When we choose unrighteousness over truth purposefully and continuously, not ignorantly and reluctantly- we are restraining ourselves from the truth and we are inviting the wrath of the God we choose to ignore. When the wrath of God eventually comes down upon those who have chosen unrighteousness over truth they will have no one to lay the blame upon but themselves. We make choices all the time and there are consequences for the choices we make- good or bad consequences, we understand this on a non-eternal level, so we have to understand it on the eternal level. If you choose not to have faith, to not believe, you've made a choice that will result in consequences. You are hoping there are no consequences. You are choosing to believe- to have faith- that there will be no consequences for your unbelief in God, and in salvation through Christ. You are hoping there is a cessation from life completely, or perhaps hoping there is a continuance without belief in God. People choose to believe in all different kinds of things. People choose what they will have faith in and their hope is they are right in their choice.
Choosing to believe, choosing to have faith, choosing the righteousness of Christ- this is my hope. May I never restrain myself from the truth of God!
All through Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior now and forever!!!!!!!
*******(Excerpt)
'Restraining the Truth.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
The statement is that men "hold down the truth in unrighteousness."
Some people have superficially read Romans 1:18 as though it said that men may possess the truth while they themselves are unrighteous. It does not say so. Sufficient evidence that such a thing is not meant is found in the fact that the apostle is speaking in this chapter especially of those who did not possess the truth, but had exchanged it for a lie.
Although they had lost all knowledge of the truth, they were in condemnation for their sin.
The statement is that people restrain the truth by unrighteousness.
We might note the fact that when Jesus went into his own country "he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matt. 13:58. But the apostle in the text before us means much more than this. He means, as the context plainly shows, that people by their perverseness restrain the working of the truth of God in their own souls. But for their resistance of the truth, it would sanctify them. And herein is seen the result:
Righteousness of God's Wrath.' - EJ Waggoner
(More on this tomorrow….)
Choosing to believe, choosing to have faith, choosing the righteousness of Christ- this is my hope. May I never restrain myself from the truth of God!
All through Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior now and forever!!!!!!!
*******(Excerpt)
'Restraining the Truth.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
The statement is that men "hold down the truth in unrighteousness."
Some people have superficially read Romans 1:18 as though it said that men may possess the truth while they themselves are unrighteous. It does not say so. Sufficient evidence that such a thing is not meant is found in the fact that the apostle is speaking in this chapter especially of those who did not possess the truth, but had exchanged it for a lie.
Although they had lost all knowledge of the truth, they were in condemnation for their sin.
The statement is that people restrain the truth by unrighteousness.
We might note the fact that when Jesus went into his own country "he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matt. 13:58. But the apostle in the text before us means much more than this. He means, as the context plainly shows, that people by their perverseness restrain the working of the truth of God in their own souls. But for their resistance of the truth, it would sanctify them. And herein is seen the result:
Righteousness of God's Wrath.' - EJ Waggoner
(More on this tomorrow….)