"The Perishing"

Scriptural Text: ;

Illustration: plants or shrubs slowly dying after it becomes infected or damaged(ex, fig tree parable); drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality...not desiring the things of God.

Someone Once Said …

• Sin has ruined men, ruined women, ruined angels. Sin has occasioned every tear of sorrow, every sigh of grief, every pang of agony. Sin has withered everything that is fair, blasted everything that is good, made bitter everything that is sweet, dried up springs of comfort, rolled far and wide tides of sorrow. Sin has digged every grave, built every coffin, woven every shroud, enlarged every cemetery … that the world has ever seen.—Robert G. Lee*

• All the old primitive sins are not dead but just crouching in the dark corners of our modern hearts—still there, and still as ghastly as ever.—Carl Jung, psychologist.*

• Sin has many manifestations, but its essence is one. A moral being, created to worship before the throne of God, sits on the throne of his own selfhood and from that elevated position declares, “I AM.” That is sin in its concentrated essence.—A. W. Tozer*

perish(verb) 1 literary die, especially in a violent or sudden way-suffer complete ruin or destruction.perishing( adjective)1 extremely cold.  Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

■ verb

1 literary die, especially in a violent or sudden way-suffer complete ruin or destruction.

suffer complete ruin or destruction.

perishing( adjective)

■ adjective Brit. informal

3 (be perished) Brit. informal be suffering from extreme cold.

 Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

1 extremely cold.  

Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, eds., Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004).

■ adjective Brit. informal

1 extremely cold.

2 dated used for emphasis or to express annoyance.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In this favorite verse of so many believers, the choices are “eternal life” on the one hand and “perish” on the other. “Perish” is a common descriptive verb for the fate of the wicked throughout the Bible. The most natural interpretation sees it as the opposite of life which, in this case, is eternal.

In this favorite verse of so many believers, the choices are “eternal life” on the one hand and “perish” on the other. “Perish” is a common descriptive verb for the fate of the wicked throughout the Bible. The most natural interpretation sees it as the opposite of life which, in this case, is eternal.

 Edward William Fudge, The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment, Third Edition. (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2011), 163.

12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. (ESV)

God gave the Jews greater privileges than the Gentiles, but with them greater responsibilities. God will judge righteously in both cases. “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law,” Paul writes here. John Murray comments: “The perishing referred to can be none other than that defined in the preceding verses as consisting in the infliction of God’s wrath and indignation and the endurance of tribulation and anguish in contrast with the glory, honor, incorruption, and peace bestowed upon the heirs of eternal life.

God gave the Jews greater privileges than the Gentiles, but with them greater responsibilities. God will judge righteously in both cases. “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law,” Paul writes here. John Murray comments: “The perishing referred to can be none other than that defined in the preceding verses as consisting in the infliction of God’s wrath and indignation and the endurance of tribulation and anguish in contrast with the glory, honor, incorruption, and peace bestowed upon the heirs of eternal life.

The present Scripture is a courtroom scene. God is seen issuing a strong indictment and warning against Israel and Judah. They were guilty of the most serious crimes. This is, The Lord’s Indictment and Warnings: A Picture of God’s Case Against the Human Race, 4:1–5:15.

A. The Lord’s case against the people: sins common to all (4:1-4).

Nine very specific charges were leveled against the people. The charges were serious, so much so that the people were exhorted to listen very carefully. After all, it was the Lord Himself who was issuing these charges.

Charge one: the people deceived and betrayed others. They were neither true nor faithful to their word (v.1). (; ; ; )

They made promises to both the Lord and others, but they were deceitful promises. From the beginning, they seldom intended to keep their word. They lacked integrity and could not be trusted, not in business dealings nor in social life. There was a scarcity of truth and faithfulness throughout the land of Hosea’s day.

They made promises to both the Lord and others, but they were deceitful promises. They lacked integrity and could not be trusted, not in business dealings nor in social life.

They made promises to both the Lord and others, but they were deceitful promises. They lacked integrity and could not be trusted, not in business dealings nor in social life.

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” ().

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” ().

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” ().

“None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity” ().

“And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity” ().

Charge two: the people showed no mercy or love to others (v.1). (; ; ; )

The needy—orphans, widows, widowers, sick, elderly, poor—were all ignored and neglected. Few people felt compassion and fewer still showed mercy to those in need. People were self-centered, focused on fulfilling their own lusts and desires.

The needy—orphans, widows, widowers, sick, elderly, poor—were all ignored and neglected. Few people felt compassion and fewer still showed mercy to those in need. People were self-centered, focused on fulfilling their own lusts and desires.

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” ().

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” ().

The needy—orphans, widows, widowers, sick, elderly, poor—were all ignored and neglected. Few people felt compassion and fewer still showed mercy to those in need. People were self-centered, focused on fulfilling their own lusts and desires.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” ().

“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” ().

Charge three: the people abandoned God and the knowledge of Him (v.1). ()

When the Bible speaks of knowing God, it does not mean knowing facts about God. It means knowing God personally and intimately. It means to establish a personal relationship with God, to walk with Him and fellowship with Him through prayer, to listen to Him through the study of His Holy Word.

“It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also” ().

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you....Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Christ] whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (, ).

“For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” ().

Charge four: the people filled the land with cursing, lies, and murder (v.2). (; )

Cursing or swearing was a violation of the third commandment, which forbids taking the name of the Lord God in vain.

No person should ever misuse God’s name in any way, whether speaking profanely, giving false testimony, or making deceitful oaths.

No person should ever misuse God’s name in any way, whether speaking profanely, giving false testimony, or making deceitful oaths.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” ().

“Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew” ().

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” ().

Charge five: the people were guilty of stealing and of committing adultery (v.2). (; ; )

2. The Lord’s case against the priests and prophets: sins common to religious workers (4:4-12).

A spirit of selfishness and covetousness flooded the land, so people took whatever they wanted and cheated whenever they could. Businesses overcharged customers by using unjust scales, overpricing products, or promoting cheaper quality materials. The general public shoplifted and stole from both businesses and neighbors whenever they could. Stealing is a violation of God’s eighth commandment.

A spirit of selfishness and covetousness flooded the land, so people took whatever they wanted and cheated whenever they could. Businesses overcharged customers by using unjust scales, overpricing products, or promoting cheaper quality materials. The general public shoplifted and stole from both businesses and neighbors whenever they could. Stealing is a violation of God’s eighth commandment.

“Thou shalt not steal” ().

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts [note this], false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” ().

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves [note this], nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” ().

Charge six: the people broke all restraints (v.2). Neither God’s Word, people’s consciences, nor any type of reasoning put a restraint on people’s behavior. (; ; )

They either denied or ignored God’s Word and His holy commandments. They allowed their hearts to become so hardened that they were no longer even convicted of wrong behavior.

They either denied or ignored God’s Word and His holy commandments. They allowed their hearts to become so hardened that they were no longer even convicted of wrong behavior.

“For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” ().

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” ().

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” ().

Charge seven: the people were guilty of allowing violence to run wild (v.2d). (, ; ; )

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness....Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers” (, ).

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness....Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers” (, ).

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” ().

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil” ().

Charge eight: the people were guilty of polluting the land with their sin and selfishness (v.3). (; ; ; )

In other words, the people’s sinful condition was being reflected in the land, polluting the air and contaminating the water supply.

In other words, the people’s sinful condition was being reflected in the land, polluting the air and contaminating the water supply.

“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” ().

“Cursed is the ground for thy sake” ().

“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left” ().

“How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end” ().

Charge nine: the people were guilty of blaming others instead of accepting responsibility for their own behavior and admitting their own guilt (v.4a). (; ; ; ; )

Morally and spiritually, the nation was in bad shape. There was also a tendency to blame others, especially the priests.

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (; also see vv.2-16).

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” ().

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” ().

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat” ().

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness” ().

2. The Lord’s case against the priests and prophets: sins common to religious workers (4:4-12).

3. The Lord’s warning to others (Judah): to flee the sins of Israel (4:13-19).

4. The Lord’s warning of coming judgment: to fall on the priests, citizens, and leaders (5:1-15).