Sin always starts out looking like something different than what it is. Sin is always based on lies. It starts out as something just a little bit "naughty", a little bit daring and attractive. It's crossing the line a little, but it's not really "bad". That's how it looks. So we think we can indulge a little bit, just to edge out a little from God's law, just sin a little bit. We're like fish seeing a worm and saying, we'll just take a little nibble.
But there's a hook. There's something concealed in sin. Jesus said, He who sins is the slave of sin. The slavery is in this lie, this deception about the real nature of sin. Surely David never thought that his little flirting with Bathsheba, just a little look at a bathing woman across the street, would end where it did, with murder, rebellion and the ruin of his kingdom. Surely Esau never thought his little joke would end with the loss of the covenant blessings and alienation from his brother and parents. Surely Eve was just exploring forbidden knowledge a little bit. She never expected it to end with the ruin of the whole human race. And Judas skimming a little bit of money from the offering plate ended with the murder of the Son of God.
It's always like this. Every little sin has the potential to ruin your whole soul. Only the grace of God prevents this. Every little sin is a lie, that we can take God's blessings for ourselves without reference to God's truth. Once I believe that lie there is no end to the destruction I can do to myself and those around me. Every little nibble at that juicy worm has the potential for me cooking in the fisherman's frying pan.
How hopeless our condition is. How truly dependent on grace we are, for every breath that we take. How reliant on Christ we must be, for forgiveness and deliverance from this lie. "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Yes, �how hopeless our condition is. How truly dependent on grace we are, for every breath that we take. How reliant on Christ we must be, for forgiveness and deliverance from this lie.�� But that raises a difficult question: if the Lord G-d is sovereign, could He not have prevented sin and evil, pain and suffering from coming into existence? While we can seldom determine why G-d allows one thing rather than another, there are several things that we do know. We know that the authority of G-d is limited by nothing outside of Himself, but it is controlled by His infinite perfections. Even though G-d's sovereignty is universal and absolute, His will is entirely guided by His good and wise attributes. His kingship is based on His attributes of wisdom, holiness and love. As a wise G-d, He may be expected to act rationally. As a good G-d, He will have the best interests of His creatures at heart. As the all powerful G-d, He may be relied on as having the ability to accomplish all His purposes.
In fact, there are certain things that G-d cannot do. He cannot deny Himself and His essential nature. He cannot be cruel. He cannot lie. He cannot sin. He cannot change. He cannot act or be other than what He is. G-d cannot decree anything that is contrary to His nature, or to His wisdom, or to His love, or to His righteousness, or to His holiness. And yet consider the following, apparently contradictory, examples: G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex. 10:27). It was wrong for David to number Israel, yet the Lord moved him to do it (2 Sam. 24:1). An evil spirit from the Lord plagued King Saul (1 Sam. 19:9). G-d gave sinners up to even more sin (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). G-d allowed the iniquity of the Amorites to fill up even further (Gen. 15:16). The Lord shut up all in disobedience (Rom. 11:32). During the Tribulation of the Last Days, G-d will send a deluding influence on the world so that unbelievers will believe what is false (2 Thes. 2:11). If G-d is not the author of sin, how can these incidents be explained? How is a holy G-d related to man's sinful acts? This can be answered in four ways:
1. G-d will often restrain man from the sin which man intends to do. G-d said to Abimelech: I kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her (Gen. 20:6). King David prayed: keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me (Psalm 19:13). G-d has promised us that He will not allow the believer to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear (1 Cor. 10:13). G-d's sovereignty can have a restraining influence on human sin.
2. Sometimes G-d, instead of actively restraining man from doing evil, will sometimes permit sin to take its course. I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devises (Psalm 81:12). The Lord G-d also said: Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone (Hos. 4:17). For many centuries G-d permitted all the nations to go their own ways (Acts 14:16).
3. G-d determines the limits which evil and its effects may go. Evil acts can only occur by the Lord's permission, and only insofar as He permits them. The Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him (Job 1:12). In His wisdom G-d has permitted evil to exist for a time in carefully restricted areas of His creation. Evil is limited in extent as well as in duration. A day is coming when evil will be completely eliminated. Evil has entered the universe, but it will not be allowed to thwart G-d's original, wise and good purpose.
4. G-d allows evil, but can direct the way it goes. All the evil acts of creatures are under the complete control of G-d. Though they are evil in themselves, G-d can overrule the evil acts of angels and men for good. G-d uses the wrath of man to praise Him (Ps. 76:10). Perhaps the most powerful example is the crucifixion. Y-shua said to Judas: What you do, do quickly. All those involved in the crucifixion of Messiah did what G-d predestined to occur (Acts 2:23, 4:27). Man's intent was evil, but G-d used their evil intent to accomplish His will. The wicked conduct of Joseph's brethren toward him (you meant evil against me, but G-d meant it for good... to preserve many people alive - Genesis 50:20), the stubbornness and hardness of Pharaoh's heart toward G-d and Israel, the lust for conquest of the Gentile nations that invaded Israel and carried the Jewish people off into captivity, the rejection and crucifixion of Messiah, the persecutions that the Messianic Community has endured, and the Shoah (Holocaust), have all been overruled for G-d's purposes. The fact that G-d has turned evil into good should encourage us to trust Him to do the same with this present evil generation, and all the difficulties that we face.
Another question that arises from the sovereignty of G-d is this: if G-d rules the universe as the Supreme Sovereign, how is it possible for man to exercise free choice? And if he can't exercise freedom of choice, how can man be held responsible for his conduct? Many theologians go to an extreme and deny either the sovereignty of G-d or the free will of man. But perhaps it is possible to reconcile these two positions. Consider the following: G-d has sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choices, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choices between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not overrule the sovereign will of G-d. No - he actually fulfills it. G-d's eternal decree didn't predetermine which choice the man should make, but that he should be free to make it. If in His absolute freedom, G-d has granted man limited freedom, who is there to say: what are You doing (Isaiah 45:9)?
Let me give you an illustration that might better explain this concept. A Boeing 747 leaves JFK airport in New York bound for Tel Aviv. Its destination has been determined by the proper authorities (this is a picture of G-d's sovereignty). On board the airliner are 350 passengers. They are not in seat belts all of the time, neither are all of their activities determined for them. They are completely free to sleep, watch a movie, read a book, walk around, eat, talk, or pray (this is man's free will). But all the time this great airplane is steadily carrying them toward a predetermined destination. Both freedom and sovereignty are present here, and they do not contradict each other. So it is with man's freedom and G-d's sovereignty. The mighty airplane of G-d's sovereignty keeps its steady course over the air of history. G-d moves undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfillment of those eternal plans which He purposed before the world began.
In the meantime things are not running quite as smoothly as this quick overview might suggest. The mystery of iniquity is even now at work. Within the broad expanse of G-d's sovereign will, the conflict between good and evil continues with increasing fury. There will be storms and winds that might buffet the 747 of His will, but G-d will have His way despite the storms and winds. G-d will fulfill every promise made to the prophets. We know that those who ignore G-d will one day be removed from the earth. We know that a redeemed people will enter into everlasting joy and the righteous will shine in the kingdom of their Father. We know that the present imperfect order will be done away with, and a new heaven and a new earth will be established forever. We know that all created beings will acknowledge Y-shua as Lord, which will bring glory to G-d the Father. Toward all this G-d is moving with infinite wisdom and perfect precision of action. No one can stop Him from His purpose. Nothing can turn Him aside from His plans. Since He is all knowing, there can be no unforeseen circumstances; there can be no accidents. Since He is all powerful, there can be no lack of power to achieve His chosen ends. There can be no breakdown in His authority. Since He is sovereign, there can be no orders given by someone else that will countermand His.
G-d has determined the law of choice and consequences. G-d has decreed that all those who willingly commit themselves to Messiah Y-shua with the obedience of faith will receive eternal life. He has also decreed that all who love darkness and continue in rebellion against the high authority of heaven will remain in a state of spiritual alienation and at the last suffer eternal death. There is freedom to choose which side we will be on, but we don't have the freedom to negotiate the results of the choice. It has already been determined. Whoever is on Messiah's side is on the winning side and cannot lose. Whoever is on the other side is on the losing side and cannot win.
The sovereignty of G-d should be a source of peace, joy and confidence to all His people. There is perfect peace and the highest destiny for those who subject themselves to the Kingship of G-d. They can already say Halleluyah! They already rejoice that the Lord our G-d, the Almighty, reigns. They know that neither chance, nor the folly of man, nor the hatred of Satan, controls the sequence of events or the destiny of their lives, but that the Lord G-d and His infinite wisdom, love, and power do. But the knowledge of the sovereignty of G-d should also be a source of distress and anguish for all those who ignore the Lordship of G-d, and choose to live their life without King Messiah. Their destiny is the one of the usurper and rebel, and they will have a usurper's and rebel's reward.
Amen ! AMEN !!! Donna...good post...article stated ~ It's always like this. Every little sin has the potential to ruin your whole soul. Only the grace of God prevents this.
*** Yup !!! an a little leaven (sin) leavels the whole loaf...Thank and Praise Father GOD for His Mercy and Grace...xo
