THE WHOLE WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS
First John 5:19 is the key scripture for this message. It reads, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” This is the separating line. This scripture nails it. The first part is, “And we know we are of God,” and the second is, “The whole world lieth in wickedness.”
When you are of God it means a whole lot. First, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God” (1st John 4:2). It is important to know where and how you anchor your faith. This verse talks about confessing what you believe concerning Jesus Christ. The confession includes the following: a) for Jesus Christ to come in the flesh He must have been born into this world; b) to be born He must have stayed in the womb of a woman for about full term of nine months; c) to be in a woman’s womb since His mother and earthly father were yet to consummate their marriage, a miracle must have happened. This miracle is called the virgin birth according to Matt. 1:18, “She was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” To be of God, you must confess that Jesus Christ is of virgin birth and of the Holy Ghost.
You must believe that Jesus Christ was born into this world and seen of shepherds in a manger. He grew up and walked the streets of Jerusalem and other cities. He preached the gospel of the kingdom to humanity. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, and those who were possessed of devils were set free.
Again, He calmed the storm, walked on water and fed thousands of people. He was tempted, but did not sin. He prophesied about the future including the events of the last days. Those prophecies are coming to pass one after the other, including Israel becoming a nation again (the fig tree, Luke 21:29-33). If you believe these things, you are of God. But there is something more to confirm if you are really of God.
Jesus Christ came for a purpose and that must be the main center of your being of God. He came to die for the sins of the world. This was the death at the cross. The value of ‘life’ is the measure of the value of the blood. This gives the blood of Jesus Christ the inconceivable and immeasurable value. At the altar, which is the cross, God, in the form of man gave His life for all men who would believe in Him. Hebrew 10:4 says that it is not possible that the blood of bulls, goats and rams could take away sins. This is one of those facts that help you know if you are of God. Do you believe in the power of the blood of Jesus?
Leviticus 17:11 reads, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood….” Jesus Christ had given His blood for you upon the altar to make atonement for your soul. It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. You can imagine what the blood of God, Jesus Christ, did for all of mankind on the altar of the cross at Golgotha. How beautiful it is to remember John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ as a sacrifice on the altar of the cross), that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus Christ) should not perish but have everlasting life.” John1:12 reads, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe upon his name.”
Dear friend, have you gone to the altar and accepted the atonement by the blood of God, (Jesus Christ), by repenting of your sins? No other blood can atone for your sins. The blood of atonement must be shed and Jesus Christ shed His blood for you. Do you now believe? Time is short and there may not be a tomorrow for you. Today is the day of salvation and now is the acceptable time (2nd Corinthians 6:2). This world is passing away. Your life is only like a vapor. One day you will face God as your Savior and Lord or as your Judge. Choose Him as your Lord and Savior today!
When you are of God, it takes you back to your origin. According to Ephesians 1:1-14, there is consolation for those who are of God and it includes the following:
- According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.
- Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
- To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
- In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
- In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Now let us consider the other half of 1 John 5: 19, “…the whole world lieth in wickedness.” Wickedness can be defined as a departure from the rules of the divine law, evil disposition or practices, immorality, crime, sin, sinfulness, and corrupt manners; these generally signify evil practices. The statement indicates that the world is engaged in all manner of wickedness against the dictates of God, starting from the fall and discharge of satan from heaven till today.
In Genesis 3:1-11, there was disobedience in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Wickedness entered the life of men through sin. Man found comfort in the lies of the serpent in verse 5, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, (NOT GOD) knowing good and evil.” This was part of the pollution of the instructions of the Lord, a departure from the rules of divine law. Be careful of different versions and multiple expositions of the Bible. Many have either removed or added to the original wordings of the scripture. Stay with the original King James Version and not these versions written in modern language under the [false] assumption that they are more user friendly.
There is much wickedness in the land through willful declarations against the Bible. When children are denied the Word of God in their schools and prayers that mention Jesus Christ are forbidden and outlawed, and children are persecuted for praying, this is wickedness. This is so because they are denied the opportunity to hear the word and know the mind of God.
Imagine the number of abortions going on in the word! The blood of these unborn babies cry to God day and night. These babies are murdered through poisonous drugs, some butchered in the womb and suctioned out. Some have their supposed mother’s womb, a place that is supposed to provide comfort and security turned to their grave yard. This is wickedness and God is watching. Judgment will surely come upon this world. Many keep quiet to these babies’ cry. Many drug and cosmetic manufacturers are making money out of wickedness perpetrated against defenseless babies in the name of adult pleasures and careers.
Let us examine the human trafficking that is leading to young people, mainly females, ending up in prostitution. Adults are stealing and luring young and innocent children into a world of crime, drugs, prostitution and human sacrifice. All these create and foster wickedness. Men are selling their souls for money and pleasure under the influence of the devil and contrary to the Word of God. This is pure sin, sinful and wicked.
There are so many employers fulfilling the prophesies of James 5:4 which is documented as follows: “Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.” Does this not sound like workers who have worked for months and years and their salaries not paid? This is pure wickedness. The whole world lieth in wickedness. Some of these workers employed in banks and even church organizations are sexually exploited by those in charge. This is wickedness. God is watching.
Need I mention adultery by married men and women who abuse their marriage vows in the name of being incompatible? A woman in a quarrel with her husband told him to keep quiet or else she would call the father of her two children to come for them. Sad to say the husband thought that all the children, total of five, were his own; but only two were his own. You see this woman was living with this secret up till then, and she refused to let him know which children were his own. Just like some men have children out of their marriage and their wives have no idea. This is wickedness and surely the whole world dwells in wickedness. There is still time to repent and cry unto God for His forgiveness and mercies. Incest, referring to children who engage in sexual immorality with their parents, and close family members is wickedness. This is real wickedness and repentance is the only solution before it is too late. The whole world lieth in wickedness and deceit.
Christians are suffering great persecution around the world, terrorists are running wild. No government is making serious effort to control the situation. Many have been killed, maimed, raped and denied a safe residence. This is wickedness. God is watching, and He will judge every work of man.
In the midst of growing and ravaging diseases, with poor medical help, the poor are suffering and they are helpless. Many of these people die, not from the disease but from lack of hope in the medical help. The problem in some of the countries is the prohibitive cost of drugs and insurance costs. In others, it is a question of greed and lack of empathy from doctors and pharmacists. Imagine a case in Africa where a woman in labored was denied admission and treatment because of inability to pay. While the husband ran around town to search for financial help, the hospital refused to help her and she died there. The grieving husband returned only to find her dead with no help. This is the height of man’s inhumanity to man because of greed. What about the oath the medical people take, to help the helpless and sick? The whole world lieth in wickedness without any fear of God. Remember according to Matt. 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” “My reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).
Weapons of death are piled up by every nation to destroy one another. These weapons are more destructive today. Psalms 36:1-4 states, “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes, He deviseth mischief upon his bed.” Micah 2:1 reads, “Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.” Every aspect of society is involved. People lie on their beds at night to meditate on the Word of God or plan wickedness on their beds only to wake up and work on it. Sometimes, one tries to imagine what goes on in the minds of people who design and produce deadly weapons of war. These things kill people. Imagine places like the Middle East, Nigeria and other areas of the world where people are butchered for their religious beliefs. They are killed in their churches and homes at night. The attackers lay in ambush positions for their prey. The whole world lieth in wickedness. Wickedness has become part of many people’s lives. The whole world really lieth in wickedness.
Many preachers are living in affluence and a life of luxury while their flock/members languish in poverty and bent over or crippled by the weight of tithes, offerings and levies. This is wickedness and the whole world lieth in wickedness. The most important duty of real preachers who hold the Bible in awe is to preach salvation, deliverance and the sudden coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, they are required to remind the people of the destructiveness of sin and satan. Additionally, they should warn the people about the horrors of the great tribulation, hell and the Lake of fire.
It is important to know if you are of God. As you can see, the world lieth in wickedness. The bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16). Also John 1:12 reads, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God, according to Romans 8:14. Are you led by the Spirit?
If you are of God, you will acknowledge the scripture that leads you to believe in the Son of God Jesus Christ. To believe in Him means you accept that God came in the form of man to shed His precious and redeeming blood for all mankind at the altar of the Cross of Calvary. Believing in Him moves you to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). You need to repent and forsake your sins and wickedness. You have been given power to become a son of God, but you need to accept it. Not accepting is part of wickedness, which is a snare of the devil. If you accept Jesus Christ as God and all He did for man at the whipping post, if you believe in the Cross of Calvary, the resurrection, the ascension, the Pentecost and above all His infallible word and promises, and if you walk in them, you are in Him. You are of God while the world lieth in wickedness.
Translation moment 25
THE WHOLE WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS