What Is the Gospel? Part 5

Man is an enemy of God

God by nature is holy and pure. He hates sin and cannot allow it in his presence. Humanity is sin. Not only that, but man loves sin. Naturally, mankind hates all that is holy, right, and good. This means that we hate God. If two beings hate one another they are enemies. God and man are enemies. There is opposition between God and iniquitous man. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10). “Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (Jms. 4:4). “For the mind that is set on the law flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law, indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:7-8). Part of Jesus’ work was to “reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility” (Eph. 2:16).

Sinful humanity is without excuse

Not only can sinful man offer nothing to God in an attempt to placate his wrath and become acceptable in his sight, but upon being judged man will be silent. Those before the judgment seat will be without excuse. When they stand before God in all his glory, power, and majesty, they will be utterly speechless. They will not be able to speak a syllable in their defense. What could they say? What evidence do they have to the contrary? There is no smoking gun. All human beings will stand condemned (the unconverted that is). They will be without excuse. They willingly and knowingly sinned against God. They suppressed God’s truth in unrighteousness and served themselves or some devilish god in the place of the One True God.

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 2:15-16). “If I had not come and spoken to them [the world], they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” (Jn. 15:22).

NOW THE GOOD NEWS...