I'm All Good. Really?

I want to tear down the lies and every stronghold that raises itself up against the knowledge of God, as it says in 2 Corinthians 10:4,5

2Co 10:4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Co 10:5  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

That is why when someone refuses to hear the gospel message or receive a tract with the words "I'm all good", I want to publicly challenge this mentality, even if I choose to leave the person in question "in peace" with their gospel rejecting attitude. We really can't force people to take gospel medicine, and until they see that indeed they are not "all good" they are not likely to take the gospel medicine either. All of us Christians have had to take this gospel medicine ourselves. We must all recognize that we have been sinful, corrupt and flawed. We needed radical open heart surgery, spiritually speaking.

For:

From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment. (Isaiah 1:6)

Are people without Christ really "all good" - in the sense of needing nothing? (For that is what the expression in Australia actually means).

I want to examine this from the Scriptures. If the Scriptures are indeed true, its important that we get a SCRIPTURAL rather than a sentimental view of the subject.

What Does the Scripture Say about People Outside Christ?

Eph 2:1  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Eph 2:2  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Eph 2:3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

This means that before you are made spiritually alive through the gospel, you are described as

DEAD IN TRESPASSES and SINS

Someone who lives according to the course of this world, according to the plan of SATAN.

Someone IN WHOM evil spirits are working

Someone who lives in LUSTS of the FLESH and LUSTS of the MIND (greediness and pride)

Someone who is BY NATURE A CHILD of WRATH

Actually this does not sound very pretty to me.

What else does the Bible say?

Ephesians 2:19 implies that as far as God is concerned, an unbeliever is a stranger and foreigner to God.

Until you desire and receive God's mercy, you are NOT ACCEPTED BY GOD. You are rejected if you come to God on your own terms. You have "no part" in the matter of salvation and of the things of God, for your heart is not right in the sight of God! (Acts 8:21)

What else does the Bible say about an unbeliever?

Eph 2:12  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Can you see why Christians should believe it is important to talk about the salvation plan with people whom GOD consider to be "having no hope"?

It is a matter of the greatest possible urgency!

What else?

Eph 4:17  This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
Eph 4:18  having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Eph 4:19  who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

God says that unbelievers (the rest of the Gentiles) are

ALIENATED from the LIFE OF GOD

Have a DARKENED MIND (understanding)

Are IGNORANT

Are spiritually BLIND

Are insensitive to Moral Evil

Are lover of pornography and sexual uncleanness

Are greedy

Are these things serious? Well, what does the Bible say?

Col 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Col 3:6  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience

Folks, according to the Bible, God is ANGRY (not tolerant) about these things and the wrath of God is coming on those people who practice them. Probably people like your next door neighbours, right?

Let us stir ourselves up then to take God's side in his quarrel with sin and rebellion, wherever we may find it!