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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

GAVE THEM OVER

September 9, 2011

C.S. Lewis tells us that God sends no one to hell; we walk there on our own. God grants us the fruit of our desires; given over to what we want.

 

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened....Therefore God gave them over in their sinful desires of their hearts...
                                                   --Romans 1:21,24 TNIV

I know these are sobering words, but without them, there is no good news, no gospel. But it was not C.S. Lewis who first thought of being given over to our sin, it was the Apostle Paul. Romans 1:18-32 tells the sad story of humanity's need for a Savior, in this case, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to speak truth into his day, and that truth comes to us this day as well.

 

Yet there is a cure. A people and a culture that does not believe in personal sin and accountability has no need for a savior, nor atonement, nor resurrection. So the gospel of Jesus Christ runs counter-culturally in any number of ways. Yet it still comes down to Jesus Christ, our giving ourselves over to him. Praise be to God!

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson