God's Way To Avoid Spiritual Dangers In Life Series

God's Way to Avoid Spiritual Dangers in Life

The Book of Romans

Romans 1:16-32 (Initial reading: vs. 16-21)

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - March 13, 2016

(Revised August 17, 2020)

MESSAGE:

*In 1993, Willie Nelson was 60 years old, and he had some unusual advice for his 23-year-old daughter. Willie said, "Paula, look at everything I do closely, -- and do exactly the opposite." (1)

*That was probably the best advice Willie ever gave anybody. And it's the same thing we need to do as we go through this dark part of God's Word. We must do the opposite of what we see here. That’s how we can avoid spiritual dangers in our lives.

1. FIRST: WE MUST LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS.

*We must let the spiritual light of the Lord shine in our hearts, but we see the opposite happening in tonight's Scripture. In these verses, God gives us some compelling reasons to get out of spiritual darkness.

[1] AND THE FIRST REASON IS THAT IF WE STAY IN THE DARKNESS, THERE IS NO ESCAPE.

*This is God's clear message for us in vs. 16-18 Here Paul started by saying:

16. . . I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

17. For in it the righteousness of God is 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 suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

*Church: There is no escape for those who refuse to receive the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Paul also made this truth clear in 2 Corinthians 4:3-6. There God's Word says:

3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[2] WE MUST LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN OUR HEARTS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER ESCAPE; ALSO BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

*We have no excuse to stay in the darkness. That’s what the Bible tells us in vs. 18-21, where God's Word says:

18. . . The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19. because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes 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, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WERE DARKENED.

*God's Word tells us that there is no excuse for people to stay in spiritual darkness. But most people have been fooled, because there are so many different ways to live in the darkness. Think about all of the false religions in the world.

*David Dykes explained that "they all may contain a little truth, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day. And a broken clock is worse than no clock at all because it gives you misleading information. People can believe in a god, but when it's a false god, they are no better off than the atheists.

*So what is God really like? -- Is He the God of the Muslim terrorists? Is God really named Allah? And does he reward murdering terrorists who highjack airplanes and kill innocent people? Does the one true God want all the infidels killed, even if it means strapping a bomb to your body and killing yourself? -- Of course not.

*Or is God like the impersonal god of the Deists? Deism teaches that God created the world like a watchmaker, and then He wound it up and started it. But now, He sits by uncaring or unable to get involved in what is happening in lives of individuals. Is that what God is like? -- Of course not.

*Hinduism teaches there are a number of gods and goddesses, but the greatest god is Brahmin, the impersonal, all pervasive life force in every person. New-Agers also teach that god is the life force in everything. That’s why they can worship trees, crystals, and even themselves. Is that what God is like? -- Of course not." (2)