<\/p>\n
\u201cFor since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened\u201d (Romans 1:20,21).<\/p>\n
WE WON\u2019T MAKE MUCH HEADWAY OVERCOMING SIN UNTIL WE ADMIT OUR PERSONAL SINFULNESS. Yet it\u2019s the modern trend to downplay the individual sinner\u2019s responsibility for his wrongdoing. Phyllis McGinley said it well: \u201cPeople are no longer sinful. They are only immature or underprivileged or frightened or, more particularly, sick.\u201d There is currently a reluctance even to use the word \u201csin.\u201d We prefer words like \u201cdisorder\u201d or \u201cdysfunction,\u201d as if our evil deeds were simply something that happened to<\/em> us.<\/p>\n Yet Paul wrote that when it comes to sin, we are \u201cwithout excuse.\u201d Any sin that any of us has ever committed has been a failure to show, first, honor<\/em> to God and, second, gratitude<\/em> to Him. And these are very serious failures \u2014 failures for which we are fully responsible. If we ultimately stand before God having done these things, it will be perfectly just of Him to banish us from His presence forever. Our only hope is the gospel of Christ, which is a plan of forgiveness based on grace. Yet the grace is extended only to those who have enough love for the truth to acknowledge the damage they\u2019ve done, without any attempt to soften the situation.<\/p>\n The gospel is certainly good news. It\u2019s nothing less than the best news humanity has ever heard. But the news of God\u2019s forgiveness can only be good for us individually and personally if we first accept the full extent of the bad news. And the bad news is that we are selfish rebels against God who deserve not the least bit of \u201cunderstanding\u201d on His, or anyone else\u2019s, part. If we fail to swallow this bitter medicine, there\u2019ll be no godly sorrow in our hearts, and we\u2019ll be no closer to God\u2019s forgiveness than the respectable, excuse-making folks who came to hear John the Baptist preach. They had no sense of having done anything very seriously wrong, but the welcome they received from God\u2019s messenger was blunt: \u201cBrood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 3:7,8).<\/p>\n And oftentimes excusing of a fault Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n
Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.
(William Shakespeare)<\/p>\n