Joh 7:4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world."
Joh 7:5 For not even his brothers believed in him.
Joh 7:6 Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.
Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
b. Christ also said in Mt 10:34-37 (turn there) . . .
Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Mat 10:36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
Mat 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
c. The sword here (Mt 10:34) is that sword of division, the sword of the Spirit, the word of God (Eph 6:17), that unchanging standard that declares what is truly right and wrong in the sight of God. Most individuals, even some of our own family members, just will not lay down parts of their lives that don’t line up with the gospel, why? Because they don’t truly love the Lord, they love themselves and sin more, let us see what Jesus said concerning this matter (look at John 14: 23-24; 3:16-21) . . .
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Joh 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (we are to see God’s love and return it ; 1 Jn 4:19; with loving obedience; Gal 5:6)
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Joh 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned (this is the starting point of salvation; Jn 5:24), but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Joh 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Joh 3:21 But whoever does what is true (is convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sinful state and turns to God for forgiveness) comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
d. The problem is we know the terror of the Lord (2 Cor 5:11), the moment that a person dies (which is predetermined by God; Gen 3:19), an initial judgment takes place (Heb 9:27) . . .
Heb 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
e. Many people don’t believe this, and some sort of believe, but they aren’t going to do anything about it, they just put it on the back burner so to speak, these exhibit demon like faith, who believe but don’t change (Ja 2:19). We need to understand that no one is good enough to be saved without the blood of Jesus (Rom 3:23), therefore they stand condemned because their will, their self, was more important than their Creators’, they may laugh about it now, but I assure you no one will be laughing when they come before the Lord (Heb 10:31; Lk 12:5; Mt 25:46) . . .
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Luk 12:5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Mat 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
II. THE WARNINGS TO EDOM (Oba 1:12-14)
A. (v 12)
Oba 1:12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress.
These verses (12-14) have been a matter of much disagreement amongst scholars, the basic problem is the KJV (and now the NKJV) have rendered the imperfect tense of the verbs in these verses as past tense, the ASV; YLT; NASB; ESV all render this tense correctly, which would in fact have it looking both directions, both backwards and forwards, but to render it past tense (as v 10-11 are) and not show the distinction between the tenses in these verses (v 12-14 vs. v 10-11) is incorrect.
1. A common thought of what the correct interpretation may be is “seeing that you have acted this way in the past toward your brother (845 BC in the days of king Jehoram; 2 Chro 21:16-17), don’t do it again when the occasion arises” (implying an impending destruction upon Judah; probably looking forward to the Babylonian conquest in 586 BC).
a. Look at the 3 negative commands that were given them concerning the disaster, the destruction, the distress . . . 1) gloat (look, gaze) not, 2) rejoice not, 3) neither boast (speak proudly).
2. “Look, gaze, gloat not” here doesn’t mean “to close one’s eyes” nor to “turn one’s head” but rather “instead of just standing there looking, with a wrong attitude, help! Offer assistance! God holds you accountable!” in James 4:17 it states thus . . .
Jas 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
a. Think about today how many times that crimes are taking place, and people “just don’t want to get involved” or maybe someone came upon some hard times, and are in need of assistance (such as car trouble or perhaps even a vagrant in need) and are ignored.
b. Sure there are many that use this device as conmen, to obtain gain while sidestepping honest measures, (e.g. “I work for food” signs, etc.). But when did God command us to help only those who “we are sure of” their state as being needy?
c. Are we not to do good to all (Gal 6:10)? Being obedient from the heart (Rom 6:17)? Being faithful even to the point of death (Rev 2:10)?
d. Sure we have to care for our families, and we have to be physically alive to do such, therefore reasonable consideration and discernment ought to be given to every situation, and we ought not enable the alcoholic to get drunk, nor the sloth from escaping an honest days work, but we are to work that which is good unto “everyone” (Gal 6:10), that includes drunks and the homeless, sometimes it may be difficult to do this without partaking of one’s sin, but I believe the Lord has made it doable, because “difficult is the way which leads to life” (Mt 7:14), but not impossible.
e. Therefore instead of just looking, let us manifest “faith working through love” (Gal 5:6) in these sorts of situations.
3. “Rejoice not” the Edomites were not to rejoice at the demise of their own brethren!
a. You know we are all sons of Adam (1 Cor 15:22), and Eve is even referred to as the “mother of all living” (Gen 3:20), we all are descended from either Shem, Ham or Japheth (Gen 10) and Christ died for all (Heb 2:9; Tit 2:11; John 3:16), therefore with that in view, there is not one person living that is not an actual family in the flesh, and a prospective sibling in Christ.
b. Thus we certainly should not rejoice when another physically passes from this world, or when a certain nation is destroyed, but rather we should fear God (Pro 1:7), Who is over all (Eph 4:6), look to the Scriptures and learn, being fervent in prayer, having sympathy, attempting to learn God’s will in these events that take place, and grow from them, in other words spiritually discerning all things (1 Cor 2:15), but concerning calamities, never rejoice!
4. “Neither speak proudly, boast” The Edomites probably would say “this will never happen to us, no one can break through our impenetrable defenses,” but as history dictates, they were wrong.
a. We need to live our lives carefully in this world (Eph 5:15), with one circumspect eye on the world, and one focused eye upon the things above (Col 3:1-4), we need to control our words, because we will have to give an account of them (Mt 12:37), and we need to do this with a humble attitude, always, letting God do the lifting as He sees fit (Ja 1:19; 4:10),
Jas 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
b. Because (1 Cor 10:12; Gal 6:7) . . .
1Co 10:12 . . . let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
Gal 6:7 . . . for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
B. (v 13)
Oba 1:13 Do not enter the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; do not gloat over his disaster in the day of his calamity; do not loot his wealth in the day of his calamity.
They were warned not to ransack another’s property after troubles left their belongings vulnerable.
1. This is something that often takes place in great numbers when disasters strike, think about the hurricane devastations on the coasts and all those that were incarcerated for looting, this is a common occurrence with those of the world, following the dictates of the flesh, attempting to reap rewards that cost one nothing.
a. This is similar in fact to gambling, taking a chance (of getting caught), getting something in a fashion besides honest work, and reaping the benefits of other’s losses, this certainly is not the way of a person that expects to be approved of God is to act, as it is written (1 Tim 6:10; Heb 13:5) . . .
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some, reaching after, have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
b. Therefore if we happen to be part of a calamity, let us defend others, their property, our consciences, and our God according to the golden rule (Mt 7:12).
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them . . .
C. (v 14)
Oba 1:14 Do not stand at the crossroads to cut off his fugitives; do not hand over his survivors in the day of distress.
The Edomites were not to hinder those that were attempting to escape, they were not to capture them, turn them over to the invading forces, in hope of a reward. What is seen here is that seemingly common trait of the Edomites, the want of physical gain, as opposed to all other things, here specifically being moral rightness.
1. Now as Christians we are obliged to obey the laws of land (Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1; 1 Pet 2), but this situation is a little different, this is a situation where governments are in the process of changing, and God is in charge of bringing new governments into power (Dan 4:17, 25; 5:21), so it can be a little difficult to know what is right thing to do, but we need to remember that the Edomites do not keep God in view, “their” view has “them” at the top of the heap, it is for the sake of “their” own physical gain that “they” motivated to these actions.
a. This can be successfully applied to the atheists and humanists of today, with no God to be accountable to, with humans being the supreme rulers over planet earth, with no other entity over them, to whom they are accountable to, they oftentimes make bad decisions, because, as it is written (Pro 14:12) . . .
Pro 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
b. We could apply this spiritually and physically . . .
c. Spiritually speaking, for every action we partake of while on this earth, we are going to have to give an account of, to God on the Judgment day (Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Pet 1:17; Rev 20:13), our good works apart from Christ are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6), and our bad deeds condemn us eternally (Rom 6:23a), therefore we should be ever thankful for the forgiveness in Christ (Eph 1:7), and for the righteousness of God that is imputed to us through the gospel (2 Cor 5:21; Rom 8:4).
d. Physically speaking with the idea that there is no God to be accountable to, the world just keeps getting worse and worse; filthy speech, immodesty, sexual promiscuity, adultery, sodomy, lesbianism, abortion, euthanasia, and so forth. As the world keeps changing its standards of right and wrong to fit the latest godless belief and practice, so the world declares it correct, and to believe and to declare different is considered an infringement upon individual’s rights, this is where we are at today.
e. And the almost unbelievable thing about this is many religious bodies that claim Christ are now siding with this, the reasoning goes something like this . . .
f. If the bible says that women are not to be preachers and we declare that for whatever reason or reasons we should not align ourselves with that teaching, we in a sense have declared that God’s word is not binding upon us today, therefore why can’t we keep believing in Christ and apply that principle to other things such as immodesty, such as sexual promiscuity, such as adultery, as sodomy, as lesbianism, as beastuality, as abortion, as human euthanasia. This is where this type of reasoning leads and is leading. What is to stop us from thinking such?
g. Well I would have to say the Spirit of God living in our hearts, formed by that sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:17), therefore true bible believing and preaching in these bodies is a no, no, and very unpopular.
h. But things are getting worse and worse, people are deceiving and being deceived, it won’t be long before governments will forbid bible quotes and practices publicly, and will declare them hate crimes, and in fact it is already starting to take place today.
i. The time is near when the question will be asked “do you believe in the bible?” And if you answer in the affirmative, you will be taken away and put into some sort of incarceration, but the scripture says (Rev 2:10) . . .
Rev 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
j. And (Jn 16:2b-3) . . .
Joh 16:2 the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
Joh 16:3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
k. So let us not be like the Edomites, without God and without hope in the world (Eph 2:12), but rather, like Jesus, like the apostle Paul, and God’s other inspired men, heeding and echoing the warnings of God from Heaven (Acts 17:30-31; Heb 12:25) . . .
Act 17:30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Act 17:31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
Heb 12:25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
III. THE PROMISE OF JUDGMENT TO EDOM, AND TO ALL THOSE AT ENMITY WITH GOD (Oba 1:15-16).
A. (v 15)
Oba 1:15 For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.
Considering the past actions of Edom towards their brethren, combined with their ungodliness, and therefore their inability to be forgiven of God, judgment is coming, in fact “all” those who stand opposed to God’s will are in view here (all the nations).
1. If this book indeed is early (845 BC), then an interesting note here is that this would be the first time this phraseology is seen in the Bible (“the day of the LORD”).
2. This is one of God’s unchangeable laws, there really is no way to get around it when you put it to the test (Gal 6:7)
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
a. This is very similar to Newton’s 3rd law of motion "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”
b. One can be forgiven of their sins, by the power of the gospel of Christ, but many times, those sins still bring about repercussions because of God’s unchanging law.
c. The Christian who was ex-drunkard still may die of liver disease, or an ex-smoker of lung disease, those that formerly led a life of brawling are likely to have hands that are crippled from arthritis at an older age, and the forgiven convicted murderer still may have to give his life for his crime according to the laws of the land, yet our heavenly hope far outweighs all these temporary setbacks, large as they may seem, as Paul writes in Rom 8:18 . . .
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
d. Just think of all those that have suffered and many even laid down their lives for the Truth (John 17:17) throughout the ages, and look where society is at today, how bible believing Christians are referred to as “haters” and “narrow-minded,” it may be that those in the “one Faith” (Eph 4:5) will have to start really proving their faithfulness to it once again, for the Lord said in Luke 9:26 . . .
Luk 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
e. Are we ashamed of our Lord’s words concerning sexual immorality (which includes sodomy, lesbianism, and promiscuity)? About His words about marriage/divorce/remarriage (one husband one wife for life)? About His words about murder (abortion)? About greed (money loving)? About false witness (lying)? Are we going to side with the clear teaching of the Lord? Or the clear sins of society?
f. Christ did not come to bring peace to this world, but grace and Truth, the Truth concerning sin and the grace manifested in the gospel that saves us from the love, practice and consequence of those sins. The gospel exposes peoples sins and this is not pleasing to most, that is why they hate the true Light, they would rather manufacture a Jesus of their own, a God of their own, but there is only one God and one Mediator between God and man, and it is not one that people make, but rather the One that made people.
3. God’s Final Judgment (the day of the LORD) is a terror to the disobedient, but it is the hope of the faithful, as the Lord states (look at Mt 25:34, 41, 46; Luke 21:18; 1 Cor 1:18; 2 Cor 2:16-17) . . .
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Mat 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
a. We know the terror of the Lord (2 Cor 5:11), that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when not in a right relationship with Him (Heb 10:31), therefore we ought to do our God-given best to be right with Him, and to persuade people, to use our God-given resources to bring individuals closer to Him through Jesus.
B. (v 16)
Oba 1:16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.
This is a figure of speech which can be paraphrased as such “because those that are unholy (Edom and all the nations) drank of that which was holy (the sins they perpetrated against the people of God), they would drink therefore of the full wrath of God and be totally destroyed.
1. Between the 6th and the end of the 4th centuries BC Edom was conquered by the Nabataeans (Arabs) and forced out of their land, and in the 2nd century BC the Maccabees conquered the dispersed people and forced them to be circumcised and to obey the Law of Moses.
a. The Herods of NT times came from the Edomites, and are the last we really see of them in history, they were absorbed into the Arabian society and lost their individual identity as a nation at about the turn of the 1st century, they were “as though they had never been” as a nation.
b. Let us keep in mind here that God always keeps His promises (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18), the scripture cannot be broken (Jn 10:35), and this is just another of many examples of these rock solid facts.
2. But not only would these be “as though they never had been” but also all nations (v 15) shall one day, on “That Day” be “as though they never had been” being without God and without hope for eternity (Eph 2:12); look at Rev 20:11-21:4; 2 Pet 3:13 . . .
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
Rev 20:15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God:
Rev 21:4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
2Pe 3:13 But according to his promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
3. The ungodly will be gone, in the lake of fire forever and ever, they didn’t want God in their life, in That Day they get their desire, it will be as though they had never been (at least from our standpoint), and we, the redeemed will be with God forever and ever, in His joy, in His love, singing, praising, and lifting Him up together in the new creation which will never be corrupted by sin and the ungodly, this is our hope, our Living Hope, and it is available to whosoever wills to drink of the water of life without cost.
IV. THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION IN MOUNT ZION TO EDOM AND ALL THOSE AT ENMITY WITH GOD (Oba 1:17)
C. (v 17)
Oba 1:17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
Here is God’s promise to any and all, Judgment is promised upon all those that “know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thess 1:8), God’s wrath is looming for the children of disobedience, but there shall be those that escape from the wrath of God, according to His mercy (Tit 3:5; Mk 16:16).
Tit 3:5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Mar 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1. “Believes and is baptized” we need to understand that “faith” (belief) is the starting point of salvation in “the Faith,” Jesus stated in Jn 5:24 . . .
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
a. When one hears the gospel message, about the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus and believes it, at that point one enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15), no praying, no repenting, no confessing, no being baptized, those things are to be included, but not initially, faith needs to come “first”, then those things, Paul put it this way in 1 Cor 15:1-4 (turn there) . . .
1Co 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
1Co 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
b. Note here that the gospel (lit. the good news) is to be “received” here (v 1), it is true that we need to receive Jesus as the Messiah (Jn 1:12), but that alone is really not sufficient, we need to receive (i.e. believe) the facts about Him as truth, and based on those facts we have a “living hope” look down at v 20-23 . . .
1Co 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1Co 15:21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
c. And also we need to keep in mind that the sum of God’s word is truth (Ps 119:160), and faith alone does not save (Ja 2:14-26), God expects His children to continue in the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5; 16:26) by repenting, confessing Christ, being baptized, and being transformed into a holy child of God.
2. “Mount Zion” (in Obadiah 1:17) is the church (turn to Heb 12:22-23),
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
Heb 12:23 and to the assembly (church) of the firstborn (ones) who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
a. Now look at Rev 21:1-2, 9-10; 19:7-8 . . .
Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
Rev 19:8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
b. Now turn to Eph 5:25-32; 1 Cor 6:16-17 . . .
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Eph 5:26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Eph 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Eph 5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
Eph 5:30 because we are members of his body.
Eph 5:31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast (cleave) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
Eph 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
1Co 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."
1Co 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
c. We Christians are in fact spiritually married to Christ, He is our Husband, He loves us, He cares for us, we obey Him because we love Him and fear His authority (Jn 14:15; Eph 5:21; Col 1:27-28).
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Eph 5:21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
Col 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
3. The “house of Jacob” (in Obadiah 1:17) is the “house of God”, the church of the living God (1 Tim 3:15), spiritual Israel (Rom 2:29), as spoken of by the angel Gabriel (turn to Luke 1:31-33) . . .
Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob (who was renamed Israel) forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
4. Paul uses similar words in his exhortation to Timothy (1 Tim 3:15)
1Ti 3:15 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
a. For it is the spiritual Israel, those whose citizenship is in the Jerusalem that is above (Gal 4:26) which is under contemplation (Rom 2:29).
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
b. And the salvation offered there (Mt Zion; Oba 1:17; Heb 12:22) is available to any and all, including any 1st century Edomites who desire (Num 24:17-18; Amos 9:11-12; Rev 22:17).
Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
5. Concerning Zion (in Obadiah 1:17) “it shall be holy” “there shall be holiness” the members of it are “made holy,” they are “sanctified,” they are called to be “saints,” (1 Cor 1:2) they are “set apart” by the power of the gospel (Rom 1:16) “from” sin, and “to” do the will of God, on earth as it is in heaven.
a. Let us keep in mind that “holiness” basically comes about in 2 stages, there is “positional holiness” which we receive when we believe and thereby pass from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life (Jn 5:24; Acts 26:18).
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Act 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (here is the passing from spiritual death to life), that they may receive forgiveness of sins (this comes afterwards) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
b. This “positional holiness” is maintained as we continue in the process of “being saved” (hearing, believing, repenting, confessing Christ, and being baptized and living according to the gospel) as long as we don’t turn back to the old lives we used to live (2 Pet 2:20-22; Heb 6:4-8) . . . .
2Pe 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
2Pe 2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2Pe 2:22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Heb 6:7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
Heb 6:8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
c. So there is “positional holiness” and there is “practical holiness” or “the practice of holiness” both are seen in 1 Cor 1:2 (turn there) . . .
1Co 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus (positional holiness), called to be saints (to practice holiness, i.e. practical holiness) together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
d. “Practical holiness” or “the practice of holiness” comes upon us as we embrace more and more the teachings of the gospel and apply them to our lives, by putting off our old person and putting on our new person who is in the process of being re-created into the likeness of God, of Jesus, (Eph 4:17-5:21)
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Eph 4:27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
Eph 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk (live) as children of light
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Eph 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Eph 5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Eph 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
Eph 5:14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Eph 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Eph 5:16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Eph 5:19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Eph 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (lit. in the fear of Christ; NASB).
e. Also Col 3:1-17 . . .
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Col 3:6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Col 3:7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
Col 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Col 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Col 3:11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Col 3:13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Col 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
6. Back in Obadiah 1:17, they “shall posses their (own; ESV) possessions” let us keep in mind that everything is actually God’s, Ps 24:1 . . .
Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
a. When we become members of the household of God we also become joint heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), in other words as a certain family shares between themselves the assets of their family business, so now we share the Lord’s resources (Ps 24:1).
b. Christians would and do now permeate throughout society, throughout all nations and peoples (not just a few Jews in an far, obscure, small country), the Faith is now the largest religion in the world 2.1 billion believers, about one third of the earth’s population (Christianity 32%, Muslim 23%, Hindu 15%, Jewish .2 %, other various religions 11%, non-religious 10%; Atheist 2%). What once was the various pagan’s gods or the god of self and greed, now belong to only true God’s peoples and thus back in the control of God, as it is written (Pro 13:22b).
Pro 13:22b the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
c. We were once the sinner (Rom 3:23), but now in Christ, we are the righteous (2 Cor 5:21).
d. The nations possessions are now the saints bounty for good works (2 Cor 9:6-8),
e. Being used to help needy saints who were promised no lack (Mt 6:33; Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35),
f. For seeking and saving the lost according to God’s holy will (Luke 19:10; Mt 28:19; Mk 16:16),
g. And doing good to all mankind (Gal 6:10),
h. And in all these things we are laying up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:19-21), unto the glory of our God (1 Cor 1:31; 10:31).
Conclusion,
1) We looked at “the sins of Edom” (v 1-11), and there were many, they proved themselves throughout time to be full of self-centered pride without any thought of their Creator, and often times at the expense of the people of God, who were their own flesh and blood. We also were once sinners, we loved and embraced sin, that has all changed, now we hate and fight against sin through the power of God unto salvation, the gospel.
2) Then we looked at “the warnings given to Edom” (v 12-14), concerning what they did, and what they should not do again, when one goes against the people of God, they are going against God Himself (Mt 25:31-46; Acts 9:1-5). Today God is warning us and all from heaven, “repent and believe in the gospel” because judgment is coming.
3) Then we looked into “the promise of Judgment to Edom and to all of those at enmity with God” (v 15-16), there is no way that any accountable person can escape the Judgment of God, perhaps in this life, but of a surety in the next (Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:10),
Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes judgment;
2Co 5:10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad.
a. I surely do not want what is coming to me, how about you (Rom 6:23)?
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4) Then lastly we looked at “the promise of redemption in mount Zion to Edom and to all of those at enmity with God” (v 17), this is made possible through this free gift, you can’t earn it (Rom 4:4), and you don’t deserve it (Tit 2:11).
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
5) It’s the gospel of Christ, its that one and only power of God unto salvation for every one that believes (Rom 1:16), but one must receive it, take it, be doers of it (Ja 1:22), according to God’s revealed will,
One is to . . .
Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17)
Rom 10:17 . . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (command) of God (Christ).
It must be implanted deeply within the good ground, the good heart (Luke 8:15)
One must . . .
Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the sacrifice for our sins, Who was raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven; He is our Forerunner (Heb 6:20), our Living Hope (1 Pet 1:3-4), this is the major purpose of the gospel accounts (Jn 20:31). . .
Joh 20:31 . . . these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name.
“Belief” (faith) is the crossover point of salvation, wherein one enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk
13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15), Jesus put it this way (Jn 5:24) . . .
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
One is to . . .
Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5) Paul stated on mars hill . . .
Act 17:30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commands men that they should all everywhere repent:
Repentance is a change in mind that results in a changed life
One is to . . .
Confess Jesus as the Christ before men (Acts 8:37), the eunuch said . . .
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So must you (Rom 10:9)
Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
One is to . . .
Be baptized (immersed), which doth also now save us (1 Pet 3:21), immersed into Christ (Gal 3:27), into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34), unto (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16);
And finally one is to live a holy life, in all aspects (1 Pet 1:15), growing towards perfection, being faithful,
continuing to be renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16), Putting off that old man, and putting on the new, being
constantly in a state of spiritual growth, Showing forth God’s love to all of our brethren, those in Christ, and
those without, being therefore complete as our heavenly Father is complete (Mt 5:48).