Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 26  Laws Don’t Change Hearts!!!

 

We are surrounded by confusion on every hand; a time in culture and history when we are not only changing the rules, but people are attempting to change the very foundations of mankind—foundations that were established by God “in the beginning” and they haven’t changed regardless of what “men” may say!  But there’s more—men are also attempting to explain sin away!  They pass laws that try to blame “hate” and “prejudice” to erase the simple truth that man’s heart is evil and sinful men commit sinful acts.

They also are determined to eliminate the presence or influence of God in our world.  If laws could change hearts, God would have stopped with the Ten Commandments, but He knew that it would require a sacrifice for sin to provide that which would change the very hearts of men, women, boys and girls—and yes, we are created “male and female” regardless of what the government says!  Political mandates don’t change the eternal Word of God or it being truth.

“In the beginning

God created the heaven

and the earth…

… 26 And God said,

Let us make man in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.

28 And God blessed them,

and God said unto them,

Be fruitful,

and multiply,

and replenish the earth,

and subdue it:

and have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over every living thing

that moveth upon the earth…

… 31 And God saw every thing that he had made,

and, behold,

it was very good.

And the evening and the morning

were the sixth day.”   Portions of Genesis 1:1 & 26-31

While many deride the truth of the first eleven chapters of Genesis, they are the very foundation of what I/we believe about God; in fact, without the truth of Genesis 1-11 we can close the book and go do something better with our time and energies.  For without this foundation and truth of the creation of God there would be no man, no Adam and Eve, no sin and no redemption plan—and without sin and the need of a Redeemer, why would we need a Jesus to become the incarnate Son of God, and be crucified, buried and risen for our sin?  But I know that this is God’s truth, and I will stand upon it in confidence and trust in The God who created all things—Father, Son and Holy Spirit– until HE seals my lips or calls me unto Himself!  We find God the Father and God the Holy Spirit specifically in the first few verses of Genesis, yet people ask, “Where is Jesus?”  Well, friends, I can answer that question; When you look at Genesis 1 you will find that every part of creation was “spoken” by God and came into existence—and who is Jesus?

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word

was with God,

and the Word

was God.

2 The same

was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.”  John 1:1-3

Paul also made it clear that Jesus was and is the instrument in the creation of all things—He IS God, not a creation of God!  He is The God-Man-Savior; the One who redeems all mankind who will come to HIM in repentance, and faith in His sacrifice for my sin and yours!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created

by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before

all things,

and by him

all things consist.”  Colossians 1:12-17

You and I are created “by him, and for him”, HE ought to be my focus and yours; as the author of Hebrews also makes this truth of Jesus, the creator, clear!

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners

spake in time past

unto the fathers

by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days

spoken unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed

heir of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory,

and the express image of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”  Hebrews 1:1-3

While all of this is imperative to our faith, it is also an accusation against our culture, and even the church, which has seemed to remain silent on this unquestionable foundational truth of our faith—both creation and sin!  Paul told us that the heart of man is the issue—not our circumstances or our culture (yet the culture is often influenced by the hearts of wicked men)—that circle of our relationship with God; the one so aptly pictured in the book of judges (which we won’t quote today) which pictures the cycle of mankind, close to God—rejecting God—leaping headfirst into sin—reaping the consequences of sin—repenting and God providing a redemption for repentant sinners!  Just like HE still does today.  Even Jesus calls us to repentance!

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

…5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

What does all this have to do with us today?  Well, it has to do with the fact that God knows that sin is/was the issue, and that The Law couldn’t change hearts, only reveal our need for God’s saving grace.  So, God promised that The Law would show them their sin, but He would send One who would be the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, initiating the New Covenant—the indwelling Holy Spirit who would dwell with all who will believe in Jesus, HE who paid the sin debt for all who would believe.

“And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him:

but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.”  John 14:16-17

Paul makes the distinction very obvious in his letter to the Romans.

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 1:8-9

Yet, with all this promise in Jesus, Paul reminds us that most will reject the Redeemer and choose to continue in sin, much like what Jeremiah stated!  The bottom line is, SIN is the issue!

“The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?”  Jeremiah 17:9

And Jesus addressed it too:

“A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.”   Matthew 12:35

Now, back to Paul’s message to the church at Rome—one of the most wicked cities of its time; but sin’s not only in big cities, but in every place—at home, on TV, in movies, on social media– sin in a can you can open at will—it’s just renamed to deceive us!  Yet it’s not the “stuff” or the circumstances that dictate our choices but our own selfish, sinful lusts—and no abundance of laws can change one heart—only the “blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin”!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein

is the righteousness of God revealed

from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God

is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness

and unrighteousness of men,

who hold the truth

in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known

of God

is manifest in them;

for God hath shewed it

unto them.”  Romans 1:16-19

While our culture is attempting to erase all the lines of moral absolutes, they are also trying to legislate God out of our lives and replace God with their laws which will supposedly make all men equal, the same—uniform–with no room for evil—or the essentials of creation–NOT!  Sin is in the heart of man, and no law can change that; only the saving work of the blood of Jesus can change hearts and lives.  Paul goes on in chapter 1 of Romans, to remind us that sin will never lift anyone up—but will spiral into total chaos, evil, more sin and the very rejection of God that dooms mankind.

“For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world

are clearly seen,

being understood

by the things that are made,

even his eternal power

and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that,

when they knew God,

they glorified him not

as God,

neither were thankful;

but became vain

in their imaginations,

 and their foolish heart

was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise,

they became fools,

23 And changed the glory

of the uncorruptible God

into an image made

like to corruptible man,

and to birds,

and fourfooted beasts,

and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up

to uncleanness

through the lusts

of their own hearts,

to dishonour their own bodies

between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God

into a lie,

and worshipped

and served the creature

more than the Creator,

who is blessed for ever.

Amen.”  Romans 1:20-25

And as Paul goes on to reveal, there is a consequence to every choice, and the choice to reject God will lead to more and more sin, for not only does “misery love company”—sin will not only affect you, but everyone that you come in contact with.  And those who pursue sin, will propagate their lifestyle, their agenda and their corruption regardless of the cost and effect upon themselves or others.

“For this cause

God gave them up unto vile affections:

for even their women

did change the natural use

into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men,

leaving the natural use

of the woman,

 burned in their lust

one toward another;

men with men

working that which is

unseemly,

and receiving in themselves that recompence

of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,

without natural affection, implacable,

unmerciful:”  Romans 1:26-31

All of this they pursue without regard to the judgment of God, for they take pleasure in that which God hates—yes God does hate!

“Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure

in them that do them.”  Romans 1:32

“These six things doth the LORD hate:

yea, seven are an abomination

unto him:

17 A proud look,

a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth

wicked imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness

that speaketh lies,

and he that soweth discord among brethren.”  Proverbs 6:16-19

And in closing, one of the simplest and most profound descriptions of the contrast between the godly and the wicked is Psalm 1.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not

in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth

in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat

of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate

day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit

in his season;

his leaf also

shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth

shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff

which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way

of the righteous:

 but the way of the ungodly

shall perish.”  Psalm 1:1-6

And for your consideration, Jesus own words about the nature of the options.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you

in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:13-15

Will you be like that “tree planted by the waters” or the condemned/many, apart from God.  It’s your choice–but choose wisely—there is a consequence and a test!

May God open your eyes to see, your ears to hear and your heart to “see God” and come to JESUS!

Amen and Amen!