That’s right. It’s satan, the devil…the evil one.
Do you really believe that? It’s true, you know. Or do you think that we can really take over and fix up this world quite nicely and fix ourselves up in the process?
Or, did I get it wrong…first we fix up ourselves, one at a time, individulally (maybe small groups, whole political parties?) and then when we’ve got ourselves hitting on all cylinders, then by default the world will just get cleaned up and be made right…right? (while the devil relaxes and reads the newspaper) Wrong! I want to know what funky weed you are smokin’!
That stuff is the ‘religion of man’.
Should we not try and fix this world? Should we not try and fix ourselves? Of course we should! We just aren’t delusioned into thinking we are going to achieve Heaven on earth. This place is going down! We are going down! Look in the mirror, (at my age it’s getting harder to do).
“Yeah, but we know a lot more now than did our parent’s generation.” The truth of the matter is that our hearts are exactly same… they have not improved one iota.
When we believe that we have within us some spark to goodness that if only acted upon will bring about the kind of world, the kind of church, the kind of government, the kind of person that we ought truly be..when we fall for that we are making ourselves over into little gods. We are engaging in the ‘first sin’…wanting to be as God is. We don’t really trust God, we can do a better job on our own. That is us. That is the sinner. If you don’t believe that you are probably a modern day Pharisee…a self righteous ‘do-gooder’ that is on the ladder to a god of your own making.
We are fallen. The world is fallen. There is no hope in ourselves. All of this leads only to a graveyard.
But there is Christ! He came to save us. He wants to save us! He has saved us! He died for this broken world and each one of our broken lives. He died for the sin of wanting to be a god. He died for the sin of self-righteousness and of greed and of hate. He died for it all…that we might live!
“All of your sin is forgiven for Jesus’ sake.” Those are the only words that can ‘fix’ what would otherwise be broken for eternity and lost.
“Your sin is forgiven. Take this my body…and eat. Take this my blood and drink.” He gives this saving Word (Himself) to us. He fixes us! Nothing else will do! He is enough!
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The Old Adam Lives! 
We should harbor no delusions about this world, it is going to hell in a hand basket. We won’t fix it. If God could fix it I’m sure he would, but he has devoted it to destruction. In the meantime He has “so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” We can love the world in the same manner, letting other know of the great gift of salvation Christ has given us. Yet at the same time we despise this world for its wickedness.
Amen, Bror!
You say as much just about everyday on your blog, .
Anyone out there in the blogesphere is missing out if you aren’t visiting Bror’s site.
OK Bror, you owe me $10 dollars…
(I work cheap)
I’ll get you your ten dollars when you pick me up from the airport, but you will probably spend it buying me a beer if I know you.
Sorry Bror…no more beer buying or drinking for me. No more swearing. No more caffine. No more Jesus only for me. I’m going to toe the line and earn points…lots of ’em!
I’m becoming a Mormon. They get their own planets, you know.
I’ve decided that I want my own planet. I’m going to run it my way and have beer drinking and card playing and dancing and everything and coca-cola and coffee and everything. And especially Jesus ‘only’.
Well Steve, buying a poor man a beer is still a good work according to proverbs, so maybe you can earn those points by buying me beer, and watching me drink them. I don’t mind being a rung on your way to heaven if it means I get free beer.
You talked me into, Bror. As long as the bible says I get points for buying you a beer…I’ll buy you a beer.
Hey, this working your way to heaven stuff is starting to get complicated…and I just started.
“this world, it is going to hell in a hand basket. We won’t fix it. If God could fix it I’m sure he would”
Happy with that guys, but just to clarify what we mean by ‘world’ here is ‘kosmos’ or world system – the (secular -see Romans 1) power structure currently imposed upon this place by that old serpent, which will indeed be destroyed by the breath of Christ’s mouth and the brightness of our Lord’s return. Please note that ‘the EARTH is the Lords’, and the fullness therein”, that He has established its foundation forever (Psalm 93:1). The judgment of fire to come upon earth (spoken of in 2 Peter 3) will be to purify, which is why it is paralleled to the world ‘that perished’ in Noah’s day. Our hope is Resurrection life in a Redeemed creation (as clarified by Paul in Romans 8) – a renewed earth, and a transformed world, where culture becomes a genuine and glorious means of expressing the life of Father, Son and Spirit.
(Book recommendation: The Bible and the Future by Anthony Hokema).
Enjoy buying each other that beer 🙂
Howard,
You are right. The Lord has dominion over all that is His, and rightly deserves all Glory and Honor.
Because of the fall into sin, men bow before satan, rather than the Living God.
The prince of this world may be calling the shots when it comes to this fallen world, but he can do nothing without the Lord’s permission.
The outcome is not in doubt. The victory is won. The damage and carnage the devil wrecks is definitely not the last Word!
If you can get back over this way, Howard, I’ve got a pint or two or more with your name on it!
Excellent!
The great news is that if it doesn’t happen before, we’ll get the chance to ‘sit down at table’ together in the new creation and truly delight in the fellowship of grace… imagine the conversations there’s going to be on that glorious new day 🙂
Keep lighting the fires, my brothers – Sola Deo Gloria!
Steve,
As we, here in the SB desert of KY, listen/read Lutheran sermons and stuff that are so 500 proof Gospel my wife keeps asking me, “Why is it all the good pastors are in California?” We’ve probably had thousands of verses repreached to us in Gospel ways we NEVER conceived – the Gospe really does reorient your mind, if it’s 500 proof!
You hit a homerun again!
Yep ALL these ‘save the world’ mantras I’ve heard my whole life are the pathetic dying gasps of the city of man.
Ever notice how all theologies of glory appeal to “god”, also, in this way, “If we will just do xyz…’god’ will be pleased”. The term “god” is not always explicitly “god” per se, sometimes “god” is “nature, mother earth, etc…”.
I look forward to checking out Bror’s site, any site that Steve or “FivePint” recommends has to be PACKED with good Law/Gospel and I’ll certainly add to my reading!
Take brother,
Larry
Howard,
I hope I’ll get a chance to meet you one day while we are still stewards on this earth, but what a treat it will be on that Day!
Sitting at the same table with St. Paul, Luther, Hus, Howard Nowlan, Bror, Larry, and Lord knows who else!
Larry,
So right, Larry! Everything (almost) these days revolves around ‘us’. The gospel might be there, thanks be to God, but they blow by it so fast on their way back to ‘us’, that it makes your head spin!
The good pastors are everywhere (i think) but they are spread pretty thin. There might be a couple in KY in little congregations off the beaten path. If not…you’re there!
We too are in a SB desert out here. Only they call themselves”non-demoninational”…it’s the same stuff in a shiny new package.
Plus, there is a plethora of ‘anything goes’ liberal mainline churches.
Check out Bror’s site, and go to Howard’s ‘Rebel by Nature, Righteous by Force.’ (link on my site)
Howard has an awesome grasp of the gospel and he’s a wonderful writer. You’ll very much enjoy him, also.
Five Pint is ‘spot on’ all the time! David is a terrific witness!
My pastor (Mark Anderson at Lutheran Church of the Master link on my site) is also an excellent bold underline of the Word.
Larry, thanks for you perspective and insight into the faith. You too, are heavy and bold witness to our dear Lord and what He has done for us!
Your brother,
Steve
“Sitting at the same table with St. Paul, Luther, Hus, Howard Nowlan, Bror, Larry, and Lord knows who else!”
I recall a piece in Modern Reformation some years back where the author (Rick Ritchie?) envisaged a cafe conversation between Paul, Luther and C S Lewis concerning our current issues ( – I would have included Irenaeus 🙂 ) but yes, what a day that will be!
Looking forward to when the day dawns, and all of creation is released into the glorious LIBERTY of the sons of God – amazing grace.