Episode 59 - I am a sinful manWebster’s 1828 - UNCLEAN - Not clean; foul; dirty; filthy. In the Jewish law, ceremonially impure; not cleansed by ritual practices.
Key Verse - Luke 5:8 - When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. ”
Peter had been with Jesus but then he realized who Jesus actually was. He called Him, “Master” but then in verse 8 he recognized his sinful condition as he saw who God was.
We often view God through our own lens and lower Him to our level instead of seeing Him as Peter saw Him when he performed this miracle
Isaiah 6:1-5 - In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
When we are in the presence of God, we see ourselves as unclean. We have no choice but to see the stark contrast between man and God, and we cannot fully understand the great divide as we can only see it through our human eyes.
God is Holy
Lesson 1 of the Exchange, God cannot look upon sin
Habakkuk 1:13 - You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong (iniquity, sin, wickedness)
Exodus 33:17-23 - And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son
Matthew 17:1-2 - And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
John 3:30 - He must increase, but I must decrease.
We must all come to this realization in order to come to Christ. There are two religions in this world: Works based and faith based. Works based in grounded in us increasing and He decreasing whereas faith based is holding Him in His proper view of Him increased and us decreased.
The fall of man was predicated on the elevation of self (Lucifer) and it is the downfall of man that sends him to hell when he is not accepting of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
John 9:24-25 - Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
We were all blind before coming to Christ, and when we put Him in His rightful place, He opens our eyes to the truth.
Praise God for what He is doing in the lives of people!
I’ve had the privilege to play a small part in two young me coming to Christ recently.
Have you put God in His rightful place or are you like King Festus?
Acts 26:24-28 - And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
What about you Christian? Are you seeing God through your lens or are you seeing Him as Peter saw Him on that day? “For I am a sinful man, O Lord. ”
There are many instances in the Bible where people repented (changed their mind) and thus, changed their lives.
Will you decrease Christian and let Him Increase? Will you give of your life to Him? Will you serve the Almighty God who is able to change your life like no one else? What are you living for today? Self? The pursuit of this world? Work? Money? Prestige?
Maybe you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior. Maybe you are depending on your own good works (self). Will you open your blind eyes to the truth? Will you surrender yourself to His kingship in your life?
Peter was spiritually naked before God and saw his sinful state!
Will you surrender lordship over your life and surrender to Him today?
Romans 14:11 - For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
He will always have the preeminence, so you decide if you will surrender or will you be forced to bow the knee?
