Based on Romans 1:16-32 (New King James Version)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For 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. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” Bonhoeffer was a German Christian preacher with incredible convictions. After Hitler rose to power, and while he lived comfortably in the United States, he decided to leave both his position at Union Theological Seminary in New York and his fiancée, to return to Nazi Germany. He was imprisoned for two years because he was accused of plotting to assassinate Hitler. When he returned to Germany, he said, “I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America. I must live through this difficult period in our national history with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people.” He was killed just two weeks before the United States freed the camp where he was imprisoned. What would drive a person like Bonhoeffer to do something so drastic for his faith in Christ?
Bonhoeffer was of a similar mind as the Apostle Paul. Neither man was ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and neither of them had any issue challenging world powers because of it. Paul preached the Gospel during a time when Caesar (the supreme leader of the Roman Empire) thought of himself as god, and it was law to proclaim him as lord. Bonhoeffer did not have a problem to leave the comfort of the United States and his beloved fiancée to face head on Adolf Hitler and his war machine because of his love for God and for the Gospel in Germany. And both men died for their faith in the Lord.
The faith that God teaches us through His Word is something that should shake our very existence. It has the power to change any human, any group of people, and even, a world empire, if they allow for it to work in their lives. It is the most liberating power known to mankind; God’s awesome grace which allows for the sins of man to be forgiven forever. Yet, despite the eternal love and liberating power God has for mankind through His Son Jesus Christ, it is not valued as such. As so-called Christians, many teach a “cheap grace” as Bonhoeffer mentioned. God’s grace is taken incredibly lightly, and the responsibility and implications that come with the Truth of God. People are taught commonly (and of course, many cling on to it because it is convenient) not to worry about repentance; not to worry about following and obeying God. These things are taken as optional or not necessary. There is no regard for discipleship (which means to follow Christ, in obedience and lifestyle). The theology that is preached today involves ease and human love (which evades the Truth of God).
And in conjunction with this, there are those that hear the Gospel, but harden their hearts to it, dismissing God and His teachings. They would rather cling on to so-called science and human knowledge then understanding who God is and what He wants to share with them (which is nothing less than pure good). It is becoming quite common today to see God as something of the past, like a superstition or ancient belief that belongs to the weak-minded, the intellectually incapable, and to poor and underdeveloped groups of people. We are living in times where the majority of people don’t take God seriously; both professing believers and unbelieving people. There is a problem that arises with all of this.
For both groups, there is something that needs to be made clear, for your own good (since this is what God truly wants for you). There is a truth in the Bible that is misunderstood: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Psalm 103:8. God is in fact very merciful and gracious, but “slow to anger” does not mean that His anger will never come. God patiently waits, giving people the opportunity to understand and to convert. But, there is a limit to his mercy and grace. There is a breaking point; even for Him. And here is where the balance of our passage today comes in. In short, if you refuse to see God for who He is, and acknowledge Him and His ways, He will give you up to what you want. He will give you up to everything that is contrary to Him. After all, if you refuse to believe in Him, and follow life (eternal life), then that is the only fair thing to do. That’s ultimately what a rebellious person desires—to do what they want. But the problem with that is that there is no life outside of God. There is no true intelligence. There is no wisdom. There is no love. Outside of God, there is only death and destruction; sooner or later. “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a. And, even if you don’t do those things that displease God, but yet, support the people that do them, then you are just as guilty. What’s wrong is wrong, no matter who does it and/or who supports it, and the reasons they might brainwash themselves with for doing either. There is truly a risk for refusing to believe as we should. So, are you really believing and following the Truth of God, no matter what? Lord bless! John