"Why do you call me "good"? NO ONE is GOOD, BUT GOD!!!!!
10 As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. 11No one understands [no one intelligently discerns or comprehends]; no one seeks out God. 12All have turned aside; together they have gone wrong and have become unprofitable and worthless; no one does right, not even one! 13Their throat is a yawning grave; they use their tongues to deceive (to mislead and to deal treacherously). The venom of asps is beneath their lips. 14Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16Destruction [as it dashes them to pieces] and misery mark their ways. 17And they have no experience of the way of peace [they know nothing about peace, for a peaceful way they do not even recognize]. 18There is no [reverential] fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:10-18 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Mathew 19:17 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one isgood—except God alone. Mark 10:18In light of these verses, why do most people still believe they are good? I am thinking we don’t realize how wicked our hearts are according to God. According to God in the Bible “the heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it?”. Most people probably would not admit to this fact. If you think about it, “who would admit to having a desperately wicked heart? The fact is that we are born with this heart and if we are honest with ourselves we would have to accept this fact. Our hearts are capable of things that we wouldn’t believe possible. Most people believe that they aren’t perfect, but that they are basically good. They feel this way because they are convinced there are certain things that they could not, would not, or have not done and because of this fact they believe that if there is a heaven they will go there after they die. They believe they are innocent of certain sins because they have not actually indulged in them. Some of the more heinous sins like rape, molestation, and murder others are guilty of but not them. The fact is no one could ever go before God who is absolutely Holy and Righteous and claim innocence of any sin. God judges our hearts and not our actions alone. There is no sin that our hearts are not guilty of. We hear of molesters, murders, and pedophiles and are immediately self righteous and in our self-righteousness we judge the molester, etc. based on the fact that we are convinced that we could never do anything like that and believe that we are better from a moral stand point. This helps us believe the lie that we are basically “good”.
We should realize that the only difference between us and people who have committed heinous sins is the fact that we have different backgrounds, circumstances, situations, and environments in accordance to the grace of God. The fact is had we lived the life of the heinous sinner our hearts would not have responded any differently. If we had lived the same life of the heinous sinner experiencing the same circumstances, situations, environments that he/she did, do we really feel that apart from the grace of God that we would not act out the same way? The answer to this question is found based on the bible verse, Genesis 6:5 as, mentioned earlier – “The heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it”. Our hearts are desperately wicked and there is no sin that they are not capable of or will be declared innocent of before God. This is why we are directed to guard our hearts and ensure that it is not given the opportunity to manifest some of the vile, heinous sins that it is capable of. No one is any better than anyone else. No one is any worst than anyone else. Our hearts are equally desperate and unknowable. The only difference is the environment, circumstance, prior actions, decisions, and situations involved. If they are identical, the manifestations of the heart have a tendency of being the same. The only difference will be based on the grace of God and the fickle nature of the heart. The fickle nature of the heart could manifest the actions to a worst or less degree but both individuals would have the same guilt before God. So know that you are equally guilty of any sin that you judge anyone else for, due to the wicked propensity of your heart, even though you may have never actually indulged in the sin.
Therefore, we should not view people as any worst than we are. Or think of ourselves as better than anyone else. We should extend forbearance for all people and endure the negative actions of all because apart from the grace of God we would certainly be guilty of the same acts that we are so easy to judge others for.
So when we are so ready and eager to judge people like Jerry Sandusky, Casey Anthony, Saddam Hussein, Osama Ben Laden or Bernie Madoff, you should think apart from the grace of God and faith in a Savior that imputes righteousness and holiness to your account before God, you will not escape any judgment that you are certain they will experience. We should always hold our peace and our judgment when considering others and treat them the same way we would like to be treated if we were guilty of the same offenses. Some people believe the statement “I couldn’t help myself… I had to do it” is a cop-out”. However, if you give in to your sinful nature… your desperately wicked heart it will eventually take over. The problem is the law of diminishing returns will take over also. The sinful nature has an unquenchable desire for fulfillment. It will always desire and crave more and will never be satisfied no matter the extents we go to appease it. Also, we will always be chasing the initial feelings and responses of sin when it was new, but will never attain those initial feelings and responses. This is the law of diminishing returns. The more we indulge the less satisfying, but the more intense is the desire to continue indulging. Experiences are never enjoyed to the same or better degree than the first time. Eventhough there is a law of diminishing returns at work, we still crave these experiences. Since the sinful nature cannot be appeased, we will eventually forfeit our very lives trying to satisfy the cravings of our sinful nature and wicked hearts. This is why we desperately need a Savior. We desperately need some external even supernatural assistance to free us from this situation and predicament…..
4We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [[b]which my moral instinct condemns]. 16Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it. 17However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]19For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing. 20Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [[c]fixed and operating in my soul].21So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.22For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature]. 23But I discern in my bodily members [[d]in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [[e]in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]. 24O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? 25O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:4-25.
This statement was written by a person who desired to live a godly life, but did not have the power to do so. This is true of some people, but most people want to live the life they want to live and are not concerned about doing what they should do. They don’t realize that they are giving into their sinful natures and will eventually suffer an eternity in Hell if they do not realize their need for a Savior and seek out one before they die. The only religious leader claiming to have the power to forgive sin, impute righteousness, and provide additional power to live a life pleasing and acceptable to Him is JESUS CHRIST!!!! Trust in Him and His finished work on the cross for your sake. Accept Him as your LORD and PERSONAL Savior and He will free you of your current predicament of guilt and pending condemnation and eternal separation from GOD in HELL.
We should realize that the only difference between us and people who have committed heinous sins is the fact that we have different backgrounds, circumstances, situations, and environments in accordance to the grace of God. The fact is had we lived the life of the heinous sinner our hearts would not have responded any differently. If we had lived the same life of the heinous sinner experiencing the same circumstances, situations, environments that he/she did, do we really feel that apart from the grace of God that we would not act out the same way? The answer to this question is found based on the bible verse, Genesis 6:5 as, mentioned earlier – “The heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it”. Our hearts are desperately wicked and there is no sin that they are not capable of or will be declared innocent of before God. This is why we are directed to guard our hearts and ensure that it is not given the opportunity to manifest some of the vile, heinous sins that it is capable of. No one is any better than anyone else. No one is any worst than anyone else. Our hearts are equally desperate and unknowable. The only difference is the environment, circumstance, prior actions, decisions, and situations involved. If they are identical, the manifestations of the heart have a tendency of being the same. The only difference will be based on the grace of God and the fickle nature of the heart. The fickle nature of the heart could manifest the actions to a worst or less degree but both individuals would have the same guilt before God. So know that you are equally guilty of any sin that you judge anyone else for, due to the wicked propensity of your heart, even though you may have never actually indulged in the sin.
Therefore, we should not view people as any worst than we are. Or think of ourselves as better than anyone else. We should extend forbearance for all people and endure the negative actions of all because apart from the grace of God we would certainly be guilty of the same acts that we are so easy to judge others for.
So when we are so ready and eager to judge people like Jerry Sandusky, Casey Anthony, Saddam Hussein, Osama Ben Laden or Bernie Madoff, you should think apart from the grace of God and faith in a Savior that imputes righteousness and holiness to your account before God, you will not escape any judgment that you are certain they will experience. We should always hold our peace and our judgment when considering others and treat them the same way we would like to be treated if we were guilty of the same offenses. Some people believe the statement “I couldn’t help myself… I had to do it” is a cop-out”. However, if you give in to your sinful nature… your desperately wicked heart it will eventually take over. The problem is the law of diminishing returns will take over also. The sinful nature has an unquenchable desire for fulfillment. It will always desire and crave more and will never be satisfied no matter the extents we go to appease it. Also, we will always be chasing the initial feelings and responses of sin when it was new, but will never attain those initial feelings and responses. This is the law of diminishing returns. The more we indulge the less satisfying, but the more intense is the desire to continue indulging. Experiences are never enjoyed to the same or better degree than the first time. Eventhough there is a law of diminishing returns at work, we still crave these experiences. Since the sinful nature cannot be appeased, we will eventually forfeit our very lives trying to satisfy the cravings of our sinful nature and wicked hearts. This is why we desperately need a Savior. We desperately need some external even supernatural assistance to free us from this situation and predicament…..
4We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [[b]which my moral instinct condemns]. 16Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge and agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) and that I take sides with it. 17However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]19For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing. 20Now if I do what I do not desire to do, it is no longer I doing it [it is not myself that acts], but the sin [principle] which dwells within me [[c]fixed and operating in my soul].21So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands.22For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my inmost self [with my new nature]. 23But I discern in my bodily members [[d]in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [[e]in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]. 24O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? 25O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:4-25.
This statement was written by a person who desired to live a godly life, but did not have the power to do so. This is true of some people, but most people want to live the life they want to live and are not concerned about doing what they should do. They don’t realize that they are giving into their sinful natures and will eventually suffer an eternity in Hell if they do not realize their need for a Savior and seek out one before they die. The only religious leader claiming to have the power to forgive sin, impute righteousness, and provide additional power to live a life pleasing and acceptable to Him is JESUS CHRIST!!!! Trust in Him and His finished work on the cross for your sake. Accept Him as your LORD and PERSONAL Savior and He will free you of your current predicament of guilt and pending condemnation and eternal separation from GOD in HELL.
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