Professing Themselves To Be Wise, They Became Fools Having Rejected the Unsearchable Riches of Christ- Part 1696

The first chapter of Romans opens with Paul (an apostle of Jesus Christ) explaining that what was promised afore by the prophets in the "holy scriptures" concerning Jesus Christ our Lord "was made of the Seed of David according to the flesh, and declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead -- by whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His Name, among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:1-6; Acts 2:36)

To this end, Paul does not want us to be ignorant of spiritual/heavenly matters -- for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written -- "the just shall live by faith!" (Romans 1:16-17; Romans 3:21-23; Romans 9:30; Habakkuk 2:4)

The psalm of David stands as confirmation -- "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, Thou knowest. I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation. I have not concealed Thy loving kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation." (Psalm 40:9-10)

Indeed, Paul writes, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers ... for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16-18)

However, as we similarly understand from Jesus' parable about the wise and foolish virgins (who intently and decidedly desire the oil of wise believers in Jesus Christ by faith so that these too would be counted with the foolish, and consequently, there might be no bride of Christ), the apostle Paul informs us of certain who "when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God. Neither were these thankful, but instead, became vain in their imaginations, resulting in their foolish hearts becoming darkened. Thus, these professing themselves to be wise became as fools, wherefore God gave them up." (Romans 1:21)

"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead -- so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

In so doing, these change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beasts, and creeping things, wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts .. who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator." (Romans 1:23-25)

At the end of the day, I guess if you give one enough rope, they may indeed (as the worldly analogy goes) hang themselves. From a scriptural perspective, another way of phrasing this same analogy might be to suggest that maybe as a result of demonic inspired false wisdom, their heads have become too large for their shoulders. In this, even God reaches a point of exasperation, confirmed by the Lord saying in scripture -- "My Spirit shall not always strive with man ... for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. " (Genesis 6:3)

Therefore, our Lord God who is the Light (conscience) within a man removes that light (i.e. those knowing better than being subject to a convicting conscience) leaving men and women to do their own thing. In fact, God simply withdraws Himself from knocking at the heart door of stony hearts who do anything but submit to His instruction, guidance, wisdom and knowledge.

And so it is with anti-Christ churches who will worship any other god (or gods) but the One and Only God who became our Saviour on the cross. The same God who after His kindness and love for you and I willingly became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) He prepared for Himself a body, taking on sin prone flesh (whilst still without sin) so that He could offer His gift of salvation.  But as we see from commentaries of late, instead of recognizing that the very Name given to Joseph by the angel of the Lord God -- the Name of the Lord "JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins" the religious culture prefers to render substitute titles as more authentic. How sad!

Consequently, as Paul alludes to in Romans 1, these became/become vain in their imaginations laying aside the written Word. In other words, these so-called religions substitute their own imaginations for the holy scriptures. A case in point can be made about those who place Mary (who birthed Jesus) on a pedestal or as a mediator between God and man. For those who desire to restore the wisdom of the Word of God, we know that the enshrining of Mary is a false tradition so contradictory to the revealed written Word of God that we should be ashamed to even give these false teachings space --  particularly when Mary herself said she was blessed to call God her Saviour. (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16)

And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, for He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden for, behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed, for He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and HOLY IS HIS NAME. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent away!" (Luke 1:46-56)

But I digress somewhat. Thus, my point is this. As believers in Jesus Christ by faith, we need to stop listening to those who oppose the written WISDOM of the Word of God.  We need to stand against those who suggest that the scriptures don't really mean what they say, dissecting and diluting the meaning of each and every word to mean something else according to Strong's concordance, for example, rather than searching the scriptures for themselves, and "rightly dividing" the Word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15; John 17:17)

Only then will those who shine brightly for Jesus as a city on a hill completely contrast those who refuse to retain God in their knowledge, being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, and without understanding -- covenant breakers -- who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:26-32)

It is no wonder there is not one accord and singleness of heart within the modern day religious culture. Still, in Acts 1:13-14, and subsequently Acts 2:1-47, for example, we read that there were those who "gladly received the Word" who did assemble together in one accord; in one mind in prayer and supplication; in singleness of heart. Among the apostles and gathered people were the women, and in the midst Mary the surrogate mother of Jesus. Note that this is the last mention of Mary in the written word. There are no further scriptural references concerning Mary.

As those who search the scriptures can attest, beyond this reference, the false traditions of men enter into the world of make-believe. Only false imaginations emerge, resulting in false emotional feelings rather than assured confidence in the Word which was manifest unto us. Why? Because THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD -- JESUS.

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

The Word made flesh and dwelt among us and like the apostles, we behold His glory. God was manifest in the flesh. The Lord Himself having come forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 42:13; I Timothy 3:16; John 1:10-11; John 1:1-18; Revelation 1:8, 11)

"Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He [Jesus] THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen ..." (Acts 1:2)

Jesus -- King of kings and Lord of lords. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8, 11) The ONLY Name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9) The Name which caused offence and resulted in the apostles facing so much tribulation and persecution.

Don't fall for the wiles of the devil, who is running to and fro right now to deceive those who have not hid the Word in their heart. Save yourself from these false prophets and leaders who teach contrary to the Word, and will gladly receive and claim another name -- rather than the Name of the Lord JESUS to which every knee will bow.

Instead, enter into God’s Kingdom through the one and only door. That door is Jesus who alone is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE. (John 14:6) The first 3000 believers gathered on the day of Pentecost were told to “save themselves” from this untoward generation. To save themselves, they were instructed of the Holy Ghost -- through the mouth of Peter (plus eleven other Jesus' chosen witnesses) -- that they should repent and that they should be baptized into the Name of Jesus, thereby receiving forgiveness of all sin. (PAID IN FULL) at Calvary by God Himself in the man Jesus!(child of the Spirit of God)

This is why JESUS is the ONLY Mediator between God and Man. The same day GOD added to their number 3000 souls. These souls continued steadfastly in the teaching of the Apostles. Jesus is the corner stone of faith and the apostles are the foundation. (Acts 2:1-47)

Let those with ears to hear and eyes to see rightly divide the Word going forward, dismissing the traditions of men that turn people away from learning the truth. Stand in the offering plate.