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A Reprobate Mind
June 29, 2014
Some question whether God will destroy any humans, citing that we are His creation. What master wants to keep a flawed creation? Does he not have the right to destroy his own work if it be less than the desired outcome? God reserves the right to reject and destroy those of a reprobate mind -- that is, those who rebel and disobey, and have a spirit of rejecting God and His commandments. These blaspheme God's Holy Spirit. In fact, since they seek a delusion, and have an overwhelming desire to serve the flesh while rejecting God, God says that He will send them a strong delusion and will allow their destruction! - Bernie Parsons
A Reprobate Mind
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 06-29-2014
Presented to Load church of Christ on 08-03-2014
We often wonder at the millions of people who do not care about doing what
is good and right. Jesus stated that this would be the prevailing situation.
Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it."
Many people never seek God or His righteousness. They seek happiness in
money and what it can buy, or the flesh and how they can satisfy it.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you."
Jesus said that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost was the one unforgiveable
sin.
Matthew 12:30 "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth
not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be
forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be
forgiven unto men."
Some have wondered if this means that anyone who ever speaks against the
Holy Ghost will never be forgiven. On the other hand, Jesus speaks about
those who are against Him. This indicates that there are certain people who
are so lost in sin that they will reject anything right.
Proverbs 1:20 “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates:
in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners
delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I
will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and
no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a
whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me
early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled
with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of
fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from
fear of evil.”
When people prefer not to know God and His ways, He allows them that choice.
Isaiah 66:1 “Thus saith the LORD,
The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house
that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been,
saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of
a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb,
as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he
offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol.
Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their
abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them;
because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but
they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.”
2 Thessalonians 2:11 “And for this cause God shall send them strong
delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Some people have no desire at all for truth and salvation. They don’t want
their eyes opened. They want to sin, and they do not want anyone to point
out that they are living in sin. God will send those people the delusion
that they desire, sealing their own damnation. These people have a reprobate
mind. “Reprobate” means “rejected, worthless, castaway”.
Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see,
and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled
and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is
defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Those castaways, those of reprobate mind, will reject God and His truth.
Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their
own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their
women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is
unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which
was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do
them.”
God allows those of reprobate minds to do those sinful deeds that they love
so well. But, as we saw in previous lessons, these castaways are destined to
be burned like the dead wood that they are.
