What is your story? How will you give an account when the time comes? It’s good to sometimes look back at where we’ve come from and look forward to where we are going. This is such a story. It’s a story of man’s sinfulness and God’s righteousness.
They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass, Psalm 106:20(Rom. 1:23). In Romans, Paul is talking about the pagan world and their wickedness.
Israel’s failure and God’s faithfulness: three key citations in Romans 1-2:
1. Hab. 2:4 – Judah’s sin brings judgment from Babylon but God will eventually judge Babylon and redeem Judah. The just shall live by faith
2. Psalm 106:20 – Israel’s long story of sinfulness and God’s faithfulness and abundant mercy.
3. Isa. 52:5 – God will deliver His people and exalt His name despite Judah’s sinfulness.
God’s people saw Him do miraculous things over and over and yet they didn’t believe, they soon forgot.
Lessons from last failure:
1. The causes of unfaithfulness remain the same. The things Paul mentions in Romans are no different than those things that have always been an issue. It begins with warped thinking. If we continue to dwell on things we shouldn’t be thinking about we will eventually succumb and will do sinful things. When that happens, we worship the creature, we focus on the material. Our own happiness becomes our main focus.
2. Without Christ, I am no different than the rest of humanity. In verse 34 of Psalms 106 he mentions how Israel didn’t get rid of the people from the land. Why? Was it too difficult? Surely not, based upon what they had observed God was able to do. Not only that, they mingled with the people and took up their wicked ways. With Christ, everything changes.
3. God’s faithfulness is worthy of my gratitude and praise. God bailed Israel out time and time again, and yet they continued to rebel. They soon forgot His works, the Bible tells us. And yet God relented, He pitied them. Our story is no different. Despite repeated sin, God’s mercy is abundant.
A story of grace. 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
Is Jesus part of your story?
Sermon by Brent Moody
