The Foolishness of False Christianity | Revelation 17:7-18 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 17:7–18

About this sermon

Introduction: Someone once said, “Sin is its own worst avenger.” THIS IS TO SAY, “IN THE SINS THEMSELVES ARE THE SEEDS THAT DESTROY.” The CONSEQUENCES of sin punish the transgressor. The man or woman who chooses sin chooses self-harm. WHY? BECAUSE SIN IS TRANSGRESSION AGAINST GOD HIMSELF. Whatever is contrary to God’s nature and God’s will is contrary to GOOD. ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GOOD AND ALL SIN IS DESTRUCTIVE. And standing behind all sin, all rebellion against God is the great leader of that rebellion — Satan — and he is a DESTROYER. ESV John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. NAS Revelation 9:11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. (Ἀπολλύων is “a destroyer.”) In sin is that which is OUT OF ORDER. In sin is that which is SELF-DESTROYING. In sin is that which is OTHERS-DESTROYING. In sin is the WISDOM FROM BELOW that produces CHAOS ALL AROUND. THE FRUIT OF SIN IS PAIN, LOSS, REGRET, DISCONTENTMENT, AND EMPTINESS. ESV James 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. NOTE: WHAT CAN BE SAID OF ALL SIN IS JUST AS TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO SINFUL RELIGION. What can be said of all sin is true of ALL APOSTATE CHRISTIANITY. Those who embrace it, those who advance it, are themselves destroyed by it. FALSE RELIGION IS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE. ESV Matthew 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." ESV Jeremiah 14:15 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come upon this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them-- them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them. 17 "You shall say to them this word: 'Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound, with a very grievous blow. 18 If I go out into the field, behold, those pierced by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land and have no knowledge.'" ESV Isaiah 44:9 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together. 12 The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14 He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!" 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" 18 They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Wisdom
• Prophecy & End Times