Hello, everyone! The blog for August will based on Psalm 5:4-6 which states, "For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."
Just a few quick points about theses 3 verses...
First, it is important to realize that God takes sin very seriously. This passage is very clear in describing how God relates to sinners. It clearly states...
1. He does not take pleasure in wickedness.
2. The evil shall not dwell with Him.
3. The boastful shall not stand in His sight.
4. He hates all workers of iniquity.
5. He will destroy those who speak lies.
6. He abhors deceitful men.
It is very likely that the strong language in this passage surprises you (even if you are in church!). Nevertheless, the Bible is clear. God is not okay with sin. He does not tolerate sin. He will not overlook sin. He takes sin very seriously!
Perhaps, the greatest problem in the world today is that people do not realize that God takes sin very seriously. People readily agree that they are sinners. They quickly agree and acknowledge that "nobody is perfect." However, often the problem is they do not realize how much trouble they are in because of their sin. Perhaps, reading Psalm 5:4-6 would help?
Second, it is important to see the type of person that this passage speaks about.
God feels the way he toward sinners because of the actions of the sinner. It is important to clearly note the type of person that is described in the passage. He is described as ...
1. Wicked
2. Evil
3. Boastful
4. A worker of iniquity
5. A speaker of falsehood.
6. Deceitful (and bloodthirsty)
God is totally just and right to feel the way he does because of the behavior of people. If people were righteous and did not sin (i.e. 1-6 listed above) then God would not hate/abhor anyone. God anger/wrath/displeasure is 100% correct in view of how people chose to live. It would wrong for God to respond to people repeatedly breaking his law in other way than what is described in Psalm 5:4-6.
It is important to note at this point that according to the Bible everyone falls into the above category. Romans 3:10 (along with many other passages) clearly states, "There is no one righteous." Thus, all of humanity is in trouble because all of humanity has sinned.
Third, it is important to understand how unbelievable the cross really is.
Psalm 5:4-6 does not talk about the cross, but it does help one to understand why Grace is so amazing. Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrated His love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." When a person understands that God takes sin seriously, and that we all are sinners, it truly makes it amazing to consider that God was willing to send His Son (and Jesus was willing to go and die for our sins). It is often true that people do not really appreciate the cross because they do not really recognize how much trouble they were in and how undeserving of such love they really are.
John Newton summed it up when he wrote, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like Me!"
I hope at some point in your life you have realized you are in trouble because of your sinful behavior. I also hope that at some point you have seen the Lord Jesus Christ as your only hope. If not I hope you see it clearly today!
Pastor Ben.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
The passage of the month (Yes, blogs are now monthly instead of weekly in case you have not figured that out yet!) is Job 8:13-14 which states, "The hope of the hypocrite shall perish, whose confidence shall be cut off, and who trust is a spider's web." Just a few quick points...
First, hypocrites have hope. A hypocrite is an actor/pretender. "They profess to know God but in works they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). The funny thing is that a hypocrite knows that he is a hypocrite. He is well aware of the fact that his heart and life are dominated by sin. However, in spite of his hypocrisy the hypocrite really believes he will be "okay" in the end. The passage of the month makes it clear that the hypocrite believes there is hope for him. He is confident. He trusts that he will be okay in the end. He knows he is a fake/pretend/actor, yet he continues to believe heaven is his future destination.
Second, the hope of the hypocrite shall perish. The hope that the hypocrite has is false. It is no good. It is worthless. In the end, he will not be okay. His hope will perish. His confidence will be cut off. His trust is built on a spider's web. Job 8:15 says, "He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure." It is In the end, his house will fall with a great crash (Matthew 7:27). He will be cast into the lake of fire with all the other "liars" (Revelation 21:8).
I chose to write about Job 8:13-14 because hypocrisy is an epidemic in the church today. Hypocrites can be found inside groups of children, teenagers, college students, young adults, mature adults, and senior citizens. The one thing all of these hypocrites have in common is a false hope. The vast majority of them believe in the end they will be "okay." The bottom line is they are wrong. Their hope will perish.
1 John 2:4 says, "If anyone says 'I know Him' and they do not obey His commandments they are a liar and the truth is not in them." It is impossible to dodge this verse and many others like it.
It is my desire for each person who is not a child of God to realize they are not a child of God. Then, I desire to see the people turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, find eternal life, and a new life here on this earth. I have no other motive. I hope and pray that if you are a hypocrite you will see very clearly that the path you are on leads to hell. You have no future hope. Stop, turn to the One who died for your sins, call upon Him to save you and then you will have REAL HOPE.
Pastor Ben
First, hypocrites have hope. A hypocrite is an actor/pretender. "They profess to know God but in works they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). The funny thing is that a hypocrite knows that he is a hypocrite. He is well aware of the fact that his heart and life are dominated by sin. However, in spite of his hypocrisy the hypocrite really believes he will be "okay" in the end. The passage of the month makes it clear that the hypocrite believes there is hope for him. He is confident. He trusts that he will be okay in the end. He knows he is a fake/pretend/actor, yet he continues to believe heaven is his future destination.
Second, the hope of the hypocrite shall perish. The hope that the hypocrite has is false. It is no good. It is worthless. In the end, he will not be okay. His hope will perish. His confidence will be cut off. His trust is built on a spider's web. Job 8:15 says, "He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure." It is In the end, his house will fall with a great crash (Matthew 7:27). He will be cast into the lake of fire with all the other "liars" (Revelation 21:8).
I chose to write about Job 8:13-14 because hypocrisy is an epidemic in the church today. Hypocrites can be found inside groups of children, teenagers, college students, young adults, mature adults, and senior citizens. The one thing all of these hypocrites have in common is a false hope. The vast majority of them believe in the end they will be "okay." The bottom line is they are wrong. Their hope will perish.
1 John 2:4 says, "If anyone says 'I know Him' and they do not obey His commandments they are a liar and the truth is not in them." It is impossible to dodge this verse and many others like it.
It is my desire for each person who is not a child of God to realize they are not a child of God. Then, I desire to see the people turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, find eternal life, and a new life here on this earth. I have no other motive. I hope and pray that if you are a hypocrite you will see very clearly that the path you are on leads to hell. You have no future hope. Stop, turn to the One who died for your sins, call upon Him to save you and then you will have REAL HOPE.
Pastor Ben
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