Playing the Fool
Scripture declares in Matthew 5:22, “whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”, but the fool himself is indeed headed to the chastisement and/or the wrath of God. No one should desire to be called a fool, and none should take joy in calling one as such.
Our interim pastor recently preached on this topic, so I thought I would present the points he used to share with the readers here, along with my thoughts. I believe they are important and should make us aware that we need to witness to those around us before it is too late for them, and that may be things that we need to repent of.
Today we will see four (4) classes of which the scripture calls fools:
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[1] “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” [Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1]
This class can be broken down into two groups, but literally they are actually only one.
[a] There is the one that claims there is no God, which is called the atheist. Within this group you have those which could care less about God and then those which work to rid the world of everything that says God. They are in need of the very God they reject, and without trusting in Christ. For in denying the Savior, they are ridding themselves of the only way to escape the wrath of God.
[b] There is the one that claims there is a God but lives as though there is none. Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:5, describes them as “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” and tells us “from such turn away”. This is both detrimental to the very soul of the lost and to the testimony of the saved. Neither are pleasing in the sight of God.
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[2] “Fools make a mock at sin”. [Proverbs 14:9]
This class can include both the saved and unsaved. To make a mock of sin is sickening in the eyes of God. We are told to depart, abhor, and repent of sin, we are never told to make fun, mimic, or encourage it. We are in a perverse generation that will be judged for endorsing, promoting, and embellishing sin instead of calling on men, women and children everywhere to repent and flee from such wickedness. “The wages of sin is death” [Romans 6:23], it is far from being something to be mocked.
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[3] The fool trust in his own works and not in the work of Christ. [Luke 12:19-21]
This class, yet saved or unsaved, is those which trust in riches of this world and lay not up treasure for the next. Scripture says, Revelation 3:17, there are those which “sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. Don’t let the riches of this world keep you from trusting in Christ, nor let it allow you to get cold to the things of God and forget that we are to be about His work.
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[4] “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” [1 Corinthians 1:18]
This class is the unsaved that fail to see the importance in trusting in the only begotten Son of God to have sins forgiven and fellowship restored with God through the finish work of Christ on the cross. They see no need of a Savior. Maybe once they have “sowed their wild oats” or come to a tragic time in their life, but not while they are young and full of energy, not while everything is going well at the office and they have plenty of money, not while they are enjoying retirement and traveling the globe, but maybe in that quiet time right before they enter eternity. My dear friend, what if you never make it there?
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If you find yourself in one or more of these classes today, it is easy to get out. Come to the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, confess yourself a sinner, repent and turn from your sin, by faith put your trust in Him that He was crucified for your sin, was buried, and was raised that you may be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness and have fellowship with God forevermore!
Are you Playing the Fool?
Our interim pastor recently preached on this topic, so I thought I would present the points he used to share with the readers here, along with my thoughts. I believe they are important and should make us aware that we need to witness to those around us before it is too late for them, and that may be things that we need to repent of.
Today we will see four (4) classes of which the scripture calls fools:
----------
[1] “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” [Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1]
This class can be broken down into two groups, but literally they are actually only one.
[a] There is the one that claims there is no God, which is called the atheist. Within this group you have those which could care less about God and then those which work to rid the world of everything that says God. They are in need of the very God they reject, and without trusting in Christ. For in denying the Savior, they are ridding themselves of the only way to escape the wrath of God.
[b] There is the one that claims there is a God but lives as though there is none. Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:5, describes them as “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” and tells us “from such turn away”. This is both detrimental to the very soul of the lost and to the testimony of the saved. Neither are pleasing in the sight of God.
----------
[2] “Fools make a mock at sin”. [Proverbs 14:9]
This class can include both the saved and unsaved. To make a mock of sin is sickening in the eyes of God. We are told to depart, abhor, and repent of sin, we are never told to make fun, mimic, or encourage it. We are in a perverse generation that will be judged for endorsing, promoting, and embellishing sin instead of calling on men, women and children everywhere to repent and flee from such wickedness. “The wages of sin is death” [Romans 6:23], it is far from being something to be mocked.
----------
[3] The fool trust in his own works and not in the work of Christ. [Luke 12:19-21]
This class, yet saved or unsaved, is those which trust in riches of this world and lay not up treasure for the next. Scripture says, Revelation 3:17, there are those which “sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. Don’t let the riches of this world keep you from trusting in Christ, nor let it allow you to get cold to the things of God and forget that we are to be about His work.
----------
[4] “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” [1 Corinthians 1:18]
This class is the unsaved that fail to see the importance in trusting in the only begotten Son of God to have sins forgiven and fellowship restored with God through the finish work of Christ on the cross. They see no need of a Savior. Maybe once they have “sowed their wild oats” or come to a tragic time in their life, but not while they are young and full of energy, not while everything is going well at the office and they have plenty of money, not while they are enjoying retirement and traveling the globe, but maybe in that quiet time right before they enter eternity. My dear friend, what if you never make it there?
----------
If you find yourself in one or more of these classes today, it is easy to get out. Come to the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, confess yourself a sinner, repent and turn from your sin, by faith put your trust in Him that He was crucified for your sin, was buried, and was raised that you may be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness and have fellowship with God forevermore!
Are you Playing the Fool?
Deny the flesh and embrace the Spirit!
Let today be the day of your salvation!
Let today be the day of your salvation!
1 comment:
You know what is sad? I know some people that fall into all of these categories. And, even sadder, some of them are in church!
Good thoughts brother. I updated a bit earlier and link to this.
Bobby
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