Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness from God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

The just shall live by faith: This phrase that Paul quotes is from Habakkuk 2:4 and Paul also quotes this same verse of Scripture two other times, in Galatians 3:11 and in Hebrews 10:38, I believe that Paul wrote the letter to the Hebrews. It is a very important Scripture for our present day, because the context always has to do with the proclaiming of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the end of time, and the return of the Lord.

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, (those) who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

One of the signs that the end of days is near, is the total disregard for the truth that not only politicians and those who serve the public in government and news gathering are exhibiting right now, but the willingness of the population at large to believe the obvious lie.

There was a time when those who were exposed for lying to the public while serving in public office, had their careers ended for the shame that such actions brought upon them and the mistrust that would follow. Now it is considered an art form to twist the words around that articulate a bold lie in such a way that to question their sincerity makes you look like the bad guy.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth, that is why in the verse preceding our opening text Paul boldly proclaims that he is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God to salvation. Here is the reason why in today’s environment the Gospel of Jesus makes so many people uncomfortable.

Revelation 22:15 “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

Wow, whoever loves and practices a lie will not enter into heaven. The art of subtle deception is a big industry and a lot of big bucks are made by its practitioners today. It is no wonder they try so hard to keep the Gospel from going forward, they cannot handle the truth, so they resort to ridicule the faithful and heap verbal and sometimes physical abuse upon those of us who walk by faith and not by sight.

The number one rule in the liars handbook is this: Misdirection, when caught lying, accuse your opponents of doing it first, that way they avoid responsibility for their own actions, but Paul clearly states that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against such people.

What is it that puts at odds and brings to the forefront the preaching of the Gospel and the perpetration of the big lie during these last days?

The foundation of the Gospel is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. We must believe that we are sinners worthy of death, and that the Gospel, which means good news, offers us a way out by way of a pardon, but that pardon cannot be issued on our behalf unless we accept full responsibility for our sins by confessing them before Jesus. After admitting that we are sinners, we turn to fully trusting that God in His mercy, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness with the precious blood that Jesus shed for our sins.

That was the culture of most western nations under the Judeo Christian value system that past generations were brought up under; admit your mistakes, assume responsibility for your misdeeds, receive forgiveness and do not do it again whatever it was that you did wrong!

But that is not the culture that our present generation has been brought up to believe, under secular humanism they are told not to get caught, so if they can get away with their wrong doing, no harm done.

What happens if they get caught? Blame it on something or someone else, society, your parents, your neighbors, it's is their fault; and avoid responsibility by all means. In other words lie through your teeth if you have to, after all, what difference does it make at this time? But you have to say it with conviction, if you do, the press will love you for that.

This is why there is so much disregard for the truth nowadays.

But if judgment is coming, and that is what the Gospel teaches, then our faith and way of life to them becomes an inconvenient truth that they do not want to put up with.

Habakkuk 2:2-4 “...Write the vision (of the gospel) and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end (of time) it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud (those under the influence of secular humanism), his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”

Pride goes before the fall, and secular humanism is based on the spirit of pride, so that we can clearly see that during the end of time, the Gospel will be preached to all the nations, meanwhile the spirit of secular knowledge will continue to corrupt mankind with the lie.

Romans 1:25 “Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

In the verses that follow you can see a clear depiction of a culture that has been nurtured under the tutelage of the lie. It brings to mind the Scripture that says that the more that sin abounds the more that the grace of God abounds. So that there is an opportunity here for those of us who are not ashamed of the Gospel, to proclaim the truth in love to those who are perishing, to admonish them to make themselves right with God before the final judgment comes, remember that though it tarries, wait for it, for it will surely come.

Romans 2:6-9 “(God) Who will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil…”

The choice that we present to them is a clear choice, we are all sinners, but our God is a merciful God, if He forgave me, and He did, surely He will forgive you as well. We speak the truth in love and with the clear conviction that the time of His return is very near.

Galatians 3:22 “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to (all) those who believe.”

The only requirement is faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:22-23 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

The time is short and the days for salvation are drawing even shorter, I plead with those of you who are still able to follow the path of reason, that through common sense you might be able to understand that present human behavior defies natural logic.

Clearly, humanity is rushing headlong into an incomprehensible abyss of unparalleled historical precedent, we have seen bits and pieces of the horrors that are coming under the banner of men’s inhumanity to men, but that is all kid stuff compared to that which is coming.

Surely you do not want to be part of that, do you? I know that it is hard to understand the born again experience without the experience, but God also says that we should come and reason together with Him.

If you are not sure of your future, why don’t you just ask Him, that’s how I got saved. I came to the conclusion, when I was twenty nine years of age, that I could not be righteous before God on my own merits so I just simply prayed: Lord, I lack the ability to be perfect before You, unless You show me how to be right with You, I will not make it to heaven, or something like that.

Amazing how immediately He began to work things out in my life and eventually lead me to a church service, where I responded to an altar call and experienced that very night my new life in Jesus Christ. I just celebrated this June, thirty seven years since that glorious night, June 2, 1976 that changed my life and my family’s life forever.

God is no respecter of persons, there is no sin too big that He will not forgive, and there is no desire whatsoever in His heart to inflict punishment on you or anyone else, as it is written:

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them: ‘As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”

God views human life as very precious in His sight, if you with a true heart ask Him to reveal His path of salvation for you, there is no rock that He will not move out of your way so that you can find His salvation. And once you’ve experienced His love for you, you will never be the same, I can testify to that.

Remember always that the just shall live by his/her faith.

May God bless you with His salvation, and thank you for taking this lesson to heart.