Timmy, my grandmother used to say, "Show me a man who will lie... and I'll show you a man who will steal and kill."
You see, stealing a candy bar isn't the problem with a person Timmy. The stealing is just a symptom. The lying, cheating, killing, adultery, lust, homosexuality, violence, drunkeness, etc.... are all just symptoms if a deeper far more serious problem. We can see sin in an action... but sin itself is a broader principle at work in mankind's fallen nature. It is sin that inspires stealing, lying, adultery, and murder. The very same sin that inspires a tiny "white lie" is the same sin that inspired the Holocaust. It is a complete disregard for divine authority. It is an absolute challenge to God's sovereignty as King of all things. When we steal, we play God. God who gives and takes away as He wills... we see ourselves as being "God" and able to give and take at will. When we kill... we play God. God alone rules when a man is to die... we assume we have that right and seek to take the life of another. We try to kick God off of the throne of creation and be our own little God.
Nothing with a nature so vile and rebellious can live in harmony with God throughout eternity. It must be stopped... it must also be punished to uphold "justice". A man named Dale disregarded the law and chose to drive drunk. He hit my brother while he was crossing the street on Drummer Ave. in Dayton Ohio to go to the park. The man was drunk, speeding, and out of control. Total disregard for authority. He hit my brother at a high rate of speed, my seven year old brother got tangled up under the car and was drug nearly three blocks. He later died at Miami Valley Hospital. The man's problem wasn't his drinking... it was SIN. God will judge Dale with a fearsome and eternal justice... unless Dale falls on his knees and seeks a loving and eternal grace. I pray he's found it. And I pray that if he hasn't... he will.
While we think of God as vindictive... let's remember... God is a KING. He must keep order in His creation. He must uphold justice, order, and law. And God has chosen to give us this minute space of time called life as a "grace period" whereby we can turn to Him and be forgiven of even the most vile acts. God also promises to regenerate our Spirits and to aid in putting that sin nature in check...if we will walk in accordance to His Spirit as directed in the Word. God doesn't have to be so forgiving. But He chooses to be... because God loves us. Many don't see God this way. They want God to approve of their deeds and ignore their sinful rebellious nature that will one day drive them to spit in the face of God. Think of it Timmy... God is everywhere. That means that God is sitting right next to you now. And He was sitting next to you when you called Him "vindictive". What options do you leave Him with regards to your placement in eternity? The question is rhetorical and I don't desire you to answer here. I only want you to think about the question. So many have already declared themselves enemies of God... when God is the very one pleading for their surrender and salvation. If God's prevenient grace is active in your life Timmy and He's calling you to Himself... don't delay. Follow that calling and embrace a Father who loves you. But don't be mislead... He's a fearsome King who will judge and punish His enemies with an eternal justice.
Very, very few people who steal candy bars will ever graduate to grand theft or murder. If it makes you feel warm and fuzzy to think God has to punish even the tiniest sin just because some people do worse things, you are welcome to it.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Is it really "tiny" sin? In the face of an utterly perfect and completely Holy God there is no "tiny" in regards to sin. There is only perfect and imperfect. Right and wrong. His Love lead Him to die for us so that we could put on HIs righteousness and perfection. His Holiness and Justness demands however that judgment fall hard on anything and anyone who has not put on said rightwousness.
Is it really "tiny" sin? In the face of an utterly perfect and completely Holy God there is no "tiny" in regards to sin. There is only perfect and imperfect. Right and wrong. His Love lead Him to die for us so that we could put on HIs righteousness and perfection. His Holiness and Justness demands however that judgment fall hard on anything and anyone who has not put on said rightwousness.
Yes! Stealing a candy bar is a tiny sin! If you think that's one of God's "good" qualities, that He demands total perfection of all His creation, while knowing that it is utterly impossible, again, you're welcome to it.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Very, very few people who steal candy bars will ever graduate to grand theft or murder. If it makes you feel warm and fuzzy to think God has to punish even the tiniest sin just because some people do worse things, you are welcome to it.
Naive. Never under estimate a human being's sin nature.
Yes! Stealing a candy bar is a tiny sin! If you think that's one of God's "good" qualities, that He demands total perfection of all His creation, while knowing that it is utterly impossible, again, you're welcome to it.
Timmy... the severity of the crime is dependent upon the nature of the offended.
For example... if a man punched you, a private citizen, it would be a misdomeanor assult charge. BUT... if he punched a police officer or the President it would be a felony. In foreign countries, and down through history, punching a person might get one fined or lashes... but punching a Royal Subject or the King himself could bring death.
Stealing a vase from a grociery store might be a misdomeanor or petty theft charge. Stealing a vase from the White House could be charged as a felony.
Now... if one consideres God's holiness (absolute separateness) from our created order, His divine essence, and eternal nature... ANY crime... no matter how seemingly small small it is to us... against Him is one of eternal consequence.
Then consider man's fallen nature, a very nature that is in rebellion against God. One's very existence is an affront to God's character, sovereignty, and authority. That individual's very BEING is antithesis to God's order and must be removed eternally for God's eternal purpose to be completed. The ONLY resolution outside of eternal consequence and banishment would be a change of nature. That is what happens at Regeneration. When one receives the Holy Ghost they partake in the divine nature and their very nature is now changed. They are not just a fallen human being... they are one with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead, guide, and convict the person throughout life... sanctifying them until death. Upon resurrection their very sin nature will have been erradicated and they will stand PERFECT and SINLESS before God. Like a caterpillar in a coccoon, they are being changed in this life, and upon death they shed this sinful nature to emerge perfect and Holy... conformed into the very image and likeness of Christ. Now... they are worthy of an eternity in the very presence of God.
Timmy... the severity of the crime is dependent upon the nature of the offended.
For example... if a man punched you, a private citizen, it would be a misdomeanor assult charge. BUT... if he punched a police officer or the President it would be a felony. In foreign countries, and down through history, punching a person might get one fined or lashes... but punching a Royal Subject or the King himself could bring death.
Stealing a vase from a grociery store might be a misdomeanor or petty theft charge. Stealing a vase from the White House could be charged as a felony.
Now... if one consideres God's holiness (absolute separateness) from our created order, His divine essence, and eternal nature... ANY crime... no matter how seemingly small small it is to us... against Him is one of eternal consequence.
Then consider man's fallen nature, a very nature that is in rebellion against God. One's very existence is an affront to God's character, sovereignty, and authority. That individual's very BEING is antithesis to God's order and must be removed eternally for God's eternal purpose to be completed. The ONLY resolution outside of eternal consequence and banishment would be a change of nature. That is what happens at Regeneration. When one receives the Holy Ghost they partake in the divine nature and their very nature is now changed. They are not just a fallen human being... they are one with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead, guide, and convict the person throughout life... sanctifying them until death. Upon resurrection their very sin nature will have been erradicated and they will stand PERFECT and SINLESS before God. Like a caterpillar in a coccoon, they are being changed in this life, and upon death they shed this sinful nature to emerge perfect and Holy... conformed into the very image and likeness of Christ. Now... they are worthy of an eternity in the very presence of God.
Hey, I said welcome to it. It's just not my cup of tea, OK? I do not believe that everyone deserves death, for being imperfect. I do not believe that God will punish anyone for not doing the impossible. And I, for one, do not see the logic behind it. God is so perfect that He demands everyone He created also must be perfect?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
God has been very involved in my life, I wish I could give more details. But due to the nature of events and people involved, I can't. I just anticipate the great things that are going to come from all this.
Yes! Stealing a candy bar is a tiny sin! If you think that's one of God's "good" qualities, that He demands total perfection of all His creation, while knowing that it is utterly impossible, again, you're welcome to it.
stealing a candy bar is not a sin...it's being born with the nature to sin..stealing a candy bar is wrong, but you are not condemned for the candy bar..but for the nature of sin....
"That's what people are condemned for ..
he answer to that is the blood of Jesus and his flesh which was broken for you.
scripture has concluded all under sin.. in fact many people don't really begin to sin until after they learn of sin...
then they become swine or hogs wallowing in sin..
but before that their conscience of sin is not really identified ..because of SELF ...this is why people killed the prophets
yep they began hit him from both sides..
and this is why the world hates the body of Christ.....
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