25th November

25th November 


Pray (ACts)


Read - Romans 3:4-5


Message - Alan Burke


At the time to the Jews God’s righteousness was tied to his commitment to His covenant. Think of it like this, God has said he’d do it so it’s guaranteed because God said it. God said He would deliver His people, therefore that deliverance was guaranteed by the fact of God’s own righteousness. Therefore why not sin more then, our unrighteousness makes God look even better and God is unjust for bringing wrath on us. The forgets that God is a righteous God and because of it He is also wrathful, to be righteous He must deal with sin, it is a manifestation of His goodness that He deals with sin, that there are consequences for sin. 


The same kind of thinking and argument is used today, it might sound a little bit different, but it is the same premise. “God’s love isn’t he, he’s good, he hates sin but he loves the sinner and he loves him unconditionally.” This attitude among many that their sin doesn’t matter to God, it just shows how loving God is. Sadly there are many so called ministers and teachers who send people to hell happy, who are happy to preach a universalism, that everyone goes to heaven. What they preach isn’t based on the teaching of scripture, it’s just they don’t like the concept of hell. Jesus himself when speaking of the final judgement in Matthew 25 said he will separate people, one from another, sheep from goats, those who have rejected him face the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25). 


Paul is addressing the wrong view of grace among some, surmised in v8 “Let us do evil that good may result”. There is a more modern theological term for this objection because sadly it is one that is repeated throughout the history of the church but it is a failure to understand and appreciate the purpose and place of the law of God in the life of his people, whether that was the Jews of which Paul spoke of here or if it is us today. The theological term is antinomianism, it is named after a 16th century sect but it is the same issue that Paul was dealing with here in this argument. For the believer, one who has understood the gospel of God, who has tasted union with Jesus Christ Himself then it leads to a new love and obedience to the law of God. An obedience that comes from faith (1:5). There is a reason why we are told in James faith without works is dead, because if that obedience is not seen in our lives then we can try to fool ourselves but even the dogs on the street can see something doesn’t add up. 


For anyone who thinks that falsehood enhances God’s faithfulness, that our sin shows God’s grace all the more, then there is an issue. Salvation is a matter of the head and heart, we believe it, we know it, we respond to it. Antinomianism shows that the heart has not understood the truth of the gospel and not responded to it.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q7 What are the decrees of God?
The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. (Eph. 1:4,11, Rom. 9:22–23)
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