Beloved, the days we live in are unlike any other. Sin has become more intricate, more deceptive, and more stubborn than ever before. The Bible warns us that in the last days, hearts will grow cold, minds will be darkened, and people will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Today, I want to speak to the complexity of the modern sinner, a sinner who is stubborn, knowingly rejects the holiness of God, yet inexplicably accepts His power.
1. The Complexity of Today’s Sinners
Modern sinners are not simple-minded; they are complicated. They know the truth of God’s existence, the power of His Word, and the reality of His judgment. Yet, they choose to live in rebellion, ignoring the holiness of God.
Stubbornness in Rebellion:
They are like the Israelites in the wilderness, resisting Moses, rejecting God’s commandments, and hardening their hearts. Their stubbornness is rooted in pride, self-will, and a refusal to submit to God’s divine authority.
Knowing God Yet Denying His Holiness:
Many today acknowledge God’s power and His ability to do miracles, but they deny His holiness. They accept His power to perform, to bless, and to heal, yet they refuse to acknowledge His righteousness, His purity, and His demand for holy living.
Acceptance of Power, Rejection of Holiness:
This paradox reveals a dangerous spiritual deception. They are comfortable with God’s power as a means to their own ends, but they reject the very nature of God, that He is holy, righteous, and demands holiness from His people.
2. The Heart of the Modern Sinner: Stubbornness and Self-Deception
Stubborn Heart:
The Bible describes stubbornness as as the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). It is a refusal to turn from sin, a persistent resistance to God’s Spirit. Today’s sinners are often entrenched in their rebellion, resisting conviction, and hardening their hearts against repentance.
Self-Deception:
Many believe that knowing about God’s power is enough. They think, “God is able to do anything,” but they do not consider that God’s holiness requires a response, repentance, surrender, and sanctification. Their knowledge puffs them up, making them believe they are okay, even while they live in sin.
The Danger of Accepting Power Without Holiness:
There’s a dangerous trend where people chase after signs, wonders, and miracles, but refuse the call to holiness. They want God’s power to bless their flesh, their plans, and their ambitions, but they resist the call to live a holy life, separated, pure, and Christlike.
3. The Deception of Knowing God Without Holiness
Knowing God vs. Truly Loving God:
Many claim to know God, but their lives deny His holiness. They may attend church, shout, dance, and even perform religious acts, yet their hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8-9).
Accepting God’s Power, Rejecting His Holiness:
They are like those who seek the gifts but reject the Giver. They want the benefits of God’s power, but they are not willing to submit to His holiness. This is a dangerous deception, believing that God’s power can be manipulated or used without regard for His righteousness.
The Spirit of Laodicea:
They are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, trusting in their own spiritual achievements while denying God’s holy standard. Revelation 3:15-16 warns that such a state is offensive to God.
4. The Consequences of This Complicated Sin
Spiritual Blindness:
Their stubbornness leads to spiritual blindness. They cannot see their true state, nor recognize the holiness of God. They are like the Pharisees, outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt.
Judgment and Delay:
God is patient, but His patience is not endless. He will judge sin, especially when it is compounded by pride, rebellion, and deception. Their refusal to repent will lead to eternal separation from God.
The Danger of Familiarity:
Knowing God superficially can breed familiarity without reverence. It is possible to be so close to divine power that we become desensitized to His holiness.
5. How Should We Respond?
Repentance and Holiness:
The only remedy for this complicated sin is genuine repentance, a turning away from rebellion and toward God’s holiness. We must seek sanctification, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform every part of our being.
Fear and Reverence of God:
We must understand that God is not only powerful but holy. His power is for those who respect His authority and walk in His righteousness.
Preaching the Full Gospel:
The message of the Gospel must include repentance, holiness, and surrender. We cannot be content with superficial faith or superficial knowledge of God.
Walking in the Spirit:
To combat stubbornness and deception, believers must walk continually in the Spirit, staying connected to God’s holiness, and resisting the flesh and worldly influences.
Today’s sinners are indeed complicated. They are stubborn, proud, and deceived. They know God’s power but reject His holiness, believing they can have one without the other. But the Bible declares that holiness is the standard, without it, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
God is calling His people to rise above the deception, to seek His holiness with all their hearts, and to live lives that reflect His pure, righteous nature. The power of God is available, yes!, but only for those who embrace His holiness, who repent of their stubbornness, and who walk in truth and righteousness.
Let this be a warning and a call:
Repent today, forsake your stubbornness, and pursue holiness with all your heart. For only then will you truly see His power and experience His glory.
May the Lord awaken the hearts of the deceived, soften the hardened, and restore the broken to a life of holiness and righteousness.
Yours In His Service
C. C. RAYMOND
