| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ( B ) REPROBATES & THEIR GOOD WORKS The following scripture references give evidence of people who are capable of good works and yet are a false representation of godliness and holiness in that such persons are not the children of God. Such persons are reprobate in that they have not truly known God or Christ in their lives because they in fact have chose to reject God, Jesus Christ, and the Truth of God; 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - Matt. 7:21-23 16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. - Titus 1:16 First, I wish to direct attention to the use of the word, reprobate, in Pauls’ letter to Titus and the definitions being connected to that word in verse 16. Notice that Paul, speaking of the reprobate, states that they can make professions of knowing God and these reprobates are capable of doing good works. It would appear that with these criteria being accomplished in the life of any person then such a person would in truth be a Christian, a born-again child of God. However, in this particular instructive teaching of Paul, he does not make this conclusion. Paul states that in spite of a professing of knowing God and a doing of good works, these people actually deny the very God who they profess to know and they deny that very God with their good works. In reality, these people who profess to know God and do good works are abominable, disobedient and reprobate. In truth, they are not the children of God at all. As the scriptures revealed in section A, the reprobate person is someone who has never liked to have God in their knowledge. Such people resist the truth which results in a corrupt mind and thus are separated from the faith of God. The reprobate person, though they may have acquired and continue to acquire a lot of learning and knowledge, is still never able to acquire and obtain the knowledge of the truth. The reprobate person is able to have a form of godliness and yet denies the very power of godliness. Titus 1:16 is a perfect example of the reprobate person. Essentially, what Paul reveals in his letter to Titus is a type of person who is all show and no substance. Paul reveals that the reprobate person can sound and even appear to be a child of the Living God when in reality, such a person is devoid of any fellowship and life with God and Christ. The reprobate person is nothing more than false appearances, spiritually speaking, in terms of living a true, godly and holy life unto God. In Matthews’ gospel, chapter 7, the scriptures reveal what happens to these reprobate people who in regard to outward appearances had a show of godliness and Christianity but in reality did not have the power and life of those things on the inside of them. These reprobate persons profess knowing God, knowing Christ. Even to the degree of professing a Lordship of Christ in their lives because they call Him, Lord. But Jesus reveals who these reprobate people truly are; 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - Matt. 7:21-23 What an indescribable tragedy for those people who thought they were doing the will of God in their lives and were under the impression that with their profession of God and doing of good works they would make it into eternal life. Only to hear the words of the Lord as He rejects them and sends them into an eternity of damnation and torment. This is the end of the reprobate person, a person in whom Christ truly does not live ( 2 Cor. 13:5 ). The scriptures reveal the reprobate person to be someone who offers a false representation of being Christian and having God in their lives. Again in 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul reveals the characteristic and power of false appearances as he writes of Satan and Satans’ children; 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. - 2 Cor. 11:13-15 Scriptural evidence provides the proof about Satan and his followers in their ability to appear godly and Christian. Yet of course, they are not. Such is the person of reprobate character. Let us look at a couple more scriptural examples of reprobate people. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |