THE AGONY OF DECEIT

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan

“ONE DAY THE HEADLINE OF HEAVEN WILL READ: ‘BILLIONS LOST FOREVER, BECAUSE THEY WERE DECEIVED TO THINK THEY COULD BE GOOD WITHOUT GOD!’”

I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast, and in a moment we’ll talk about the “lostness of humanity and the answer to this dilemma as found in the Word of God…

…Well as I opened the program today with a challenging statement, you probably surmised my topic will be on the age old message of true Christianity – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, do you know that millions, perhaps billions of good people around the world have little to no idea what that really is! Some think it is a new form of rock music, others think it is a call to do better in our loving and living, and still others think it is a sophisticated system of rules for life and living that if followed with please our Creator God in some distorted way. Well I’ve got good news and bad news for you, but it is all wrapped up in my message today entitled: THE AGONY OF DECEIT, and in a moment after this first musical pause I’ll share it with you…

…An age-old question in religious circles is “ARE THE HEATHEN LOST?” What the “heathen” means is anyone or any people who not live in accord with God’s revealed Word for their lives and living now and for eternity. In Biblical times, the word “heathen,” meant anyone who was a Gentile, that is not born of the Jewish people, sons of Abraham, who were outside of the promises of God. Yet today we think of the heathen as some living in a jungle, separated from the civilized nations of the world, and living like a barbarian of some sort. Well friend, I’ve got bad news for you if this is your idea of the “heathen.” For according to God’s Word, the heathen can be living in the lap of luxury in the world’s most sophisticated and technologically advanced civilization, wearing a three-piece suit or sequined evening gown attending the opera, or the opening of Hollywood’s newest movie. Yes, according to the Word of God the heathen is a reference to anyone who has not heard and accepted God’s GOOD NEWS Gospel that alone can save men’s souls. And, what makes this tragic is millions; no billions of such people are deceived to think that they can be “GOOD WITHOUT GOD.” Well, after another musical pause I’ll share with you the timeless gospel of Jesus Christ that just might be right for you and your soul…

…Are the heathen really lost? The answer from the Word of God is yes a thousand times yes! It matter not if you live in a third-world country or a jungle tribe, or in New York city ¾ unless you have heard and embrace the wonderful Good News of the Bible, your soul is in grave danger and will perish for all eternity unless you turn from heathenism to God through the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I know my radio listeners have heard this in some form and fashion before. Everyone in our civilized western world who have a television or radio can hear the “litter and gold” of polished preachers wooing folks to come to the great God of riches and perfect health, who wants all to have everything here and now! But I tell you that is not the gospel or good news of the Bible, nor are the vast majority who embrace this false gospel even saved from their sins and the peril of eternity that faces them. So yes, the heathen, who refers to anyone religious or not, who tries to be “good without God,” and has not embraced God’s final call found in the Bible, God’s holy Word. You see the Bible tells us what the Gospel is,

1 Cor 15:3-4 (NIV) “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

The “gospel” according to the Bible is clear and simple and has four facets: (1) All humanity has broken and disobeyed God’s holy inviolable law for living in His universe! (2) God has provided a way to avoid the penalty for this sin in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, (3) That way is by the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ who has paid all humanity’s sin penalty, and (4) This payment was approved and accepted by virtue of raising Jesus Christ from the executioners death He died for all the world. This is in a “nutshell,” the whole gospel and only gospel that can save everyone’s soul now and in eternity.

Yet… so many have either not heard it clearly, or have denied it by devising their own “gospel” or means to be in a right relationship with the God who Created us all. The devising of their own means to be right with God is called ¾ religion, and I don’t care what you think of this – but ALL RELIGION, so-called Christian or not today that denies the Gospel of Jesus Christ as presented in the Word of God is condemned now and in eternity. Clearly the Scriptures speak of only two categories of people living in the world. The “SAVED,” and the “LOST,” this found and those deceived. Also the Bible speaks of two destinies, one Heaven and eternal oife, and the other Hell and eternal damnation. And the truth is we all will end up only in one or the other depending upon how we respond to God’s Word while we have life and breath in our bodies and souls! In Scripture we are told succinctly,

Mat 25:32 (NIV) “All the nations will be gathered before him [Jesus Christ the Judge], and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

Then the resurrected and living Jesus Christ goes on to say about those designated “the sheep,” that is those who embraced the Good News Gospel…

Mat 25:34 (NIV) “”Then the King will say to those on his right [sheep], ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”

To the other group known as the “goats” that is the lost, who neglected or denied God’s Good News Gospel, Jesus Christ the Judge will say…

Mat 25:46 (NIV) “”Then they [goats] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.””

Yes the Scripture consistently categorize people into one of two classes and these classes are: saved/unsaved, believers/unbelievers, lost/found, sheep/goats, and Christians/non-Christians. And, ALL is based on one simple truth ¾ “the saved are simply all those who have believed in Jesus Christ as their Sin bearer and God, who alone atones for the sins of the world!

What does it mean to believe? Theologians rightly call it the “irreducible minimum,” requirement found in the Bible. To be saved from one’s sins require only that you believe God’s Word about yourself, about God, about your future, and about God’s love that solves the sin dilemma for all mankind.

However, the fact remains ¾ billions of people one day will suffer what I call the AGONY OF DECEIT! Yes they are in this life deceived to think that there is no God, and if they are un-persuaded of this false idea, they will attempt to make a god of their own choosing by religion and philosophy that will deceive them to believe they can be “good without God.” Do you realize this is the GREATEST SIN IN THE UNIVERSE?!

Billions of people think that they can live a life pleasing to God by doing good works, following some pre-prescribed religious asceticism, or ignoring the claims and call of the Bible because they don’t need it. Yet Jesus Christ Himself said,

Mat 7:13-15 (NLT) “”You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. 14 But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it. 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart.”

Mat 7:21-23 (NLT) “”Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. 22 On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.’”

These amazing Scripture reveal that the world from time immemorial has been deceived to believe that their “own way,” to God would one day be accepted. What was that way God did not authorize or accept? The answer is the presentation of our own good deeds and works, as the source of righteousness to be accepted in the sight of God. Yet again God’s Word speaks of any and all things we do that pertain to goodness,

Isa 64:6 (NLT) “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.”

Indeed the shocking truth is that with us by ourselves we are all condemned sinners that is under God’s universal penalty for judgment.

Rom 3:23 (NIV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Rom 6:23 (NIV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It’s so sad these days that sophisticated masses of people have devised over the eons of time systems of religion to assuage their inner guilt and knowledge we are not right with God, and follow cleverly devised and deceitful religious philosophies in the hopes it appeases the wrath of a holy God. Why even the heathen in the jungle do the same although in primitive ways as they worship the creation rather than the Creator. What religious systems are leading their followers to eternal death and Hell? The Bible slaps our face and tells us,

Acts 4:12 (NIV) “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.””

There you have it in all the dogmatism and denial you can stomach. God’s Word says ALL religion and philosophy that tries to be acceptable to God other than the true Christian faith will not be acceptable because it is based on the righteousness of sinful, fallen, unsaved, and lost mankind, rather than on the righteousness of God Himself found only in Jesus Christ. How good do we have to be to be acceptable to God? Jesus Himself answered in His day,

Mat 5:20 (NIV) “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

There were no people on earth you tried more to please God in the flesh, that the Jewish Scribes and Pharisees. They prided themselves on fulfilling the law of God. To help matter they invented 613 additional rules and regulations for their religious followers to obey to prove their own righteousness. But alas, God said,

Mat 23:15 (NIV) “”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.”

The point of all this is to say ¾ we are most deceived when we believe that our own good works, or religious following and ways can in some fashion find us acceptable to the Creator God above all. Herein is the GOOD NEWS of the Bible. WE can’t be found acceptable to God ever and in nay way on our own. We are helpless lost sinners groping on our sin darkened way to judgment and a place called Hell. And, until we realize this helplessness, and listen to God’s remedy we shall all perish in our sins the good and bad of this life.

Again what is the gospel alone that saves? Well for one you check you own religious teachings to see if this is what is taught. If it is not or it contains variants you are one who is DECEIVED and will one day perish with your religion and philosophy for all eternity. Here is the Gospel again, and I pray you have embraced it and if not that you do before your life ends for Jesus says succinctly,

John 8:24-25 (NIV) “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” 25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.”

John 10:30 (NIV) “I and the Father are one.””

1. The Gospel teaches us that all mankind is born estranged from God and under God’s wrath and penalty of sin. This means although we can do good thing sin this life and love much, it matters not because we are felons under the perfect law of the universe which states,

Ezek 18:4 (NIV) “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.”

Everyone born of Adam and Eve, that is the whole human race is perishing before we even get started. Every once in a while we hear stories of escaped felons who manage to allude capture for decades and begin living a new life and do quite well. They obey the law, they even do good and great things become model citizens, but one day they are found and are returned to prison. Often the world cries out for them to be pardoned, but the law is specific. Just because they have done good matters not they still have a debt to pay for the crimes. So it is with all humanity. We can do good but we still have a debt to pay, we are sinners under judgment. All mankind must come to realize according to God’s revealed Word, WE ARE SINNERS UNDER JUDGMENT and there is nothing in and of ourselves we can do to change that!

2. The second thing the Bible teaches is the Gospel, is that GOD IS JUST, and He can by no means clear those who are guilty. We cannot wipe away or cancel the stain of sin and its penalty. This dilemma frustrates many who turn to religion in the hopes it will assuage God’s wrath. But religion, no matter what label it is found that teaches us we can be made right in God’s sight by “obeying” a system of rules, regulations, follow and partake of sacraments, in the hopes we shall be saved will one day be Satan’s greatest deceit and trap door that denies Heaven and eternal life to those who follow it. Are you following false religion? Oh, it can even have the name of Jesus Christ in it and even use the Christian Bible but the searching question is¾ is your religion a “do” religion, or the “done” religion? IS there anything you have follow or do to be saved or remain saved? OR is it based alone on the finished work of Christ?

3. Third the Gospel is the truth that GOD LOVES THE LOST WORLD AND HAS MADE PROVISION FOR OUR SIN PENALTY BY HIMSELF PAYING THE PRICE – Yes God came to earth as a man, Jesus Christ, lived a perfect life by His own righteousness, and offered up His human body and life as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Yes friend, God’s offer and payment for sin is universal. How else can one interpret the words of Scripture that say,

Mat 28:19 (NIV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Luke 19:10 (NIV) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.””

John 3:16 (NIV) “”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“That which was lost,” “the World,” “whoever believes,” refers to anyone and everyone who hears and responds to the gospel by turning over their rule of their lives to their creator God as revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ. Have you so believed? I’m not asking if you are religious, or have been baptized, or follow your faith scrupulously! Jesus Himself said we will all die in our sin unless we believe that HE is God who has come to redeem lost humanity from their sins, and has done so by one act of mercy for us all – Christ died for our sins.

4. Now the fourth truth of the Gospel is found in the Bible teaching that CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD. This is the beautiful truth that attests to the fact that the sin penalty of Heaven is paid in full! For the Father God accepted Christ’s death as full and final payment for the sins of the world by raising Him from the dead. Have you so accepted Christ’s death on your behalf? Do you believe and follow God’s Word on this matter? You see if the heathen do not need Christ and His salvation and can go it alone, then neither do we need Christ’s salvation. Conversely if we do need Him so do all the world that is lost.

5. Lastly, ALL WHO ACCEPT CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR AND BELIEVE HE ALONE DIED AND PAID FOR THEIR SINS, ARE ASSURED OF HEAVEN AND ETERNAL LIFE. Do you have eternal life? It’s not something you receive when you die, it’s something all can receive the moment they believe and exercise real bible faith. Yes salvation, reconciliation, and forgiveness of all sins past present and future are obtained the moment we come to Christ with our hearts and cry out to Him to save us. The Bible calls to all today,

2 Cor 6:2 (NIV) “… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Acts 16:31 (NIV) “…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.””

Rom 10:9-10 (NIV) “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

There you have it. God’s word pushes all religion aside. The health and wealth gospel, the good works gospel, the mystery religions gospel, and man’s own idea that he can be good without God. Where does today’s message from the Word of God find you? One day billions of souls that lived will stand before the judgment bench of God and find they were deceived and in agony they will be cast forever in the Lake of Fire, which is the eternal Hell, there to suffer for their sins forever and ever,

Rev 20:11-15 (NIV) “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

The only way yours or my name can be entered into the Book of life is to receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life. There is no other way, and the agony of deceit will fall upon all you enter any other way. May God open your eyes to His love, mercy and truth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen…

… Well friends, you’ve been listening to the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and speaking today has been your host and commentator. I trust today’s message on what the Gospel of Jesus Christ has opened your eyes to evaluate your own status before the courts of Heaven. If you have been found short, may you rush into the very arms of Jesus who awaits all who will embrace Him and His love and death offered up for your sins. He alone is righteous and worthy to present us before the throne of heaven. Thank God for His love and mercy through Christ.

I trust today’s message has been a help and if so, please write to me. I would be pleased to send you further and helpful literature to know Jesus Christ more, and to enjoy the New Life in Christ hat comes to all who are saved from their sins. For others you can obtain a free cassette copy or printed booklet of today’s message to share with others. Just write for it and we’ll send it along free of charge anywhere in the world. Now here’s our address: Write to the World, the Word & You! Broadcast, Post Office Box 40133, Grand Junction, CO 81504 USA. We’ll send it to you ASAP. Now as this is the weekend the program is heard, I invite you to attend a Bible believing Church of your choice, and then to tune us in again next week for another look at our world, God’s Word and it’s relationship to busy thinking people like you. God bless you friend, see you next week, the Lord willing, Good by for now.

· Radio talk #0201

· Broadcast date: January 14, 2001

· Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

· Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

· Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 20 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/