EP 131 | Is America Under God's Judgment? | Redeeming Truth

is America under God's judgment many people would say absolutely it is and you know what I'm one of them today we talk about why that is and what we should do about it on redeeming [Music] truth is America under God's judgment if it's not I don't want to know what it would look like if it was now guys I think if we we it's it's hard to not think about that question as we see what's going on in our world and so I just want to throw this out to you guys is America under God's judgment yes yeah short answer yes absolutely and so if you were to say um yes which all of you just did uh where would you go in the Bible to show somebody that know in fact we are under God's judgment we're not waiting for it it's not it's not coming it's here is there a part of the Bible you would point to yeah I think there's a part of the Bible all of us would point to as we were getting ready for this episode we all went to the same passage because it's so obvious what it is uh and that would be Romans 1 I think Romans 1 gives us an outline for what it looks like as a nation descends into a spiral of sin away from faithfulness to the Lord or away from even a a semblance of uh you know a a Christian ethic and uh it's pretty clear that America's caught in that spiral so what is the first indicator then from Romans one that a nation is under God's judgment what happens to a nation as God's judgment is descending upon them I would say it's a twofold kind of process one on the response of the nation would be exchanging God for counterfeits and then as a result you see three times in Romans chapter 1 from verses 18 to 31 you see or 32 you see three times it says God gave them over and so I think the first stage of God's Wrath is is that he gives them over to their sin uh and then what results from that of course is his judgment ultimately and so there's that that sense of giving over giving over to so there's a general war on godh and then phase one of that the expression of that God gives people over they're Waring against him so God gives them over to what at the beginning in the beginning it says he gives man over to their impurity he gives them over to their dishonorable passions and he gives them over uh to a debased mind and so these are the things that they're pursuing and so in one sense it's kind of a the gracious phase as well he's giving them over but there's still a patience he hasn't exacted his judgment yet but but it's begun in the sense that he has with withdrawn his withholding them back from from these types of things so Kevin if we look at uh Romans 1 as stages of God's judgment in verses 24 and 25 you have stage one of this so so what would that be yeah and and just to say something just before that um giving God giving them over in their minds Romans 1 is clear that we all know that God exists right invisible attributes everything about creation screams that there is a Creator and so there's this juxtaposition that happens because even though we all know God verse 21 they don't honor him or give thanks so there's a lack of acknowledgement or gratitude for the God who has created us and yet the ju position is they claim to be Wise Wise in the midst of that refusal to acknowledge um and so there's just a an undermining of of the reality that we all see but then as you jump down to the verses you just noted uh God's giving them over to the lust of their heart and imp Purity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves again why because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator and so the the lust of the heart and and like the language that Todd used we we don't often think about God's common Grace in our day-to-day lives we we should more often because then we would be more grateful but God's common Grace is a restraining effect upon evil in the world and so the giving over is God pulling back that common Grace which then allows for the sinfulness of humanity to run rampant so I've heard John MacArthur call step one of God's judgment on a nation being the sexual Revolution he said step two is the homosexual Revolution Kyle versus 26 and 27 uh speak to that anything you want to you want to clarify from there yeah I think we can see this play out in the 20th century in America that the sexual Revolution really began in the in the 60s uh with the you know Battle of the Sexes with uh you know free sex the hippie movement moving in through the 70s into the ' 80s uh becoming more and more of pushing the boundaries towards homosexual rights and freedoms uh expression marriage all of those things uh and I I think what plays out in Romans 1 is uh you know as Kevin mentioned this Jos of people exchanging the truth about God for a lie they're exchanging what they desire in their flesh in sin and the farther they go into that the farther God gives them over and pulls away and and that results in in another step that's in future verses but that that descent from a uh an exchange of God to the the worship of a God in their own in their own version or their own mind to a sexual Revolution to a homosexual Revolution is this natural progression that we see up until that verse and so we had that 2015 we have the oberfell decision which legalized gay marriage and um and then from there we've just seen a a complete ramping up of this idea so that now we've got it is it's it's considered some kind of Oppression that you would not want trans people uh indoctrinating your children like that that's that's somehow weird that's somehow crazy that that that the oppressors are the ones who would not want those people to be oppressing our our children but that's because we are at step three starting in verse 28 and so Dale um we we're in we're in the third stage and there is no fourth stage of God removing his common Grace from a nation and so verse 28 there yeah I mean what you see what you see in this last step is really the the fullness of the human heart coming to pass coming to bear and as Kevin just said that God's common Grace more and more gets pulled back what's going to be what's going to fill it is the flesh what's going to fill it is also the temptation of our enemy uh who is Satan and these things these these works of the flesh are start to made manifold now and we see it all over our culture right and so what are those so it's full of Gossip slanderers haters of God insolent hottie boastful inventors of evil we could we could do a whole podcast on that just in the last couple of years about what does it mean to invent evil yeah you know especially what Solomon says there's nothing new Under the Sun now we have invention of evil here talking about in stage three and kids being disobedient to their parents foolishness faithless heartless ruthless so it's it's it's the the it's really what humanism is right so you when you reject God what you're what you're going to promote then is what is humanism so what we're seeing in our culture right now is what humanism really is humanism is not only the promotion of self it's also and probably even more importantly to to focus on it's a rejection of being made in the image of godh and and wanting having to worship anybody but ourselves right yeah so it says that he gives them over to a debased mind a mind that no longer functions the way that it is supposed to Insanity it's it is it's an insanity where where the Christian then looks out at the world now and goes like how did we get here and how did all of this craziness become normal evil is good and good is evil people don't reason rationally anymore they don't come to easy conclusions we're questioning the very FAL things of our reality like what is a man what is a woman these kind of things we're seeing this debased mind filter its way throughout the rest of society of our society right now and I guess the the question then becomes is there what's left yeah I mean what's left after this there there is no step four in Romans chapter one and so um you've got to you've got to go to other books of the Bible to find out what's what's after this and it's not it's not a pretty picture I do think there's one final not it's not another step but the last indicator in the final verse which I I think when we're asking this question is America under God's judgment we ask this question and see whether it's true uh as kind of the this is like the end of step three though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do them but give approval and there's some text it's a hearty approval to those who practice them so as you mentioned before John it's not just that uh homosexual marriage has become law it's that if you do not give full approval to it you are now in sin according to the culture you are wrong that's right and so the fact that this verse demonstrates exactly the ethos of our country right now this is what we have to be and unless you're going to be faithful to the Lord and stand up and say no I will not do that in opposition then the culture will reject you and that's that's what we're left with as a church right now absolutely and even verses 29 to 31 is most of these words are relational most of these words is is the conflict that this is now creating in our culture and you look out at our culture We can't agree on anything we we're we're complete there there's no coming together across aisles there's no agree to disagree there's no true tolerance it is all out ational war in our culture and the people that that call for some kind of unity are just bulldozed by the and they're considered weak they're considered compromisers for seeking those kinds of things and so when back at the end at the beginning of 2021 I preached a series called living in a nation under God's judgment from the book of habach and from that book he he gives more indicators of a or not more but he just fills in some details from Romans chapter 1 where he talks about this a an increase of violence like that's an indication that that we're under God's judgment that that iniquity becomes rampant that there's rampant conflict like I was just talking about laws being ignored I mean are we we seeing any of that going on in our country where where laws are being ignored where Justice is being perverted where innocent people are being prosecuted where guilty people are being protected from prosecution um our enemies are gaining strength that's habach is looking at the calans go and going how are they gaining in strength and they're going to come judge us like how is that possible lord they're more wicked than we are um it seems like God is pulling back chapter 1: 13 God is pulling back his hand and blessing so we're seeing a lot of this the wicked are Prosper the righteous are afraid so he's talk so a lot of the things that we're going through right now habach talked about 700 years before Christ 600 years before Christ and uh it wasn't good because at this point God goes I'm done with you like I'm I'm going to destroy you and so now that we've answered the question is America under God's judgment and we've given biblical proof that it is the question the hard question now is so what like what do we what do we do now any counsel for people watching yeah we we call people we call this nation to repentance we call this nation to Bow their knee um to the Lord Jesus Christ and to commit their life uh to one of righteousness and a pursuit of Holiness and and not only that but um a pursuit of wanting to not only let that die in your culd toac right and live out your life but that you're actually going to share that as well right so um a move of evangelism a move of of calling people to repentance is the is should be the response of the church well you see that that unfold in Romans he continues on in Romans 2 he talks about the wrath of God so this is what he gives them over then the wrath of God comes and then he talks of justification by faith alone and then Romans 5 we get this plan this gospel plan of Deliverance where he says then since therefore we have now been justified by his blood much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God and so we have a a message of hope uh for those who are in the midst of sin that it's not done yet um the Final Chapter isn't written while you're breathing you still have gospel hope to trust in Christ and be delivered from the wrath of God yeah I think we're in an incredible time of opportunity right now where you have people who have been given over to a debase mind at this point but I don't think or I don't I don't discern that they're the majority I I think people who are kind of at the levers of control of government and some other you know Industries like entertainment industry um there are some people who will obviously begin given over to a debased mind but those people who who aren't at this point who don't know Jesus at this point are also watching what's happening they're watching and they're scratching in their head saying what is happening to our country what's happening to our culture what's happening to this world and I think the church is um in a critical place in order to reach some of those people with the truth of the Gospel yeah anything else any other ways to respond on to all of this I guess I I had a did a previous podcast where a guy looked I asked him this kind of question and because the the flip side is America's going to hell in hand baskets under God's judgment who cares about America like it's a sinking ship and so just jump off on your gospel raft and get out of there while while it's all going down and he goes he said listen you may think that this is just preach the gospel and that's it he goes but we are constantly told throughout the Bible to to do something about evil mhm to uh to call it call out to repent to expose evil to call call people to repentance he said he said what would you do if your pastor and you were standing next to your pool and your 2-year-old fell in the pool and you looked at the pastor for help and he goes well God is Sovereign and this is just what he wanted to happen and so how would you you know it's like that's just the way he said you would probably punch him in the face yeah and jump in and save your kid and he said right now we have a nation of 300 million plus people that is that that is being overcome by evil and if people who know the truth and believe the truth and have mouths to speak the truth don't act on the truth he said then you're then then you're in your way you're you're responsible for this and we may not we don't know if God will turn this around we don't know if God will stay his hand like he did so many times like with the southern Kingdom stated a their their destruction 150 years from the northern kingdom like we don't know if God would would do that kind of thing we're not the people of Israel but but we're looking at the principles going like the if the principles are in place like these are this is facts about reality not just the the people of Israel and so um as you guys think through that and and think through some of the things that you see and hear and all of that what things come to mind is the what should we do well I look at the examples of the prophets the examples of faithful guys who in the face of a completely Wicked Nation uh you know like you mentioned in especially in the northern kingdom in Israel uh in the face of of solidly wicked kings and queens and Priests and leaders they stood up and called the nation to repentance yeah they called the nation to return to faithfulness now if lest we get accused of well that's just for the old Covenant and that was just for the nation let's go to job because job wasn't part of the Mosaic Covenant uh in in Job chapter 22 it says agree with God and be at peace there thereby good will come to you receive instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart if you return to the almighty you will be built up if you remove Injustice far from your tents now we don't import a modern interpretation of Injustice or social justice into that text what that means is if you remove the bre breaking of God's commands from his word m from your tents so that just means if you come under The Obedience of God submit to his will and repent just like we see the heart of God throughout the Old Testament he will restore he is a god of kindness and Grace and he wants to be kind to us he called Jonah to go to Nineveh and Jonah didn't want to go and how many of us right now when we're looking at some of the things going on in our own country are saying like oh you know what they deserve they they're going to deserve what they get right but God loves those people to the point where he he's calling us now I believe as a church to evangelize to call people to repentance and to say look at there's another there's another way and just like in Nineveh there was a repentance and God spared his judgment he delayed his judgment so that could happen for the United States too if small PE prophets at the prophets of God um in the church open their mouth and call people to repentance still do have a justice system that can appeal to some of these injustices and we can continue to work within the framework of what we have um though it seems like many are ignoring those things and so uh as citizens of a nation and in particular this nation there are laws that help and we should continue to strive after those and see that type of Justice when it comes to the injustices that we see that's that's more True Justice than any yeah people want to say uh on the right and the left that the constitution is broken and we need to be rid of that and have something new and it's it's not the Constitution that's broken it's that the system is the people are broken and they need to get back to following the laws of the land but this is one of the proofs that God's judgment is on a nation is they stop listening to the laws of the land they stop caring about obedience to the laws and do what is right in their own eyes and so I think what what happens though is that a person looks out at the world and says just this is overwhelming MH there's there's too much the wrong seems oh so strong you know so so what could I possibly do and I think what you said is is legit that that the the majority of people have not gone down this road yet but it seems the majority of people are not acting because they're overwhelmed and they're being told that this is this is the right side of History this is where everybody's going this is the direction we need to go and it's just not true the majority would say this is not true this is not where we're going and we need to stand up now and fight against it before it's too late and so I I think so for Christians we we preach the gospel and we fight evil because all of it is under uh what God's word tells us to do it's not either or it's both and and at the end of the day we we've been entrusted with a with a a country that Kyle before we started um you you were talking about this is the the most unique nation in the history of the world what what we have a nation built on judeo Christian principles gave us these principles give us the country that we have and it is calling people back to the to the truth that our country was founded on that could turn this around but yeah and it seems it seems that God has been exceptionally gracious to this country because of that you know I think what I had kind of said was we're the the First Republic constitutional republic built on a judeo-christian ethic and because of that there has been a sustained Grace uh but that is not going to keep us what what what keeps us is relationship with the God who gave us that ethic and worship and and and uh uh respect of the God who gave us that ethic and so as America has according to Romans 1 exchanged that God for a different version and then we see this progression it's not irreversible mhm I think we know that again we we see from God's heart and mindset in the Old Testament this can be reversed if there is a wakeup call and if God's mercy falls on the people to change their hearts open their eyes uh and and and the church can grow in Sharing not the wrong Mission but the right mission of making disciples and teach them teaching them to obey all that Christ commanded then then this can turn around but the fact that it was built on that ethic has been God I think has kept God's hand at Bay for a time but that I think that season is gone and I don't mean this in a very in a simplistic way but it's going to sound simplistic for those Christians who are feeling overwhelmed the best thing to do in that situation is not to look at the the vastness of the issue is to look to your next door neighbor it's to look to the person that you're working with uh day by day who might not know the Lord it it's it's taking very very small bites um in trying to win people over to Christ but I also think this conversation leads to what I think inside the church is a real issue which is fear people being given over to fear Christians being given over to fear and not acting out of the fear of some kind of response from the culture some kind of a cancellation if you will and so if we I would love to hear your guys' view just on on how do Christians overcome that kind of fear what do what do Christians need to do in order to say you know what yeah I'm a little bit of afraid I'm afraid right now maybe a lot but I'm going to put my fear to the side and I'm going to trust that the message that I have is is important enough for me to risk to risk relationship to risk even livelihood in order to tell the truth so I would love to hear what you guys have to think about fear in this conversation always find some encouragement from Jeremiah he was in a similar situation and definitely outnumbered he was one guy one voice and he says this in Jeremiah 12:17 Beyond just even Israel he says but if any Nation will not listen then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it declares the Lord now I think there's a given in there is that there's something to listen to and for Jeremiah he was the prophet of God preaching one against a nation to be able to communicate to them and so there's a given in that sense that there's there's something to be listened to and that listen is the gospel and the truth and to be bold in that not necessarily looking for results in one sense we know that Jeremiah had very few but the result was he was faithful and did not fear man and he was fearing god with the message that he had been given to him as much as he went up against the wall of the people and I think the the the fear you're speaking of is also intertwined with the hopelessness that we've been we've been talking about and so as as people are looking around at the bleakness of society the way that um you know human depravity total depravity is put on display in our culture uh there is this mentality of like oh it's hopeless you know what can I do but that's where the the Brilliance and the brightness of the Gospel shines forth you know and and that's why Christ has called us to be Salt and Light um because there there are functions there you know in a context and so I think the Silver Lining as we think about even the the way our nation was founded you know the the the hopefulness that's found in the gospel there is that we live in a society now that's no longer predominantly based upon those those that cultural Christian kind of mentality and so whereas some of those things would have been more private it it's now on full display so it's much easier now for us to see the start contrast right there there's been an exposing that's happened and I think that's another part of God's judgment as he exposes it and so for us then we're able now to have hope because we know that the gospel transforms the gospel changes um and it's not hard you know we look at Romans 1 what's really happening there is an undermining of God's design right so the further we get away um from God's design or the further we see judgment happening we're seeing the undoing of God's original design so we can talk about sexuality marriage uh you know gender all of those things is just an undoing of what God has done and then when you get to the bottom it's really the opposite of what Jesus has called us to he said the whole law hinges on these two right love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength love your neighbor as yourself what do we see happening well that's describing you know hate God with every heart all of your heart mind soul and strength and then hate your neighbor and so all of that's a description of that so for us what do we have we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so for us to to not sink in despair fear or hopelessness trust in the sovereignty of God and speak the truth to those who are in our sphere of influence you know I can't conquer the world uh but I can speak to my neighbor I can speak to my co-workers I can speak to my friends and family and if the Church of Jesus Christ in America would stand up and do what Christ has called us to each in our own sphere of influence then we would see God do amazing things and that's exactly how Paul starts that whole section he starts it off with for I am not ashamed of the Gospel amen why because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek we need to be not ashamed and actually believe that the gospel does change lives it changed Rome changed me changed me yeah Satan is not only a liar from the beginning but he is a master tactician in psychological warfare he will tell you you're losing he will tell you it's hopeless he will tell you you you're you've already lost don't even bother and I remember Psalm 3 David's words from Psalm 3 oh Lord how many are my foes many are rising against me many are saying of my soul there is no salvation for him in God say la and then his hope here but you oh Lord are a shield about me my glory and the lifter of my head and I remember sitting in Hebrew class and having this explained like that David is standing here and God is standing behind him and it's as if God's arm is around him with his shield in front of David his back is protected his front is protected his head is protected and so David's reminding himself what do I need to be afraid of wh why would I even fear it looks like my enemies are running rampant but God is for me so what do I have to be afraid of and when we couple that with the truth that the gospel that is the power uh of God under salvation right that that we're not ashamed of it why would be we be scared to then use it and wield it against the enemy who is simply practicing lying psychological warfare against Christians let's use the gospel and be bold in it because ultimately God's going to use that to win in whatever measure he has uh in this world to win be people of Hope yeah the other tactic he has is divide and conquer right and so we talked about this before but the church right now is so decimated by division um when when in reality a lot of these things that the church is being divided on are secondary or tertiary issues we we need to be working together United in the primary truths of the gospel because that's whenever will begin to see impact and change in our country amen so if we lived what we believed if we really believed that God is real that the that the Bible is true that God is a shield about those who who trust in him then we wouldn't be afraid of what what could man do to me what's the worst thing you could do to me that's right kill me and send me to Heaven that's the worst thing that could happen to me okay okay and so there is a there's a real sense that if we as the church simply lived what we believed then we would see a turning we would see a turning locally and maybe in our homes and then neighborhoods and then our cities and our counties and states and then regions and who knows but it's going to take Christians to no longer Coast to no longer sit back and think well everything's going to be fine I can I can check out and just go do something else I can I can just watch football I can I can just watch movies and I'm going to be fine it doesn't really matter but we can't check out anymore we have to be engaged we have to be involved and so this is I think this is a good conversation for us to uh to have even if we say like this nation is under God's judgment okay what are you going to do about it well we' we've talked about this before in other podcasts like we we have to stop turning to the to the soldier next to us in the bunker and fighting them in this culture War um and like it's it's a subculture war that we that we're all distracted by right now as the culture continues to advance in this world against the light right and so as long as Christians are distracted fighting one another um Ticky Tac arguments by the way over secondary and tertiary issues as Kevin said it's a distraction that's going to keep us as Kyle said it's it's a master manipulation from the enemy to get us to to not focus on the things that we should be focused on the church has lost its Mission we think the mission is against each other and who has the best idea about Theology and Doctrine when reality the mission is out there and as long as we're fighting in the in the bunker with each other and turning our rifles on one another we're going to let the enemy continue to advance and we have to stop it and we've said this before in podcast I get it but it's it's worth saying again yeah we have to stop fighting each other when we have a common enemy who is advancing against this world advancing against our kids advancing against our neighbors advancing against people that we love and we're allowing them to be picked off one by one because we're being distracted by nonsense and silliness and foolishness on Twitter well guys I think this is an important conversation and uh it is something where I want to leave us with the idea that we need to act if we really trust the Lord if we really trust that he is who the Bible tells us that he is then we can act without fear it doesn't matter what's what's in front of us we can act without fear knowing that God is Sovereign over the results of everything and that we can trust in him regardless and yeah he's with us to the end of the age he said that's right he's given them up but not us he's going to be with us as we do his there's our hope yeah Christ is building his church the Gates of Hell will not Prevail against it God is Sovereign but we have to remember that he's Sovereign over both the end and the means and that's where the responsibility of the church comes in amen that's right well thanks guys it's a good conversation see you next time for another episode of redeeming truth hey don't leave yet if you're part of the 75% of people that watch our content but haven't subscribed this is your time go down and find that little subscribe button and click it that way you will know every time we come out with more content here from Redeemer Bible Church also if you would like to give to this Ministry this is the only way that this ministry can happen make sure to click the link down below to the give button and you can give to the ministry here at Redeemer and then finally if you want to know more about what's going on check out this podcast right here

Channel: Redeemer Bible Church AZ

Views: 3,807

Keywords: Is America Under God's Judgment?, redeeming truth podcast, redeeming truth, usa rejects God, Redeemer Bible Church, Bible Church, Sound Doctrine, Gilbert Arizona, gospel centered, redeemeraz, church in phoenix, america, judgement, god's wrath, bible prophecy, end times, book of romans, repentance, sexual immorality, sin, hope, gospel, jesus, salvation, homosexuality, transgender, church, culture war, woke, marxism, social justice, christian podcast, reformed christian podcast, Usa

Id: X0r-Kahy4eU

Length: 33min 10sec (1990 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 03 2024