Sermon Central
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Is There Any Doubt
Contributed by David Richardson on Mar 22, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Is there any doubt that this world is falling apart, just as it was predicted to do hundreds of years ago? Is there any doubt that this world needs a Savior?
Title: Is there any doubt?
Easter Message
Introduction
Every week there is news that something tragic has happened somewhere in the world. There are shootings at schools. There are kidnappings of children from their homes. There are stabbings in local stores. People get drunk and beat up someone else, or run over someone with a car. There are earthquakes, storms, typhoons or hurricanes. Lately, we are able to say with increasing certainty that the unthinkable will happen somewhere, today.
Is there any doubt that this is true? No, there is no doubt! Today something unthinkable will happen somewhere. Just when we think we’ve seen or heard it all, something will occur, something will be uncovered, something will happen, something will arise, something will take place that goes beyond our understanding of just how wicked man has become.
Why is this so? Why does man continue to spiral downward? Why does it seem that man continues to be even more evil than last year? The answer is simple, they do not believe in God because they do not want to be held accountable. Further, there is doubt in their minds that there is a God to whom they must ultimately answer for their sin.
Is there any doubt that this world is falling apart, just as it was predicted to do hundreds of years ago? Is there any doubt that this world needs a Savior?
Our points today are:
I. Do you believe this? The world is nothing…
II. Do you believe this? The world does not matter…
III. Do you believe this? He is everything…
IV. Do you believe this? He does matter…
Conclusion:
I. Do you believe this? The World Is Nothing…
1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
More than 4,000 years ago man was tossed out of paradise because of lust. The account in Genesis chapter three gives us all the details of how man sought after his own desires rather than God’s. He sought after what was good in his own sight rather than what was good for his soul. What did it cost? It cost man his very soul.
Man turned to nature for his satisfaction and was rewarded with thistles and thorns. Man turned to the earth for his fulfillment and was rewarded with a fist full of dirt. The world is nothing, but man believes it holds the keys to happiness. The world is nothing, yet man believes having the world in his hands is most important.
Since man was first created, God has attempted to show man that fellowship with Him was more important than metal, wood, water, or dirt.
When man was banned from Eden, the Lord immediately demonstrated how man would be able to stand before God through offering animal sacrifices.
But even before this, God was at work reconciling man to Himself. God’s work of reconciliation with man began even before man was created. How do we know this? Because we know that God knows everything, and He knew that man would fall. Therefore He had to have a plan of reconciliation. And, that plan does not include saving the physical world. Again, the Apostle John said what?
1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
And, the Apostle Paul said
…For this world in its present form is passing away.
Do you believe this? Do you believe that the world is going to pass away? Whether the Apostles spoke metaphorically, figuratively, allegorically, or literally, it will pass away in one form or another. Is there any doubt? No, without a doubt, the world is nothing and will pass away. Whether I pass from it, or it passes from me, it will go away.
II. Do you believe this? The World Does Not Matter…
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?
Can we say much more than that? The principles of this world are not your principles. The rules in Colossians that the Apostle speaks of are the same as the pattern that he speaks of in Romans. He’s not talking about following the laws of the local government, but getting caught up with the ways of the world. He’s talking about getting caught up in things such as fashion, material possessions, unnecessary religious rules and guidelines. Paul is talking about us conforming to something that doesn’t really matter.
