When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

How God Reacts to Rebellion

PRAY OVER THIS

“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.’”

Jeremiah 31:3

 

PONDER THIS

God created Adam and Eve, and He gave them everything they needed. No one can say He didn’t raise them right. No one can say He didn’t love them. No one can say He didn’t spend time with them. No one can say He did not carefully teach them. And He warned them that their future depended on their choices, yet they did wrong. By their own choices and free will, they rebelled against their loving Father.

You can be a good parent and lose a child. But reading the Bible you’re going to see God is in the same place you are. God is agonizingly watching your children hurt themselves and hurt others, and yet God refuses to step in and storm their control center and make them machines. He won’t do it. I’m going to tell you something else: He won’t do it with you either. God is looking down from Heaven right now at some grown rebellious children, and He’s stretching out His hands in love and saying, “Come to Me.”

Who do you know who has rebelled against God? How does that make you feel? How does it feel to know God empathizes with the hurt you experience in these moments?

Who in your life is far from God? How can you extend love to that person?

PRACTICE THIS

Take a step toward loving someone who’s far from God.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

How Do We Sin Against God

Psalm 119:11

    [11] I have stored up your word in my heart,

        that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 51:1-3

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

    [1] Have mercy on me, O God,

        according to your steadfast love;

    according to your abundant mercy

        blot out my transgressions. 

    [2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

        and cleanse me from my sin!

    [3] For I know my transgressions,

        and my sin is ever before me.

Psalm 37:31

    [31] The law of his God is in his heart;

        his steps do not slip.

Psalm 51:4-6

    [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned

        and done what is evil in your sight,

    so that you may be justified in your words

        and blameless in your judgment. 

    [5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

        and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

    [6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

        and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Sin begins in our heart in the form of rebellion.

We rebel by willful disobedience.

It is the very nature of Satan who by his disobedience was thrown out of Heaven.

He is a liar. 

He entices you to sin by breaking God's holy commandments.

He wants you to deny God.

He wants you to put self forward and do all the evil things the mind can conjure.

There Are Only Two Religions

PRAY OVER THIS

“Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” Jude 1:11

 

PONDER THIS

There are only two religions in the world—the true and the false. That’s all. We like to divide religions up and say there’s Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, and all these other different kinds of religions. And then we take Christianity and subdivide it. We say there’s Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic, and so forth. But there are only two religions: the true and the false. One is the way of Cain and the other is the way of the cross. What is the way of Cain? The way of Cain is religion without the blood sacrifice and without the atonement. You may say, “Pastor, we don’t have to worry about that. We hear about the blood very often.” If so, thank God for a church that’s based on the Book, the blood, and the blessed hope.

How do you respond to the idea that there are only two religions?

What are some ways you might be distracted from the truth of the Bible?

PRACTICE THIS

Journal today about traits of the truth of Christ and traits of every other belief system. How do these contrast?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

The Hope of God’s Rebuke

PRAY OVER THIS

“He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Proverbs 29:1

 

PONDER THIS

God has called me to proclaim that He loves you with an infinite love. He has spoken to you over and over again, and He’s speaking to you today. But God says, “If you continue to harden your neck, you’ll be destroyed.” And when you are, there will be no second chance. It will be without remedy, without hope. I looked this verse up in several different translations, and they all mean the same thing: no hope, without a second chance, without a remedy, without a cure.

But why would God rebuke you? Because He loves you so much, and He wants to save you today. You may ask, “Pastor Rogers, would Jesus save me today?” Yes. “Pastor Rogers, are you sure?” Yes, I’m sure, if you’ll call upon Him.” You say, “What if I’ve crossed the deadline?” If you call upon Him, you haven’t.

How might you use the message of today’s devotion to encourage someone in the truth?

How does God’s rebuke always give us hope? Why is it worse to not have His rebuke?

PRACTICE THIS

Consider where God is rebuking you currently. Respond to Him in obedience as He is prompting you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

In Our Hearts, Are We Spitting On Christ?

I would say yes!

When you or I sin, it's the same kind of rebellion.

We are saying He is not worthy!

In His mercy, He forgives us if we repent!

This is to myself as well as other sinners.  

Belief in Christ, in His ability to give salvation to the lost who are headed for destruction.

This power which has been granted Him by God who is the giver of all life and your repentance from sin.

It's a unwarranted gift which can't be earned given to believers.

In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.  - Psalm 78:32

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  - Isaiah 53:7

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. - 1 Peter 3:9

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. - Hebrews 12:3

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him,

68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?" - Matthew 26:67-68

30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.

31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. - Matthew 27:30-31

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well.

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:10-12

When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

Are You a Closet Rebel?

BIBLE MEDITATION

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” 1 Samuel 15:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

There’s a classic story about a father who told his little four-year-old son to sit down, but the son didn’t sit down. The father said a second time, “Son, I said sit down.” The boy still didn’t sit down. Finally, the father took him by the shoulders, and forcefully placed him in the chair. He said, “Now, Son, sit there!” The little boy answered, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but—” he added defiantly, “I’m standing up on the inside!”

A lot of us are in that mode. A rebellious spirit is not always discernible except to God and the person who has it. 

ACTION POINT

Is there some area in your life where you’re “standing up on the inside”? If on the inside you still harbor a rebellious spirit, you are not really “obeying.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Deep down, are you a rebel?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Is there stirring in your heart a spirit of rebellion today? Maybe you don’t even recognize it. Is there someone who has wronged you and you seek revenge? Do you have a need to have your rights exalted before others? If you’re not struggling in this area, that’s great—but if you are, let me plead with you right now to do something about it.

Ask God to cleanse you from your desire to rebel.

Ask Him to root out the rebel in you. He is not going to remove it until you renounce it. It is your choice.

Ask Him to forgive you for the foolish and careless words you have spoken.

Ask Him to take out that spirit of rebellion against authorities.

Ask Him to teach you how to lovingly respect people when they are in the wrong.

ACTION POINT:

Either you crown Jesus as Lord, or you crucify Him. Are you with Jesus today or are you against Him?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

Is it okay with God to be a rebel?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Every rebel has a reason for his or her actions. You’ve probably heard a young person say, “Well, my dad drinks, so I smoke pot.” Do you know what kind of reasoning that is? Brute beast reasoning, like Peter mentions in 2 Peter 2:12.

“But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”

This young person doesn’t think he has to obey his father. And he further reasons, “He’s not worthy of my obedience.” And it’s not only young people who think this way. We see it in adults too, and it’s rampant in entertainment and the media. But is this okay with God? Does He give us His permission to live this way?

Do you know the only people who can demand perfect parents? Perfect children. The only people who can demand a perfect pastor is a perfect church member. Only perfect citizens can demand a perfect politician! You don’t carry a license for rebellion. There are ways to reason together in a church, home, government and nation.

ACTION POINT:

A spirit of rebellion among its citizens will bring a nation to its knees. Jesus gave His life to reconcile us. Can you live otherwise?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Proud Works vs. Humble Faith

"On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’” (Matthew 7:22)

Consider the difference between a heart of “faith” and a heart of “works.”

The heart of works gets satisfaction from the ego-boost of accomplishing something in its own power. It will attempt to scale a vertical rock face, or take on extra responsibilities at work, or risk life in a combat zone, or agonize through a marathon, or perform religious fasting for weeks — all for the satisfaction of conquering a challenge by the force of its own will and the stamina of its own body.

The heart with a works-orientation may also go in another direction and express its love of independence and self-direction and self-achievement by rebelling against courtesy and decency and morality (Galatians 5:19–21). But it’s the same self-determining, self-exalting works-orientation — whether it is being immoral or mounting a crusade against immoral behavior. The common denominator is self-direction, self-reliance, and self-exaltation. In all of this, the basic satisfaction of the works-orientation is the savor of being an assertive, autonomous, and, if possible, triumphant self.

The heart of faith is radically different. Its desires are no less strong as it looks to the future. But what it desires is the fullest satisfaction of experiencing all that God is for us in Jesus.

If “works” wants the satisfaction of feeling itself overcome an obstacle, “faith” savors the satisfaction of feeling God overcome an obstacle. Works longs for the joy of being glorified as capable, strong, and smart. Faith longs for the joy of seeing God glorified for his capability and strength and wisdom and grace.

In its religious form, works accepts the challenge of morality, conquers its obstacles through great exertion, and offers the victory to God as a payment for his approval and recompense. Faith, too, accepts the challenge of morality, but only as an occasion to become the instrument of God’s power. And when the victory comes, faith rejoices that all the glory and thanks belong to God.

John Piper 

When Reason Serves Rebellion

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)

This is not what I expected the proverb to say. I would have expected it to say, “The coward says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!’” But it says, “sluggard,” not “coward.” So, the controlling emotion here is laziness, not fear.

But what does laziness have to do with the danger of a lion in the street? We don’t usually say, “This man is too lazy to go do his work because there is a lion outside.”

The point is that the sluggard creates imaginary circumstances to justify not doing his work, and thus shifts the focus from the vice of his laziness to the danger of lions. No one will approve his staying in the house all day just because he is lazy. But they might excuse him if there is a lion in the street.

One profound biblical insight we need to learn from this is that our heart exploits our mind to justify what we want. That is, our deepest desires precede the rational functioning of our minds and incline the mind to perceive and think in a way that will make the desires look right, even if they’re wrong.

This is what the sluggard is doing. He deeply desires to stay at home and not work. There is no good reason to stay at home. So, what does he do? Does he overcome his bad desire — his laziness? No, he uses his mind to create unreal circumstances to justify his desire.

Jesus said, “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). We love the darkness so that we can keep on doing what we want without exposure. In this condition, the mind becomes a factory of darkness — a fountain of half-truths, equivocations, sophistries, evasions, and lies — anything to protect the evil desires of the heart from exposure and destruction.

Consider and be wise.

John Piper 

Reasoning Together—Being Reconciled One to Another

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Every rebel has a reason for his or her actions. You’ve probably heard a young person say, “Well, my dad drinks, so I smoke pot.” Do you know what kind of reasoning that is? Brute beast reasoning, like Peter mentions in 2 Peter 2:12. This young person doesn’t think he has to obey his father. And he further reasons, “He’s not worthy of my obedience.”

Do you know the only people who can demand perfect parents? Perfect children.

The only people who can demand a perfect pastor is a perfect church member.

The only person who can demand a perfect politician is a perfect citizen!

There is never a license for rebellion. There are ways to reason together in a church, home, and government.

ACTION POINT:

A spirit of rebellion will bring a nation to its knees. Jesus gave His life to reconcile us. Can you live otherwise?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Reasoning Together—Being Reconciled One to Another

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Every rebel has a reason for his or her actions. You've probably heard a young person say, “Well, my dad drinks, so I smoke pot.” Do you know what kind of reasoning that is? Brute beast reasoning, like Peter mentions in 2 Peter 2:12. This young person doesn't think he has to obey his father. And he further reasons, “He’s not worthy of my obedience.”

Do you know the only people who can demand perfect parents? Perfect children. The only people who can demand a perfect pastor is a perfect church member. The only person who can demand a perfect politician is a perfect citizen!

There is never a license for rebellion. There are ways to reason together in a church, home, and government. 

ACTION POINT:

A spirit of rebellion will bring a nation to its knees. Jesus gave His life to reconcile us. Can you live otherwise?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

It Is Finished

Today my sweet brother died.
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
He had cancer but what really killed him was sin.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God created man in His own image.
His intent was for man to live in the garden with everything provided for him by God.
Ecc.3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Sin entered through one man and went to all men.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-

People often ask "how could God do this" when someone dies, or a tragedy occurs.
The simple truth is, we sinned against God!
We alone, brought the wrath of God on ourselves!
Romans 8:6
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

As I watched my brother die a little each day, I was very aware that sin has a cost!
What God meant for joy in His creation was marred by sin.

Satan is the author of lies, the tempter who entices man to rebel against holy God!
1 John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

God's beautiful creation dies and decays and his soul returns to his Maker.
Ecc. 12:7
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

You will die, you are accountable before God, He will judge you and your soul will live for eternity in heaven or hell!
Romans 3:10-12
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

God, who is rich in mercy, made an acceptable sacrifice through the blood of Christ for all who believe. Christ was wholly man and wholly God and by the power of God, He alone saves man from hell!
This last Sunday my pastor preached on weaving threads.
He told of how each little word or verse about Christ is used to weave the gospel message in the unbeliever's heart.
It is our command to preach the gospel and God alone will bring in the harvest of souls.
I pray that each and every one of you will listen to the gospel and be convicted by your sinful rebellion.

There is not one lust of this world that can compare with the hope and joy Christ brings to you when the burden of sin has been washed away from your soul.
Romans 8:22-25
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

God is holy....
Is.43:15
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King." 

Man rebelled....
Romans 3:12
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 

We are separated from God....
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Just....
Prov.17:15
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

We are dead....
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gracious God....
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

Life in Christ....
1 John 3:5
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

Christ death....
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Christ has risen....
Rev.1:18
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Turn from sin....
Mark 1:15
and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Trust....
Romans 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.

Eternity
John 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.

Hell, a dreadful reality who deny Christ....
2 Thess.1:8-9
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Heaven, a glorious reality for those trusting Christ....
Phil.3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Lord, without repentance, there will no forgiveness. Open hearts to the good news of the gospel. Amen

In His Image

In His Image...
Gen.1:27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

By His power...
Gen.2:7
7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

God's plan...
Gen.2:15-17

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 

Gen.2:21-25

21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 

22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 

23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. 

Satan's temptation and Man's fall into sin...
Gen.3:1-13

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 

3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 

4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 

7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 

9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" 

10 And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." 

11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 

12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." 

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 

God's sentence for rebellion...
Gen.3:14-19

14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 

16 To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." 

17 And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 

18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 

19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." 

So you ask "why does God allow bad things to happen"? Man's disobedience caused "bad things"! Man is held in bondage by Satan because of sin! We always try to figure out why, when we should ask God to have mercy and to forgive our disobedience! We like sheep have gone astray! Our good Shepherd, Christ has come to redeem all who are lost! The world no longer has any shame about sinful acts, instead we condone them!

How can man ignore such a great salvation? Death and destruction is what we deserve but Christ in His mercy took God's wrath. Wrath that belongs to you and me! Not even death could hold the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Praise Him! Christ is wholly God and wholly man!

Acts 2:24
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

One man's obedience...

Romans 5:19

19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.