WEDNESDAY May 20, 2020

Man is Inexcusable

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man….
Romans 2:1

The book of Romans is a book of conviction because it speaks about the nature of sin. There are natural people, those who remain dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1), and spiritual people, those born again of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8). It is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of their sin. Those who remain in their sin will face the imminent judgment of God. When people stand before God, they may try to make excuses, but no one will be excused.

Paul began the book of Romans by declaring the power of the true Gospel (Romans 1:16). God offers salvation to everyone who believes. That truth kills Calvinism because salvation is for anyone who will accept it. There are no excuses for not coming to Christ to receive God’s salvation. It is a free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Through the Gospel, God is rescuing mankind from darkness and the pit of hell. He is bringing people to the Light, to Jesus, to receive forgiveness, and for them to have God’s peace upon their lives.

When Paul said, “Therefore,” he took his listeners back to the previous verses. As if a lawyer, he made a clear argument, opening his first line in a court before a guilty person. He wanted to prove that God was real and man was inexcusable. Paul, after speaking about the grace, mercy and love of God, became very serious about the wrath of God.

When people stand before God, they may try to prove themselves as not guilty and wage their defense, but what do they have to stand on? Absolutely nothing! God sees right through to their hearts and what they have done and the thoughts in their minds. It is all unveiled before Him.

…he [sinful man] must repent and believe. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse nothing. Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God’s displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!