Evildoers Foster Rebellion Against God

[Sue J Love]

Proverbs 17 Select Verses NIV

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
13 Evil will never leave the house
of one who pays back evil for good.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
the Lord detests them both.
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Sexual immorality is skyrocketing in our world today, at least I know it is here in America with the invention of the Smartphone and such easy access to inappropriate material in movies, videos, still pictures, games, and music, etc., on the internet, and not just on “porn” sites, but on what may appear to be “safe” sites, too. And so sexual addiction is huge within the gatherings of “the church,” as well, not unlike in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.

[Genesis 18:20-33; Genesis 19:1-28; Deuteronomy 29:22-28; Deuteronomy 32:1-33; Isaiah 13:1-22 (esp. v. 19); Jeremiah 23:1-14 (esp. v. 14); Amos 4:11; Matthew 10:15; 2 Peter 2:1-22 (esp. v. 6); Jude 1:1-25 (esp. v. 7)]

In the last two of the New Testament Scriptures (noted above) we have this description of something of the likes of “Sodom and Gomorrah” in these last days before the return of Christ:

• Ungodly people pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality
• They deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord by their actions
• They give themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion
• They serve as an example of those who suffer punishment/eternal fire
• They have taken the way of Cain who killed his brother/from jealousy
• They are among many shepherds who feed only themselves
• They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame
• The blackest darkness has been reserved for them forever
• They will secretly introduce destructive heresies to lead people astray
• Many follow their depraved conduct bringing the truth into disrepute
• In greed, certain teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories
• With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning (addicted to sin)
• They mouth empty words by appealing to the lusts of the flesh
• They promise freedom while they are slaves of depravity

This is our world today, at least in the world that I know (America). And even though it appears, according to the media, that the name of “Jesus” has gained much popularity these days, I question if that is literally the biblical Jesus or the Jesus created in the minds of humans, which to me appears to be just that. The character and nature of who Jesus Christ was and is has been largely altered to appease and to appeal to human flesh.

So, just because a large group of people gather together singing songs of praise to God, to Jesus Christ, and so they are moving their bodies and waving their arms in rhythm with the music, that does not constitute biblical faith in Jesus nor biblical worship of God, by that fact alone. And just because someone attends a “worship service” in an institutional market-driven “church” (business), it does not necessitate true worship of God.

As well, just because someone makes a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and prays a prayer “to receive Christ,” or calls him, “Lord,” it does not mean for certain that he is “in Christ” or that he has truly “received Christ” or that Jesus is truly “Lord” of his life. It could be lip service only, and his heart could be far from God. So we cannot go by just outward performances of “religion” or by mere verbal confessions of faith in the Lord Jesus.

Jesus taught that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, and if sin is our practice, and not obedience to our Lord, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin (as a matter of practice), and obey our Lord, in practice, then we have the hope of salvation and eternal life.

For Jesus also said that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God the Father who is in heaven. And many will stand before the Lord on the day of judgment proclaiming Jesus as “Lord” and claiming all that they did in his name, and he will respond with, “I never knew you! Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” because they did not obey the Lord, in practice.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

So, don’t be fooled by those who tell you that you can make a profession of faith in Jesus, continue living in sin, and still go to heaven when you die.

The Rock of My Heart

Lyricist: Bassford, Matthew W.; Psalm 73
Composer: Schales, Glenda Barnhart

My Lord, I need nothing beside You;
Without You, I could not have stood.
Your promise is my hope and my refuge;
Your nearness, my strength and my good.

When I was distressed and embittered,
By things I could not understand,
Your presence was continually with me;
You always took hold of my hand.

I know that Your counsel will guide me
In wisdom, devotion, and love,
And afterward You’ll call me to glory
To dwell in Your presence above.

My heart may be broken within me;
My earthly strength may depart.
But You are my portion forever,
You are the Rock of my heart.
You are the Rock of my heart.

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Evildoers Foster Rebellion Against God
An Original Work / February 20, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love