Romans ch1 vs16 – 32
The speaker’s message tonight was the first of a series:
“The A,B,C,D,E Route to Becoming a Christian and Beyond”.
A = Acknowledge God Exists…
Why say "acknowledge" and not "believe" that God exists?
Because no–one has ever NOT believed that God exists!
The Word of God explains in verses 19 – 20 that it is
absolutely clear by what we can see in all of God’s creation that He does
exist, and that all are without excuse for not believing so.
All mankind know that God is, but many simply deny this
great truth!
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim
the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night
they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where there voice is not
heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the
world…”
- Psalm ch19 vs 1 -4
God’s incredible glory is everywhere for everyone to see!
Also, the creation within our own bodies tells us of our
most awesome Creator God –
We have a staggering complexity which could only have been
made by The Great Designer – Almighty God!
“I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”
- Psalm ch139 vs14
When Paul - the writer of tonight’s scripture - was in Athens
Yet still today, so many people are idolising the most
ridiculous things, including animals! They reject and deny the true God that
they know exists!
Denial of this one true and living God is moral suicide…
Degeneration will form, as in tonight's passage of scripture.
Here and now in our own society, we see all the results of
this denial in the extent of moral decay. Lives that do not acknowledge God
bring a horrible situation.
Tonight’s passage lists a catalogue of horrendous lifestyles
and attitudes.
At one time these things would not have been happening in Britain
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”
(vs22).
This has a direct connection to the verse below -
“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God…”
- Psalm ch14 vs1
Notice the fool says it in his heart – he does not believe it
but tries to convince himself of what he so much wishes!
So… why does one continually refuse to acknowledge God?
To accept God exists instantly brings accountability and
responsibilities into ones life!
Each of us is absolutely accountable for our actions and
thoughts… once God is acknowledged we accept we have duties before our Creator
God!
We are obliged to then seek Him and to live for Him!
When the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, came into the
world to become the Saviour of sinners, despite all of His healings and
blessings poured out on mankind, He was still hated. Hated because of His very holiness
and purity!
“This is the Verdict: Light has come into the world, but men
loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who
does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so
that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God”
- John’s Gospel ch3 vs19 -21
Still today there is severe hostility across the world to
those who follow God through faith in His beloved Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.
People resent seeing Godly lives as it makes them feel
unclean.
They refuse to acknowledge God as it means having to change
their ways and coming out of the darkness they are enjoying!
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted”
- 2nd Timothy ch3 vs12
Acknowledging God is the first step towards Jesus Christ, the
Saviour of sinners.
We are all sinners and every one of us needs to get right
with God personally - on His terms:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”
- The Acts ch4 vs12
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