Reprobation, Part 1
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Have you ever heard anyone talk about reprobation or being reprobate? Many, if not all of us, have. It is usually mentioned in conjunction with its most familar associated passage of scripture -- Romans 1:28. We'll deal with that passage later, but instead of just dealing with that passage, we need to review this topic as completely as possible, with, of course, the help of the Holy Ghost shedding the light of truth that we might be complete in God.
Let's do some uprooting first. We can't build until we uproot that which is inordinate, right?!? The most prevalent teaching about reprobation usually references, as mentioned, Romans 1:28. Unfortunately, I have never heard ANYONE in my 22 years with Christ discuss the matter in any type of just disclosure. If you have, bless God! Count yourself fortunate. After hearing this message, you will most assuredly know if you have really heard information about this sensitive and vital last days issue.
Usually, when reprobation is mentioned, preachers and teachers will use the term to describe someone who has done or who is one or more of the following:
- A person who has turned their back on God
- A person who does not "believe in God"
- A person who has once "served" God, but is not living a sinful, dishonorable life before God
- A person who is caught up in certain types of sin
- A person who no longer desires to be saved
While none of these qualities/actions/states of mind are desirable, they are not true reflections of what God is trying to get us to see about reprobation. A person can be on the road to reprobation and not be aware -- because they think it's something that it is not. Remember, God's people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge. Don't be without knowledge. It makes you a sitting duck for the enemy and minimizes the odds of your success in spiritual warfare. Let's clear this matter up and . . . share the wealth of God's wisdom, shall we?
Definitions first -- to be orderly. The word "reprobate" and its derivaties appear seven times in scripture. What is reprobation? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines reprobate as "something rejected as worthless or not standing a test". Another standard definition is "morally corrupt". The Strong's Greek dictionary defines reprobate as "unapproved, rejected or worthless". In the Hebrew, the word "reprobate" only appears once, but the Hebrew word is also translated "vile person". The key to understanding reprobation and not getting caught up in the "traditional" definition is that ALL REPROBATE PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THE CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll come to understand this shortly.
Before we get to today's text, let's look at some of the key points in the verses that discuss reprobation.
ROMANS 1:28-32
There are, of course, several key points in this passage. Before we mention these points, I'm sure we all know and agree that the people being described here are in a seriously awful, sinful state. If we do not hear and note some of the cause and effect, however, the enemy can gain advantage of us. Here goes:
- Romans 1:28 says, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient...."
- A reprobate mind is something that a person brings on themselves. It is something that a person is "given over to" because of a refusal to submit to a God WHO HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO THEM. Reprobate people don't just up and become reprobate for no reason.
- Verse 20 lets us know that God has revealed Himself to such people. They are not ignorant.
- Verse 21 lets us know that these people are not thankful and have vain imaginations (i.e., they are ungrateful and spend time thinking about worthless things that do not profit).
- Verse 22 lets us know that these people consider themselves to be knowledgeable and wise. Hence, they don't have a confidence problem (unfortunately).
- Verse 23 lets us know that they are blasphemous -- willing to change the glory of God -- using ill-advised elements to represent the true and living God (saying that something is God or is of God when it isn't). In other words, they are guilty of misrepresentation and have NO CONVICTION IN DOING SO.
- The word "retain" means "to acknowledge". Hence, the people who have "reprobate minds" are WILLFULLY IGNORANT.
- Note that verse 25 says that they "changed the truth of God into a lie". The word translated "changed" actually means "exchange". Reprobate people hear the truth of God, but they are willing to settle for something else. Again, reprobation is brought about by an act of willful ignorance. These are people who know what God has said, but they "overrule" his word -- willfully setting His word aside and receiving something else in its place. An EXCHANGE.
- Another pre-reprobate attribute is in the latter part of verse 25 -- they worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. In other words, these are people that honor men above God. Sound familiar???
- This passage is one of many that condemns homosexuality. Many reprobates end up accepting and condoning this lifestyle. We'll deal more with condoning evil in just a moment.
- In verse 28, we see the first mention in this passage of a reprobate mind. A reprobate mind is not just a person who is out "running the streets" and doing any and everthing that's not pleasing in the eyes of God. Verse 28 lets us know that a reprobate mind is simply one that does things that are not convenient -- that which is not becoming of a Christian.
The last point is the most important. Think for a moment. Name something that's not convenient -- something that a person can do that is not in their best interest in God. Right! Anything that doesn't line up with God's counsel for our lives is NOT CONVENIENT.
The road to reprobation begins with a heart that is willing to do things contrary to a Christian. The other elements listed above are not convenient. Let's list them in shorter form, making it simpler to see what's going on. In seeing this list, just in case it was hard to grasp the information above, it will help you to examine yourself -- as today's text exhorts us to do -- and make sure that you are not a reprobate.
Here are problems facing people in Christendom today -- all of which are related to reprobation. They are:
- Being willfully ignorant
- Despising the revelation that God gives
- Being wise in our own conceits (dismissing what God has said and prescribed and exalting one's own thoughts and concepts)
- Being unthankful (or not being genuine in thankfulness towards God)
- Not glorifying God as God (NOTE: Many are willing to participate in praise and worship-related activities, but participation in praise and worship activities does not guarantee that a person is glorifying God as God. Selah)
- Changing the truth of God (altering God's word)
- Being given to eyeservice or manpleasing (Ephesians 6:6)
- Being "comfortable" when behaving in an unwise/ungodly manner
Second Corinthians 13:5 exhorts us to examine ourselves whether we be in the faith -- to make sure that we are not reprobates. Have you ever examined yourself? Do you examine yourself regularly? Self-examination is the responsibility of EVERY CHRISTIAN. It's obvious that the "surprised" people in Matthew 7, that Jesus said He never knew, apparently did not embrace self-examination (or deceived themselves in the process -- putting stock in their works). Jesus called them workers of iniquity. In order to examine ourselves, we need to be aware of the elements associated with reprobation (and the word of God as a whole).
Let's take a quick look see. Do you hear the truth of God and ignore is, for whatever reason, and embrace something else? The Pharisees were that way. In John 3:2, Nicodemus lets on that they knew that Jesus was of God, yet they were willing to persecute, ridicule and even crucify Him. They were willfully ignorant -- to protect their own egos, reputations and program. They are the prime example of how reprobate people can be RIGHT IN THE CHURCH!!! They were constantly doing things that were not convenient.
Are you thankul? Do you glorify God as He prescribed? Jesus said that we glorify God when we bear fruit -- through our lifestyle and adherence to God's will. Some people try to mock God and take the short road by "mouthing off" at church, thinking that we're glorifying God when we're praising Him. Praise is not enough. As a matter of fact, those who praise God with their mouths, but are not offering their bodies as living sacrifices are an abomination. Proverbs 15:8 says, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight."
Are you one of those people embracing the fallacy that water baptism is not important to salvation? If so, you're altering God's word. Can any man forbid water? Peter asked this question. The answer is no. Yet, so-called renowned preachers will get in the pulpit, alter God's word and say that baptism is not necessary. Only a fool would dare alter the word of God. Are you one of those people that believes that no matter what you do or don't do, you'll enter heaven? What Bible are you reading? First Corinthians 6:9 says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" and then goes on to confirm what is meant by unrighteous. People who live licentiously and claim God are actually taking the name of the Lord in vain (more on this to come in a future message).
Are you one of those people that strives to be "fit for the pastor's use". The Bible doesn't call us to do that. It DOES, however, talk about being fit for the MASTER'S use. Many in church are guilty of worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator. They'll do what the pastor says, but ignore what God says -- all the while thinking that they're "blessed of the Lord and highly favored". This is a cursed mindset. Those doing such are manpleasers. If you strive to please God and your leader strives to serve God, you can never do your leader any wrong. Please God and you'll please those who also strive to please God.
Lastly, one point that we didn't mention in detail has to do with who we approve. Romans 8:29-31 talks about some of the acts that reprobate people will be caught up in, but it goes one step further. Verse 32 says, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Having pleasure in someone who displeases God is a forerunner, many times, to displeasing God in one's own life. That's why the enemy seeks to get us to make excuses for people (or ourselves) caught up in various types of sins. Please note that the phrase "have pleasure in" means "to think well of" or "to be gratified with". Be careful of whom you approve. You can and will, very easily, end up just like them. Remember, Proverbs 11:20 says "They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight." In addition, Proverbs 17:15 says, "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD." If you justify someone that is wicked, God will have issue with you. Likewise, if you condemn someone who is righteous, God will have issue with you as well. Be careful.
Time will not permit us today to review the other passages, but for reference sake, here they are:
- (Jeremiah 6:30) Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD
hath rejected them
- (2 Timothy 3:8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these
also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
- (Titus 1:16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Remember, reprobation means "morally corrupt". It means "rejected, worthless and unable to pass the test". Reprobate people aren't necessarily OUTSIDE of the church -- especially here in the last days. The church world is replete with reprobates. Why am I telling you this? Look back at the text -- Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
God loves us and challenges us to examine oursleves -- to confirm whether or not we are in the faith. We are called to examine ourselves. We need to be skillful in performing this task. If you lack the skill to examine yourself, ask God for wisdom. Those who do not examine themselves are disobeying this command -- by negligence.
Is reprobation what you thought it was? If not, praise God that you found out . . . in time to fulfill the call. Until next week, keep the word and be blessed!
Cry Aloud: Volume 5, Issue 26 -- Reprobation
From the 2001 Cry Aloud Summer Revival
Copyright © 2001, CyberSaint/Scenario Ministries International
An outreach ministry of Remnant Christian Assembly, Inc. All rights reserved.
Feel free to reproduce for non-commercial purposes.
To subscribe to Cry Aloud, complete our subscription form .
