SERMON - WHEN WILL THE WORLD LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS

 WHEN WILL THE WORLD LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS?

The Bible tells us when all the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. It also tells us that it is not now learning righteousness. For some strange reason not found in the Scriptures, many theologians believe that if God's declarations and His plan is not totally fulfilled in peoples' lives while they are still living, then it can never be accomplished, not even in future ages of resurrection to judgment. But such inane theology is unscriptural and contrary to the Word of God. 

Nowhere do the Scriptures show that when a person dies, that God's time has run out with that person. Maybe if He had a little more time (a few more days or months), He could have persuaded so and so to repent and learn righteousness. But fate apparently threw God a curve ball and God struck out when just another pitch or two might have yielded a home run (pardon my metaphor).

Just because some things have not yet been fulfilled, does not mean that they will never be fulfilled. Scripture gives us numerous statements showing that there are yet major things (like the salvation of all Israel and all the Gentiles, Rom. 11:25-26, 22) to be fulfilled and accomplished in the future:

"You have put all things in subjection under His [Jesus'] feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But NOW [that 'now' was 2000 years ago] we see NOT YET [not even this year] all things put under Him" (Heb. 2:8).

Christ came to set us an example and to die for our sins, but still, He has yet to accomplish some of the most important aspects of God's plan. Heb. 2:8 above tells us that "...we see NOT YET all things put under" Christ's feet. Well, if NOT YET, when? The Scriptures tell us when:

"Then comes the end, WHEN He [Jesus] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; WHEN He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till ['till' means 'until' 'up to the time of or time that'] He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed [Gk; 'abolished'] is death. For He [God] hath put all things under His feet... And WHEN all things shall be subdued unto Him [Jesus], THEN shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him [the God & Father of Jesus] that put all things under Him [Jesus]..." (I Cor. 15:25-28).

Now then, except you be a Preterist, I think you will agree that not all of the enemies of God have been put under the feet and authority of Jesus. And obviously, "death" is not yet abolished, or no one would still be dying.

The word "when" in these verses is a future tense at a time that something more than favor is administered to the world including the wicked. Well if favor will not bring about righteousness to all the inhabitants of the world, will anything? The Church says "No," there is nothing that can bring salvation to every single person who has ever lived." They don't believe Isaiah's report in Isa. 26:9 or in John 12:38, or in Rom. 10:16.

Judgments, not favor "For when THY JUDGMENTS are in the earth..." [that's when] "the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

Think about this: If God is able to bring about a whole world of universal righteousness, why would He want to torture anyone for any period of time?

Look again at our Scripture above from I Cor. 15. It is not now, but it will be in the future:

• when Jesus delivers up the Kingdom to God, and 
  
• when Jesus puts down all rule, authority and power, and 
  
• when God puts the whole world in subjection under Jesus, that 
  
• then Jesus Himself will become subject unto His God and Father. 

(Closing prayer)

Abba, We come before You with love on our lips and in our hearts. We are in Jesus' care due to Your merciful ways; for this we give our thanks and our undying gratitude.

Father, We seek righteousness and in order to gain it we know that we must repent of our sins and seek Your care.

Lord, We ask that You give us the wisdom to gain the knowledge to serve You in the manner You desire and not of the ways of the flesh.

In the name of Jesus  Christ we say this prayer, Who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever...

Amen, amen,and amen.

Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com