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by Doug Laird

08/18/25
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The Heart Of A Rebel

Part Two

Paul spoke of this ongoing battle in his letter to the Romans that he composed nearly thirty years AFTER he was born-again, and towards the end of his earthly ministry, acknowledging the reality of his and our 1John 1: 8, 10 ongoing condition and his and our need for the ongoing 1John 1: 9 solution.

“If we (born-again believers) say we have not sinned (since we were born-again] we make Him a liar and (the understanding of) His word is not in us (1John 1: 10 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

“If we (born-again believers) say that we have no (ongoing) sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in (with) us. If we confess our (ongoing) sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive our sins (1John 1: 8, 9 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Keep in mind that 1John was initially written to the first century generation of born-again believers of the Church Age. Therefore, it has got nothing to do with retaining our salvation (1), but has got much to do with being in FELLOWSHIP with God, and executing the post salvation spiritual life of discipleship.

This fallen nature is inherently hostile towards God and the things of God. All established forms of authority (2) are among the “things of God” that our fallen nature is hostile towards, which explains a lot about why we do some of the evil things we do. Sinning is the “natural” thing to do when we are under the influence of the fallen NATURE of Man.

We have not all committed the same sin(s), but according to James 2: 10, that makes no difference in the eyes of God. All of us are in the same stinking, sinking boat of sin, and in the same need of rescue before the ship goes down and we enter eternity future.

Let’s take a look at Satan’s declaration of independence, revealing the heart of a rebel.

“… I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly In the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High (Isa. 14: 13, 14 NASB2020).”

It may seem absurd to think that we are going to take the place of God, but that is exactly what we do every time we choose to “take the helm” and steer ourselves in a different direction than the course that God has in mind.

Satan desired to be independent of God and to establish a kingdom with his followers in which he (Satan) would have unopposed authority and control, and would be worshipped as God is worshipped in His.

The throne of our soul is not a two-seater. It is ether occupied by God, or it is occupied by someone or something else, evidenced by the fact that whoever or whatever it is that is seated on this thrown, has first place on our list of priorities, and the last word in our day to day, moment to moment, decision-making process.

This someone or something can be oneself, a personal relationship, one’s finances, one’s career or occupation, one’s own plans, possessions, hobbies or activities. It can be anything or anyone that we choose to place on the throne of our lives.

“You shall have no other gods before Me (Ex. 20: 3 NASB2020).”

One’s “god” can be any one of the Psalms 96: 5 false deities, but can also be things that we have an “appetite” (strong desire) to receive or to experience.

Jesus made it clear that one can not serve both God and money at the same time (3). Yet, the “Almighty Buck” is firmly seated on the throne of many who claim to be followers of Christ.

One’s god (controlling force of influence and motivation) can be something that would otherwise be a good thing, had it been placed and kept in its appropriate place on our list of priorities.

Marriage, for example, is a divine institution intended for the well-being of the participants and society at large, but can also be the source of great distraction (4) from the plan that God has mind.

An advancing disciple’s “first” love is to be for God and the things of God (5).

God will not share His glory, His sovereignty, or His place on our list of priorities with anyone or any thing else.

Again, the worship of any being, real or imagined, outside of the Triune Godhead amounts to idolatr (6). Prioritizing any thing over God and or the things of God amounts to spiritual adultery (7). There is no place for idolatry or spiritual adultery in the life of an advancing disciple.

End of Part Two

(1) Romans 8: 1 (2) Romans 13: 1 (3) Matt. 6: 24 (4) 1Cor. 7 (5) Rev. 2: 4 (6) Exodus 20: 3 (7) Rev. 2: 4

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