What Makes Us Human? | Identity Theft | Week 2
Isaiah 1:5-6, 16-20 HCSB“...Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick. From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured — wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. “Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
What Makes Us Human?
1. The Human Heart Is Evil
We are born into this world broken. Even before someone comes to know Jesus Christ, there is a feeling that something isn’t right.
The Human Heart Is Evil
The Human Life Is Sacred
Matthew 15:18-20 HCSB
“...What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man...””
Jeremiah 17:9-10 HCSB
“The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it? I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way...”
Romans 3:23 HCSB
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
The fact is this: If humanity was left to its own devices and desires. If human beings were left without an absolute morale law, the world would plunge into chaos.
Matthew 5:21-22 HCSB
“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool! ’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You moron! ’ will be subject to hellfire.”
Galatians 5:19-25 HCSB
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance — as I told you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.”
2. Human Life Is Sacred
The Trolley Problem
Developed by philosopher Philippa Foot in 1967, the question is this: A train is traveling down a track and coming to a fork in the road. On one path, 5
people are standing on the track, unaware of what’s about to happen. You can’t warn them and they aren’t moving.
On the second path is a single person. Also unaware, also unable to move.
You have the power to switch which path the train takes. What do you do?
If you think about it for only a second, you would say: Save the 5 people, sacrifice the 1. But what if that ONE is your son, your daughter, your mother or father. Would you still sacrifice the one for the many?
Funny as I was preparing this illustration, I realized there was one person who made this choice. And HE sacrificed the 1 to save all of humanity. That 1 was Jesus Christ.
The fact remains:
Every Human Life Is Sacred
If this thought experiment was just a math problem, we wouldn’t struggle. 5 for 1. BUT, human life is infinity valuable! Each has sacred worth! And it’s
because of that immutable truth, we struggle with this choice.
“no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference.” - Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
Ephesians 2:10 HCSB“For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.”
Psalms 139:13-14 NKJV“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
Genesis 1:27 HCSB“So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.”
Culture Will Try To Steal Your Identity
This is why it is so important we are trained and confident in our faith. We MUST stand for truth.
John 8:32“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
https://shenviapologetics.com/what-is-critical-race-theory/
The Enemy Can Confuse Your Identity
James 4:7 says,“Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.”
You Can Forfeit Your Identity
“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts... The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel. Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is finding his place in it, while really it is finding its place in him.” - The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
Ezekiel 36:25-29 HCSB
“I [God] will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God..” Only in Jesus Christ, in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, will you find your true identity. It is only when you submit to His lordship over your life that you will see every human life with intrinsic value, and see the brokenness inside yourself to realize what needs to change.”
Psalms 51:10 HCSB
“God, create a clean heart in me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
James 1:14-15 HCSB
“But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”
Philippians 4:8 HCSB
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things.”
Mark 12:14-17 HCSB
'When they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” So they brought one. “Whose image and inscription is this? ” He asked them. “Caesar’s,” they said. Then Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.'