AM Sermon Outline: 01/29/2023
God is not Against You (Romans 1:18-22)
Bro Avery Hines
Rom 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul says “from God, our Father.
You would think that belief in God would be the most basic of all human regard. Acknowledging God as one’s Creator is foundational to learning more about Him. We are surrounded with proof of God’s existence, and it is only through sin that men reject that proof. Some would say it is foolish to not believe in God, let alone to have faith in Him.
After Paul talks about how much he would like to visit Rome, because he had not gotten there yet, he talks about the faith in God I just mentioned…
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20-21 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: 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.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Because that when they knew God, even those which are lost, prove that they had learned, though ignorant of the way of salvation, knew something of the unity and spirituality of God. They knew, or had notions of his perfections, of the creation and government of the world, and of the duties which men owe to God and to one another.
However, there are many reasons that keep people from having faith in God.
- There are those who don't have access to the gospel because there is no one to preach it to them.
- Another obstacle to faith is that some folks love their sins so much that they refuse to abandon them in the pursuit of Christ.
- There are also many who do not come to faith because of false teaching and teachers,
- And the sad case of people who refuse to believe because of the poor conduct and witness of believers.
- Some refuse to believe in God because they cannot accept the idea that a good and merciful God would allow so much injustice and suffering in the world.
I’ve read any number of these questions and most go like this, "How can there be a God when there is so much evil, suffering, and injustice in this world that an almighty and merciful God could prevent?"
This issue not only tries those out there, it also challenges a lot of us in here. When we pray for so many wounded or killed, I remember asking myself questions concerning faith in God. I remember, it almost like a scene from a movie, I was standing in a heavy rain watching this car drive away, and I looked up and said “God, why are you always doing this to me?”
Others also often wonder why does He permits evil and the suffering it causes if He truly is a God of mercy?
Sometimes it is hard to understand that God does not just put us through suffering to be mean to us, or that it is not always God who causes people to suffer. The Heavenly Father is a God of love, and everything He does is out of that place. The truth is that life is hard sometimes, and we will go through trials. I try to always remember Jesus says, we will have trouble in this world, but to take heart because I have overcome the world. No, God did not cause the trouble but in His love, He has created a way to make things right, both in our lives now and at the end of time when Jesus will return for His bride. In the meantime, there will be pain and suffering that we have to face.
Paul says this a little further in the book of Romans…
Rom 8:18 I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us.
Rom 8:19 In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are.
Rom 8:20-21 Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children.
See, not everybody has accepted the evil that seems to have overtaken the world; some are just confused, they have to accept the alternative; God’s love (CEV).
But the world, not just the US, but the whole world ha seemed to accepted evil, but what is evil?
Some things we consider as evil befall people naturally. These things happen to people against their will and well-being. Fires, accidents, disease, earthquakes, and all those things that cause random suffering anywhere earth. However, immorality, where human will and action are evident is a bit different, these are things that people do to themselves and others which are evil and cause suffering and death as well.
See, these things, or that type of evil affects both the innocent and the guilty, and even more so when there is no justice handed out to those who cause harm. This is the sad and undeniable reality of life. A lot of people refuse to accept that evil is the result of disobedience to God and refuse to follow the bible either because they refuse to read it or are encouraged not to.
Why, well I can’t really know why, but if they did read it they’d know that the first instance of disobedience that we know of is Satan's rebellion before the creation of the world. Satan is evil…
- Mar_4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
- Luk_10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
- Act_5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
- 1Th_2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
- Mat_25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
- Joh_13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
- 1Ti_3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- 1Pe_5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Joh_8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
- Rev_12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Rev_12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Satan is an angel, an angel who refused to remain in the position to which he was assigned by God. He disobeyed that command and continued in this pattern of rebellion with the successful temptation of Adam and Eve. The negative effects of this disobedience grew as the descendants of Adam and Eve multiplied in number, as well as in ungodly behavior to this day.
But there is a remedy for Satan…
Rom 5:12 Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die.
Rom 5:13 Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law.
Rom 5:14 Yet death still had power over all who lived from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. This happened, though not everyone disobeyed a direct command from God, as Adam did. In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later.
Rom 5:15 But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people.
Rom 5:16 There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times.
Rom 5:17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.
Rom 5:18 Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life.
Rom 5:19 Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God (CEV).
Reading the Bible, we discover that God is eternal, holy, personal, gracious, and loving. But sometimes people feel like God has it out for them.
I had to figure out that a lot of things that were happening to me was not from God, but from earthly things as wells as worldly things I was involved in. But for a long time I didn’t think that way. I kinda figured “God” doesn’t think I’m good enough and went through part of my life assuming God had it out for me. Remember, God is the ultimate authority and a lot us have a problem with authority, and sometimes people unconsciously have placed their feelings onto God As such. It is usually not a something we think about, but often do. We never take in account that God does not have it out for us.
However, if we think that way, we can, and will, reject the God of the Bible, as many do. The fact of the matter is that because God is the final authority and get way ore blame than Satan and us for the bad things that happen in our lives. Often we are left asking the question; does God hate me?
The short answer to the question of “does God hate me?” is “no.” If you are a human being, then you have been designed by your Creator to reflect His own image (Genesis 1:27). God loves what He created, and He especially loves human beings because we are the most like Him. So why do some people assume God hates them?
Listen to the bible…
Luk 15:11 Jesus also told them another story: Once a man had two sons.
Luk 15:12 The younger son said to his father, "Give me my share of the property." So the father divided his property between his two sons.
Luk 15:13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living.
Luk 15:14 He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.
Luk 15:15 He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs.
Luk 15:16 He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing.
Luk 15:17 Finally, he came to his senses and said, "My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death!
Luk 15:18 I will go to my father and say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you.
Luk 15:19 I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.' "
Luk 15:20 The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 The son said, "Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son."
Luk 15:22 But his father said to the servants, "Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
Luk 15:23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate.
Luk 15:24 This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found." And they began to celebrate.
Luk 15:25 The older son had been out in the field. But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing.
Luk 15:26 So he called one of the servants over and asked, "What's going on here?"
Luk 15:27 The servant answered, "Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf."
Luk 15:28 The older brother got so angry that he would not even go into the house. His father came out and begged him to go in.
Luk 15:29 But he said to his father, "For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends.
Luk 15:30 This other son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast."
Luk 15:31 His father replied, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Luk 15:32 But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found."(CEV)
Even if you are like a prodigal son. Even if you felt you had to go out into the world to experience it. Whether you believe you’ve found success, or the world wiped you out; all you need do is come home. Luk 15:20 The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him. Luk 15:21 The son said, "Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son."
Luk 15:22 But his father said to the servants, "Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
Luk 15:23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. Luk 15:24 This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found." And they began to celebrate.
Back up to the beginning of this chapter and read the parable of the lost sheep…
Luk 15:4 If any of you has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the ninety-nine in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? Luk 15:5 And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder Luk 15:6 and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, "Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep."(CEV)
Walk away from this sinful world and come home…
If God hates us, it is because of our sin. He didn’t wipe out Adam and Eve when they disobeyed Him, but He had to separate Himself from them. Read just the first ten chapters of the book of Genesis; wait, read chapter five…
Adam – 930 years
Seth – 912 years
Enos – 905 years
Kenan – 910 years
Mahalalel – 895 years
Jared – 962 years
Enoch – 365 years (God loved hum so much He took him that he should not see death)
Methuselah – 969 years
Lamech – 777 years
Noah – 950 years
See, God loves us. He did not intend for us to wither away and die in so short a period of time as we sometimes do. God has created us with an eternal spirit such as He has, He wants us to be with Him forever.
If you think it is too late for you, that you have squandered away any chance to see God for yourself, think about this…
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.