Amos: Who Is It We Are To Seek?

After confirming the certainty of punishment and calling all of mankind to return unto him in Chapter 4. Now God declares four times what we are to do – and that is “Seek ye me, seek the Lord, and ye shall live.” But who is it that we should seek?

Amos 5:7-9 Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

WHO should you seek? Seek the Lord Almighty who is in absolute control of everything, the one who made the Earth and the Stars, the one who did miracles in bringing his people up out of Egypt (out of bondage under his Law), the one who brought the flood in Noah’s days (justly punishing sin). This is Jesus Christ - The LORD (universal controller) is his name / his character. He is a just God and a Savior. He is the only savior, he humbles believers and gives them the ability to trust in his righteousness, and he gives them the ability to overcome the temptations of this world. He is the creator, and savior, and maintainer of God’s elect. Believers seek Jesus Christ, they seek his mercy.

Nah 1:2-3 God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

John 11:24-26 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 14:6-7 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

By Ray Bennetts

Amos: Where Does One Seek Christ?

In Amos Chapter 5 Christ declares four times what man must do to avoid punishment for sin - and that is “Seek ye me, seek the Lord, and ye shall live.” Christ commits that all who trust in him for salvation will be saved. He says “All who come to me I will in no wise cast out”. He is the only way of salvation. But where should one seek him, where can one learn of him?

Amos 5:4-6 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.

WHERE should one seek Christ? Do not seek him in false man-made religion (“seek not Bethel”) there is no peace there. Bethel was the location of one of the golden calves placed by Jeroboam I. The calves symbolize false worship - represent man’s self-perceived power and wealth and beauty. False religion glorifies man and the works of man. False religion teaches than man can justify himself to God on the basis of his own meritorious works. Christ’s faithful Gospel preachers declare Christ’s doctrine clearly and simply and boldly for all to hear. They proclaim salvation by his Grace alone. True worship of God gives all the glory to Christ. Believers know, believe, and understand his free Grace. Those who desire to be saved seek him, seek the Lord; they look to him; they bow to his sovereignty; they call on his name, his perfect righteousness; they rely on him exclusively for salvation; they do not place any trust in themselves at all. They plead for his mercy they do not claim any self-worthiness. They accept his Free Sovereign Grace.

John 6:35-38 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

By Ray Bennetts

Amos: Why Seek Christ?

In Amos Chapter 5 Christ declares four times what man must do to avoid punishment for sin - and that is “Seek ye me, seek the Lord, and ye shall live.”

Amos 5:1-4 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up. For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel. For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:

WHY seek Christ? Every person who ever lived should seek him because every person deserves God’s wrath (they have fallen) for their sin. And no one is strong enough to save themselves from his wrath (shall no more rise). Every person must seek him to avoid unending punishment for their personal sin debt. This sin debt is so large, so massive, so heavy that no one can pay it. No one knows how to pay and there is not enough wealth on the planet to pay for their debt. No one can save themselves but Christ commits to save everyone who comes to him for salvation.

Isa 40:15-17 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

By Ray Bennetts