Reseraching Acts 26 - Why do the heathen rage. This was also mentioned in Psalms
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/End%20of%20the%20World/why_do_the_heathen_rage.htm
Why Do The Heathen Rage? by David J. Stewart
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" -Psalm 2:1-3
This Old Testament Scripture is quoted in the New Testament...
"Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?" -Acts 4:24–25
Notice Acts 4:26, "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."
Mankind's Sinful Nature is Against God
Mankind has always been against God and His Word. God uses men for His purposes. We read in Acts 4:26-28 that is was God who controlled all the events in Christ's crucifixion, "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." No man could have laid a hand upon Jesus if it had not been God's divine will. Nevertheless, the Bible says that there was a conspiracy against Jesus to destroy him (Herod, Pilate, the gentiles and Israel). That conspiracy has continued over the centuries against the disciples of Christ, Christians. The animosity has been snowballing as it has come down through the centuries, and it will break out finally in a worldwide revolution against God and His Children. Just as the lost world hated Jesus Christ, so it hates His disciples. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
Those Who Love Sin, Hate God
Why do the heathen rage? Why are they so adamant against the Lord Jesus? John 3:20 tells us, "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:20). Mankind loves sin! A man would rather burn in hell for an eternity, than to repent from his sins and come to the Lord for forgiveness. Notice, I did not say "give up" his sins--there's a big difference. To be saved, one must condemn his own sins; thus, in so doing he has repented (or changed his mind about his sinful condition). "Repentance" is a "change of mind" about yourself, your sins and the Savior. Whereas you used to reject Jesus, think you were a good person and think sin was acceptable--Now you accept Jesus, realize your a wicked sinner and condemn the sins in your life. The Hue Hefner's and the Madonna's of the world love their sins and REFUSE to see themselves as sinful. They REFUSE to come to Christ, " lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:20). They REFUSE to repent! They REFUSE to change their mind about their sinful lifestyles (fornication, adultery, nudity, filthiness, lasciviousness, greed, lust, sodomy, drunkenness, etc, etc.) They are servants of Satan!
I hear worldly people all the time trying to rationalize their sins. They say, "What's wrong with smoking, tobacco grows naturally doesn't it?" And doggy-doo-doo is natural also but you don't eat it do you? They say, "Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed, so why should I feel ashamed for posing nude in a porno magazine?" Because Adam and Eve were the only two people in the world at the time. Do you see how foolish the hearts of the wicked can be? There is NO justification for sin--NONE. Just because you are poor does NOT give you the right to steal. Just because you grew up in a cruel home does NOT give you the right to abuse your family. Just because someone cheated you does NOT give you the right to be a crook. We must all stand individually before our Creator in judgment. "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). Do right! Do right! Though the stars fall, do right!
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