VB136 Out From Under God
Out From Under God
[Pr 1:7; Rom 1:21-22, 28; Eccl 8:4]
Kingdoms and nations of the earth have laws. We sometimes call this “the law of the land.” These rules are to protect the citizens from outlaws who take advantage of law abiding folks. The laws spell out the consequences of breaking the law. In the spiritual realm there are laws. The Bible gives us spiritual laws that cause the Kingdom of God to function. We need to have a clear knowledge of spiritual laws. And we should obey the law of the land, unless those laws oppose, or try to overrule God’s laws.
One spiritual law tells us that knowledge and wisdom begin with the fear of of the Lord.
Pr 1:7 (NASB) –The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
God demands respect and acknowledgment.
Pr 1:7 (AMP) –The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.
If people respect and recognize God, they are enlightened and thankful. But when the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God is suppressed, society begins to move away from Him, and eventually intellectual nonsense is inevitable. I translate it this way, “the farther away from God you go, the more retarded you get.”
In time, error multiplies and is spread into every field of society — the family unit, the church, education, entertainment, business, government, and the judicial system. If unchecked, the deception will continue until man’s foolishness pollutes the thinking process of an entire nation.
We need to face the reality of what man becomes without God. When the knowledge and reverence of God is removed, the vacuum that remains causes intellectual and spiritual darkness to flood in and fill the void. The result is lawlessness.
I am not saying that unbelievers are stupid. There are many intelligent unbelievers. Mankind has benefited from the inventions and developments of many unbelievers. The level of intellect does not effect this spiritual law. When people drift from the truth, they eventually enter the arena of foolishness and deception. They see themselves as highly intelligent progressive thinkers — but because of the conclusions they embrace, God says they actually become fools.
Rom 1:21-22 (KJV) – Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Knew: (ginosko) is past tense, saying God is no longer recognized or respected.1
Vain: (mataio) destitute of real wisdom, to be or act perversely, foolish.
Imaginations: (dialogismós); to reason. Thoughts, opinions, and directions.
The Greek word translated “foolish” here is the same as “lacking in understanding” (cf. Mt 15:16; Mk 7:18).2 It is to be unintelligent, wicked (morally senseless). This is when believing and reasoning processes are dominated by spiritual darkness.
The word “heart” in the Greek is “kardia” (kar-diy’-a) used here means the physical organ in the body. When a society separates from God, its heart becomes darkened, Gk. “skotizo” (sko-tiy’-zo) to obscure. When truth is rejected, eventually the ability to recognize and to receive truth is diminished (see, Jn. 3:19-20).3
Professing: (continually declaring) that they are wise Gk. “sophos” (so-fos’), (highly educated, professionals), become fools, Gk. “moraino” (mo-rai’-no) this is where we get the word, “moron.”4
The first step in rejecting God is to not glorify Him as the supreme, all-knowing, unquestionable God. Second, they are not thankful. This is always a sign that self is exalting itself above God. A selfless person can be content with very little. A self-centered person cannot be satisfied. Thankfulness is a sign of humility, and cultivating a life of thankfulness will help keep “self” in its proper place.
After these first two steps have been taken, then the individual’s mind is free to begin imagining foolish, wicked, and idolatrous thoughts. This leads to a hardened heart (“foolish heart was darkened”).
Rom 1:28 (KJV) –And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
The Greek word translated “reprobate” is “adókimos,” and it means undiscerning, not distinguishing, and void of judgment. In this text it may be understood as “an abominable mind, a mind detested by God and man.”5
This is describing the state of a person who has “passed the point of no return” with God. As the context explains, God has revealed Himself to every person who has ever walked the earth. But there comes a point when God’s Spirit will not strive with man any longer (Gen 6:3). When that happens, individuals are hopelessly damned because people cannot come to the Father except the Spirit draws them (see, Jn 6:44).
Therefore, reprobate people are people whom God has abandoned, and there is no hope of salvation for them. Paul applied this term to Christians who had renounced their faith in Christ (2Cor 13:5-7; 2Tim 3:8; Titus 1:16).
Now, if you fear that you are reprobate because of some sin or blasphemy that you have spoken, I want to assure you that these verses describe reprobate people as being past feeling, remorse, or conviction. When a person is repentant over some terrible action, then that itself is proof that the Spirit of God is still drawing them and they are not reprobate. Reprobate people do not care. You can still repent and break the devil’s accusation and fear of being damned, by asking Jesus to forgive you, and make Him Lord of your life!
Our society once had a general knowledge of God, and a reverence for godliness, but it is no longer in style.
Rather than being grateful to God for their blessings, they have forgotten who blessed them, and are no longer thankful. They have turned from God, and gone off course morally. Their thinking is mixed with error that effects how they reason about everything.
They believe things that are not supported by related facts and evidence, and eventually their conclusions are totally out of touch with reality. The heart of a godless society distributes foolishness until it is filled with darkness that eventually spawns corruption and immorality.
The so-called leaders of our God-rejecting society constantly claim that they are brilliant intellectuals of a new way of thinking. Regardless of what they mandate, their words and ways of thinking make them sound mentally deranged. They think and act like morons. How can anyone take their advise seriously?
A French writer, after traveling around America in 1831, said “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests—and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning— and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution—and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”
We are an up side down nation – out from under God!
Let’s pray for our nation:
Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray for our nation. Lord, we thank you for our freedom that we have, and that it will remain. Thank you Lord, that you are getting people ready to replace those in the political arena who are deranged by the enemy. Give us replacements for those who are destroying our country. We pray that your Spirit is poured out upon all those inside the District of Columbia.
Lord, only you know if a person is reprobate. Holy Spirit, guide them in truth and draw them nearer to You. Help us all get into your Word, and back to the roots of this great country, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
We decree:
This is the day of deliverance! It is time to return to, “One nation under God.” Our decrees are spears of deliverance. Our prayers hit the mark! The day of the deliverance is here, now! “Where the word of a King is, there is power… [dominion, and legitimate authority]!” (Eccl 8:4). We cast down evil imaginations. We break the devil’s damning accusations, in the name of our Great King, Jesus!
God bless you my friend,
1Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study New Testament, KJV (Chattanooga: AMG, 1992), Ref. Num. 1097..
2Ibid., Ref. Num. 801.
3Ibid., Ref. Num. 4654.
4Ibid., Ref. Num. 3471.
5Zodhiates, Spiros. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible–NASB (Chattanooga: AMG, 1984; rev. ed. 1990), Ref. Num. 96.
