THOU ART WITHOUT EXCUSE
BILL WARDLOW
INTRODUCTION
Usually, when talking to people about God and their responsibility toward Him, they come up with their excuses for not wanting to obey Him. These excuses are many are are wide-ranging. However, when analysed, the people are only condemning themselves by letting the things of this world and the one who is behind them, Satan, deceive them into putting off that which they know full well they should be doing. They continually reject the truth of God for the weak and beggarly things of this world. Thus, often times, God gives them over to a reprobate mind. All of this occurs because they think their excuses are valid.
These people have been blinded by their enemy to the point of no return. The excuse makers will, sooner or later, realize they are without hope now and for eternity. As long as they continue to make excuses, regardless of what they may be, God will continue to give them over to do those things they desire. In this way they are bringing the condemnation of God against themselves, because they are without excuse.
Many times people reject the Word of God by claiming they can't be sure there is a God. Is this a valid excuse? Not really, but this excuse is the main one and undergirds all other excuses. If people can be deceived into believing there is no God, the rest of the things they do will naturally be done without any consideration of God, or right, or wrong. They will give themselves over to all their evil passions. Professing themselves to be wise, they walk according to their own wisdom, for, after all, if there be no God, man is the supreme ruler and no one has any right to tell him what is right or wrong.
The results of this can be found everywhere, but some prime examples are found in Romans 1:21-32. Let us see the results of denying God and setting ourselves up as being wiser than God. First, by doing so, men refuse to glorify God and are not thankful. Secondly, they become vain in their imaginations. Thirdly, their foolish hearts (intellect) are darkened. This is found in verse 21 of Romans 1. Verse 22 declares, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." Verse 23 shows us where this leads; that is bringing God down to being likened unto corruptible things.
You see, lowly man refuses to retain God in his knowledge, and therefore, he has to bring Him down to his own level in order to feel justified in his own mind. Isn't that typical of the human race? The wicked always tries to bring the righteous down to their level. It is a matter of self-justification. If there is no God, then man can only be justified by himself and his own set of values. It is at this point that God gives man up to uncleanness, through the lust of his own heart, to dishonor his own body among fellow man. They reject the fact and truth of God and make it a lie, so they may worship and serve the creature (created) rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
Now notice what man gets into, when he tries to reject God and His authority; and he establishes himself as his own authority. You have homosexuality among both men and women. You have people of reprobate minds in society. These people who refuse to have God rule over them and refuse to retain Him in their knowledge are filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, and unmerciful. Now notice this, "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." Rom. 1:32. These people, just as those of today, knew God's attitude toward such things, but still took pleasure in doing them and in those who did such things. So not knowing was no excuse. They knew just as people of today know, but still fail to retain God in their knowledge.
How did these people know? Verses 19-20 say, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it to them. 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: 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." They were unthankful, unholy, and refused to recognize the obvious. Therefore, they rejected God and put Him out of their conscious mind.
Just as it is today; people know what God has said on various subjects; but because they are enjoying the pleasure of sin for a season, they refuse to submit to God's will, or they think they can get by until later. What they need to realize is that it may already be too late. God may have given them up. His spirit will not always strive with man; Genesis 6:3. Why? It is because man is fleshly and without obedience to the Gospel of Christ, God's only Son; man can have no part of the Spirit of God. Act. 5:32.
Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh are listed as, "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murder, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. These things, unless they are repented of and put under the blood of Christ, and refrained from, will keep a person out of the kingdom of God. We must put away this fleshly control over us and thus become partakers of the Divine (spiritual) nature. II Peter 1:4. This can only be done through the grace and mercy of God.
God's great love for us caused him to send His only Begotten son into this world so that man could be made free from the sins of which we are guilty. Christ gave His life, a sacrifice for us on the cross, rose again the third day, proving His power over death, and making it possible for men to be justified in God's eyes once more, if they will obey His commandments. I Pet. 1:18-25. Peter here is writing to Christians reminding them how they were redeemed. It was not with silver and gold, that which is corruptible; but it was with the precious blood of Christ. V.19.
Is it any wonder that God declared man as unthankful? Rom. 1:21. After revealing Himself to man in the things created, and through His son, and by His word, certainly we can understand why He is going to take vengeance on those who will not acknowledge Him as God and will not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 1:8.
Indeed "thou are without excuse" for rejecting all this. There is not hope if we reject the evidence He has provided. There is just no excuse for us not to believe God. The evidence is overwhelming.
People know that God is. They refuse to retain that knowledge because they do not want to give up their sinful habits. God's love has been demonstrated toward us time and again. It is no wonder He lets us go. The person who rejects the evidence, testimony and His grace and mercy is worthy of death.
How about you friend? Are you an excuse maker? If so, remember God has told all of us that we are without excuse. Rom. 1:20. Won't you consider your condition, before it is too late? God will forgive any sin except the sin of blasphemy (rejecting what He has revealed through the Holy Spirit). Will you acknowledge God for who He is? Then obey the Gospel and thus be freed from those past sins and determine to live Godly in Christ Jesus the rest of this short sojourn here. If not, you are without excuse!
Romans 2:3-6 reads, "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them who do such things, and doest the same, that thou shall escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds." This is written to the church at Rome, to Christians. It shows us that if we as Christians are guilty of doing the same things the non-christians are doing, we need not think we are going to escape the righteous judgment of God. Perhaps you are one who has never obeyed the Gospel, and you find comfort in thinking of Christians who may be lost. This is no consolation to you, for God's word says in I Peter 4:17, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; (Christians) and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them who obey not the Gospel of God?" Then, verse 18 says, "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?"
God has revealed Himself by the things created, and the order of the universe. Rom. 1:19-20. He has revealed His will for our lives in the Bible; the Book of Books. II Tim. 3:16-17.
Jesus said, Men must Believe after they Hear of Him; Rom. 10:9; Mark 16:16. Jesus also said men must Repent; Luke 13:3; Luke 24:47. Jesus said we must Confess Him before men; Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8. Jesus said Men must be Baptized; Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16. Jesus also said we must then be Faithful unto death and we would receive the crown of life; Rev. 2:10.
Will you hear Jesus?
Obey Him today.
What excuse are you using for not obeying the Gospel? Dear Soul, do not you see "THOU ART WITHOUT EXCUSE?"
Bill Wardlow
1600 West Lake Parker Drive
Lakeland, Florida 33805