Someone had forced their way
into the back door back here. Thankfully, nothing that I could
tell was taken or anything, but we called the police and they
came out and just looked around, fingerprinted
and found some footprints and made a full report. We thanked
them. But that was it. So, I'm thankful
that in the Lord's mercy and providence that nothing was taken
as far as I could tell, like I said, or destroyed. Let's take our Bibles and turn
to the book of Romans, chapter 1. I'll begin with verse 18, and
Lord willing, go through the the remaining part of this chapter
and as we usually, this first service is usually the shorter
of the two. If this first service, as times
has happened in the past, goes a little longer than normal,
then the second service will be a little shorter. Let's ask the Lord's blessing. Our Father this morning, we again
thank you for your goodness and mercy to us in allowing us the
privilege to be able to meet together again. We thank you
for your kindness to teach us, to sustain us, to feed us. And Lord, we ask you, would you
bless this Word this morning? Blessed to our hearts and to
our understanding, Lord, blessed to where we truthfully can feast
and to truly be able to say it has been good to have been in
the house of the Lord. We ask these things, thanking
You for Your keeping mercy, and not only on those that been sick
or ill, but Lord, also for the protection of all of us, for
Christ's sake. Amen. Romans chapter 1. Paul has been writing to the
church at Rome and has related to them that he is not ashamed
to preach the gospel. The Lord had taught him the truth. And he said the gospel is the
power of God. No other way. No other message. Nothing else to say. The gospel. The truth concerning Christ. And he has related in the gospel
that righteousness before God is only known by faith. Faith is the effect of God's
mercy and grace to a people to teach them what He has declared. Justification before God, that
is, the declaration by God that Almighty God has made His people
what they are. They don't see it in themselves,
but by faith they believe it. This is what God has said concerning
His own. Well, in verse 18, Paul reveals something else by
the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Not only in verse 17
is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, but also
in verse 18 we know something else. The wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who
hold the truth in unrighteousness." Now, this thing of God's wrath, we hear of the wrath of Almighty
God. And wrath is actually the determination
of God to punish sin. God is determined. that he's
going to punish sin. Now, while wrath, and we think
of the word wrath, wrath is usually associated in our minds as being
unbridled anger. You make someone mad and they
are filled with wrath. I mean, you think of that word
and it's just that uncontrolled, just angry, just wrath, though
it's associated in our nature with that anger, actually wrath,
that word, the heart of that word is desire. Desire in Almighty
God to justly, without any deviation whatsoever, to punish all that
are not found in Christ. That's what it is to be under
the wrath of God. God is going to punish all that
be not found in His Son. Now, His wrath, the Scripture
says, is revealed from heaven. Well, I know for a fact that
it's revealed in His law. I know that it was revealed in
the garden. I know that it was revealed in
the flood, but especially revealed on the cross when the Lord Jesus
Christ hung being made sin, and God spared not His Son. Now when God spared not His Son,
we can ask ourselves this, does one foolishly think that God
is going to spare any that be not found in the Lord Jesus Christ? Psalm 55 says this, the foolish, that is all those who in themselves
think contrary to God's thinking. The foolish shall not stand in
thy sight, and thou hatest all workers of iniquity." All without
a fit righteousness. It doesn't matter what a man
thinks. His position is that he's either
a little better than this one or I'm a little bit more moral
than this one. Everyone without a fit, a right
standing before Almighty God is a worker of iniquity. God's
wrath is revealed against all, the Scripture says, who hold
the truth in unrighteousness, that is, all that contradict,
which says that hold, it's actually contradict their profession by
their conduct. Now, I know that in every person,
every man, every woman, I do understand that there is a nature
that is within, even a believer. Paul says, there is in me, that
is in my flesh, there dwells no good thing. And every believer
in this congregation this morning will admit, I know, I see, I
know that I see in me. And it's really me. Paul says, there is in me, there
dwells no good thing. But I do understand that there
is a nature in every person that absolutely contradicts what Almighty
God says. The flesh is flesh. It's always
been flesh. It'll always be flesh. It never
changes. But I will tell you this, in
every believer, there's a new nature that loves the law of
God, that bows to the law of God and loves God truly. loves God. And these two natures
are absolutely contrary. But Paul reveals by the Spirit
of God that the wrath of God, God's desire to punish evil,
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who hold or who contradict without a spirit of rightness
in them, an unbeliever who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Now, the wicked are inexcusable. Now, there is a nature in every
man born in sin that is dead. But the Scriptures set forth
that no one is inexcusable. Verse 19 and 20, it says, that which may be known of God
is manifest in them." Or that word, in, right there, if in
your margin you'll look, that word is actually interpreted,
to. It's revealed to them. "...For
God hath showed it unto them. 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 in Godhead,
so that They are without excuse. Now, there are obviously some
things that cannot be known, cannot be understood except by
divine revelation. I realize, I know, that there
is no way unless God Almighty gives a man or woman faith to
believe that God has actually truly chosen of people before
the foundation of the world that they should be holy and without
blame before Him in love. I do understand that unless Almighty
God gives a man, grants a man or a woman faith to believe,
that they are adopted by God. Unless God teaches men that Christ
was made sin I know that they cannot understand that. I do
understand that. But the Scripture says that no
man, no woman born in Adam is without excuse when it comes
to the understanding that Almighty God is God. Psalm 19, verse 1
says, ìThe heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament
showeth His handiwork.î Now, the Lord has declared these things
according to His Word, to be clearly seen or distinctly apprehended,
being understood, the Scripture says, or perceived with the mind. Now, men are without excuse. You can say, well, I'm just not
going to have this man to rule over me. I'm not going to listen
to what you've got to say. I don't believe you." Well, the
Scripture declares that these things are shown to men without
excuse. Verse 21, "...because that when
they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were
thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their
foolish heart was darkened because that, or since that, when they
knew God, that is, in the revelation of nature, they glorified Him
not as God. They neither spoke nor thought
honorably of the Lord. That is, they saw no beauty in
Him that they should love Him, worship Him, Bow to Him as the
Master of all things. They knew Him in nature, but
the Scripture says they weren't thankful. Not thankful for the
knowledge that Almighty God had given of Himself in nature. You think, leave a man to himself. You find no one. The Scripture
says they are not thankful. But you find no one left to himself
beholding the things that are created, the heavens that declare
the handiwork of God. No man, since Adam was created, left
to himself, will stand up and truthfully say, Behold the glory
of Almighty God. in the handiwork in which He
set forth. No man has ever said, I'm thankful
that Almighty God has shown Himself in the creation. They're dead. But they are not without excuse.
God has shown it to them. The Scripture says they became
vain in their imaginations. They were not thankful. They
were void. vain, void of thoughts of honor
before God, but not without excuse. All their thoughts were perverted,
corrupt, left to themselves. They did not, would not, could
not glorify God. Could not, but still without
excuse. Without excuse. Could not. Why? Because they were dead.
But not without excuse. Do you see the need of a man? No man can come to me except
my Father which has sent me drawing. No man can come. No man can come. That's due with ability. No man
is without excuse. Man's in trouble with that Almighty
God showing him mercy. No man can come. No man will
come. Unless he comes, he's going to
perish without excuse. left to themselves sink deeper
and deeper into the folly of their foolish thoughts concerning
God Almighty. And the scripture says their
foolish heart was darkened. That word darkened there is actually
darkness. Their foolish heart was darkness. Matthew 6.23 says, But if thine
eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. And if therefore
the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness. Men are religious, no doubt about
that. Religion is everywhere. But what men say is light. The Lord is saying, if that light
that you claim is actually darkness, how great is that darkness. False
light is darkness. Verse 22, professing themselves
to be wise, they became fools, or they were proven to be foolish,
exposed to be foolish. Without a new heart, without
eyes to see, without new ears to hear, There is no wisdom of
God. There is no knowledge of God. There is no understanding of
the true and the living God. Proverbs 2.6 says, For the Lord
giveth wisdom. Out of His mouth cometh knowledge
and understanding. If a man knows anything of God,
if you know anything, if you believe anything, that is right
and consistent. As the Lord told Peter, when
the Lord asked him, who do you say I am? Peter said, you're
the Christ. And the Lord told him, He said,
Peter, flesh and blood didn't reveal that. You didn't understand
that of yourself. You didn't come up with that.
My Father taught you that. It's by divine revelation, if
you know anything. Be thankful that God has not
left you to yourself. Be thankful that Almighty God
would show mercy and teach you something. The Scripture says,
verse 23, they change the glory of the uncorruptible God into
an image made like to corruptible man to birds and four-footed
beasts and creeping things. Now, man by nature, because he
possesses not faith, he desires a visible idol. He's got to have something on
the outside. The older I get, the more I realize
in every aspect of this life, the less that is revealed for
a man to possess of the knowledge of God, the more he's got to
have on the outside to try to pump himself up and show himself. Evidence of a foolish heart is
that it exchanges They changed. They exchanged is what that word
is. They exchanged the invisible
God for visible image. The nation of Israel, when they
came out of Egypt, they came over to the foot of
the mountain. Moses went up into the mountain to meet with God
to receive the tablets, you know. told Aaron, make us a calf. We've got to have something that
we can see, something we can worship. And he made a golden
image. And Moses came down and saw what
was going on. You know, he threw the tablets
and told the people, you dishonored God, you dishonored yourself. the invisible God for an image
that they could behold. Hezekiah. You remember when the
Lord told Moses that people were getting bitten by snakes? And
the Lord told Moses, He said, Make a brazen serpent. Make an
image of what was biting the people. The snakes were a picture
of sin biting people. Make a picture, make an image
of that brazen serpent. Make a brazen serpent, make an
image of it. Lift it up. Whoever looks at that brazen
serpent, it was a picture of Christ setting forth, Christ
being made, what was biting the people, sin. And whoever looked,
lived, the Scripture says. Well, years passed. And the Scripture
says that the people started to burn incense to that image.
And they started to worship that, and Hezekiah took it and destroyed
that brazen serpent. False religion. They build statues,
and they paint pictures, and they hang crosses because they
want to see something. Hang crosses around their neck,
and make earrings, and they just It's idolatry. I want you to
turn to Exodus 20. I want to show you something.
You know, this Exodus chapter 20, verse 4. Exodus 20, verse
4 and 5. Thou shalt not make unto thee
any graven image or any likeness of anything that's in heaven
above or on the earth beneath, that is in the water under the
earth, thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. For I, the Lord thy God, am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
under the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." Now turn
over to Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy chapter 4, Deuteronomy
4.15. Take ye, Deuteronomy 4.15, take
ye therefore good heed unto yourselves, for ye saw no manner of similitude
on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the
midst of the fire." Don't make any image. Don't take any image. That is an image that is worn,
hung, placed, don't do anything that you say, this helps me worship. An emblem of worship is what
it is. Don't do it. Don't do it. I know
a lot of times we may think that it's something that we've you
know, it helps us or it's something that, you know, it's a setting
forth of our faith or something, don't do it. Don't do it. Almighty God is Spirit. God is Spirit. And they that
worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Now the scriptures that follow
from the point that we are at right now to the end of this
first chapter reveal the result of all who are left to themselves
and glorify not the sovereign God of these scriptures. Three times in this book and
the book of Romans The theme of the book of Romans is being
justified before Almighty God by God's grace. Justification
revealed by faith. This first chapter, Paul is writing
to the church at Rome and he is setting forth. This is the
evidence of those left to themselves, given over three times. The scripture
reveals in this remaining part of the scriptures of this chapter
that men left to themselves, abandoned by God and any restraints
whatsoever. And I will say this, these scriptures
are very sobering. I realize that all men born in
Adam, I do understand that there are some men and women in this
world, in the workforce, that you deal with, and there is some
decency, as far as I can say that word. Apparently, there
is some honor, I guess, not before God. The Scripture reveals some things
in these Scriptures, what happens when God Almighty leaves men
or leaves women to themselves. And they're very, very sobering. It's the truth. It's by the grace
of Almighty God that any man, any woman, wouldn't be. But when
we look at these Scriptures, Realize this, this is the Word
of Almighty God. It's so. The Scripture says, verse 24,
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the
lust of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. In these three, and I'll just
read these verses as they come, but we will see that there are
three times that God says He gave them up. In these three
manifestations, though all of these manifestations may not
be seen in all that are left or given up on God, let me say
that. all that are given up, given over, at least possess
one, at least one of these things. Wherefore, God also gave them
up, that is, put them in prison, and committed and delivered them
to uncleanness, that is, impurity, physical and moral, God gave
them up. He gave them up. Gave them over. Left them to themselves to do
that which they truly desired to do. The instrument was their
longings, their lusts. God gave them up to uncleanness,
and this was the means, the lust of their own hearts. God gave
them over. Remove the restraints. If God
Almighty removes the restraints, there is no depth to where a
man or a woman will go. He gives them up. Leaves them
to themselves. Leaves them to their own hearts,
their own minds, to dishonor. That is, to shame and render
infamous. He left them. No more restraints. To shame, dishonor their own
bodies between themselves. Here is declared a state that God has given no more restraint. Sin is the punishment of sin. The punishment of sin is sin.
Men want this? I don't know. I think I was reading
these scriptures and I was thinking to myself before I truly heard the gospel. I think
back on my life and my attitude and myself. I'm just honest with
you now. But think on me. Now, you can
think on you. I'll think on me. And I think
to myself, in the life that I led in rebellion against Almighty
God, at what point is there that God gives a man over? Now, to say that God gives them
up or gave them up. That's not even up for debate.
The Scriptures sets forth that that is so. But at what point
is a man given over? I don't know. I don't know. Look at Paul, the Saul of Tarsus. Here he was living in absolute
rebellion against Almighty God. At what point is it that God
says, no more? I don't know. I just don't know. But to say that it's not so would
be a lie. God gave Him over. At what point? This is what I want to tell you.
I am thankful to Almighty God that He didn't leave me alone.
That He did not remove His hand of mercy from me. God gave Him over. who changed the truth of God
into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than
the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. They exchange the truth
of God. Now this man, I can see characteristics
of these things right here. I think back on myself. Freddie,
I'm thinking of me now. I think of myself who exchanged
the truth for a lie. I think of myself. There was a time. I know for
a fact, a lie here, that is a false god. That's what he's talking
about. Exchange the truth of God for
a lie, for a false god. A false god. A lie. Anything in this world
that is not what men say it is, men worship. the God of their
imagination, a false God, a God that's wanting to do something.
That's a lie. It's a lie. The God, the little G-God that
men are setting forth in pulpits today that wants to do something
that He cannot do unless men allow Him to do it. I'm telling
you, according to this Word, that God, that little g-God is
a lie. He's a lie. They exchanged the
truth of God for a lie. A false God. Paul says in Romans 7.25, I think
God. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
so then with the mind. worship serve the law of God
Himself. I thank God that God didn't leave
me to myself. He didn't leave me alone. Sobering,
sobering. These given up by God worship,
and they serve the creature, that is, the creation, an idol,
more than, that is, opposed to the Creator who is blessed, adored
forever. Amen. For this cause, verse 26, God
gave them up unto vile affections, for even their women did change
the natural use into that which is against nature. God gave them up. to vile affections,
that is, disgraceful and shameful passions." Paul refers to this
evil concupiscence. Left him over. For even, that
is not only, also, he said, the women did change or exchanged
the natural use, that is, the employment of the body produced
by nature. That's what that means. The natural
use, the employment of the body that was produced by nature.
God Almighty made the natural thing for a man to desire a woman
and a woman to desire a man in the bond of marriage. And these that God has left to
themselves, They exchange the natural use into that which is
against nature. I know that men say, well, you
know, homosexuality and lesbianism and stuff like this, that's just
a different lifestyle. No, let me tell you what it is.
It's men and women given over by Almighty God. It's just the
way it is. You might say, well, that's not
really so. Yes, it is. We don't have to
debate it. This is not up for debate. This is the way it is. Men and
women given over by Almighty God. Restraints are taken away
and they go in a way of disgrace and rebellion against Almighty
God and God removes. restraints. Homosexuality and
lesbianism is God Almighty giving a man or a woman up to corrupt
affections. And likewise, verse 27, also
the men, leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their
lust one toward another. Men with men working that which
is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of
their error, which is meat, working, accomplishing, that which is
unseemly, indecent, shameful, receiving in themselves. That is, getting exactly what
they wanted, what God has given them, and what they are due at
recompense. That is, that reward that is
given in compensation. Receiving in themselves that
recompense of their error or their mental straying or wrong,
their wrong opinion of that which is right. Receiving that which
was meat. are fit. Sin is the reward of
sin. You may say, boy, you're kind
of strong. I've looked at these Scriptures
and I'm telling you, you can just try to bypass them all you
want to. Paul the Apostle, under the inspiration
of the Spirit of God, is setting forth man's need of God. This is man by nature. There's
not a little good in all men. There's none good. There's none
good. Unless Almighty God shows mercy,
man is hopelessly lost. If God gives a man, He gives
a woman over, but no hope. At what point that
is, I don't know. There's been questions in my
mind. It's not told. The Scripture
doesn't reveal. As long as a man or woman has
breath, there's hope. There's hope. Listen, before
I go any farther, I think you all know I can truthfully say,
I love you. But love is expressed in truthfulness. Men that don't tell you the truth
Don't love you. Somebody that'll lie to you,
they don't love you. If you lie to somebody, you might
as well just be right up, straight up, just be honest with them.
Just say, I don't love you. I don't love you. I'll lie to
you. You don't mean anything to me.
Your feelings don't mean anything to me. A man that'll lie to you
does not love you. Men are in trouble. But as long
as his breath Come to Christ. Come to Him. At what point God gives a man
over, I don't know. This is what God has called me
to do. Preach the gospel. Set forth. Be honest. Tell the
truth. Verse 28, And even as they did
not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over
to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient. They didn't like to retain. They
didn't like to hold. They didn't like to retain God
in their knowledge. That is, they did not think God
to be worthy of knowing. That's what it means. They just
didn't think God worthy. They didn't think God worthy
to be worshipped. A mind that justifies their evil
deeds. God gave them over to a reprobate
mind. That is, a mind that was void
of all judgment. That is what that means, reprobate.
Void completely of judgment. A mind that justifies evil. It calls good evil and evil good. They say that which is evil is
okay, it doesn't matter. Isaiah 5.20, Woe unto them that
call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter. All that would not retain God
in their minds were therefore, and here again, you say, what
point? I don't know. I'm not trying
to second guess God. I'm just trying to be honest
and just set forth these Scriptures and not try to smooth over anything
that the Scripture is not smoothing over. God is setting forth that
which is so. And if God Almighty gives a man
or woman a heart to see this, If God gives them a heart, you
know what they'll do? They'll cast themselves, and
they'll cry out for mercy. And if He leaves them alone,
they'll just think, well, that old fool right there is just
rambling, and he's just going on and on, and I'm going to tell
you something, I don't believe what you're saying, and I don't
believe that's the way it is, and it doesn't really matter
to me. verses 29 through 31. I wrote down, and what I'd like
to do is I'd like to just write down, and I'd just like to read
to you what these words mean. Let me just read them from the
Scripture. Being filled, that is, those
that God has given over to a reprobate mind to do, to accomplish those
things which are not convenient, fit, proper. I'll read them,
then I'll tell you what the words mean, and I'll just leave it
at that. Being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy,
murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters
of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient
to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural
affection, implacable, unmerciful, And then I'll deal with the last
verse in a moment. Paul, the apostle under the Spirit
of God's direction, sets forth that they are filled in verse
29 with all unrighteousness. These are the exhibition of those
that are left to themselves. Illicit sexual activity, whether
actual or within the mind, but to find pleasure in any other
than the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wickedness. All that opposes God, His people,
or His Word. Now, before I go any farther,
do you see why I said I get to thinking back on myself and I
think, I can see these characteristics. At what point does God leave
a man to himself? At what point does God give a
man over? No more restraints. No more. No more. Covetousness. The conquest of others to obtain
their wealth or position, but spiritually to obtain glory for
myself that is only due to God Almighty or the desire to have
more glory to myself. Covetousness, maliciousness, viciousness are
the quality of man that can only be described as depravity or
his will, man's will. Maliciousness. Being full of
envy. Pleasure in seeing others depressed
or fail, but especially the displeasure in the prosperity of God Almighty
and His sovereignty as He pleases. That is, full of envy. Hating the sovereignty of God. Full of envy. Murder. either actual or the hatred of
Almighty God and His people. Debate, to strive with contention,
or specifically, an argumentative spirit concerning the gospel. That is to say, what God has
declared. Debate. That's what it is. To
argue, debate, to oppose, what God has said concerning His Son. Deceit. A liar in all capabilities,
but it is to set forth a snare or bait to be crafty in beguiling
others. Deceit. Malignity, that is, maliciously
misinterpreting the words or the actions of others for their
harm, and especially in preaching Christ, that is, to put a bad
construction or doubt upon God's Word." This is serious. This
is serious. Men left to themselves. They
love to distort what God Almighty has said to doubt it. Whisperers. That is, secretly, or in a sly
manner by innuendo, exciting suspicion of others, but especially
of God Himself." Whisperers. I mean, we could try to make
these words mean, say, you know, well, I told him, psh, psh, psh,
psh, psh, psh, psh. I'm not supposed to whisper.
Whisperers in a sly manner by innuendo to be suspicious of
others, but especially of God. Backbiters. Exposing the false
of others and speaking evil against God and His people. Haters of
God. To hate, to despise the Word,
the Gospel, the truth of Almighty God. Despiteful. To treat with unkindness or disrespect,
violent or injurious to others, especially when it comes to making
merchandise of men's souls, by lying concerning the gospel. See, what it comes down to is
that all these things, there's no honor. There's just no honor.
No honor before God. No honor before men. Proud. That is, inordinate self-esteem
that thinks more highly of self than God. Boasters. To claim in attitude what one
does not possess. and then to glory in that possession
because you attributed it to your own free will or ability,
boasters. Inventors of evil things, that
is to seek after new devices for the gratification of passion,
but especially seeking another way to God except by Christ. You see, I mean, look, it all
comes back down to man's free will. So suppose disobedient
to parents, no respect or to neglect, which is in truth disobedience
to Almighty God, whose authority of which the parents are but
a picture. Listen. You children. Listen to me. I'm 57 years old. My mother will soon be 76. She is my mother, and I owe her
the respect that is due. She is, in this world, the visible
authority. Now, you say, well, yeah, but
once I grow up, my children Obey your parents in the Lord. This is right. It's right. Your parents are your parents,
and they are due the respect. They're due the respect. You
say, well, what if they're wrong? They may be wrong, but they are
still your parents. Disobedient, without understanding,
that is, inconsiderate or ignorant of the gospel to have no discernment. Covenant breakers refusing to
abide by a covenant that is made or faithless when it comes to
God's covenant. Without natural affection, possessing
No desire with the living God. Unsociable, yes, with God's people,
without natural affection. Unsociable concerning God's people,
but especially desiring no fellowship with God. Implacable, an unforgiving,
or truthless spirit, or unwilling to be reconciled to God. and then unmerciful. That is,
destitute of any mercy or those who will not have God's mercy
in His Son. They refuse to be shown mercy
and therefore won't have it. Mercy. Mercy is for those who
need mercy. Man by nature doesn't have any
desire for mercy because he doesn't think he needs any mercy." And
then verse 32, "...who, knowing the judgment of God, that they
which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do
the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." That which
makes these sins. And I've said before, don't think
for one second Don't look around and just say, well, I'll tell
you what, I hope so-and-so heard that. Look inside. This old nature
is in every person. Believers, unbelievers, I'm telling
you, Paul says, there is in me, I said before, there is no good
thing. Leave a man to himself. This
is why a believer wars within. Because he sees this nature in
him. He sees it. He sees it. And he
hates it. He despises it. These vile sins. Believers long to be free from
them. People left to themselves are inexcusable. They know that evil deeds are
wrong. They know that they are worthy
of death. You know, I thought to myself,
the only time that a person, just like whenever somebody broke
through that door the other night, you know why they came in at
night? Why did they come in at night?
Why don't they come in while we're all sitting here? Because
they know their deeds are evil. They know they are. They know.
Because they want to come in in the cloak of darkness. Who,
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things
are worthy of death, and not only they do the same, but they
have pleasure in them that do them. They know that their deeds
are wrong, but still, They do them and have pleasure, that
is, they approve or consent with those that do the same things. Men, by nature, as I said when
we started, man is in trouble. He's in trouble. The Scriptures set forth exactly
the way that things are. If Almighty God gives a man a
heart to see himself in need of a Savior, you know what he'll
say? That's me. That's me. Christ came into this world to
save sinners. But Paul says, to whom I'm chief.
I'm chief. Men are not going to try to justify
themselves in themselves. They're going to be honest with
God. I need mercy. Why? Because all of this stuff
is right here. You see your need of Christ,
cast yourself upon God's mercy. If God gives a man a heart for
Himself, men come as beggars, empty-handed, brothers of God.
Man, he comes empty-handed. What have you got? I have nothing.
That nothing is something. Because God Almighty has given
a man a heart to see himself in need of a Savior. Well, let's
stop for a few minutes. Like I said, I figured this one
would probably go a little longer, and we'll have a short second
service. Okay. Five minutes. you