Liberty Church Audio

During the last two podcasts, we talked about how we can’t mock God because our disdain does not, and cannot, change the reality of who He is and what He cares about.

But on the other hand, there is a way that we can indeed mock God.

The writer Matthew reports about Christ’s trial: “…the soldiers of the governor… gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. Then... they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him... and those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads.”

Christ allowed Himself to be mocked. He was patient, long-suffering, and gracious enough to love us and give Himself for us, even in the face of all the disdain that came at His expense.

And Christ died--and the cosmos quaked.

And the mockery stopped: When the centurion and those who were with him saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!"

We wonder at Christ’s love for those who mock Him, as He ushered in the age of grace..

During the last two podcasts, we talked about how we can’t mock God because our disdain does not, and cannot, change the reality of who He is and what He cares about.

But on the other hand, there is a way that we can indeed mock God.

The writer Matthew reports about Christ’s trial: “…the soldiers of the governor… gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. Then... they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him... and those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads.”

Christ allowed Himself to be mocked. He was patient, long-suffering, and gracious enough to love us and give Himself for us, even in the face of all the disdain that came at His expense.

And Christ died--and the cosmos quaked.

And the mockery stopped: When the centurion and those who were with him saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!"

We wonder at Christ’s love for those who mock Him, as He ushered in the age of grace..

Who is Paul talking to when he writes, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap?”

He’s talking to church people.

He’s not griping about the surrounding culture or shaking his finger at the Roman Empire, warning corrupt outsiders that God is about to smack them down.

No. He’s writing to those who believe in Christ. To those under grace.

If we live out of Christ’s Spirit, we’ll reap the blessings of eternal life. We’ll experience a bit of heaven right now.

But, if we live from our old selves, we’ll reap corruption—moral decay—and spend our lives with nothing to show for it. It’s a promise and a warning.

A promise that we’ll reap benefits of living in the Spirit. A warning that we’ll reap the rot of living out our old ways.

So Paul says, “Don’t lie to yourself. You can’t change Reality.”

The world needs to see the church living a new life and reaping those rewards.

Who is Paul talking to when he writes, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap?”

He’s talking to church people.

He’s not griping about the surrounding culture or shaking his finger at the Roman Empire, warning corrupt outsiders that God is about to smack them down.

No. He’s writing to those who believe in Christ. To those under grace.

If we live out of Christ’s Spirit, we’ll reap the blessings of eternal life. We’ll experience a bit of heaven right now.

But, if we live from our old selves, we’ll reap corruption—moral decay—and spend our lives with nothing to show for it. It’s a promise and a warning.

A promise that we’ll reap benefits of living in the Spirit. A warning that we’ll reap the rot of living out our old ways.

So Paul says, “Don’t lie to yourself. You can’t change Reality.”

The world needs to see the church living a new life and reaping those rewards.

“Why does Paul say, “God is not mocked” when He is mocked all the time? Look at the movies and the comedy shows.

We turn up our noses at His mere existence.

We sniff at the limitations of His law.

We dismiss His concerns and show contempt for any moral reasoning that might even slightly cut across our desires.

We laugh at and dismiss the warnings—along with the promised blessings of living in accord with His standards.

But even though an entire Universe of people may laugh at Him or simply dismiss Him, Paul is saying that God is not mocked. Not really. Not in the end—because the mocking doesn’t change the Reality.

And when reality settles in and God is vindicated, as He surely will be, all our sneering and sniffing disdain, contempt, and laughter will fall from our confident faces.

Then we will close our mouths, because the joking is over.

And we were wrong.

Seriously wrong.”

“Why does Paul say, “God is not mocked” when He is mocked all the time? Look at the movies and the comedy shows.

We turn up our noses at His mere existence.

We sniff at the limitations of His law.

We dismiss His concerns and show contempt for any moral reasoning that might even slightly cut across our desires.

We laugh at and dismiss the warnings—along with the promised blessings of living in accord with His standards.

But even though an entire Universe of people may laugh at Him or simply dismiss Him, Paul is saying that God is not mocked. Not really. Not in the end—because the mocking doesn’t change the Reality.

And when reality settles in and God is vindicated, as He surely will be, all our sneering and sniffing disdain, contempt, and laughter will fall from our confident faces.

Then we will close our mouths, because the joking is over.

And we were wrong.

Seriously wrong.”

Thoughts on Inauguration Day 2021.

Thoughts on Inauguration Day 2021.

Tension in the air at Thanksgiving? Here is some help! Based on 1 Peter 2:1-3.

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