Introduction
Have you ever noticed the kind of STRANGE labels we have placed on certain things in our culture? The way we call things, or refer to them rather, can be quite strange if compared and analyzed. For instance, I think it’s totally weird that if someone has a problem with being cross-eyed, or struggles with one eye not focusing like it should, doctors call that a “lazy eye.” I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that the work ethic of one of my body parts needed to be called into question to explain my medical issue.
But we don’t do that with ANY other part of our body. Can you imagine walking into the doctor’s office for a consult, and your heartbeat is out of rhythm – perhaps you suffer from a heart murmur. But instead the doctor comes in and says, “Well, you’ve got a stupid heart. It doesn’t know how to stay in synch like it should.” Or what if the person suffered from liver failure and the doctor tells you, “Well you’ve got a deadbeat liver (or kidneys). It don’t wanna get off the pancreas and do it’s job.” No, my friend, that just doesn’t happen.
And what about in church? Oh yeah, we Christians have our own special labels for things. You ever been told you have a servant’s heart? What does that even mean? “Bill, you’ve got a servant’s heart.” – usually means they want you to start stacking chairs somewhere or moving tables. Just once I wanna rebut that statement when someone says it to me. “Chris, you have a servant’s heart.” Well you sir have a giver’s appendix. Or, you have the follicles of understanding – maybe the chin flaps of old age.
And we always have our special way of labeling something with each other, never calling something what it really is. For instance, “she’s a gossip” – no she’s got the gift of gab. We don’t say “no,” we say “I’ll pray about it.” People say, “that man is out of his mind.” No, that’s our youth pastor! And as humorous as those miss-appropriated labels are, as Christians we fall into a grave temptation to re-label sin in our lives. And when we do so, we do it casually and for various reasons, of which we’ll discuss momentarily.
It reminds me of grocery stores and advertisements I’ve seen across the internet. Here’s a few examples you can take a look at.
Each one of those pictures is clear evidence of a miss-labeled item, whether by complete ignorance or for comedic effect. But my point is that the world, and Christians alike, exercise the habit of changing the labels on sins in our lives. The reason we do so, is to create a more comfortable environment for ourselves, so we don’t feel convicted by Scripture, or awkward around others who do not share our standards and morale. Tonight let’s open the word of God to Romans chapter 1 and discovery man’s problem with miss-labeling sin, and RE-discover God’s correct labeling system as laid out in Scripture.
But we don’t do that with ANY other part of our body. Can you imagine walking into the doctor’s office for a consult, and your heartbeat is out of rhythm – perhaps you suffer from a heart murmur. But instead the doctor comes in and says, “Well, you’ve got a stupid heart. It doesn’t know how to stay in synch like it should.” Or what if the person suffered from liver failure and the doctor tells you, “Well you’ve got a deadbeat liver (or kidneys). It don’t wanna get off the pancreas and do it’s job.” No, my friend, that just doesn’t happen.
And what about in church? Oh yeah, we Christians have our own special labels for things. You ever been told you have a servant’s heart? What does that even mean? “Bill, you’ve got a servant’s heart.” – usually means they want you to start stacking chairs somewhere or moving tables. Just once I wanna rebut that statement when someone says it to me. “Chris, you have a servant’s heart.” Well you sir have a giver’s appendix. Or, you have the follicles of understanding – maybe the chin flaps of old age.
And we always have our special way of labeling something with each other, never calling something what it really is. For instance, “she’s a gossip” – no she’s got the gift of gab. We don’t say “no,” we say “I’ll pray about it.” People say, “that man is out of his mind.” No, that’s our youth pastor! And as humorous as those miss-appropriated labels are, as Christians we fall into a grave temptation to re-label sin in our lives. And when we do so, we do it casually and for various reasons, of which we’ll discuss momentarily.
It reminds me of grocery stores and advertisements I’ve seen across the internet. Here’s a few examples you can take a look at.
Each one of those pictures is clear evidence of a miss-labeled item, whether by complete ignorance or for comedic effect. But my point is that the world, and Christians alike, exercise the habit of changing the labels on sins in our lives. The reason we do so, is to create a more comfortable environment for ourselves, so we don’t feel convicted by Scripture, or awkward around others who do not share our standards and morale. Tonight let’s open the word of God to Romans chapter 1 and discovery man’s problem with miss-labeling sin, and RE-discover God’s correct labeling system as laid out in Scripture.1. Man Re-Writes The Labels
It helps to understand the reasoning behind the miss-labeling epidemic by first looking at verses 18 through 20 of Romans 1 – “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Paul explains to us here that because man is without excuse from knowing of God by his general revelation in creation and so forth, he is unexcused from his sin (who hold the truth in unrighteousness). They are without excuse, and are at enmity (bitter odds) with God. God punishes sin, and man doesn’t like to be told that what he is doing is wrong. Therefore, man decides to re-label sin as something else in order to appease the conscience, squelch the conviction, and create a false sense of happiness out of life. Verse 20 clearly says, “So they are without excuse.” And by God’s declaration, man has no wiggle room, but it doesn’t stop us from changing the labels.
Verses 22-25 show us examples of man’s invented labeling system for sin. Paul prefaces his illustration with the statement “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Here is the thesis for the following verses (23-32) as he illustrates how man has gone from wise men to fools in their minds. How often do we see that in culture today? It is no mere accident that man thinks he is smarter and smarter the more he delves into the delusions of evolution and scientific reasoning, all the while as they think they are becoming smarter, are in actuality becoming the greater fool. Paul shows that as an example in verse 25 by “worship[ing] and serv[ing] the creater more than the Creator.”
Let me illustrate to you in the following verses some ways that man has wielded his label maker on the things of God.
“changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…” – man has decided to re-label idolatry as true worship. Instead of serving and obeying the one true and living God of Scripture, man resorts to idols made of their own hands. Even in today’s culture, we as the human race worship creation more than the creator through various religions and idolatry such as materialism, money, sex, power, and greed. THOSE things to man are what’s more important than God. That’s the wrong label my friends.
Briefly, Paul speak about the perverse sin of sexual immorality in verse 24. “…God gave them up to uncleanness…to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.” Man has re-labeled what is right in regards to sexual purity. This sin by far is extremely obvious in our culture, spanning all demographics of society. Instead of sex outside of marriage, or even the more perverse sin of homosexuality being an abomination in the eyes of God, man has re-labeled it to be “your choice” or “a normal body function just like eating and drinking” – Hugh Hefner. Many even go so far to say in the realm of homosexuality that “people are born that way. They can’t help themselves.” This is man’s label for these sins. They are no longer wrong, they are right, and are exalted and encouraged.
Finally verse 25 gives the final blow in man’s label system. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie.” Man has gone so far in his relabeling system that what God has called true, man calls a lie, and vice versa. The word of God is no longer the authority in your life, it’s man’s reasoning and scientific discoveries. This world will feed you a plethora of new labels regarding sin my friends. It’s no longer a lie, it’s a fib. You don’t have an anger problem, it’s a personality flaw. You’re not a fornicator, you’re just doing something between two consenting adults. It’s not adultery, it’s a love affair. It’s not an abomination to God, it’s exalted by man. It’s not wrong anymore, it’s ok. It’s not God’s temple, it’s your body, your choice. Man has changed the truth of God into a lie by relabeling what God calls sin.
Paul explains to us here that because man is without excuse from knowing of God by his general revelation in creation and so forth, he is unexcused from his sin (who hold the truth in unrighteousness). They are without excuse, and are at enmity (bitter odds) with God. God punishes sin, and man doesn’t like to be told that what he is doing is wrong. Therefore, man decides to re-label sin as something else in order to appease the conscience, squelch the conviction, and create a false sense of happiness out of life. Verse 20 clearly says, “So they are without excuse.” And by God’s declaration, man has no wiggle room, but it doesn’t stop us from changing the labels.
Verses 22-25 show us examples of man’s invented labeling system for sin. Paul prefaces his illustration with the statement “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Here is the thesis for the following verses (23-32) as he illustrates how man has gone from wise men to fools in their minds. How often do we see that in culture today? It is no mere accident that man thinks he is smarter and smarter the more he delves into the delusions of evolution and scientific reasoning, all the while as they think they are becoming smarter, are in actuality becoming the greater fool. Paul shows that as an example in verse 25 by “worship[ing] and serv[ing] the creater more than the Creator.”
Let me illustrate to you in the following verses some ways that man has wielded his label maker on the things of God.
“changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man…” – man has decided to re-label idolatry as true worship. Instead of serving and obeying the one true and living God of Scripture, man resorts to idols made of their own hands. Even in today’s culture, we as the human race worship creation more than the creator through various religions and idolatry such as materialism, money, sex, power, and greed. THOSE things to man are what’s more important than God. That’s the wrong label my friends.
Briefly, Paul speak about the perverse sin of sexual immorality in verse 24. “…God gave them up to uncleanness…to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.” Man has re-labeled what is right in regards to sexual purity. This sin by far is extremely obvious in our culture, spanning all demographics of society. Instead of sex outside of marriage, or even the more perverse sin of homosexuality being an abomination in the eyes of God, man has re-labeled it to be “your choice” or “a normal body function just like eating and drinking” – Hugh Hefner. Many even go so far to say in the realm of homosexuality that “people are born that way. They can’t help themselves.” This is man’s label for these sins. They are no longer wrong, they are right, and are exalted and encouraged.
Finally verse 25 gives the final blow in man’s label system. “Who changed the truth of God into a lie.” Man has gone so far in his relabeling system that what God has called true, man calls a lie, and vice versa. The word of God is no longer the authority in your life, it’s man’s reasoning and scientific discoveries. This world will feed you a plethora of new labels regarding sin my friends. It’s no longer a lie, it’s a fib. You don’t have an anger problem, it’s a personality flaw. You’re not a fornicator, you’re just doing something between two consenting adults. It’s not adultery, it’s a love affair. It’s not an abomination to God, it’s exalted by man. It’s not wrong anymore, it’s ok. It’s not God’s temple, it’s your body, your choice. Man has changed the truth of God into a lie by relabeling what God calls sin.
2. God’s Labeling System For Sin
So how do we make things right? Before we deal with the flawed labeling system of this world, we need to consult the true labeling manual so we can change the labels back to what they should be and once were. God makes no apologies for how he labels sin in Scripture and neither should we. If we are to follow the words of our theme passage “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), then we must hold ourselves accountable to God’s labeling system, not man’s. So let’s list a few example of the differences between man and God’s labels.
Sex outside of marriage is ok
1 Cor. 6:14 – Flee fornication
It’s ok to bend the truth a little
Exodus 20:16 – Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
Homosexuals are born that way
Genesis 2 – God created man in HIS image (straight)
Romans 1 - It is a perverse sexual sin in the eyes of God
Hating someone is ok
Matthew 5:22 – whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment
You can look, but you just can’t touch
Matthew 5:28: - whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
I can date/marry whoever I want
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – be ye not unequally yolked
I don’t have to go to church all the time
Hebrews 10:24-25 – forsake not the assembly
Cuss words are normal words
Ephesians 4:29 – let no corrupt communication come from your mouth; minister grace to the hearer
Dress however you want / live however you want / do whatever you want to with your body
2 Corinthians 6:19-20 – your body is a temple; glorify God in your body which is His
This is not an exhaustive list at all, but it’s clearly understood that we can’t handling making the labels. We fail every time. Our label system is intrinsically flawed because it caters to our own selfish desires, to “obey it [sin] in the lusts thereof.” – Romans 6:12. That is why Paul says in the verse part of Romans 6:12 to NOT “let sin therefore reign in your mortal body.” God’s labeling system is perfect. It is just, holy, without error. God, who knew no sin, CAN be, and SHOULD only be, the sole owner of the label maker when it comes to sin in our lives. We can call them indiscretions, personality flaws, or by-products of our environment all we want, but God sees it differently. And when it comes to whose standards we are held accountable by, God’s standards trumps man’s wisdom, or should I say his foolishness – Rom. 1:22 every time.
Sex outside of marriage is ok
1 Cor. 6:14 – Flee fornication
It’s ok to bend the truth a little
Exodus 20:16 – Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
Homosexuals are born that way
Genesis 2 – God created man in HIS image (straight)
Romans 1 - It is a perverse sexual sin in the eyes of God
Hating someone is ok
Matthew 5:22 – whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment
You can look, but you just can’t touch
Matthew 5:28: - whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
I can date/marry whoever I want
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – be ye not unequally yolked
I don’t have to go to church all the time
Hebrews 10:24-25 – forsake not the assembly
Cuss words are normal words
Ephesians 4:29 – let no corrupt communication come from your mouth; minister grace to the hearer
Dress however you want / live however you want / do whatever you want to with your body
2 Corinthians 6:19-20 – your body is a temple; glorify God in your body which is His
This is not an exhaustive list at all, but it’s clearly understood that we can’t handling making the labels. We fail every time. Our label system is intrinsically flawed because it caters to our own selfish desires, to “obey it [sin] in the lusts thereof.” – Romans 6:12. That is why Paul says in the verse part of Romans 6:12 to NOT “let sin therefore reign in your mortal body.” God’s labeling system is perfect. It is just, holy, without error. God, who knew no sin, CAN be, and SHOULD only be, the sole owner of the label maker when it comes to sin in our lives. We can call them indiscretions, personality flaws, or by-products of our environment all we want, but God sees it differently. And when it comes to whose standards we are held accountable by, God’s standards trumps man’s wisdom, or should I say his foolishness – Rom. 1:22 every time.
Conclusion
My friends, it all boils down to the choice you have to make. You can re-label and re-label sin all you want, and it doesn’t change how God sees it, what God calls it, and how he punishes those sins. And just because the label may make us feel less convicted over sin in our lives, it doesn’t change the severity of the punishment that goes with committing those sins. Why don’t you hand over the label maker and put it in God’s hands. Stop trying to rename sin to fit our lifestyle and repent, forsake those sins, and live our lives in righteousness by God’s standards and under his labeling system. Let’s change hands on the labeling by exercising 1 John 1:9.
And to those who do not know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, you need a label change too. You may be living your life with the label of “I’m ok. I’m fine on my own.” God’s correct label for you friend is 2 Peter 3:9. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Your label says your ok. God's label says, "Ye MUST be born again." Why not walk out of here tonight wearing the correct label for your life, “saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.”?
And to those who do not know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, you need a label change too. You may be living your life with the label of “I’m ok. I’m fine on my own.” God’s correct label for you friend is 2 Peter 3:9. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Your label says your ok. God's label says, "Ye MUST be born again." Why not walk out of here tonight wearing the correct label for your life, “saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.”?
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