"So help me God" is a phrase used in oaths, like in Freemasonry and the court room for telling "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God". Problem here is that God cannot help you keep your oath in according to His words.
Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
So when any one makes an oath like that, and on the Bible too, God cannot help you keep your oath or promise when His word says YOU have to do ALL that proceeds out of your mouth.
Then we read on that any oath or vow is really you telling God and men that you are going to do it and finish it. It is a work of your hands as it is your vow for why God will not help you.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Now think about the oath at the witness stand. When you are ordered to answer yes or no to a question, you are not allowed to go beyond that yes or no to explain that it is not the whole truth. Any attempt to do so, and one may be objected for how you are going beyond yes or no by the lawyer whereby the judge will command the witness to answer only in the yes or no format, thus restricted from telling the truth or be fined for contempt of court. Really?
So how can God help you keep that oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, but nothing but the truth so help you God? Is the court system mocking you & God with that judicial oath?
Then we have the reproof in the Bible about making plans for tomorrow.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
This reproves making a commitment to follow Christ as well as any promises for tomorrow to do good or to be good. Believers cannot say "If the Lord will" to those bondages because His word says He will not help us keep those commitments nor promises for tomorrow. Indeed, such vows can never be finished for why it is a vain vow and a sin at that. Even the Promise Keepers program is vanity when they use God's grace to keep on trying to keep promises that can never be finished by the will of men as it is not in our religious flesh to do His work in us in making us good or to do good.
Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
So how can we follow Jesus? By faith in Him as our Good Shepherd to help us to follow Him.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
We have to deny ourselves as able to follow Him; then we pick up the cross daily by saying it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I live I live by faith in the Son of God Whom gave His life for me.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Then we read on about the vanity of trying to make ourselves good by keeping commitments and promises.
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
This would also include vows of love added to the marriage covenant performed by God. Since love is not boastful, and love comes from the Lord, a fruit of the Spirit, those vows are not required to be exchanged at the marriage ceremony, no matter how nice it sounds.
Believes can ask Jesus for forgiveness of sins and to set them free to help them rest in the New Covenant and all His promises to us in helping us be good and to do good by faith in Him.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.... 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:... 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
So when Jesus says "follow Me", He is ask us to trust Him as our Good shepherd to help us to follow Him as we trust Him to do His work in us and thru us to His glory.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
So go to Jesus to rest in Him & all His promises to us today for everything.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world..... 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
So when any one makes an oath like that, and on the Bible too, God cannot help you keep your oath or promise when His word says YOU have to do ALL that proceeds out of your mouth.
Then we read on that any oath or vow is really you telling God and men that you are going to do it and finish it. It is a work of your hands as it is your vow for why God will not help you.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Now think about the oath at the witness stand. When you are ordered to answer yes or no to a question, you are not allowed to go beyond that yes or no to explain that it is not the whole truth. Any attempt to do so, and one may be objected for how you are going beyond yes or no by the lawyer whereby the judge will command the witness to answer only in the yes or no format, thus restricted from telling the truth or be fined for contempt of court. Really?
So how can God help you keep that oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, but nothing but the truth so help you God? Is the court system mocking you & God with that judicial oath?
Then we have the reproof in the Bible about making plans for tomorrow.
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
This reproves making a commitment to follow Christ as well as any promises for tomorrow to do good or to be good. Believers cannot say "If the Lord will" to those bondages because His word says He will not help us keep those commitments nor promises for tomorrow. Indeed, such vows can never be finished for why it is a vain vow and a sin at that. Even the Promise Keepers program is vanity when they use God's grace to keep on trying to keep promises that can never be finished by the will of men as it is not in our religious flesh to do His work in us in making us good or to do good.
Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
So how can we follow Jesus? By faith in Him as our Good Shepherd to help us to follow Him.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
We have to deny ourselves as able to follow Him; then we pick up the cross daily by saying it is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I live I live by faith in the Son of God Whom gave His life for me.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Then we read on about the vanity of trying to make ourselves good by keeping commitments and promises.
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
This would also include vows of love added to the marriage covenant performed by God. Since love is not boastful, and love comes from the Lord, a fruit of the Spirit, those vows are not required to be exchanged at the marriage ceremony, no matter how nice it sounds.
Believes can ask Jesus for forgiveness of sins and to set them free to help them rest in the New Covenant and all His promises to us in helping us be good and to do good by faith in Him.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.... 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:... 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
So when Jesus says "follow Me", He is ask us to trust Him as our Good shepherd to help us to follow Him as we trust Him to do His work in us and thru us to His glory.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
So go to Jesus to rest in Him & all His promises to us today for everything.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Hebrews 4:1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world..... 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
