Introduction:
You will note in verse 21 of this context the Lord accused David and the people, of thinking Jehovah
"was altogether such an one as thyself."Man acts as he does often because he thinks that God is like man;
that Jehovah thinks as man thinks, acts as man acts; reasons as man reasons. Man in his own wisdom is not able
to elevate himself to the high and lofty heights of Jehovah, so he attempts to bring God down to his own level.
BUT GOD WILL NOT BE DEALT WITH IN THIS MANNER!! There are many ways that man seemingly
thinks that God IS LIKE MAN!!
Discussion:
I. MAN HIDES FROM MAN AND HE IN TURNS THINKS HE CAN HIDE FROM GOD.
A. Adam and Eve attempted to hide from God, but failed to do so.
1. Because man has been able to deceive his fellowman he believes that he can deceive God.
2.
Gen. 3:8, “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:
and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”
B. Man relies upon darkness to conceal his evil deeds.
John 3:19, 20, Jesus states, And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that
doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
C. We cannot escape the all seeing eye of the Lord.
Hebrews 4:12, 13, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things
are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
D. The Lord knows our thoughts before we express them.
Matt. 9:1-8, (Read & emphasize).
E. Although we may be able to hide from our fellow man, it is impossible to hide from God.
John 12:48, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word
that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
II. MAN DECEIVES MAN AND THINKS HE CAN DECEIVE GOD.
A. Ananias and his wife Sapphira was accused by the Apostle Peter of lying unto God.
Acts 5:1-11, (Elaborate upon this passage).
Galatians 6:7-9, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting."
III. MAN IS SLACK IN HIS WORD TOWARD HIS FELLOW MAN – AND THINKS GOD
IS SLACK IN HIS WORD.
A. But the truth of the matter is that: God says what He means and means what He says.
1. Concerning the certainty of the end of time and the Day of Judgment the Lord is not slack of these events.
2 Peter 3:9-10, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come
as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, "And to you that are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
B. The Lord is not slack concerning our responsibility unto His inspired Word.
Matt. 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
C. We dare not add to, subtract from, or modify God’s inspired Word.
Rev. 22:18-19, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away
his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Gal. 1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
IV. MAN CAN BE BRIBED INTO APPROVAL AND THEREFORE BELIEVES THAT GOD CAN BE BRIBED.
A. Judas Iscariot is a classical example of being bribed. He betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.
B. Many seem to think that they can bribe the Lord with lip service.
1. They may give a token contribution and attend services spasmodically.
Matt. 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one,
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
C. The Lord and His kingdom must be first in our lives.
Matt. 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
V. MAN THINKS THAT SIN IS NOT SO TERRIBLE AND BELIEVES GOD FEELS THE SAME ABOUT SIN.
A. Mankind has the tendency to look upon sin lightly.
1. Many even boast of their sins. Brethren a Corinth were even glorying that they had such
immorality in their congregation that was not even named among the worldly.
1 Cor. 5:1-6, (Either read & emphasize, or just elaborate upon it).
B. Sin will separate us from God and bring us under His condemnation.
Isaiah 59:1, 2, "Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
VI. MAN THINKS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HE DOES RELIGIOUSLY AND
BELIEVES THAT GOD FEELS THE SAME WAY.
A. Many conclude that as long as their conscious does not bother them, and they are honest and sincere
then it does not really matter what a person believes and practices religiously.
1. It is certainly true that we must be honest and sincere. And we must be conscientious.
2. But there is more involved than that.
3. We must also worship and obey the commandments of the Lord.
2 John 9, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
Romans 6:17, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 8:31-32, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Conclusion:
It is our responsibility to possess the image of God and put on His divine nature. After all, we were created
in His image (Gen. 1:26). And we are to strive to be partakers of His divine nature.
2 Pet. 1:3-4, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us
exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
We would be foolish in thinking that we could entice God to become like sinful humanity.
James 1:13, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man:”
The Son of God never sinned while living as a human being here upon earth. We should follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21-22).
