Psalm 14:1 The fool has
said in his heart, “There is no God.” They
are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.
Continuing this
discussion on the never-ending bias against God issue from the last post, Sproul explains that
secular humanists maintain their rebellion against God believing that authentic
human existence is characterized by a freedom that can only be maintained apart
from “heteronomy” (subjection to something or
someone else; especially: a lack of moral freedom or self-governing). Thus,
authentic materialistic existentialism, with its view of autonomous human
freedom, inevitably places itself willfully in direct opposition to God and
Christianity. Its understanding of man makes the God-hypothesis of classic
theism untenable. Of course, no one can refute the argument that the
sovereignty of God and the autonomy of man are irreconcilable polar opposites.
Not least is the question whether one can be autonomous simply because they
declare themselves to be. That is what is really going on here because,
ultimately, man can be completely autonomous only if, indeed, there is no God.
The fact that man is a volitional being, a being with freedom of choice and a
will of his own, is indeed critical to his being a human and not a thing, a
subject and not an object. But must volition be raised to the level of autonomy
to be regarded as free? Is it possible that we could possess free will and
still be under the rule of God? Full autonomy belongs to the Creator. In the beginning,
God places man in a garden paradise. Man’s role is not that of a slave with no
freedom or authority, but of one who is given dominion over the earth. Man
functions as God’s vassal being over all creation. Freedom is his, but with one
restriction placed upon him: Man is free and responsible, but he is responsible
to the law of God. The devil raised a distorted question about the limits
imposed upon Adam and Eve, mocking the Devine command, questioning the
integrity of God, and suggesting that it was unworthy of God to so restrict his
creatures. The distortion in Genesis 3:1-6 implies the notion that without
autonomy there is no freedom. The irony of humanism is that it originates from
the promise of a serpent. Humanism was not invented by man, but by a snake, who
suggested that the quest for autonomy might be a good idea. And he still does
today and people buy the lie (“You will not
surely die… you will be like God”), but die and never are gods.
Psalm 2:1-5 “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The
kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off
their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven
laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them
in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath.”
Why the
hostility? They despise the reign and rule of God, for it restricts their perceived freedom. Look around today; is this not what
you see in the intolerant attacks on Christianity and the Bible? Again, the goal is autonomy and Sin without Hell to pay. The rule of God is regarded as
ropes and chains binding them and keeping them from unbridled pursuance of
their sinful desires. They set themselves against the sovereignty of Lord God
in pure revolution, but the One who sits on the throne in the Kingdom of Heaven
laughs, but His laugher turns to anger for acts of rebellion against His
sovereign authority. Creator God does not look to the populace to advise or
consent, and punishes with poetic justice. His punishment is in kind. The quest
with never-ending bias for godless autonomy produces not liberation, but loss of
freedom. Lord God exists and God’s word is truth. Fallen man is in bondage, a slave to his own
passions. Jesus located human
slavery in the bondage of the self to its own sinfully evil desires. The
paradox is this: When one seeks to rebel from God, they gain only bondage and darkness. When
one becomes a slave of righteousness to God, they become free in the presence of
the Lord's light. Liberty
is found in obedience to God. Redemption of sin, forgiveness of sin, and
salvation from sin that leads to true liberty comes only through believing and
accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ; the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen!
John 8:31-36 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are
truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We
have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you
the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is
not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the
Son sets you free, you are truly free.
Trust in God.
In Christ, Brian
3 comments:
Amen! Powerful and true. Thanks for all the work you have been putting into your posts.
Blessings,
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Thank you Child of God. Over the years, I have found it critically important to know why people think the way they do, do the things that they do, and why. It has always bothered me when I have not been told the truth, or a half-truth, because I want all the information in order to make a good logical decision. Both sides of the story and the arguments for and against, Pros and Cons, whys and why not's are needed. So I want the same for others. Looking at the root problem, instead of the symptoms of any issue allows to treat the difficulty properly and mindfully.Even on controversial issue of the day. This helps in our own knowledge, spiritual growth and Christian witness to others. The objective is self-improvement, the saving of souls and the glorification of the Lord God. The truth is powerful. Praise and glory to God.
I've been saying for so very long that this is indeed a war against God himself. We are in a cultural war and have been in one for decades and it is now starting to really boil. Bill
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