10-06-2019 – The Futility of Unbelief

Bible Text: Ephesians 4:17 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: Ephesians | This is the sermon outline to help you follow along. The sermon notes are a click below.

10.06.19 ~ Ephesians 4:17, The Futility of Unbelief.

Paul tells us (Ephesians 4:17) not to live like the
Gentiles (1Corinthians 15:32-34), “If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’ Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God.”
Christ is the standard (John 3:36; 14:6; Romans 3:23; 5:8; 10:13).
Psalm 94:8-11, “Pay heed, you senseless among the people; and when will you understand, stupid ones? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, even He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are a mere breath.”
See Genesis 3:1-6…
What did God said to Adam about this tree?
Genesis 2:16-17, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (cf Genesis 3:7-20).
Adam lived for another 900 years (cf Genesis 5:5), but spiritually he was separated from life with God, as are all mankind (cf Genesis 3:21-24).
Ephesians 2:1-2, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
1Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (Romans 6:23; 8:1).
1John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings death.” Ecclesiastes 2:26, “To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…” 12-13, “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “ The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”
Century after century men seek life’s pleasures, only to end up lonely and confused, full of sorrow and despair.
Has anything changed? No!
Galatians 6:7-10, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”