QUESTION: Why does it seem that society is out of control?
REPLY: Because the media focuses almost entirely on the “lawless,” or those who are “out of control!
1. The “lawless” are in charge because the “lawful” have not insisted otherwise! “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, froma good conscience, and fromsincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for thelawless and insubordinate, for theungodly and for sinners, for theunholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust”(1 Timothy 1:5-11). The people who want to live in violation of any restriction from God’s control are allowed to direct :government leadership and legislation, church policies, entertainment values, and educational institutions. The Media microscopekeeps the focus on these, as if they are the norm, while completely ignoring the multitude who are striving to live lawfully!
2. Those who crucified Jesus Christ were ignoring:(1)Moses’ Jewish Law on guilt:"One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). With Jesus, “the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none” (Matthew 26:59-60); (2)Roman Law:“Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, ‘You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Himin your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him’” (Luke 23:13-15). Neither Religious nor Civil “courts” could condemn Jesus Christ! That’s why, Peter and the Apostles concluded: "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it”(Acts 2:22-24). By Jesus’ resurrection, God declared forevermore His total opposition to the “lawless!”
3. God has kept the door open, however, for the “lawless” to become “lawful.”“Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself Hisown special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). The lawless were commanded: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). In Sodom, Lot “was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)” (2 Peter 2:7-8). The “righteous soul” must never accept the “lawless” as if they were right! “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). -----JTPII
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