Bible Study Book Availability Update 12/2/2024

 This thought popped in my head as I was praying after reading Proverbs 28 this morning. It’s interesting that as I have read through the Bible, this was the chapter that I read this morning. (I won’t expand on that but I encourage you to read that chapter for yourself.) 

We think that our government should work for the common good, but as individuals we are sinful. Some of us recognize our sinfulness and turn to Jesus for forgiveness as we accept Him as Savior and submit to Him as Lord. Some want His salvation without His Lordship. Others are apathetic, agnostic or atheists. Others are blatantly, unashamedly evil. We cannot talk about the common good when we are rejecting God’s precepts and submitting to the evil around us. 

Let me talk about what I believe the true common good means. First, none of us are good. We just established that in the previous chapter. Only God is truly good.

Mark 10:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible

18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God.

When the rich young ruler called Jesus “Good Master”, he was so close to understanding. Only God is good. Jesus is Good Master because He is God. He is our only hope for goodness. 

Ephesians 2:12-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible

12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

Now, this is the point. The only common good that is truly good is when evil people repent of our sin, believing that Jesus is Lord, Messiah, Savior, Redeemer. In Him, and in Him alone we have what we need to exhibit goodness. That is not in our own efforts but in His work in our lives as we yield to Him as Lord.

2 Peter 1:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible

3 His[a] divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by[b] His own glory and goodness.

When we have life and godliness through Jesus, what is our responsibility?

Romans 10:14-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible

14 But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful[a] are the feet of those[b] who announce the gospel of good things![c] 16 But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?[d] 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

Our responsibility is to share this Good News with everyone. That is the greatest common good.

Matthew 28:19-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[a] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[b] I am with you always,[c] to the end of the age.”

What happens when we reject Him? We live in darkness. Interesting that we have read things on social media about the possibility of a power grid failure. I’m not saying there is spiritual significance to that, just that it is interesting. Darkness in scripture signifies sin and evil. Let me make a point that some may not agree with, but it is what I believe. We can not separate sin from evil. Sin is evil. Evil is sin. Same thing. 

John 3:19 Holman Christian Standard Bible

19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

We are subject to God’s wrath when we persist in sin and evil. 

Romans 2:5-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible

5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works:[c] 7 eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness; 9 affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 There is no favoritism with God.

Eternally, that wrath is the torment of hell, but how is God’s wrath carried out on earth?

Romans 13:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible 

4 For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

We need to daily, moment renew our commitment of submission to Christ’s Lordship, continue to search scripture, and proclaim the good news of Jesus for the common good.