Rejecting God

Rejecting God

Steve W. Reeves

INTRODUCTION:

A. A coin has two sides which we refer to as “heads” and “tails.” We even have an

    expression that there are “two sides to a coin.”

B. Romans 1 presents us with two sides of God’s nature.

    1. On the one side we read of God’s grace by which Paul was made an apostle to

       carry the gospel to the Gentiles (vs. 5). It is this grace that prompted Him to send

       Jesus into the world so that every human might have the opportunity to have

       their sins forgiven. It is by God’s love that the Gospel is the power unto salvation

       that reveals the righteousness of God (vss. 16-17).

    2. There is, however, another side to this coin. God is not only a God of love and

       grace. He is a God of wrath.

       a. We do not hear about the wrath of God as much as precious generations did.

       b. One of the most famous sermons preached in America was delivered by

           a Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, on July 8, 1744 in Enfield, Connecticut.

           The title was, “Sinner In the Hands of an Angry God.”

           c. We might scoff at such a title but there is a profound connection between the  

               love and wrath of God.

               1.)  In our congregation are many precious young mothers with their sweet

                    babies. If you want to see a picture of love watch them as they care for

                    their children. If you want to see wrath imagine what one of those mothers

                    would do to anything or anyone who threatened to harm those babies.

               2.) God loves us so much that His wrath is released on anything or anyone

                    who would seek to harm us.

C. We may not like to hear about God’s wrath, but we need to hear about it. Our text is

    Romans 1:18-32.

I. THE “WHO” OF GOD’S WRATH.

    A. Paul wrote, (vs. 18), “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all

       ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in

       unrighteousness.”

       1. God’s wrath is directed against those who are ungodly. These are people who do

           not honor God and respect Him.

       2. God’s wrath is directed against those who are unrighteous and who suppress the

           truth.

    B. The Bible speaks of several types of wrath.

       1. Wrath of final judgment. In Matthew 25:41 Jesus spoke of the unrighteous at

           judgment, “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed

           ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”

       2. Consequential wrath. God gives each of us the freedom to made decisions. We

           do not, however, have freedom to choose the consequences of our action.

       3. Wrath of abandonment. This is where a person has forsaken God to the point

           that God removes His Spirit from them.

           a. A familiar example is Samson in Judges 16. Though Samson’s parents had

               dedicated him as one who was set apart (Nazarite) Samson’s reckless, lustful

                behavior violated the Nazarite vow. After telling Delilah how cutting his hair

               would make him like any other man, the Philistines cut the seven locks of his

               hair as he slept. When he heard, “The Philistines are upon you,” he work.”

               Notice verse 20, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he

               did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

           b. It is the wrath of God’s abandonment which Paul referred to in this text. I

               believe it is particularly relevant today for I fear that we are witnessing the

               same thing in our nation.

II. THE “WHY” OF GOD’S WRATH.

   A. A little boy was sent to bed because he didn’t obey his parents and eat all of his

       vegetables at supper. His parents said, “You know God commands you to obey

       your parents.” Later that night there was a furious storm with wind, rain and

       thunder. The mother went to the boy’s room to find him standing at the window

       saying, “This sure is a big fuss over a few bites of squash and green beans.”

    B. Paul explained the reason for God’s wrath in verses 19-20.

       1. “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it

           evident to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His

           eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood

           through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

       2. Notice the words, “they are without excuse.”

       3. One of the early Christian writers, Augustine, wrote, “We were made for You, O

           Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

       4. The French philosopher and scientist Blaise Pascal (1823-1662), wrote that 

           rejecting God created an infinite abyss that, “can be filled only with an infinite and

           immutable object; in other words by God himself.” - Blaise Pascal, Pensées VII(425) 

       5. God has made his presence known to every individual who has had a

           reasonable mind by the things he has made – whether it be the stars in the sky,

           the beauty of the earth or the intricacies of the human body.

    B. The world in which the Romans lived had rejected God.

       1. In verse 21 Paul wrote, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him

           as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their

           foolish heart was darkened.”

       2. When Paul came to Athens he saw “the city full of idols” in Acts 17:16. When he

           went to Corinth he walked past the massive columns of the temple to Apollo (still

           standing today) or look to the mountain just outside the city and see the temple

           to Aphrodite where temple prostitutes had engaged in immoral rites. When he

           went to Ephesus he saw the temple to Artemis or Diana. They rejected God and

           sought to replace Him with products of their own wisdom. In the process they

           became fools.

    C. You and I are living in a culture and country where the same thing is happening.

       We are replacing God with our own idols of wealth, fame, power and popularity. We

       are ignoring the overwhelming evidence of God’s creation and claiming that our

       world and everything it is is the result of astronomical accident. We are removing

       God and His standards from any public venue and replacing him with secular

       humanism. If we think God does not notice we are mistaken.

III. THE “WHAT” OF GOD’S WRATH.

    A. What happens when God’s wrath is directed towards a person or a nation?

       1. God gives them up to their desires.

           a. Verse 24 – “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to

               impurity.”

           b. Verse 26 – “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions.”

           c. Verse 28 – “God gave them over to a depraved mind,”

           d. C.S. Lewis said that ultimately there are only two types of people. The people

               who look to God and say, “Thy will be done,” and the people to whom God

               looks and says, “Thy will be done.”  In this text Paul describes what happens

               when people reject God and what happens when God rejects people because

               of their wickedness.

       2. When God gives people over to fulfill their own desires everything about life

           becomes distorted.

            a. A distorted view of God; “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and

               worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (vs. 25). The

               Roman world was filled with idolatry as people rejected the knowledge and

               instruction of Jehovah and worshipped images of false gods.

           b. A distortion of sexuality. Beginning in verse 26, Paul described how those who

               rejected God were characterized by “degrading passions; for their women

               exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, ²⁷ and in the same

               way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in

               their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and

               receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error (vss 26-27).

               1.) Sexuality is the first characteristic of humanity you read about after the

                    creation (Genesis 1:27). The creation of male and female was a priority for

                    God.

               2.) Satan loves to destroy the beauty of God’s creation in any way. He does

                    this sexually with all types of immoral behavior. He flaunts it in the media.

                    He saturates the internet with it. He does everything in his demonic power  

                    to make the immoral appear moral.

    B. When God gives people over to their wickedness the results are horrific. Beginning

       in verse 29 Paul wrote, “being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed,

       evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers,

       haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

       ³¹ without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; ³² and although they

       know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of

       death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who

       practice them.”

IV. THE “WHERE” OF GOD’S WRATH

    A. If you know a storm is coming what do you do?

       1. You prepare.

       2. You seek shelter.

    B. The Bible makes it clear that a day of wrath is coming.

       1. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 – “When the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with

           His mighty angels in flaming fire, ⁸ dealing out retribution to those who do not

           know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ These

           will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord

           and from the glory of His power.”

       2. John 3:36 – “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not

           obey the So n will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

    C. Where is the shelter from the storm of the wrath of God? It’s in the presence of

       Jesus Christ in the shadow of the blood stained cross.

CONCLUSION:

A. Have your parents ever warned you to refrain from doing certain things? If you did

    those things you might offer an excuse. One excuse you could not offer is, “I didn’t

    know.”  Paul said that the people who were experiencing the wrath of God’s

    abandonment could not say, “I didn’t know.” Neither can you.

B. The call our world needs to hear; The call America needs to hear; The call the church

    needs to hear; The call you and I must hear is the call to repentance. We must turn

    away from the sin-sick culture that is devouring our faith, family and freedom and put

    our trust in Jesus Christ.

The Power of the Gospel

The Power of the Gospel

Steve W. Reeves

INTRODUCTION:

A. We witness power in many ways.

    1. In the past week we have seen the power of nature as Hurricane Harvey

       devastated southeast Texas with torrential rain. In some places there were over 50

       inches of rain making this the greatest amount of rain in U.S. history. Estimates are

       that the storm dumped 24.5 trillion gallons of water on Texas and Louisiana.

    2. We see power in machines. Almost fifty years ago NASA launched the first Saturn

       V rocket designed to take men to the moon and back. The five engines of the first

       stage generated seven and a half million pounds of thrust to lift the 31 story tall

       rocket from its launch pad. NASA is currently developing a new rocket to take men

       to Mars. It will be 10 to 20% more powerful than the Saturn V.

    3. Everywhere we look we see power on display. It may be political power, financial

       power, the power of position or influence.

    4. I want to talk to you about the greatest power known to humanity. It is the

       power of life over death, the power of reconciliation over alienation, the power of

       forgiveness over guilt. I’m talking about the power of the gospel.

B. The book of Romans has been called, “The Constitution of Christianity.” This book

    has shaped some of the most profound religious leaders in history.

    1. The Great Reformation was rooted in the teachings of Martin Luther, John Calvin

       and John Wesley as they studied from the book of Romans.

    2. Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) said, “I think St. Paul’s Epistle to the

       Romans is the most profound work in existence.”

    3. Jimmy Allen used to say, “If you get Romans, God will get you.”

C. I outline this book in five sections.

    1. Chapters 1-3 describe man’s sin problem.

    2. Chapters 4-5 proclaim salvation by faith in Christ.

    3. Chapters 6-8 describe the process of sanctification.

    4. Chapters 9-11 teach the sovereignty of God.

    5. Chapters 12-16 define our service to God.

D. The theme of this book is stated in chapter 1:16-17 –  ^“For I am not ashamed of the

    gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew

    first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith

    to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’” In these two verses

    Paul sets forth a four-fold conviction.

I.   PROCLAIMATION

    A. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.”

        1. What does “Gospel” mean? 

           a. The word comes from Euangellion, which means “good news.” This is what

               the gospel is.

           b. When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds the night Jesus was

               born He said, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

               which will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

           c. Paul wrote to the Colossians about the “hope” of the gospel (Colossians 1:23).

       2. The gospel is “good news” because sin is “bad news.” Sin separates us from

           God. Sin separates us from those we love. Sin is destructive and hideous. The

           bad news is, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans

           3:23).

       3. Many of us have lost the wonder of the gospel’s power. For many it is

           interesting news. If I told you that a million dollars had been deposited in a bank

           here in Searcy you would say “interesting news.” If I told you a million dollars had

           been deposited in your account you’d say, “Good news!” 

    B. The Gospel is the backbone of Romans.

       1. Romans 5:6-9 – “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for

           the ungodly. ⁷ For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the

           good man someone would dare even to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own

           love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more

           then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of

           God through Him.”

       2. Romans 6:3-5 – “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into

           Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we have been

           buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the

           dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life”

       3. Romans 8:31-32 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who

           is against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for

           us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”

II. PERSUASION

    A. It is the power of God unto salvation.

       1. The Greek word for “power” was “dunamis,” used 120 times in the New

           Testament. It’s the word from which our English words, “dynamite,” “dynamic,”

           and “dynamo,” come. It means, “power” or “strength.”  

       2. You and I are powerless when it comes to salvation. We cannot save ourselves.

           We can’t be good enough. We can’t be righteous enough. Isaiah said, “All our

           righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6).

       3. Jesus did what we could not do. Though He was tempted in every way as we are

           He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He offers us His righteousness.

       4. In Charles Dicken’s novel, “A Tale of Two Cities” he tells of a man named

           Charles Darnay who is arrested and sentenced to death by beheading. At the

           last moment his attorney, Sydney Carlton steps in and says “I will take your

           place.” He was willing to die in the place of another. His final words were: “It is a

           far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest

           that I go to than I have ever known.”

    B. Paul had experienced this power in his life.

       1. He had been born a Jew.

       2. He was a Roman citizen.

       3. He had the finest education available.

       4. He had been religiously zealous.

       5. He had a powerful, life-changing encounter with the Son of God.

    C. Wherever you are, whatever you are struggling with, the gospel has the power to

       change your life. It is the world’s greatest insurance policy because it will insure you

       here and hereafter.

III. PARAMETER

    A. To the Jew first and also to the Greek.

       1. The gospel has no boundaries.

           a. It is not limited to any particular group of people.

           b. It is not for a particular race or segment of society.

       2. In Romans 1:5 Paul said he had been appointed as an apostle to bring the

           gospel to the Gentiles.

    B. Whoever you are, wherever you are from, whatever your background the Gospel is

       for you.

       1. You are not too bad for the good news of Jesus. He can forgive you for whatever

           you have done.

       2. You are not too good for the gospel of Christ. None of us is so good or perfect

           that we do not need the atoning blood of the Savior.

    C. Frederick Lehman wrote the song,”The Love of God” in 1917. The love of God is

       greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and

       reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His

       Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin. Oh, love of

       God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore

       endure—  The saints’ and angels’ song.

IV. PURPOSE

    A. Why wasn’t Paul ashamed of the gospel? Why is the gospel the power of God

       unto salvation? The answer is in verse 17. In the gospel the righteousness of God

       is revealed.”

    B. How is the righteousness of God revealed? Through Jesus.       

       1. There is no gospel without Jesus.

       2. There is no righteousness without Jesus.

       3. There is no relationship with God without Jesus. Notice what Paul wrote as he

           quoted from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, “As it is written, the righteous

           man shall live by faith.” Faith in who? Jesus alone.

       4. “In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This

           cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

           What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when

           strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all— Here in the love of Christ I stand”.

CONCLUSION:

A. What is the source of your strength?

    1. Human effort, wisdom, intelligence, money, physical strength?

    2. It will all disappear one day.

    3. There is only one lasting source of strength – the gospel of Jesus.

B. Jesus told his disciples, “Go, preach the gospel to every person. He who believes

    and is baptized shall be saved,” (Mark 16:16). Do you believe? Have you acted on

    your belief by turning away from sin and being baptized into Christ? We invite you to

    come to Him today!