THE RIGHTEOUS & THE WICKED

THE BIBLE IS FOR ME… A theme in the OT and NT… Under tension, stress, hardships and loss…. Under immense persecution and trials, many people have asked a question like the following…

ABRAHAM’S QUESTION Genesis 18:23 Abraham approached [God] and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Far be it from you to do such a thing… treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

JOB’S QUESTION Job 7:8-9 Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power? There children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe and without fear, and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

JEREMIAH’S QUESTION Jeremiah 12:1 Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

WHICH ENEMY THOUGHT ??? It’s not fair Its not what I want Maybe… I’m the only one Maybe… I’m too tired of waiting on God to do what I think He should do It’s just too hard…this trial I’m going through… Look at the wicked…they have it easy

DAVID’S QUESTION Psalm 10 Why, L ORD, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble? The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants;

the one who robs others curses and rejects the L ORD. The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.” He is secure at all times. He has no regard for your commands

ASAPH’S QUESTION But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked

HERE IS THE PROBLEM… Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM… Psalm 143:2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM… Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.

AUGUSTINE In the Old Testament the New Testament is concealed In the New Testament the Old Testament is revealed

THE APOSTLE PAUL… Romans 3:10-11 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

BUT HE GOES ON TO WRITE… But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood - to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

HERE IS THE ANSWER… 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

ANOTHER KEY TRUTH …120 years God was patient, then the flood 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

MORE ANSWERS TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS Some appear to have it all…Movie stars, Musicians, Rich and Famous… Proverbs 14:13-14 Even in laughter the heart may ache and rejoicing may end in grief. The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways and the good rewarded for theirs.

AN ANSWER IN JOB Job 20:4-5 “Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth, that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless last but a moment

DAVID DISCOVERED AN ANSWER Psalm 37 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

A SHIFT IN PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE Romans 4 What does scripture say?” Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work, but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

REVIEW Why do the wicked prosper? Answers: Common grace The “long suffering” of our God They don’t…some appear to for a while…but their end, if they don’t repent, is destruction. We should all be thankful for God’s patience and that our sins are forgiven, because we don’t want what’s fair right???