The Nature of Our Rebellion

Through Jesus Christ and His written word, God has revealed that he is a holy, righteous, just, loving God.  But, He has also revealed that human beings are separated from Him by their sin and rebellion and have been judged for it.  Unregenerate human beings exist in a condition of spiritual death.  However, God has also revealed that we can be restored to life by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Once restored by faith, we are ‘born again’ to spiritual life that is eternal.  The price of this redemption is that we repent of our sin and rebellion and accept His Lordship over all that we are and do.  Men who create religions out of their efforts to define God always place men at the center and exalt themselves.  The true revelation of God is a big slap in face for men who are lovers of themselves, who really want to be little gods.

 The idea that humans can define God logically puts personal experience on the same footing with divine revelation.  This is what makes the idea that truth can be adjusted from person to person so appealing to so many.  If my personal opinion and experience is a valid way to define God, then who is to say whose opinion and experience should prevail as the final truth.  So, people resolve this by asserting there are many paths up the mountain to God and no way is superior or exclusive.  We all wind up in the same place, so everybody’s truth is the truth.  As illogical as this sounds, millions of people believe this is true.  It is supported and sustained by the idea that mankind can define God.

Since the revelation of God in Christ presents some depressing news for those who prefer to be gods themselves, believing that human opinion and experience is equal to divine revelation provides the courage to deny the supremacy of the Biblical revelation concerning sin and judgment.  However, once a person accepts that it is impossible for a human to define or know anything factual about God without divine revelation, accepting the truth of Christ becomes a possibility for them.  However, until a person gives up this lie they will remain in darkness and God’s truth will be an affront to their rebellious hearts. 

This lie provides a false sense that we are in control of our own lives, which is exactly what God wants us to relinquish to Him.  Our rebellion is in refusing Him His right as our creator to have control of our life.