Which begs the question for Calvin; 'at what point or age does an infant become accountable'?
The Book Of ROMANS.....A Systematic Teaching
- Thread starter Major
- Start date
ditto
I believe that should have been Dante's vision of Hell. Sorry about that
Finally, this could prove to be interesting:
Are there different levels of punishment in hell? | GotQuestions.org
Are there different levels of punishment in hell? Are there different degrees of suffering in hell?
www.gotquestions.org
God bless you!!
--Papa Smurf
I believe Calvin left that in the precious hands of the only One who truly knows such things about us.
--Papa Smurf
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I agree!.
IMHO,.......Scripture does seem to indicate that judgment will be experienced to different degrees for different people, depending on.....
(1) the severity of their sin,
(2) the degree of light/truth (revealed knowledge of God’s will) they possess, and
(3) the measure of their influence on others.
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Romans 3:6...........
"God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?"
In the previous verse, the question discussed the fairness of God's anger and judgment on human sin.
So then........if God would have no right to judge our sin merely reveals the grace of God, then God would have no right to judge any person you see, because they would reveal something of the common grace of God.
Now then.....If God's righteousness is revealed by humanity's unrighteousness, isn't that good, in a way?
Doesn't that make God's righteousness all the more impressive? How can He be justified in judging us in His anger, then—especially those of us who are His chosen people Israel asks Paul?
Doesn't that make Him unrighteous, to condemn us for the very thing that makes His righteousness apparent?
Paul now returns to his own voice to shout, in a sense, "No!" Again, he uses the Greek words "mē genoito": "may it never be."
Paul answers this idea with a logical counter-question, "How could God judge the world if He were in any way unrighteous?"
God's role as judge over all of mankind requires that God be above judgment Himself by being perfect in His righteousness. God is the standard of judgment, in the first place. His HOLINESS would overpower everything else!
At first this sounds like a circular argument: Is God unfair to judge human sin? No, because He must be fair to judge human sin! However, a closer look shows the circle is moving in the opposite direction: Because God is righteous, He is rightfully the judge. Because He is the judge, He must express His justified anger against the sinfulness of humanity, even if that faithlessness ultimately only goes to further prove how holy He is.
This challenge—that the gospel of grace implies a license to sin—is one Paul will return to later, particularly in chapter 6 and we can expound upon it at that thime.
For now, as shown in the next verses, he seems to dismiss the argument by calling it slanderous.
"God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?"
In the previous verse, the question discussed the fairness of God's anger and judgment on human sin.
So then........if God would have no right to judge our sin merely reveals the grace of God, then God would have no right to judge any person you see, because they would reveal something of the common grace of God.
Now then.....If God's righteousness is revealed by humanity's unrighteousness, isn't that good, in a way?
Doesn't that make God's righteousness all the more impressive? How can He be justified in judging us in His anger, then—especially those of us who are His chosen people Israel asks Paul?
Doesn't that make Him unrighteous, to condemn us for the very thing that makes His righteousness apparent?
Paul now returns to his own voice to shout, in a sense, "No!" Again, he uses the Greek words "mē genoito": "may it never be."
Paul answers this idea with a logical counter-question, "How could God judge the world if He were in any way unrighteous?"
God's role as judge over all of mankind requires that God be above judgment Himself by being perfect in His righteousness. God is the standard of judgment, in the first place. His HOLINESS would overpower everything else!
At first this sounds like a circular argument: Is God unfair to judge human sin? No, because He must be fair to judge human sin! However, a closer look shows the circle is moving in the opposite direction: Because God is righteous, He is rightfully the judge. Because He is the judge, He must express His justified anger against the sinfulness of humanity, even if that faithlessness ultimately only goes to further prove how holy He is.
This challenge—that the gospel of grace implies a license to sin—is one Paul will return to later, particularly in chapter 6 and we can expound upon it at that thime.
For now, as shown in the next verses, he seems to dismiss the argument by calling it slanderous.
Romans 3:7.........
" For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?"
The lie here means moral falsehood. Each individual could claim exemption from the judgment of God because his sin had advanced the glory of God!
Or in other words, if telling a lie further displays God's truthfulness, leading to His glory, why should He condemn me for that lie?
We will see as we progress that Paul will write in the following verses, that human sinfulness is inevitable.
He says and all the Bible supports this in that We do not sin, in any way, with an intent to bring glory to God. We sin because we are sinners.
We will also see later, that Paul will more directly refute the idea that salvation is a license to sin (Romans 6:1). For now, particularly in the next verse, he will brush aside this criticism as rank slander.
" For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?"
The lie here means moral falsehood. Each individual could claim exemption from the judgment of God because his sin had advanced the glory of God!
Or in other words, if telling a lie further displays God's truthfulness, leading to His glory, why should He condemn me for that lie?
We will see as we progress that Paul will write in the following verses, that human sinfulness is inevitable.
He says and all the Bible supports this in that We do not sin, in any way, with an intent to bring glory to God. We sin because we are sinners.
We will also see later, that Paul will more directly refute the idea that salvation is a license to sin (Romans 6:1). For now, particularly in the next verse, he will brush aside this criticism as rank slander.
Romans 3:8..............
"And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just."
Paul drives home his argument to its logical conclusion.
In Seminary Schools, this is called......."Argumentum ad absurdum"......or if sin magnifies the glory of God, then the more we sin the more glory God gets!
YES.........that was what some accused Paul of teaching.!!! YES it was ridiculous!
Folks, as surely as their is sin, God must judge that sin! Now if you have not noticed, allow me to tell you something important. When I teach or preach I am usually convicted of something. That is what just happened. From out of nowhere came this theis I feel I need to share.
May I take a moment here to tell you my hearts feelings" ? I am asking but I am going to do it anyway as it is the conviction I have from God.
It is my hearts feeling that one of the reasons why our society and our country is in such dire straights is because.........
PARENTS STOPPED JUDGING THEIR CHILDREN!!!!!
Now I am a lot closer to 80 than I am 70 and I remember like it was yesterday that when I did some or said something that I was not supposed to do, my parents and grandparents JUDGED ME IMMEDIATLY. That judgment was usually in the form of a BELT or a switch applied to the seat of my education. DID YOU HAVE PARENTS LIKE THAT????????
If you asked mama to go to Billys house to play for an hour but you wound up down the road in the pond swimming, and mama found out...........
Did she JUDGE YOU with a whipping? Did you do it again????
You see, we fell into the Dr. Spock theology of the 60's and started to EXPLAIN WHY our children should not disobey us because we should not harm their self esteem, or their butts! As a result we have raised a generation of people who got away with SIN/DISOBEDIENCE and now they think that using Drugs, and getting drunk and committing adultery are excusable!
Some reading this will say.......You are nothing but an Old FUDDY DUDDY! AMEN. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I ARE!
However, I know that the JUDGEMENT from my parents on MY SIN and MY DISOBEDIENCE kept me IN SCHOOL and out of Jail and I told them both how much I apricated what they did for me before they passed away!
THAT folks is what the Judgment of God is supposed to do. Correct and deter so that we can be productive children of God for Christ in this world.
"And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just."
Paul drives home his argument to its logical conclusion.
In Seminary Schools, this is called......."Argumentum ad absurdum"......or if sin magnifies the glory of God, then the more we sin the more glory God gets!
YES.........that was what some accused Paul of teaching.!!! YES it was ridiculous!
Folks, as surely as their is sin, God must judge that sin! Now if you have not noticed, allow me to tell you something important. When I teach or preach I am usually convicted of something. That is what just happened. From out of nowhere came this theis I feel I need to share.
May I take a moment here to tell you my hearts feelings" ? I am asking but I am going to do it anyway as it is the conviction I have from God.
It is my hearts feeling that one of the reasons why our society and our country is in such dire straights is because.........
PARENTS STOPPED JUDGING THEIR CHILDREN!!!!!
Now I am a lot closer to 80 than I am 70 and I remember like it was yesterday that when I did some or said something that I was not supposed to do, my parents and grandparents JUDGED ME IMMEDIATLY. That judgment was usually in the form of a BELT or a switch applied to the seat of my education. DID YOU HAVE PARENTS LIKE THAT????????
If you asked mama to go to Billys house to play for an hour but you wound up down the road in the pond swimming, and mama found out...........
Did she JUDGE YOU with a whipping? Did you do it again????
You see, we fell into the Dr. Spock theology of the 60's and started to EXPLAIN WHY our children should not disobey us because we should not harm their self esteem, or their butts! As a result we have raised a generation of people who got away with SIN/DISOBEDIENCE and now they think that using Drugs, and getting drunk and committing adultery are excusable!
Some reading this will say.......You are nothing but an Old FUDDY DUDDY! AMEN. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I ARE!
However, I know that the JUDGEMENT from my parents on MY SIN and MY DISOBEDIENCE kept me IN SCHOOL and out of Jail and I told them both how much I apricated what they did for me before they passed away!
THAT folks is what the Judgment of God is supposed to do. Correct and deter so that we can be productive children of God for Christ in this world.
Fuddy Duddy!!
I am at your sevice!!!!
Romans 3:9.........
"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;'
Paul does not mean "PROVED" here. The better understanding here is "CHARGED!"
Paul is NOT trying to prove that man is a sinner! He has already assumed that Bible fact. Rather, he is showing that God judges the sin of ALL men. Paul is merely stating the obvious!
I believe that it is very important to understand what it means to be "UNDER SIN"!
Man you see is a sinner in FOUR (4) different ways..............
1. Man is a sinner by acts.
2. Man is a sinner by nature.
3. Man is a sinner by imputation.
4. The estate of man is under sin.
What does all of this mean? It speak of and points to the Scriptural teaching of total depravity but it does not mean that an individual can do nothing good or moral (at least from man’s perspective). Even an unsaved person can be honest, devoted to his family, working for decency in his community, and performing all sorts of humanitarian deeds.
But the Bible says that in God’s eyes, we are totally “under sin,” and there is nothing an individual can do to alter this tragic situation.
Perhaps comparing the terms “bad” versus “bad off” helps put it in focus. To be sure, much of what mankind practices is hideously wicked, and even our good deeds “are as filthy rags” as recorded in Isaiah 64:6. .........in God's eyes.
Now, evolutionary humanists, and atheists will tell you that we are getting better, but the Creator tells us we are desperately evil, with no hope outside His plan.
Jeremiah 16:12...........
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? "
Genesis 6:5................
"And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me".
So if one doesn't apply, another one will........But in fact they ALL apply to everyone of us! We are all under sin--the entire human race!
Paul from here will go on to make his "CHARGES".
"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;'
Paul does not mean "PROVED" here. The better understanding here is "CHARGED!"
Paul is NOT trying to prove that man is a sinner! He has already assumed that Bible fact. Rather, he is showing that God judges the sin of ALL men. Paul is merely stating the obvious!
I believe that it is very important to understand what it means to be "UNDER SIN"!
Man you see is a sinner in FOUR (4) different ways..............
1. Man is a sinner by acts.
2. Man is a sinner by nature.
3. Man is a sinner by imputation.
4. The estate of man is under sin.
What does all of this mean? It speak of and points to the Scriptural teaching of total depravity but it does not mean that an individual can do nothing good or moral (at least from man’s perspective). Even an unsaved person can be honest, devoted to his family, working for decency in his community, and performing all sorts of humanitarian deeds.
But the Bible says that in God’s eyes, we are totally “under sin,” and there is nothing an individual can do to alter this tragic situation.
Perhaps comparing the terms “bad” versus “bad off” helps put it in focus. To be sure, much of what mankind practices is hideously wicked, and even our good deeds “are as filthy rags” as recorded in Isaiah 64:6. .........in God's eyes.
Now, evolutionary humanists, and atheists will tell you that we are getting better, but the Creator tells us we are desperately evil, with no hope outside His plan.
Jeremiah 16:12...........
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? "
Genesis 6:5................
"And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me".
So if one doesn't apply, another one will........But in fact they ALL apply to everyone of us! We are all under sin--the entire human race!
Paul from here will go on to make his "CHARGES".
Romans 3:10.........
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
Charge #1!!!
This should actually read.........."It is written that there is none righteous, NO NOT ONE" because that is a free rendering from Psalms 14:1.
What does it mean to be RIGHTEOUSE?????
It means to be RIGHT! Now the real question then is......RIGHT WITH WHO???? =====GOD!
We are to be right with God! If we are to be right with God it is a little different from being right with your friends.
With our friends when we have a problem, we can come to a compromise. But if we are to be right with God, we must play according to His rules because LIFE as we know it is His game! He created it!
Salvation you see is a TAKE it or LEAVE proposition! God is not going to force anyone to love Him, or accept Him or obey Him. The fact is....NO ONE has to be saved! You can turn God down and live anyway you want to live.
However, if the thought occurs to YOU that one day I am going to die and I want to go to heaven instead of Hell........
THEN YOU must play the game God created and YOU MUST come to Jesus Christ as your Saviour because NOE ARE RIGHTEOUS = RIGHT with out with out Christ!
I understand that this is a Christian web site and the chances of you who are reading this stuuf are really good that you are saved.
But we both know that we all have friends and family who are not saved and if they died today, they will go to hell. My advice is.............
Copy and print this and give or mail to that person YOU pray for all the time........................Ready.................
"You my beloved friend, please know that I love you. Also please understand that this little world YOU are living in is God's. I am not talking about who Created or when or how because quiet frankly I do not care. I am saying to you that somebody, somewhere, sometime ago Created this world and it is HIS world. It is His land, His water, His air and you had nothing to do with it. He will not make you love Him.
YOU know that YOU and I have a nature to sin. YOU know it and so do I. How do YOU and I prepare to meet the one who created all things??? THAT is what God is saying to YOU. Will you accept HIS plan for humanity and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin. I love you and I want YOU to be right with God!
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
Charge #1!!!
This should actually read.........."It is written that there is none righteous, NO NOT ONE" because that is a free rendering from Psalms 14:1.
What does it mean to be RIGHTEOUSE?????
It means to be RIGHT! Now the real question then is......RIGHT WITH WHO???? =====GOD!
We are to be right with God! If we are to be right with God it is a little different from being right with your friends.
With our friends when we have a problem, we can come to a compromise. But if we are to be right with God, we must play according to His rules because LIFE as we know it is His game! He created it!
Salvation you see is a TAKE it or LEAVE proposition! God is not going to force anyone to love Him, or accept Him or obey Him. The fact is....NO ONE has to be saved! You can turn God down and live anyway you want to live.
However, if the thought occurs to YOU that one day I am going to die and I want to go to heaven instead of Hell........
THEN YOU must play the game God created and YOU MUST come to Jesus Christ as your Saviour because NOE ARE RIGHTEOUS = RIGHT with out with out Christ!
I understand that this is a Christian web site and the chances of you who are reading this stuuf are really good that you are saved.
But we both know that we all have friends and family who are not saved and if they died today, they will go to hell. My advice is.............
Copy and print this and give or mail to that person YOU pray for all the time........................Ready.................
"You my beloved friend, please know that I love you. Also please understand that this little world YOU are living in is God's. I am not talking about who Created or when or how because quiet frankly I do not care. I am saying to you that somebody, somewhere, sometime ago Created this world and it is HIS world. It is His land, His water, His air and you had nothing to do with it. He will not make you love Him.
YOU know that YOU and I have a nature to sin. YOU know it and so do I. How do YOU and I prepare to meet the one who created all things??? THAT is what God is saying to YOU. Will you accept HIS plan for humanity and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin. I love you and I want YOU to be right with God!
The truth is that of all the names I have been called......"FUDDY DUDDY" is probably THE BEST.
My wife would argue that and say NO........its "Stud Muffin"!
Hello Major, while it's true that the Apostle copied the words, and perhaps most importantly, the qualifying phrase that King David used in Psalm 14:1-3, I've found it interesting that that is not always the case (as statements/prophesies from the OT are not always word for word copies in the NT).
That said, I believe that the charges and the qualifying phrases were just as vital for those in Paul's day to understand, as they were in David's, and as they are today, because it tells us plainly that ALL of us, w/o exception, are included (well, all but the "One", that is). Even so, the Apostle's "charges" are such a sobering reality to us that many today still refuse to fully embrace them as true (because they seem so harsh), quickly pointing out behaviors in themselves and others that they contend prove the various charges to be hyperbolic, or at least that the qualifying phrase ("no, not one") is.
The historic Christian churches (on the other hand), be they Protestant, Catholic and/or Orthodox, have taken both the charges and the qualifying phrase much more seriously however, as all of our churches/denominations (within the pale of historic Christian orthodoxy, that is) believe/teach that God must act in some way in the heart of an individual before anyone can or will come to Him in saving faith .. e.g. Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3, 6:44.
God bless you!!
--Papa Smurf
Absolutly true, however I like the word "Quoted" better.
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Romans 3:11...............
"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."
Here then is Paul's SECOND charge......"There is none that understands".
In other words Paul said that there is none who acts on the knowledge that he has. No one is the person he would like to be.
THIRD charge is.............................................."There is none that seeketh after God".
This is a crucial truth, one fundamental to the gospel: nobody seeks after God. We don't get it, and we don't want to. That's our nature.
Several years ago, Rick Warren came out with the catchy phrase......"We are a SEEKER friendly Church"!
NO he is not NO there is no such thing as SEEKER FRIENDLY.
Actually what that means in a nutshell, the essence of a “seeker-friendly” church—is the offering of worldly allurements to attract the multitudes. The proponents of the seeker friendly church claim to be doing whatever is necessary to “reach the lost.” The fallacy with that kind of thinking is that “the lost” are not seeking God at all.
The truth is that there are lots of people who are seeking to be entertained and assured that God loves them, despite their sin and ungodly lifestyles. There are many who seek a form of religion, and if the goal of the seeker friendly churches is to fill seats with these people so that the church can meet its financial debt.
"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."
Here then is Paul's SECOND charge......"There is none that understands".
In other words Paul said that there is none who acts on the knowledge that he has. No one is the person he would like to be.
THIRD charge is.............................................."There is none that seeketh after God".
This is a crucial truth, one fundamental to the gospel: nobody seeks after God. We don't get it, and we don't want to. That's our nature.
Several years ago, Rick Warren came out with the catchy phrase......"We are a SEEKER friendly Church"!
NO he is not NO there is no such thing as SEEKER FRIENDLY.
Actually what that means in a nutshell, the essence of a “seeker-friendly” church—is the offering of worldly allurements to attract the multitudes. The proponents of the seeker friendly church claim to be doing whatever is necessary to “reach the lost.” The fallacy with that kind of thinking is that “the lost” are not seeking God at all.
The truth is that there are lots of people who are seeking to be entertained and assured that God loves them, despite their sin and ungodly lifestyles. There are many who seek a form of religion, and if the goal of the seeker friendly churches is to fill seats with these people so that the church can meet its financial debt.
Speaking of seeker friendly, when we lived in Redondo Beach, where there was a Lutheran Church that had a motorcycle in the narthex/foyer with a challenge 'to those who invited the most people to church would win the bike'.
(now Major, don't go getting any crazy
ideas).Romans 3:12...........
"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Here is Pauls 4th charge. "They detoured....they left the way they were supposed to go and knew was the right way!
It may help you to realize that ALL primitive tribes have an ancient tradition that way back at one time their forefathers knew the living and true way to God.
Now, if you are honest, YOU know that you are not doing what you ought to be doing. WE ALL KNOW THAT!
We have ALL gone out of the WAY!........The WAY to God! Man has deviated from the WAY. That is what Paul said 2000 years ago and it is just a applicable today as it was then maybe even more so.
The 5th charge is ......."they are together become unprofitable" = Overripe, Spoiled, Rotten!
If you think for a moment about fruit, we would all agree that it is good and we like it. But we also know that when is passes the ripe state it becomes ROTTEN and there is nothing quite as disgusting as a rotten piece of fruit.
Humanity is like fruit. Corrupt, rotten....unprofitable! That is what GOD is saying through Paul's work here, so don't get angry at me, I did not write Romans.
The 6th charge then is..............."there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Sounds negative doesn't it???? It is actually a TRIPLE negative.
The bottom line is that humans are capable of doing good, but we universally choose not to, by God's standards. We want what we want and not what He wants.
You know, The Bible is not a FEEL GOOD, POSITIVE MOTIVATIONAL BOOK!
Matthew 15:14, GOD said...........
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
Please understand that I’m not here trying to convince you of the uniqueness of the Bible or God. I’m not writing to convince you of its place in the world or the truth of its message. Chances are high that if you’ve read this far, you already own a Bible and believe at least some of what it says so I know that I am preaching to the choir.
I am just saying as best I can what Paul has already said that GOD GAVE TO HIM. The Bible is not, but CAN BE a book of motivation.!
The purpose of the Bible was to tell us of Creation, the Fall of man, the Flood, of the wanderer chosen to be the father of a nation, the salvation of that nation and its relationship with God, of the king whose love brought a unique and everlasting promise from God, of the Heir to the throne who came expected but unrecognized, of God’s loving sacrifice, describes all who believe can inherit, and so much more. The Bible is FIRST and FOREMOST the story of God and how He has interacted with humanity for thousands of years so that YOU and ME could be one of His children.
Unfortunately, way tooooo many people jump into the Bible and go straight for the entre and miss the salad.
My heart breaks to hear how people finally take the plunge into the depths of Scripture, only to jump in blindly or to a place they will get lost and confused. It’s like getting someone to try your favorite restaurant, but all they got a chance to try was the side dish of corn, and it left a bad taste in their mouth.
Folks.........Romans is the meat and potatoes that most of us miss or choose to ignore becuae it seems too DEEP or TOOOOO Negative because it has the word "Judgment" in it.
So what is the bottom line here that Jesus confirms in Matthew 15:14??????
Humanity is SICK! SIN SICK! We are ALL SPIRITUALLY SIN SICK. The Doctor is Jesus the Christ. He and only He can heal us and cure us!
"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Here is Pauls 4th charge. "They detoured....they left the way they were supposed to go and knew was the right way!
It may help you to realize that ALL primitive tribes have an ancient tradition that way back at one time their forefathers knew the living and true way to God.
Now, if you are honest, YOU know that you are not doing what you ought to be doing. WE ALL KNOW THAT!
We have ALL gone out of the WAY!........The WAY to God! Man has deviated from the WAY. That is what Paul said 2000 years ago and it is just a applicable today as it was then maybe even more so.
The 5th charge is ......."they are together become unprofitable" = Overripe, Spoiled, Rotten!
If you think for a moment about fruit, we would all agree that it is good and we like it. But we also know that when is passes the ripe state it becomes ROTTEN and there is nothing quite as disgusting as a rotten piece of fruit.
Humanity is like fruit. Corrupt, rotten....unprofitable! That is what GOD is saying through Paul's work here, so don't get angry at me, I did not write Romans.
The 6th charge then is..............."there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Sounds negative doesn't it???? It is actually a TRIPLE negative.
The bottom line is that humans are capable of doing good, but we universally choose not to, by God's standards. We want what we want and not what He wants.
You know, The Bible is not a FEEL GOOD, POSITIVE MOTIVATIONAL BOOK!
Matthew 15:14, GOD said...........
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
Please understand that I’m not here trying to convince you of the uniqueness of the Bible or God. I’m not writing to convince you of its place in the world or the truth of its message. Chances are high that if you’ve read this far, you already own a Bible and believe at least some of what it says so I know that I am preaching to the choir.
I am just saying as best I can what Paul has already said that GOD GAVE TO HIM. The Bible is not, but CAN BE a book of motivation.!
The purpose of the Bible was to tell us of Creation, the Fall of man, the Flood, of the wanderer chosen to be the father of a nation, the salvation of that nation and its relationship with God, of the king whose love brought a unique and everlasting promise from God, of the Heir to the throne who came expected but unrecognized, of God’s loving sacrifice, describes all who believe can inherit, and so much more. The Bible is FIRST and FOREMOST the story of God and how He has interacted with humanity for thousands of years so that YOU and ME could be one of His children.
Unfortunately, way tooooo many people jump into the Bible and go straight for the entre and miss the salad.
My heart breaks to hear how people finally take the plunge into the depths of Scripture, only to jump in blindly or to a place they will get lost and confused. It’s like getting someone to try your favorite restaurant, but all they got a chance to try was the side dish of corn, and it left a bad taste in their mouth.
Folks.........Romans is the meat and potatoes that most of us miss or choose to ignore becuae it seems too DEEP or TOOOOO Negative because it has the word "Judgment" in it.
So what is the bottom line here that Jesus confirms in Matthew 15:14??????
Humanity is SICK! SIN SICK! We are ALL SPIRITUALLY SIN SICK. The Doctor is Jesus the Christ. He and only He can heal us and cure us!