Monday, June 3, 2013

Journey through the Book of Romans


Paul unfold God’s Wrath on Man’s Sin Part 2
Romans 1:22-25 Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man --- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. NKJV

Human wisdom is perhaps the worst of all of man’s blessings because it elevates the heart of men to such a level of independence from an All Wise and All-knowing Creator God (1 Corinthians 1:19-21). Every time I watch some nature program on PBS, Discovery, or Animal Planet I am in more awe, wonder, fear, and reverence of my Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ than ever. The absolute precision of every animals internal organs, skin, food requirements, mating seasons, climates of their habitation, and a bountiful other things that could only come from the mind of an infinitely wise God so far above human knowledge and wisdom (Isaiah 55:8-9). Yet despite this reality, man of every generation since Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden has elevated himself in knowledge and wisdom above God as those under the rule of Nimrod said of themselves, Genesis 11:4 “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” NKJV
Notice the people during these days under the leadership of the mighty hunter Nimrod said, “Let us make a name for ourselves” and this is still the desire of the darkened hearts of men and women wanting to build their own empires or kingdoms on earth still with the faint notion in the back of their minds that they can discover or manufacture a product or substance that will defeat all diseases and even physical death. Note: This is where the false prophets rush in with their phony gospel of health, wealth, and prosperity for those who come to God (2 Peter 2:1-3). You see this has always been the product of human wisdom that ultimately makes men fools and wise in only their own hearts but not before God. The word fool used by the Apostle Paul comes from the Greek word moraino which means to become insipid (without significance or impact) figuratively to make (passively act) as a simpleton; to make foolish. This Greek word moraino is where we get our English word moron (a person of subnormal intelligence) from and we know that a person considered to be a moron in our modern day world is looked down on and mocked, scorned, laughed at, spoken evil of, ostracized, and ridiculed. Paul is saying that these people during the days of Noah and of Nimrod thinking themselves to be wise men were actually in God’s eyes fools or morons.

Those of us who know God personally through regeneration and new birth in and by our Lord Jesus Christ know that He does not change with the passing of time for He is the Lord God and He changes not (Malachi 3:6). Today God looks down on the sons of men and He sees Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Steve Jobs, Richard Dawkins, and many others considered by humanity to be such great thinkers, intellectuals, businessmen, humanitarians, etc. and He says they are fools and morons in My Sight and what they have done and accomplished on this earth apart from Me is an abomination in My Eyes (Isaiah 64:6 & Luke 16:15). The people during the days of old carved out images from wood, stone and other materials and stood these objects up and worshiped them instead of YAHWEH. Then these people became worshippers of the sun and moon and the stars instead of YAHWEH (Acts 7:42). It was all abominable and satanic (Jeremiah 10:14). Today’s idolatry and idol worship looks a little different but it is still abominable and satanic just as the human heart did in Noah’s day. Today athletic sports teams, rock bands, pop singers, stadiums, certain cities, casinos, amusement parks, etc. are all modern day idols and are worshipped with the same fervor as the idolaters during Noah’s day.
Man then and now changes God’s Glory into things that are temporal and that will perish and worship them instead of the One True Creator God who gave them life and sustains that life by His goodness to all humanity (Matthew 5:45). However, God (YAHWEH) will never be mocked so He will give to man what his sinful evil heart desires and turn him over to his or her own passions and lust which is a function of His judgment and wrath on humanity in time (Psalm 81:12). God will ultimately and finally judge all who reject or resist His Only Way of Forgiveness through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in hell and the Lake of Fire after death for all eternity. However, He is right now judging the sin of man by giving sinful man up to the lie of satan (1 Timothy 5:15) which keeps sinners bound, trapped, and enslaved in their sins while they still live (Revelation 9:20). God’s current judgment on sin is to give to the sinner the unclean mind he or she desires which perpetuates a cycle of sinful enslavement that can never be broken by the sinner apart from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:17-19).

“There are no easy steps to witnessing! No painless, un-embarrassing methods! You must bring men to see that they are filthy sinners under the wrath of God who must flee to Christ for mercy. That is offensive. And there is no way to coat it with honey.” Walter J. Chantry 1938-Present
“Jesus Christ did not ransom everybody. He gave His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He did not propitiate the wrath of God against everybody. But He laid down His life for the sheep. They are scattered throughout the world in every tongue and tribe and people and nation.” John Piper

“We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God.” William Gurnall 1617-1679
“What fools are they who, for a drop of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath.” Thomas Watson 1620-1686

“Turn to God from idols. For the sword of His wrath that had been aimed at you has been sheathed into the heart of His Son. And the arrows of His anger that had been put against your breast were loosed into the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He has died for you, you were forgiven.” Paris Reidhead 1919-1992

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

 
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…                                    

 

 

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