Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 4 Study # 16
October 19, 2004
Lincolnton, N.C.
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Thesis: Man's aggression toward "Life" has a basic focus [opposition to authority] and a four-fold foundation [ignorance, vacillation, an absence of basic commitment, and an intentional mercilessness].
Introduction: This evening we have come to our final study of Paul's grocery list of the faults of man because of his rejection of God. Since Paul's terminology compels a review, we will get into the study and let the review develop from his words.
- I. The Fundamentals of Man's Fault.
- A. He is an inventor of evil.
- 1. Paul's use of "inventor" is an intensified form of a verb that means to seek for something new. It is an aggressive pursuit.
- 2. Paul's use of "evil" is repetitive: this is the third time he has surfaced this issue and it is fundamental. Man has an absolute antagonism toward "Life".
- B. His expression of that inventiveness is rebellion against authority.
- 1. Parents are the first and primary line of defense against the onslaught of chaos.
- 2. The child's natural aggression against the parental authority is a clear manifestation of Paul's claim: men despise being subjected to any kind of authority.
- II. The Fundamentals of Man's Reality.
- A. He has no understanding.
- 1. Man's lack of "understanding" is real and profound: he is so opposed to being in submission that he has rejected the fundamental groundwork of "Life".
- 2. This wipes out any real understanding because it cuts all of the foundational points of reference out and leaves man with no real ability to tie things together.
- B. He has no anchor (he will not keep agreements).
- 1. Because man will not submit to authority, he certainly will not bind himself to any agreement.
- 2. This cuts him loose from any kind of anchor that could produce life.
- C. He has no connections (he is "unattracted to" others).
- 1. His total commitment to self-determination makes it impossible for him to have any self-denying tendencies for the sake of others.
- 2. Others are only of value to him as tools in his schemes.
- D. He undermines himself (he will not accept any failure in others).
- 1. As tools in the schemes, "others" must perform as demanded.
- 2. Since "others" are just a self-determining as he is, there is no hope that they will perform as demanded unless they see it as a way to accomplish their own designs.