Scripture resounds with man's lostness.
Man needs the Miracle of the Spirit's Transformation, not the Works of Fleshly Reformation.
I offered several passages addressing this issue: Romans 1:18-32; 13:8-14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11.
Sin Separates From God and/or God Separates From Sin. It's in the Book.
First Passage...
ROMANS 1:18-32
Rejection of God Brings God's Wrath
vs. 18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Natural and Special Revelation Throughout History
vss. 19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
DLG notes...
God has revealed Himself to all men in all ages through natural revelation and special revelation (vss. 19-20; Ps. 19:1-6).
Primitives have had an understanding of Divine attributes, nature and moral law.
Ancient myths are the twisted remnants of ancient revelation through Adam and others.
Every man is enlightened to a degree (Jn. 1:9).
False Religions Are the Paths of Human Rebellion
vss. 21-23
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
DLG notes...
Rejection of truth and God's Lordship resulted in pagan beliefs and religions (idolatry).
Paganism to Humanism
vss. 24-25
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
DLG notes...
Paganism leads to humanism. Worship of self/man is next step to worshiping man made gods.
Humanism to Homosexuality
vss. 26-27
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
DLG notes...
Rejection of God bottoms out in a humanistic and homosexual world.
Rogue's Gallery On Review
vss. 28-32
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
DLG notes...
God allows us to choose our own destinies.
Man fills his cup of iniquity to overflowing.
Standing side by side in this Rogue's Gallery are; sexual sins, sexual perversions, violence, insatiable greed, all consuming evil disposition, murder, envy, jealousy, angry contention and disagreement, liar, wicked and twisted thinking, gossips/slanderers, haters of God, injurious boasters, self absorbed and self aggrandizing, creators of wickedness and disobedient to parents.
Today's society not only does the evil thing, thinks the evil thought, says the evil word, has the evil heart, it promotes and supports the people who are part of the evil way and oppresses Christians who resist and reject the evil one.
Second, Third and Fourth Passages...
ROMANS 13:8-14
Love Fulfills The Law
vs. 8
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Abbreviated List of Lethal Law Breakers and God's Redemptive Response
vss. 9-10
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
DLG notes...
God does not close His eyes to the sin problem or pretend it does not exist; He overcomes sin through love.
Love is the rule of God in the heart; the rule of wanting to please Him and keep His commandments because it is our opportunity to love Him, not as an obligation of dread and fear.
Wake Up and Suit Up
vss. 11-14
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
DLG notes...
The return of Christ is coming and we must wake up to the dangers of darkness and suit up to do our duty.
I asked the children if they knew what Armor is and they said yes. I told them to imagine a helmet and and body armor made of Light and imagine fiery darts of darkness being fired at us. I asked them what would happen to the spears, and they said that they would bounce off of us. I told them they need to put on the Light Armor of God to fight the Devil.
Love overcomes Sin.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11
God Saves Us From the All Sin
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
DLG notes...
All these sins separate us from God, but in salvation, God separates us from all these sins.
1 TIMOTHY 1:9-11
Christians Are Driven By Law of Love, Law of Liberty, Royal Law, Law of Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
DLG notes...
Christians do not need the moral law imposed, because we are moved, motivated, driven by the Law of Love which reigns within us, because we choose to live under the rule of God.
We not only keep the incomplete list of laws in the Scriptures, we go beyond because God's Spirit guides and empowers us.
First Passage...
ROMANS 1:18-32
Rejection of God Brings God's Wrath
vs. 18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Natural and Special Revelation Throughout History
vss. 19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
DLG notes...
God has revealed Himself to all men in all ages through natural revelation and special revelation (vss. 19-20; Ps. 19:1-6).
Primitives have had an understanding of Divine attributes, nature and moral law.
Ancient myths are the twisted remnants of ancient revelation through Adam and others.
Every man is enlightened to a degree (Jn. 1:9).
False Religions Are the Paths of Human Rebellion
vss. 21-23
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
DLG notes...
Rejection of truth and God's Lordship resulted in pagan beliefs and religions (idolatry).
Paganism to Humanism
vss. 24-25
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
DLG notes...
Paganism leads to humanism. Worship of self/man is next step to worshiping man made gods.
Humanism to Homosexuality
vss. 26-27
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
DLG notes...
Rejection of God bottoms out in a humanistic and homosexual world.
Rogue's Gallery On Review
vss. 28-32
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
DLG notes...
God allows us to choose our own destinies.
Man fills his cup of iniquity to overflowing.
Standing side by side in this Rogue's Gallery are; sexual sins, sexual perversions, violence, insatiable greed, all consuming evil disposition, murder, envy, jealousy, angry contention and disagreement, liar, wicked and twisted thinking, gossips/slanderers, haters of God, injurious boasters, self absorbed and self aggrandizing, creators of wickedness and disobedient to parents.
Today's society not only does the evil thing, thinks the evil thought, says the evil word, has the evil heart, it promotes and supports the people who are part of the evil way and oppresses Christians who resist and reject the evil one.
Second, Third and Fourth Passages...
ROMANS 13:8-14
Love Fulfills The Law
vs. 8
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Abbreviated List of Lethal Law Breakers and God's Redemptive Response
vss. 9-10
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
DLG notes...
God does not close His eyes to the sin problem or pretend it does not exist; He overcomes sin through love.
Love is the rule of God in the heart; the rule of wanting to please Him and keep His commandments because it is our opportunity to love Him, not as an obligation of dread and fear.
Wake Up and Suit Up
vss. 11-14
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
DLG notes...
The return of Christ is coming and we must wake up to the dangers of darkness and suit up to do our duty.
I asked the children if they knew what Armor is and they said yes. I told them to imagine a helmet and and body armor made of Light and imagine fiery darts of darkness being fired at us. I asked them what would happen to the spears, and they said that they would bounce off of us. I told them they need to put on the Light Armor of God to fight the Devil.
Love overcomes Sin.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11
God Saves Us From the All Sin
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
DLG notes...
All these sins separate us from God, but in salvation, God separates us from all these sins.
1 TIMOTHY 1:9-11
Christians Are Driven By Law of Love, Law of Liberty, Royal Law, Law of Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
DLG notes...
Christians do not need the moral law imposed, because we are moved, motivated, driven by the Law of Love which reigns within us, because we choose to live under the rule of God.
We not only keep the incomplete list of laws in the Scriptures, we go beyond because God's Spirit guides and empowers us.
