Category: Righteousness
Subject: Righteousness
Sermon: Felix Trembled
When Paul spoke to the Roman governor concerning “the faith in Christ” it caused Felix to tremble with fear. Why? He spoke of righteousness to the sinner, self-control to the intemperate, and judgment to one unprepared. Felix’s fear was well founded.
“There is none who does good”
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good” (Psalm 53:1).
The infidel is a fool. He is wicked, living his life without the one thing that can bring good action — faith in God.
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever” (Romans 1:24-25).
There is a philosophical question that is often asked. Can atheism account for morality? In other words, without God, can there be true right and wrong, good and evil?
Accepting the reality of God, the point is moot. If God exists, and created us for His purpose, then one can’t be “good” unless one is doing God’s will. This is what the Bible affirms. Left to our own devices, we are incapable of serving God acceptably. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). And, it is required of us, if we are to be good, to obey Him. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Don’t be a fool! Believe in God, and do His will!
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Sermon: A Living Sacrifice
Romans 12 well describes the life of one who presents himself to God as a living Sacrifice. Such a life includes: Thinking Soberly, Functioning Faithfully, Loving Sincerely, Serving Fervently and Living Peaceably.
Sermon: Lessons Learned from King Abijah
The text of 2 Chronicles teaches us that the battle is not won by superior forces or brlliant tactics. It is won when righteous men trust in their God.
Sermon: Are you a “SPIRITUAL” person?
The world defines “spiritual” in a very different way than does God’s word. The lesson identifies present attitudes, and compares them to God’s truth.
Sermon: The Law of Sowing and Reaping
The law of sowing and reaping is inviolate, both physically and spiritually. The text of Galatians 6 clearly shows that we will reap what we so. If we sow to the flesh, we will reap corruption. If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap everlasting life.
Sermon: “Put your trust in the Lord”
Psalm 4 is a wonderful psalm of praise to God. The text reveals that He is worthy of that praise because He is righteous, merciful, gracious, trustworthy and helpful.
Partisanship and Morality
President Trump is a lightning rod for controversy. His pugnacious personality, outsider status and vulgarity is shocking to the sensibilities of both media and political opponents.
The criticisms of the President are well deserved on his part, as he is not a pleasant person. What is obvious to the unbiased, however, is that partisanship plays a large role in the criticism.
It is striking how often there is a willingness to overlook the failings of one’s own champion, while excoriating any perceived imperfection in the opponent’s man or woman.
Sojourners and Pilgrims
The apostle Peter made an impassioned petition to the Christians to whom he wrote in 1 Peter 2:11-12, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles…” What are these fleshly lusts?
First, the terms defined. 1) “fleshly” (sarkikos) under the control of the animal appetites; 2) “lusts” (epithumia) craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden. (Thayer). So, in our context, fleshly lusts are those desires that come from the basest parts of man — desires that are forbidden by God.
The Bible explicitly names many of these. A partial list includes: premarital and extramarital sex, including homosexuality; covetousness; murder; strife; deceit; violence; pride; gossip; anger; willfulness; rebellion; envy; idolatry; lewdness; hatred; jealousy; drunkenness; partying (revelries); extortion; stealing (cf. Romans 1:28-32; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
When we become Christians, we become new creatures. This world is no longer our home, and our lives should mirror that reality. When we live righteous lives, we will be thought strange by those who act on those fleshly lusts. No matter, for our desire is for our Lord. We are pilgrims in a strange land — heaven is our home!
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Invitation: The wicked will fall but the righteous will stand
Invitation by Stan Cox
Proverbs 11:3-6 shows that the wicked will fall because of their wickedness, while the righteous will stand. This is not always seen in the temporal world, but we know that God will settle all accounts at judgment.
Sermon: Go and Sin No More
A discussion of John 8:1-11, where Jesus told the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Go and sin no more.” Dicussion centers on true repentance and a holy life.
Sermon: Wise Counsel
Wise counsel comes ultimately from God’s word. So, those we ask for counsel: our parents, our friends, our elders, can be depended upon if they couch their advice in righteousness!
How My Self-Identity Influences My Actions
Merriam Webster defines self-identification: “the act of identifying yourself as a particular kind of person.” It is a term that has only recently gained prominence. Typically, it is used with regard to race, gender or sexual attraction. A dictionary example given is that of a man who has one parent who is black and another who is white, who self-identifies as black.
Most examples of self-identification are logical. I have children, thus self-identify as a father. I also self-identify as a husband, as a grandfather, as an American, and proudly, as a Texan. These examples are fact based. However, some other recent examples of self-identification defy logic and fact.
Continue reading “How My Self-Identity Influences My Actions”
Sermon: God Is
This lesson is a discussion of some of the most important attributes of God. He is 1) Right; 2) Good; 3) Loving; and 4) Longsuffering.
Righteous Compassion
I ask that you consider an interesting and important characteristic of God’s word. Time and again there is the call for fairness and honesty — an appeal for what most recognize as being simply right!
The book of Proverbs supplies a good example of this:
“He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord” (17:15).
God is appalled at both the mistreatment of the just, and the coddling of evil doers. It is amazing how often men are concerned about one of the two, but not the other. This can be illustrated by the political discourse of our time. Advocates of one party champion a toleration of that which God calls abominable, but is rightly critical of a lack of compassion that might be shown to the innocent by their opponents. The other party will rightly call for a respect for the rule of law, but in many instances will show little concern for the plight of those who need protection in our country.
Why can’t it be that we practice both righteousness and compassion? Abiding by law and being compassionate are not antithetical concepts. Jesus drove out the money changers, yet spoke with tenderness to the adulterous woman, even as He said, “go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
The phrase, “Love the sinner, but hate the sin” is defensible, and doable. God demands nothing less!
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