Yes, we are all theologians because we all have ideas about God; does He exist, and if He does, what is He like? We are in the process of looking at the four, cornerstone theological truths that I call “Theology for Dummies.”
We saw last week the first of these cornerstones is 1.) God is absolutely sovereign. We saw that this theological point, if true (and we saw a number of verses that left us with no doubt that the Bible teaches that He is), means that free-will for humans is a pipe-dream. Free-will is a desperate attempt for me to feed my addiction to the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil. It allows me to continue to try to convince myself that Satan.s lie was really true when he told me that, yes, I can “know good and evil” for myself!
However, Jesus told us “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Little children can’t make their own decisions, nor can we. We need our Abba Father to tell us, in our hearts, what He wants us to do.
That. brothers and sisters, is easier said than done, because of the second theological cornerstone—2.) We are absolutely sinful.
In the following Scripture, Paul quotes a number of Old Testament passages to prove this theological cornerstone: “As it is written, ‘Not even one person is righteous. No one understands. No one searches for God. All have turned away. They have become completely worthless. No one shows kindness, not even one person!
‘Their throats are open graves. With their tongues they deceive. The venom of poisonous snakes is under their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. They run swiftly to shed blood. Ruin and misery characterize their lives. They have not learned the path to peace. They don’t fear God.’” (Romans 3:10-18, ISV).
I can convince myself that Paul’s description here in these verses doesn’t describe me, but Jesus pictured my spiritual ancestors, the Pharisees (from whom I am a direct descendant!), in very similar terminology in Matthew 23. Verse 27 is a one-verse summary of this chapter: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
Yes, this passage, as well as Paul’s description in Romans 3, nails me perfectly! Amazingly, this ernest, all-in, life-time, “full-time ministry” Christian was an octogenarian before he was able to “see” this truth experientially, in his heart!
One would think a clear and expanding divine revelation of such personal wickedness, as defined by God Himself, would be very discouraging, if not devastating, particularly after a full life-time of “pursuing God.and His work.” But, strangely enough, I am finding myself REJOICING, and literally bursting with what I am learning! Next week I’ll tell you specifically WHY I feel that way!
