“Understanding the Nature of Lawlessness”
Matthew 7:21-23
Introduction:
When I talked about the topic of lawlessness on Sunday, many of us might be able to admit that we hadn’t really heard about in other teaching or sermons. To even understand that lawlessness is actually the #1 enemy of the Savior but is virtually unknown to us is a scary thought! But why is this concept of lawlessness so dangerous to Jesus? What, potentially, could be the problem that lawlessness could create?
Lesson in a sentence: Lawlessness is Jesus’ enemy because it is a growing cancer that is terminal.
I. Lawlessness is a cancer that undermines our personal relationship with Jesus.
A. It feels like freedom / feels right, but doesn’t like to submit to His authority (Judges 21:25; Pro. 14:12)
B. Protects self from being taken advantage of by others but doesn’t trust God’s justice (Rom.12:18-21)
C. Feeds our ego but not our spirits (Matt. 23:28)
II. Lawlessness is a cancer that undermines the unity of the Body/community.
A. It saps Christian love for one another (Matt. 24:12)
B. It destroys unity in the Body (Matt. 24:10-12; 1Tim. 4:1)
C. It blinds us to real Kingdom duty in the world (2Cor. 6:14-16)
III. Lawlessness is a cancer that undermines the Kingdom’s witness to the world.
A. It’s sinful behavior that prioritizes self over consequences to others (1Jo. 3:4)
B. It’s rebellion, and rebellion is actually witchcraft (1Sam. 15:23; 2Thess. 2:3)
C. It plays into the scheme of the “man of lawlessness” (2Thess. 2:3-8)
Conclusion:
So far, there are two ways we have discovered to treat cancer: surgically remove or treat it with things that will cause it to shrink. Jesus will perform spiritual surgery on any of us who seek to be free from lawlessness (Ezk. 36:26-27; Heb. 4:12). And the Spirit will provide righteous chemo to ensure our ways please the Lord (Ps. 26:2; 139:23-24 Matt. 7:5; 1Co.11:31-32)!
When I talked about the topic of lawlessness on Sunday, many of us might be able to admit that we hadn’t really heard about in other teaching or sermons. To even understand that lawlessness is actually the #1 enemy of the Savior but is virtually unknown to us is a scary thought! But why is this concept of lawlessness so dangerous to Jesus? What, potentially, could be the problem that lawlessness could create?
Lesson in a sentence: Lawlessness is Jesus’ enemy because it is a growing cancer that is terminal.
I. Lawlessness is a cancer that undermines our personal relationship with Jesus.
A. It feels like freedom / feels right, but doesn’t like to submit to His authority (Judges 21:25; Pro. 14:12)
B. Protects self from being taken advantage of by others but doesn’t trust God’s justice (Rom.12:18-21)
C. Feeds our ego but not our spirits (Matt. 23:28)
II. Lawlessness is a cancer that undermines the unity of the Body/community.
A. It saps Christian love for one another (Matt. 24:12)
B. It destroys unity in the Body (Matt. 24:10-12; 1Tim. 4:1)
C. It blinds us to real Kingdom duty in the world (2Cor. 6:14-16)
III. Lawlessness is a cancer that undermines the Kingdom’s witness to the world.
A. It’s sinful behavior that prioritizes self over consequences to others (1Jo. 3:4)
B. It’s rebellion, and rebellion is actually witchcraft (1Sam. 15:23; 2Thess. 2:3)
C. It plays into the scheme of the “man of lawlessness” (2Thess. 2:3-8)
Conclusion:
So far, there are two ways we have discovered to treat cancer: surgically remove or treat it with things that will cause it to shrink. Jesus will perform spiritual surgery on any of us who seek to be free from lawlessness (Ezk. 36:26-27; Heb. 4:12). And the Spirit will provide righteous chemo to ensure our ways please the Lord (Ps. 26:2; 139:23-24 Matt. 7:5; 1Co.11:31-32)!