Four Profound Propensities

FOUR PROFOUND PROPENSITIES

“Incline your heart to the Lord God.” Joshua 24:23

Profound: “difficult to fathom or understand”.

Propensity: “an intense natural inclination”.

MAN’S PROPENSITY TO SIN:

True in Regard to the Sinner:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

“Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts…” Ecclesiastes 9:3

True in Regard to the Born-Again Believer:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:23-25 (NKJV)

GOD’S PROPENSITY TO FORGIVE:

In Regard to the Sinner:

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:3-4.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

In Regard to the Born-Again Believer:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV)

GOD’S PROPENSITY TO BE PATIENT AND LONGSUFFERING:

In Regard to the Sinner:

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NKJV)

In Regard to the Born-Again Believer:

“And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.” II Peter 3:15.

MAN’S PROPENSITY TO DELAY DECISION MAKING:

In Regard to Accepting Christ as Savior:

“Now as Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” Acts 24:25-26

In Regard to Serving Christ as Lord:

"Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth…and if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." 1 Kings 18:21 (NKJV)