Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. While it is very comforting to
lay blame for the failures and decline of our nation on the
lack of leadership or the absence of this or that law, the sad
reality is that the state of our nation and its decayed moral
fiber is being manifested by this choice of leaders we elect.
Abortion is a terrible practice. Drug and alcohol abuse is certainly
extremely harmful to individuals and society alike. And homosexuality
is an unnatural and decadent practice, which is an evidence
of God's judgment upon a nation. Yet it is sheer folly to think
that even the most conservative of leaders can solve these problems
through legislation. The rise of these problems is
but an indicator of the innate wickedness of a society that
wants to pick and choose the vices that it is willing to allow. The Pharisees were upset that
the disciples of the Lord ate without washing their hands.
Being Jews, they were very strict legalists, yet they were more
interested in washing the outside of the cup while neglecting the
inside. So the Lord told them that the
things that men do do not defile them, but rather the wickedness
which is within defiles them as it is manifested. The Lord
was very clear that men are not sinners because of any substance
or activity which is external, but rather that men demonstrate
their innate sinfulness because they were inwardly corrupt and
unfit for the kingdom of heaven. Men sin because they are sinners.
Men would like to think that by engaging in various religious
activities or refraining from certain indulgences that they
can become holy. It is this principle which is
at the heart of the notion that by making a profession of faith,
being baptized in water, or by performing good deeds that they
can merit the favor of God or alter their eternal destiny.
This is the very basis upon which Paul pointed out the folly of
going about to establish our own righteousness and the fatal
results thereof. The law exists because men are
by nature corrupt, and to every good work reprobate. No law against
sin is necessary among those who are not sinners. The love
of wickedness is that which causes wickedness, and it is bound in
the heart of every man. As it is written, there is none
righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth.
There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of
the way. They are together become unprofitable.
There is none that doeth good, no, not one. So men are in a
condition from which they cannot escape. They are sliding towards
their just destruction with no remedy in their hand. They have
abused themselves, despised the way of God, and lapped up iniquity
like water. Yet the false prophets encourage
men to solve their problems by accepting the Lord as if the
power to do so is a product of their own free will. There is
only one man who has ever accomplished salvation. His name is Jesus
Christ. No man by whatever endeavor he
may attempt can ever add to or gain this salvation, because
every man is dead in trespasses and sins and utterly defiled
thereby. Men cannot and will not change
themselves into something which they are not by nature. Apart
from being made a new creature by the operation of free and
sovereign grace, all men shall perish in their own sin and receive
the just recompense of reward for being rebel alien sinners. Marvel not that I said unto thee,
ye must be born again. Salvation is a gift which is
secured by Christ and then applied by the Holy Ghost to the most
undeserving of men. There is no place wherein a man
can boast of any accomplishment thereto. Paul said he would glory
in nothing but the cross of Christ, whereon the Lord alone obtained
eternal redemption for his people. What wisdom, majesty, and grace
through all the gospel shine? Tis God that speaks, and we confess
the doctrine most divine. Down from His shining throne
on high the Almighty Savior comes, lays His bright robes of glory
by, and feeble flesh assumes. The mighty dead His chosen ode
upon the cross He pays, then through the clouds ascends to
God, mid shouts of loftiest praise. There he, our great high priest,
appears before his father's throne. There on his breast are names
he wears and counts our calls his own. O sinner, contemplate
your dire situation. Trust not in your own supposed
ability to believe or obey the commandments of Christ. May God
give you grace to find refuge from the wrath to come upon all
who are defiled without remedy. Christ alone is the sinner's
hope. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.