Growing Closer to God Pt 20
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Rejecting God
Rejecting God
My greatest fear would be to believe that I have accepted God only to learn in the end I have rejected Him. Let me start off by saying I do not believe you can unknowing reject God. There has been and will continue to be much discussion in the Christian community concerning the mark of the beast. Many, especially those over 60, believed that tattoos were the mark. Some believe today, that microchipping is the mark and because of this there seems to be much chaos and fear running through Christians that they must reject certain things because it may lead to death. However, again I fully believe the you will know when the mark of the beast appears because it’s not something you’ll get in a dark tattoo shop or a company office.
The same, I believe is true, for salvation. Many Christians state that people may wonder unknowingly into hell because of
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
However, I believe that the explanation of this verse can be found in today’s scripture. I also want you to use today’s scripture verse as a reminder of why people don’t believe in God. It isn’t simply that they don’t believe, but there is a reason behind the drive to not believe. I have found that when someone out right rejects religion if you probe long enough you can dig inside and the true reason comes out. shows us some of the reasons the Jews and people today reject God.
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down)
“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
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.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
They do not see a need to be saved
They do not see a need to be saved
tells us of two people who go to the temple to pray. One is a tax collector and the other a Pharisee. The Pharisee prays-Lord thank you that I am not a tax collector because I do all these wonderful things.
The Pharisee doesn’t need to be saved because to him—He is God. He didn’t need God because in his own power and works he could save himself.
I see this many times in those who reject God. They just don’t see a need for him. They have all they could need and supply their own desires. Why, if my life is going good would I need someone to be accountable too?
They believed they were zealous for God.
They believed they were zealous for God.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
We see this in Christian circles. The Jews believed they were so righteous they made “improvements” upon God’s law and affed their own traditions—making them equal to the Law that was taught.
We see this in Christian circles. The Jews believed they were so righteous they made “improvements” upon God’s law and affed their own traditions—making them equal to the Law that was taught.
One of the biggest current event that comes to mind is the refusal to eat meat during the Easter Season. Many in the Catholic church adhere to this rule, although there isn’t a biblical principle to it, when questioned many Catholics stated it was a greater sin to eat meat During Easter than it was to steal. Growing up Catholic it is a way to acknowledge Christ during the season, but it isn’t a way to salvation. The same is true with the last supper. We have communion every 2nd Sunday of the Month. You cannot be saved by communion, but we do it as an acknowledgment of Christ. There are those who believe that if you skip communion you will go to hell. I believe that if you skip communion it doesn’t have an affect on your salvation.
We have to remember that although something might be a good practice to help you remember it doesn’t mean it’s a God practice that leads to your salvation.
They were proud-and self righteous.
They were proud-and self righteous.
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Pride is a big hurdle to those who don’t believe. In order to truly receive God one must acknowledge their own inability with humility.
This is a tough hurdle to get people over when trying to witness to those who don’t know God. You will hear “but I am a good person.” If God is truly just he wouldn’t send a good person to hell. Many people who believe that goodness is the key to heaven have a laundry list of things they have done. Each supporting their ticket into the pearly gates.
The issue is that in their goodness they refuse to submit to God. You cannot be bad or evil and go to heaven, but without submission to Christ it doesn’t matter how good you are.
All of these lead to a
Misunderstanding between who we are and who God is.
Misunderstanding between who we are and who God is.
When witnessing to people I find the message only sinks in when you begin to minimize the person and maximize God. People will always question why there is good and evil, but rarely have I argued someone into heaven. Salvation is rarely won in the battle field of intelectual ability. That’s why many believe those who profess Christianity are somehow inferior in their understanding.
People will tell you that you beleive in God because you it gives you an excuse or a way out. What they don’t understand is that belief in God isn’t an excuse or way out it’s a life called to higher standards that can only be obtained through the power of Christ.
This is why Paul spends the rest of Chapter ten discussing Salvation.
You may be witnessing to someone and seem to be hitting a brick wall. You get so far only to hit a sudden stop; the key is to figure out which of these walls you hit and then move into why people need God.
A.W. Tozer states: Any wrong idea of God can only give a wrong view of ourselves. If we are wrong about who God is we will be wrong about who we are.
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy
There is a danger thinking yourself holier than you are. For right reasons the bible calls us dogs and those undeserving of Grace. If I were to look at my life I wouldn’t give my half of all God provided, but then there is Jesus. This is where we find.
It is my prayer for this church that we get passed events and business and truly seek the face of God, not for what he can do, but for who He Is. If I can be open and honest, lately I have been burdened with desire to push past the atmosphere, what the church calls the Holy Spirit and The power of God and finding a desire to strip away all the external rules we have made.
There have been times in the OT where people who gather to hear the public reading of the Torah. I question how many of us would come if the sole purpose of meeting was to read the scriptures word for word. How many would come if church was nothing more than a prayer service of people crying out to God to reach people. How man of us during our prayer time, beg God to be martyrs and sufferers for Christ as Christ was for this mission to save to His creation.
How big of a church could we build if we trimmed all the fat of our services and what was left was simple meat to be devoured?
Truth is:
Salvation is by Faith
Salvation is by Faith
I believe every Christian no matter where your walk is needs to be reminded of this.
You don’t need God because you are either good or bad--
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.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: The Wrong Righteousness (Romans 10)
Law of Righteousness
Faith Righteousness
Only for the Jew
For “whosoever”
Based on works
Comes by faith alone
Self-righteousness
God’s righteousness
Cannot save
Brings salvation
Obey the Lord
Call on the Lord
Leads to pride
Glorifies God
Only for the Jew For everyone
Based on Works Comes by Faith
Self-Rightouse Only through God’s rightouseness
Cannot Save Brings salvation
Obey the Lord in your strength Call upon the Lord and Use His strength
Obey the Lord
Leads to Pride Glorifies God/Leads to surrender
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
I love this because it doesn’t matter who, what, when, where, why. All that matters is your willingness to surrender your heart and your vocal chords. This is the pure simplicity of the word and salvation of God.