"Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed." Galations 3:23
When speaking of 'total depravity' it is often stated that total depravity does not mean that human beings are totally wicked. It means that every aspect of our being, our mind, will emotions and flesh is corrupted by sin. But if that is the case, is there something that has restrained human nature to keep it from becoming absolutely wicked?
The beginning
The first six chapters of the book of genesis covers about 1,700 years of human history, from creation to the Noatian flood. What we learn from those chapters is where everything came from, who the first humans were, how sin entered the world, people lived a very long time, and that people had become so wicked that God decided to destroy everything and start over.
"The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." Genesis 6:5
"Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence." Genesis 6:11
Most of us are familiar with the account of the flood. God saved Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives as well as a small number of all animal life and started over. After the flood we see something introduced that we had never seen before:
The first reason there are so many good people
"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Genesis 9:6
This is the first time we have any form of civil law that would govern how people would live. As I mentioned already, there are 1,700 years of history that we know very little about. As far as we know there were no civil laws governing human behavior. But immediately in the post-flood world God issued an edict of capitol punishment for murder. That would prevent the world from being full of violence because now there would be a deterent. A few Hundred years later with the birth of the nation of Israel, the law was given to Moses. With this institution of law human nature would have restraints placed on it that would control mankind and keep him from destroying himself.
I heard a pastor describe it this way:
"Law is like putting a hungry lion in a cage in the middle of a pasture full of sheep. The lion by nature wants to kill and eat the sheep. But the bars of the cage will prevent the lion from doing so. But the bars don't change the lion's nautre from being a lion. If you remove the cage the lion will go out and kill a sheep."
That is a good description of how law works to restrain human nature. The lead off verse in Galations 3 describes us as being held prisoners of the law until faith came. The gospel message is not only are we saved from the judgment our sins deserve but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers, their nature is changed. Ezekiel 36;26 describes this change of nature as having our heart of stone removed and replaced with a heart of flesh. Verse 27 says that God places his spirit in us and moves us to keep his laws. It would be as if you could change the nature of the lion into the nature of a sheep. Now when you remove the cage the lion has no desire to kill and eat sheep, the lion wants to go live with the sheep.
The second reason there are so many good people
So the first reason so many people are 'good' is because law restrains human nature. Just before Jesus went back into heaven nearly two millenia ago, he comissioned the disciple to go into the world and preach the gospel and make disciples. By the end of the first century nearly all of Southern Europe had been reached with the gospel. By the early 4th century, with the conversion of Constantine, Christianity was the official religion of the Roman empire. While It cannot be disputed that Constanine's edict brought it's own set of problems, the Christian worldview has been free to have tremendous impact on western culture for the past 1,700 years. I don't agree with the notion that this country we live in, The United States of America, was founded as a 'Christian' nation. However, one cannot make light of the fact that most of the founders were in fact, Christians and they used principles found in the Bible as they laid the framework for how this nation was to be conceived. Many of the institutions of higher learning were founded by Christians for the purpose of advancing the gospel. Many of our older hospitals were founded by Christians as well.
So the fact remains that we in the western world have a nearly 2,000 year legacy of the gospel impacting our culture and we are still benefiting today from that impact.
What does the future hold?
In recent years we have seen growing antagonism for the Christian gospel. It began much earlier with people like Darwin who tried to explain the universe and all that is, without having to acknowledge the existence of God. That allowed man to truly be his own person. In the last 30 years (since I have been an adult) we have seen the legalization of abortion and the expansion of it and the redefinition of marriage among other things. We have seen the Bible taken out of the public school and continue to see it taken out of the public arena.
What has been the result?
The result has been that once we got rid of the notion of absolute morality we began 'defining deviancy down' (Nod to the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan). We now tolerate levels of immorality that would have been unthinkable even a generation ago. And it's getting worse almost by the day. If we continue on this trend we can fully expect that people will become just as God said after the flood in Genesis 8: 21: "...every inclination of the heart is evil from childhood."
We who are followers of Christ need to understand this about human nature. People do not have the ability to restrain themselves. Contrary to what some secular philosophers have said, man didn't invent morality. God did, and the good we see particularly in the Western world was carried by those who followed God and impacted culture with their worldview. But in this post-modern anti- God age, we are quickly destroying morality. As the foundations are being destroyed and the restraints are cast off, the wickedness will only increase until the point God will have to intervene in the end times or as he said in Matthew 24: 22, "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."
As West German Chancellor Konrad Adenhour said, "Apart from the return of Jesus Christ there is no hope for mankind."
But thank God that Jesus Christ is going to return and there is hope.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Sunday, February 3, 2019
ABORTION AND GOD'S SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY
I know that I am risking being labeled a patriarchal mysogynist, so let me set the record straight right up front: I don't have the right to tell any woman (or man for that matter) what they may or may not do with their own body. Nobody will ever have to give an account to me for what they have done. I also know that I will never be held accountable by the God of all creation for the decisions anyone else may or may not make. I do believe very strongly that God at times convicts us that we need to speak up and if I choose to remain silent, I will have to give account to him one day for why I remained silent when he wanted me to speak. So I am writing the following with the conviction that I am supposed to be writing this and sharing it. You have every opportunity to read it or continue scrolling to the next item. So if you you find what I have written to be offensive keep in mind that you made the choice to read this.
ABORTION
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
Before we even begin to discuss the abortion issue we must establish and understand ownership. Who does it all belong to? This verse in Psalm 24 clearly states that God owns everything. That means we are simply stewards of his creation who have been charged with taking care of his belongings. We are not our own and the things we have in our possesion don't truly belong to us. If any of us are parents we are simply stewards of these young children. They belong to God and we have been charged with taking care of them for Him.
Because God owns everything that exists, including ourselves, we are also obligated to him for what we do with what he has placed in our care. That places constraints on a woman's 'right to choose.' We dont really have the right to choose because we are not our own and our children are not our own. We must answer to Him. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the future time of judgment when everyone who has ever lived will have to give account of his/her life and they will be judged by what they had done.
Murder is sin.
'You shall not murder." Exodus 20: 14
"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood also be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Genesis 9:6
Murder is defined by the dictionary as the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. God emphatically forbids murder to the point that the penalty for murder was that their own life would be required. It is a capitol offence. The reason is because man is made in the image of God. As such, man is special and different than the rest of creation. We are the image bearers of God. Now don't misunderstand me here. It is not our job to execute judgment. Some have done that and it is wrong. Romans 13:4 explains that the government authorities are charged with that job, NOT US. God will hold them accountable for how they did what was required of them. But we are still responsible for how we take care of those who he has entrusted to our care.
It comes down to the great commandments:
Love God and love your neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37)
Is the fetus actually a person?
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" Jeremiah 1:5
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalm 139: 13
These verses really need no commentary. It is completely clear that the unborn child is a human being that God personally created in the womb. Even from the womb every person who has ever been conceived was and is an image bearer of God. That means killing them is murder.
But a woman has the right to choose.
Yes. We all have a right to choose...to obey or disobey. We also will be called into account for the choices we made. God will not leave the guilty unpunished. (Exodus 34:7) So we are free to choose, but there are consequences to our choices. Deuteronomy 30:19:
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
It is a choice. But it is not a choice without consequences.
What if an abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother?
There is absolutely no situation where a baby in utero must be killed in order to save the life of the mother. Dr. Anthony Levatino explains that if a womans life is in danger due to toxemia or eclampsia, there simply isn't enough time to prepare a woman's cervix to perform an abortion (possibly a few days). In such cases a C-section which can be accomplished in about an hour is the remedy.
Another situation often invoked to make the case of why abortion is ncessary is to protect a woman's 'health.' That was covered in another Supreme Court ruling called Doe vs. Bolton. The text reads, "medical judgment may be exercised in light of all factors -- physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age -- relevant to the wellbeing of the patient. All these factors may relate to health." That means when you see the exception in cases when it is necessary to protect a woman's health, the word 'health' can mean absolutely anything the abortionist, who stands to make a profit, wants it to mean.
What if the baby is going to be born with birth defects?
"The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?' " Exodus 4:11
Whether a child is born with birth defects or not doesn't change the fact that this child is also an image bearer of God and God created that child. We don't have the right to kill this child.
Many women have been encouraged to have an abortion because their child was going to be severely handicapped. Many who chose to carry the child anyway gave birth to a perfectly healthy child who had absolutely nothing wrong with them. The Doctor was wrong!
What if the baby is not viable?
It's not an abortion if the baby has died in the womb.
You don't know what a woman goes through.
No I don't. That is true. But it still doesn't change the fact that this unborn child is a special creation and image bearer of God and belongs to God and we don't have the right before him to decide if the child lives or dies.
I also feel for women because the entire abortion issue is based on a lie. It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with women's health. Abortion itself is extremely dangerous and many women have been severely wounded by the procedures and some have died. My heart goes out to women who were lied to and told that they needed an abortion and later found out that because of the procedure they had their reproductive system damaged and could not have children later when they wanted them. Abortion is not only the murder of the most vulnerable and innocent humans among us, it is also a violent assault on the mothers who carry them. God told the Israelites to choose life. Abortion is choosing death and we must be clear about that.
I don't believe in God
If I have seemed harsh and direct it is because my primary intended audience is to those who do believe in God and even claim Jesus Christ as their personal savior. As such, this shouldn't even be an issue. But let me address those who are agnostic/atheists for a moment. To believe in something or to disbelieve has absolutely no effect on whether something is true or not. All belief or unbelief determines is that you either believe something that is true or something that is false. To not believe in God doesn't make him cease to exist. I would suggest if you don't believe in God that you do some serious, honest investigation into the evidence for a creator because the ramifications are extremely serious if it turns out that you're wrong. I would suggest you read Lee Strobel's The case For Christ
But I have had an abortion. What now?
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24
There is no sin that you could possibly commit that the blood of Jesus Christ can't cover. If you are carrying the guilt from having had an abortion I want you to know that this promise in 1 John is absolutely trustworthy. If you confess your sin God will forgive you. King David was a man after God's own heart. But he sinned horribly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband murdered to conceal what he had done. When he was confronted by Nathan the prophet, David said, "I have sinned against the Lord." Immediately Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin." David was instantly forgiven. There were still consequences but the guilt was gone. David wrote in Psalm 32:1-2;
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him."
If you have truly repented and asked God to forgive you, your sin is completely gone. You will never have that sin brought up again and it will never be counted against you. It is as if it never happened. You are declared innocent. 1 Corinthians 5:21 says "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus is the God of all creation and is greater than all that is. His death on the cross is more than sufficient to cover all our sins, if we will believe and place our trust in him. I hope and pray that you will trust him and find the blessedness that comes from having your sins forgiven.
May God convict those who need to be convicted of sin, and may he forgive those who need to be forgiven. And in all cases may his richest blessings be upon all of you.
ABORTION
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
Before we even begin to discuss the abortion issue we must establish and understand ownership. Who does it all belong to? This verse in Psalm 24 clearly states that God owns everything. That means we are simply stewards of his creation who have been charged with taking care of his belongings. We are not our own and the things we have in our possesion don't truly belong to us. If any of us are parents we are simply stewards of these young children. They belong to God and we have been charged with taking care of them for Him.
Because God owns everything that exists, including ourselves, we are also obligated to him for what we do with what he has placed in our care. That places constraints on a woman's 'right to choose.' We dont really have the right to choose because we are not our own and our children are not our own. We must answer to Him. Revelation 20:11-15 describes the future time of judgment when everyone who has ever lived will have to give account of his/her life and they will be judged by what they had done.
Murder is sin.
'You shall not murder." Exodus 20: 14
"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood also be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Genesis 9:6
Murder is defined by the dictionary as the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. God emphatically forbids murder to the point that the penalty for murder was that their own life would be required. It is a capitol offence. The reason is because man is made in the image of God. As such, man is special and different than the rest of creation. We are the image bearers of God. Now don't misunderstand me here. It is not our job to execute judgment. Some have done that and it is wrong. Romans 13:4 explains that the government authorities are charged with that job, NOT US. God will hold them accountable for how they did what was required of them. But we are still responsible for how we take care of those who he has entrusted to our care.
It comes down to the great commandments:
Love God and love your neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37)
Is the fetus actually a person?
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" Jeremiah 1:5
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" Psalm 139: 13
These verses really need no commentary. It is completely clear that the unborn child is a human being that God personally created in the womb. Even from the womb every person who has ever been conceived was and is an image bearer of God. That means killing them is murder.
But a woman has the right to choose.
Yes. We all have a right to choose...to obey or disobey. We also will be called into account for the choices we made. God will not leave the guilty unpunished. (Exodus 34:7) So we are free to choose, but there are consequences to our choices. Deuteronomy 30:19:
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
It is a choice. But it is not a choice without consequences.
What if an abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother?
There is absolutely no situation where a baby in utero must be killed in order to save the life of the mother. Dr. Anthony Levatino explains that if a womans life is in danger due to toxemia or eclampsia, there simply isn't enough time to prepare a woman's cervix to perform an abortion (possibly a few days). In such cases a C-section which can be accomplished in about an hour is the remedy.
Another situation often invoked to make the case of why abortion is ncessary is to protect a woman's 'health.' That was covered in another Supreme Court ruling called Doe vs. Bolton. The text reads, "medical judgment may be exercised in light of all factors -- physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age -- relevant to the wellbeing of the patient. All these factors may relate to health." That means when you see the exception in cases when it is necessary to protect a woman's health, the word 'health' can mean absolutely anything the abortionist, who stands to make a profit, wants it to mean.
What if the baby is going to be born with birth defects?
"The Lord said to him, 'Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?' " Exodus 4:11
Whether a child is born with birth defects or not doesn't change the fact that this child is also an image bearer of God and God created that child. We don't have the right to kill this child.
Many women have been encouraged to have an abortion because their child was going to be severely handicapped. Many who chose to carry the child anyway gave birth to a perfectly healthy child who had absolutely nothing wrong with them. The Doctor was wrong!
What if the baby is not viable?
It's not an abortion if the baby has died in the womb.
You don't know what a woman goes through.
No I don't. That is true. But it still doesn't change the fact that this unborn child is a special creation and image bearer of God and belongs to God and we don't have the right before him to decide if the child lives or dies.
I also feel for women because the entire abortion issue is based on a lie. It has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with women's health. Abortion itself is extremely dangerous and many women have been severely wounded by the procedures and some have died. My heart goes out to women who were lied to and told that they needed an abortion and later found out that because of the procedure they had their reproductive system damaged and could not have children later when they wanted them. Abortion is not only the murder of the most vulnerable and innocent humans among us, it is also a violent assault on the mothers who carry them. God told the Israelites to choose life. Abortion is choosing death and we must be clear about that.
I don't believe in God
If I have seemed harsh and direct it is because my primary intended audience is to those who do believe in God and even claim Jesus Christ as their personal savior. As such, this shouldn't even be an issue. But let me address those who are agnostic/atheists for a moment. To believe in something or to disbelieve has absolutely no effect on whether something is true or not. All belief or unbelief determines is that you either believe something that is true or something that is false. To not believe in God doesn't make him cease to exist. I would suggest if you don't believe in God that you do some serious, honest investigation into the evidence for a creator because the ramifications are extremely serious if it turns out that you're wrong. I would suggest you read Lee Strobel's The case For Christ
But I have had an abortion. What now?
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24
There is no sin that you could possibly commit that the blood of Jesus Christ can't cover. If you are carrying the guilt from having had an abortion I want you to know that this promise in 1 John is absolutely trustworthy. If you confess your sin God will forgive you. King David was a man after God's own heart. But he sinned horribly when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband murdered to conceal what he had done. When he was confronted by Nathan the prophet, David said, "I have sinned against the Lord." Immediately Nathan replied, "The Lord has taken away your sin." David was instantly forgiven. There were still consequences but the guilt was gone. David wrote in Psalm 32:1-2;
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him."
If you have truly repented and asked God to forgive you, your sin is completely gone. You will never have that sin brought up again and it will never be counted against you. It is as if it never happened. You are declared innocent. 1 Corinthians 5:21 says "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus is the God of all creation and is greater than all that is. His death on the cross is more than sufficient to cover all our sins, if we will believe and place our trust in him. I hope and pray that you will trust him and find the blessedness that comes from having your sins forgiven.
May God convict those who need to be convicted of sin, and may he forgive those who need to be forgiven. And in all cases may his richest blessings be upon all of you.
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