Rescued From Moral Self-Deception Part 2

Looking to Jesus in Romans chapter 1, Paul reveals mankind suppresses darkening their minds, committing moral perversion. All the while thinking they're more enlightened than those who came before them. Today, more on how badly the amenity needs rescuing the Moody Church in Chicago this with Dr. Erwin Sir was clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line.

If people's minds are darkened.

How can they ever understand the gospel will date the answer to that is, God must intervene.

It is God who takes away the dark. This gives them light, and in my theology which I think is consistent with the apostle Paul. It is even God who grants them the ability to believe this is what distinguishes Christianity from all other options out there, but there's a lot of darkness in the world is Romans chapter 1 indicates let me ask you a question.

What about social justice. What's the difference between biblical justice and so-called social justice that is spoken about so much in our culture. Those are the kinds of questions that I answer in my book, we will not be silenced responding courageously to our culture's assault on Christianity. Perhaps you've heard me say that I want parents to be able to understand what is going on when they send their kids to college. They come back hating America and how do we as Christians respond for a gift of any amount. This book can be yours. Go to RTW offeror.com that's RTW offeror.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now let us open our hearts and minds and go to the only book, namely the Bible in this special book of Romans and find out what God has to say as to where we are at as a culture and the good news of the gospel and then of course I without going into detail and I discuss this more in detail in the little booklet I wrote entitled the truth about same-sex marriage, but one of the great mantras today is your hater you don't agree with us. How can you be so filled with hate, so the alternative that we are given is you either buy into this or where is all this hate coming from. One day I was giving a lecture at the University now setting things up before the lecture because I wanted to put my outline on the screen in a college student comes up to me and says you believe that Christ is the only way to God. I said yeah I said that's what I'm to be speaking about here is how can you be filled with so much hate. Why are you spreading so much hate, so folks remember this, you oppose, you are a hater. If you ask the question as to why the same-sex marriage agenda has made so much progress in the United States.

That's a longer issue. Also, it has to do with her concerted effort of propaganda, but one of the points is demonize anybody who disagrees with you and make them look so terrible that no one will be willing to be like them. That's what's happening in society today. Paul is saying that 10. The problem is this, that the truth is being suppressed because people want to be deceived so badly. And there's so many justifications out there for deception. Paul says another deception is to take the natural and turn it into the natural and celebrated. There's 1/3 deception in the text and that is also, you'll notice that instead of rebuking San rebuking San. It's the condoning of it now if you think that I'm hard on sexual expression here today you come back next time when I'm going to be speaking about self-deception in the religious realm and you'll notice that the apostle Paul is he ends this chapter doesn't end up at all talking about the sexual he broadens it and includes all of us in one way or another. We all long to be self deceived and suppressed the truth. You'll notice it says in verse 28, and since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. I think yesterday I counted 21 or 22 sins that are listed here, so let's give equal treatment to everybody and read them.

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, live, and the murders, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossip, slanderers, hater of God.

Insulin, potty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die if they spent 1/2 an hour in silence, looking into their conscience. They would know that these things are wrong for not only do them but they approve those who practice them. You have, for example, today whole industries based upon gossip columns and what have you about people who commit adultery in his marriages break up in other people delight in it and you have people today who delight in addictions. In fact they hope for addictions.

They probably pray that there will be many attic to support their industries. Whether it's pornography in any other industry because they not only do evil, but they approve of others, and they encourage others who say be like me. I am the standard intuitively. They know that those who do such things are worthy. Jeff and God's wrath.

They do them and they approve of those who do suppress the truth. You Let it out will be tied to somebody who has the nerve to let the genie out of the bottle to let the truth be told, let's look at this text now and how do we get to the bottom line and to understand ourselves in relation to this couple of things. First, you notice that God abandons some people to their sins. God abandons some people to their sins. Three times verse 24 verse 26 verse 28 God gave them up.

The Greek word is Kara.can God gave them over his other people who live this way and are absolutely content with the way in which they live in are absolutely positively committed to the idea that they're doing right yes comes a time when you fight the truth and you fight your conscience long enough. The goddesses say on my ear. You want to do it. You want to do it, go your way and I can get any resistance from me committed to doing this all take my hands off and say it's all up to you from here on said judgment of God that he gives them up is not just simply those who are involved in sexual sends it.

It applies that it implies the whole list of sins that will catalog that I just read a moment ago so there are those are perfectly content with their lifestyle. There is such a thing as the judicial judgment of God when he gives them up very sobering. So first of all, God abandons some people to their own sin says you want to send fine.

I'll give you lots of it will be an addict okay will be an act content with yourself. Secondly, God delivers some people out of these lifestyles.

God delivers these people. Some people out of theirs. These lifestyles, this is what it says in the book of first Corinthians, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers are men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor read violators nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God's quite a list, but such were some of you but you were washed all beautiful to be washed clean anybody out there. My loan appeared going to rejoice in the fact that we can be washed, you were sanctified, your set apart for God, you are justified, and that word is going to come up in the book of Romans and were going to explain it in the name of Jesus and your lifestyle became different nice old pastor was or what about those. For example, since were talking about same-sex attraction.

What about those who are converted but their orientation isn't changed.

It's interesting that a member of the pastoral staff this past week said that in other countries, such as in Africa when a person gets a all of the addictions are gone, possibly because they understand spiritual warfare much better than don't know if that's true, but I also know that there are those who would say I'm a Christian and I am also in a same-sex attraction relationship and I really do think I'm right I have in my files letters from people like that who affirmed their Christianity and plead with me to see their case and to see their side of the argument. Here's the bottom line if God does not deliver you from the orientation. He often does, it's possible that it's a struggle affected will be God's standard for you is very clear in the Scripture, and that would be to live a life that is celibate when dad was asked by a reporter know whether or not we are prejudiced against homosexuals at Moody church and I said you know we have the same standard for everybody no matter what your orientation is all relationships outside of a man, woman, married relationships are sinful. Let's argue and so what you need to do is to understand that you say. Well, it isn't fair.

You know who in the world ever came up with the idea that life should be fair out is going to balance out because were going to talk about Romans chapter 2 how the judgment of God is going to balance things. But, of course, life isn't fair is fair for a lot of different reasons and what we need to do as believers is to realize that it is God's calling for all of us to live fewer lives sexually. As we struggle with our lustful desires to continue to struggle and to seek God's people, and God for victory and it is God's intention that we live fewer lives now also. It is God's intention that we all live with unfulfilled desires are some of you who perhaps have the desire to be a mother but you're not married, possibly will never be married since unfulfilled desire that you and I have to live with all have.

So the apostle Paul here is mapping out the fact that God is someone who delivers people but even if your orientation isn't changed the word of God gives the standard. Finally, third observation life challenging and a whole lot of good news. God sometimes abandons people to their own lusts and desires.

God is sometimes delivers people or at least some people I should say that better. God delivers some people from those who have these addictions and certainly that's the case of the people in Corinth and there are thousands of stories like those all throughout the United States of America. But God always. Now this is point number three. God always extends grace to those who come to him with humility and faith always extends grace that is the message of the gospel many years ago I met a young man whom I called Roger. Roger was in the homosexual lifestyle. Roger if I might put it somewhat delicately. He serviced other men in that particular lifestyle. I asked him how many partners that you had a sit.

I don't nobody estimated 750 God saved him gloriously any. He talked about how God enabled him to to get out of it and end the battle that it wasn't how he quoted Scripture and and as he quoted these verses of Scripture just awash with these tremendous desires, how they would dissipate that they would come back and he continued to quote Scripture ended up actually being married and having a child even though he himself later died of AIDS is a miracle of God and his wife did not contract now as a Christian he witnessed people in the hospital to the grace and the love of God before he died, when I want to do today is to illustrate the gospel that Paul is going to explain in the book of Romans as we go through the text. I'm going to use these two books to illustrate God's an amazing grace to those who come to him with humility and faith want you to visualize that this book that I have here says on it. The life and times of Jesus Christ on my side open the life and times of Jesus Christ and I read it, and I see nothing but beauty and obedience. In fact, I see a quote here. The father says this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Nothing but beauty.

Page after page, while not over here.

I have another book and it is called the life and times of Roger life and Times of Roger let's see what's in this book. Well, we open it up and just filled with impurity well all kinds of sin.

The trail emptiness lies what Jesus in effect says to Roger is Roger are you willing to give me the contents of your book. Roger says that Jesus only to gladly.

And Jesus says if you give me your book. I will rip the contents of your book out so Jesus comes to Roger. Roger believes in Jesus Christ by faith and is saved. So Jesus according to our illustration rips out the pages of Roger book and then Jesus takes and rips out the pages of his own book anything in effect. Roger just hope that I need now at this point is is the covers of your so Jesus takes the covers of Rogers book and inserts in it.

His own contents. Still says the life and times of Roger's and wonder what kind of a life he lived. We are astounded beauty, holiness sacrifice, which Jesus Christ accepts God's justice pleased with Roger as he is with his own son. You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. It is a book of section beauty that God himself had doors at that is the gospel you willing today to give God the contents of your book you willing to say. Today I received Christ as Savior.

Because remember this, God old always extends grace to those who desire it when we need to do is to let go of all of our self-deception. So all of our review all of the suppression of truth and admit we are gods, as you admit who you are in my presence, all make you who my son was legally by giving him his righteousness, and then we belong to him forever. Firefighters on 9/11 they were saving people from the burning inferno of the twin towers. Jesus comes to deliver us from the wrath of God revealed from heaven against all ungodliness against all unrighteousness and those who suppress the truth you come to Christ today work and have prayer partners appear as we often do we almost always do what you come and shake my hand that you received Christ as Savior.

You can even do it today in the balcony or wherever you may be or listening by way of radio or the Internet you can receive Christ right now, if God is talk to you and this is your moment.

You know who you are to respond to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Awesome rescue mission. Let's pray father as we take a look into our own hearts. We realize that role filled with self-deception spent so much of our time figuring out how to look better than we are, but we thank you that if we admit to our ugliness and our sin and then receive Jesus as Savior, we thank you today at the ugly contents of our book are taken away going to ask now that there be silence when you pray to God wherever you may be listening and if you receive Christ as Savior.

The Bible says as many as received him to them. He'll get the authority to become God's children you believe on him right now. Father for those who are struggling with the truth.

Help them to overcome their reticence to admit who they are and to receive your grace poured out in Jesus, we thank you that he came to get us because we were on our way to a terrible fire.

We love him. Jesus name, amen my friend today. I trust that your heart is been touched as a result of this message. I never get over the wonder of being able to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to a hurting deceive darkened world and if you never received Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is the moment to do so. Admit your sinfulness. Admit your need. Admit that you need to be rescued and then trust Jesus Christ to send that hand from heaven, so to speak, to rescue us from ourselves and our deceptions. Let me ask you a question today.

How should the church respond to what is happening in our culture. I've written a new book entitled, we will not be silenced responding courageously to our culture's assault on Christianity. Let me ask you a question. What about global warming. What is with that. And even if it is true that the earth is warming and even if these scientists are correct, at least some of them. The question is can we really do something about it. These are the kinds of questions I answered in the book, along with issues of social justice and the like. Now I need to say that this is one of the last times we are going to be making this resource available here at running to win. We do all that we can to leave resources in your hands that will be a blessing and help you make it all the way to the finish line. I hope you have a pencil in your hand because for a gift of any amount. This book can be yours. Here is what you do go to RTW offeror.com that's RTW offeror.com RTW. Of course all one word RTW offeror.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for the book, we will not be silenced. Call us 1-888-218-9337 time once again for you to ask Pastor looks or a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Christian students face an uphill battle in today's secular universities. Connie has written asking this. I have a professor who told us that the Bible was not written for today. I know he's wrong but I don't know how to talk with them about this. What do I do what Connie I want to thank you so much for the question because I'm glad that God has put the desire in your heart to speak with your professor about this, but for him to say that the Bible was not written for today is very confusing to me because after all, the Bible reveals God revealed salvation.

It has a universal message.

It is not just a message for the Westerners and the easterners have a different message know the gospel of grace and salvation is for the whole world so obviously because Jesus speaks about heaven, hell, how we can prepare for eternity. Obviously the Bible is very relevant for today and what we must understand is, it was written. Of course, in ancient times, but it's relevance is up-to-date. So Connie, I hope that God gives you the courage to speak with your professor and to simply go through the gospel of John and point out that the things that Jesus said are relevant to us no matter where we may be, no matter what timeframe we have. Thank you Dr. Lidster and thank you Connie for your question. If you'd like to hear your question answered.

Go to our website@rtwofferor.com and click on ask Pastor Luzerne or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614.

Religion can break the pride that says I'm okay. Self-deception is especially deep when expressed in religious terms. Next time a further probing of why we need rescuing so badly, this is Dave McAllister running to win is sponsored by the Moody Church