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This page is dedicated to bringing encouragement and insight to God's people and reaching the lost for Christ.
I have a favorite Old Testament verse that many will probably find odd: "Man that is born of woman is of a few days full of trouble. Job 14:1 The reason it is my favorite is because it helps to explain why there is so much suffering in my life and in the world. It can be my favorite bible verse because of my favorite New Testament verse: " In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Be certain that troubles will continue. But we can be more certain that when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we are able to overcome the troubles and trials and tribulations of this life.
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From a heart of love and compassion share the gospel
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Pray and put the results of your sharing in God's hands
As the wind blows we cannot see where it goes, so is the working of the Spirit of the Living God
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God Our Sovereign Lord
Without Excuse
February 28, 2024
Romans 1: 20-21 King James Version (KJV)
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20-21 New International Version (NIV)
“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Romans 1: 20-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.”
I grew up with the King James Version of the Bible. I still prefer to read that version during my devotionals. It is aesthetically pleasing to me to read. But as I have grown in the Lord, I have come to appreciate some of the more modern renderings. Probably if I knew Greek and Hebrew I would more than likely favor those versions even over my beloved King James version.
The purpose for using the 3 renderings is to help add depth to what Paul is emphasizing in these two verses.
How can Paul be so adamant in making this bold statement that people are without excuse?
Mankind has always been extremely creative and inventive. Where does mankind get that inventive nature from? Was it a burst of some kind of spontaneous eruption?
Of the billions upon billions of human souls that have traversed this earth, no two souls are exactly alike. We vary in shape. We vary in sizes. We vary in skin-tone. We vary in intellect. We vary in temperament. We vary in skill sets. And the variations are almost as innumerable as the number of souls that have entered into this life and departed. These variations are not random. They are the work of a God who apparently loves diversity. An intelligent being who recognizes the blessings of diversity and multi-faceted lifeforms.
As a disclaimer: You need to know up front, I am not an anthropologist, psychologist, or even a qualified philosopher. I am just someone who has been through many life phases myself and I recognize many of them in folks that I am surrounded by.
Amidst all of these variations there are some characteristics that we all share. We are born self-absorbed. We are not naturally altruistic. We grasp for what we desire whether it is good for us or not. Our eyes behold and we desire to have it. When we become accustomed to having all we desire, we do not learn temperance or contentment. We have not and we desire to have and do not rest attempting to attain. It is as the scriptures say, “lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”, (1John 2:16) listen to the same 1John 2:16 from the Amplified Bible. “the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]” These characteristics are natural occurrences. They do not need to be taught.
As much as we adore our infants, if we are diligent to observe we realize these characteristics are strong and require diligence on our part to curb, in our children. Some children are born with beautiful attributes and tendencies that we marvel at. They sleep through the night. They are quick to take to an accommodating schedule. They potty train quickly. But even in these it is what the child desires. They desire sleep rather than wakefulness. They want to be fed without having to fight for it. They learn quickly the comfort and benefit of not walking around in soiled garments.
Where do these innate characteristics come from? They are not random or by happenstance. There are universal laws that impact every person born into this world. God has made us in his image. But a sin-nature has passed through natural birth from Adam and Eve to the very present. The same natural inclination that drew Eve to consider the words and temptations of the serpent are with us. They are in us. We must unlearn them and learn a better nature. Selah
We must learn to adjust our natural tendencies to the characteristics that God desires we develop. Our tendency is to maintain our sovereignty. It is in our own sovereignty that we are most like God. Was not this part of the temptation? In the garden the serpent beguiled Eve with these enticing words, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” And sure enough Eve was enthralled with the idea. The scriptures say, “and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:5-6
There is one fundamental error in all of us that drives us to be independent, to attain our own sovereignty even sovereignty from God. The error is: there is only one God, and it is not us. There is one creator, one maker of heaven earth, one judge of all men.
It is not until we recognize that God is and that he can be trusted that we will indeed begin the process of making changes in our character to align with that which God had purposed when he created mankind.
Consider this, when you behold the stars in the heavens you see patterns that shine brightly for a while and at times are obscured. We can live in different locals and still recognize the same patterns as the heavenly bodies are on display. We can tell the seasons by looking into the heavens.
We marvel at the brilliance of these heavenly bodies.
We marvel at the science that holds them in their places. What keeps them from falling from the heavens?
We delight in the seasonal displays of our natural world. In each season there is something of great beauty and attraction in them. Our eyes are delighted, our hearts are enlivened by what we experience when we behold the beauty of the seasons. We are grieved and brought to sorrow when that beauty is marred and taken away. But like spring itself our joy is renewed and quickened anew when new life and beauty revives.
Without Excuse
Without Excuse
Concluded
Consider the heights of the great mountain ranges throughout this earth. They speak of majesty. They speak of grandeur. They speak of power and strength. For me they also speak of a wonderful designer.
Consider the depths and vastness of the oceans that compass this earth. There are yet unexplored regions of the vast oceans.
What then does all of these considerations have to do with the original query?
How can Paul be so adamant in making this bold statement that people are without excuse?
The orderliness of the universe, the diversity of life, the natural beauty of what has been created is not by happenstance.
And like the rest of creation, we are created for God’s glory. We are created for God’s use. We are created for God’s pleasure and delight. We are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
We can see all around us evidences of the creative nature of God and yet we strive against that explanation of our world in which we exist. We question whether there is even a God to believe in. We would rather hold to our own sovereignty rather than acknowledge that there is a God who is greater, wiser, and completely sufficient in every way, and who is worthy of our worship, thanksgiving and praise, and obedience.
Therefore, when we come face to face with the choice do we choose to trust God’s word and his promises or do we seek to be god “knowing good and evil” ourselves.
This is why Paul can be so adamant. Because there are a host of evidences surrounding us we are without excuse if we continue on the path of rejecting the call of God to our souls.
If today you hear the call of God to your soul, don’t ignore it. Connect with others who already are walking in faith with Christ. Ask them to understand more about the plan of redemption that God has already provided for any who will call upon his name.
The bible says, today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart.
If you do not know someone who is walking with the Lord, you can begin your own personal walk of faith.
Romans 5:8 says “God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” That word commended simply means God demonstrated his love for us.
We have the opportunity to become right with God. We can repent of our sins knowing that Jesus has satisfied our sin debt when he died on the cross.
We then must accept God’s offer of salvation. John 1:12 says, “But as many as receive him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Finally, in a prayer of contrition and true humility, “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
If you have relinquished your sovereignty and put your trust in Jesus for salvation, seek out a bible believing, bible teaching congregation to grow in faith in Christ Jesus.
March 19, 2025
2024 Video Messages
Thanks to Loving Souls Christian Church for permission to use the videos
Thanks to New Beginning Christian Center Jacksonville, Fl for permission to use the video https://www.nbccjax.org/
What is Your Generational Plan
What is Your Generational Plan
What is Your Generational Plan
What is Your Generational Plan
Building Relationships Through the Fruit of the Spirit
Building Relationships Through the Fruit of the Spirit
September 22, 2014 at Loving Souls Christian Church Building Relationships Through The Fruit of The Spirit
Thanks to Woodlawn Faith UMC for
permission to use the video
https://woodlawnfaith.org/
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Father, I thank you for the timelessness of your Word and your Promises. I pray you will use these words to encourage your children as they grow in their relationship with you. I pray that you will work in the heart of every person who does not know you as Lord to bring them to yourself, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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