Imperfect Men and a Perfect God -- Friends Sharing Scripture

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Subject: Imperfect Men and a Perfect God

Author:
Hillbilly

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Date Posted: 19:15:18 10/25/14 Sat

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

The Apostle Paul says that he finds a law at work in his determination to do that which is right and good. It is a law that says that you will be opposed in your good intentions and righteous works! Think of this for a moment. Every time you want to do that which is right and good evil is going to try to stop you. In the two verses prior to this Paul wrote: "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

These are astonishing words and an almost unbelievable admission coming from the man who wrote 14 books in the new testament and laid out the doctrines to the Church as God gave them to him. If ever there was a follower of Jesus that most think would live that perfect Christian life it would be him. The truth is that Paul struggled to walk perfectly just as we do. He was no stranger to sin. He admitted it and denounced it. He hated and regretted his weakness in doing that which did not please God and his inability to do the good that he wanted to do. What can we say about his weakness? Well, if we would be honest we would have to say: "Join the club Paul, we understand where you are coming from!"

Paul, as a descendent of Adam is not exempt from the statement of Isaiah. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Isaiah 64:6) Paul was an imperfect man worshipping and serving a perfect God. All Christians are. No one is exempt whether in the Old Testament or New Testament.

The history of the Bible is replete with examples of this truth. Adam couldn't walk perfect. Noah, who was a preacher of righteousnesses got drunk and naked soon after leaving the Ark. (Gen. 9:21) Abraham lied about his wife and called her his sister to keep himself from harm.(Gen. 12:13) Isaac did the same thing and his sons Esau and Jacob were pretty rotten individuals. Moses disobeyed God and was prohibited from entering the promised land. (Deut. 3:27 What of these men? They were all imperfect men serving and worshipping a perfect God.

David was no exception nor were the prophets. Elijah after his victory over the prophets of Baal tucked his tail between his legs and ran for his life at the threat of Jezebel. God had delivered him more than once and would have done so again but Elijah suffered a lapse in faith. An imperfect man that stopped looking to a perfect God for his future and strength.

While it may seem that I might be justifying my own failings by calling attention to those giants of the Bible I am not. I am presenting Bible fact. Man without God is totally worthless and with God "every man at his best state is altogether vanity " (Psalm 39:5)

The history of man shows that there is need constantly for repentance toward God (Acts 20:20-21) in his life daily. We are told in God's Word that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

All of these truths point to one inescapable truth. Our hope is in the Lord and Him alone. We cannot trust self for righteousness. We must trust in Him and Him alone.

We must as imperfect people put our trust in our perfect Saviour!

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Replies:

[> Subject: Wonderful message in this, HB!
Author: dori [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 17:03:52 11/02/14 Sun i don't feel so bad, knowing people like Moses messed up in their walk with God. 8-) [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Dori
Author: Gerryb [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 11:16:45 11/03/14 Mon The people in the Old Testament messed up in their walk with God just as much as we do. They were, after all, sinners just as we are. Last edited by author: Mon November 03, 2014 11:17:34 Edited 1 time. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]