Woe to Those Who Call Evil Good

In this part of the sermon: He details the sins preceding verse 20: being bound by falsehood, brazen impiety daring God, prideful human wisdom, drunkenness, and perversion of justice, setting the stage for…

Illustrates how people are bound to their sins by falsehoods, like animals yoked to carts, unable to escape their iniquity.

Preceding verse 20 is the statement in verse 18 that these people were drawing iniquity with cords of falsehood and sin, as it were, with a cart rope. Here are people bound to their sins with lies. They are drawing iniquity with cords of falsehood. It's the picture of animals dragging carts behind them and the picture is that of the yoke or the rope that binds the animal to his cart in this passage is called falsehood.

5:13 - 5:46 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He details the sins preceding verse 20: being bound by falsehood, brazen impiety daring God, prideful human wisdom, drunkenness, and perversion of justice, setting the stage for…

Describes people who only believe what they can see and experience, demanding proof of God's judgment before accepting it.

They were theological empiricists. You see, the empiricist is the man who says, I believe nothing but what is demonstrated before me. I'm from Missouri, show me. They say, you, Isaiah, and these other prophets, you say the Holy One is going to judge us?

6:20 - 6:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He details the sins preceding verse 20: being bound by falsehood, brazen impiety daring God, prideful human wisdom, drunkenness, and perversion of justice, setting the stage for…

Illustrates the sin of drunkenness by describing people boasting about their capacity to consume alcohol.

And then further is followed by the statement of this braggadocio concerning their ability to consume intoxicating spirits. Woe unto them that are mighty to do what? To fight battles in the name of the Lord? No, mighty to drink strong drink.

7:43 - 8:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He details the sins preceding verse 20: being bound by falsehood, brazen impiety daring God, prideful human wisdom, drunkenness, and perversion of justice, setting the stage for…

Illustrates the corruption of the courts where the wicked are freed for a bribe and the righteous condemned.

They let the wicked go free for a bribe. And then they condemn the righteous. Now in the midst of that, we have this statement of verse 20, which in a sense, I believe, is the mother of all the other sins. This is the embryonic sin.

8:19 - 8:33 Read in full sermon

The point: This text has peculiar relevance to the age in which you and I are living, to the precise condition of our own country, and therefore we need desperately to understand what it's saying and something of its application to…

Martin begins a series of examples showing how specific biblical commandments are now viewed as evil or narrow by modern society.

As a nation, in the realms of politics, ethics and morals, whether we're talking about them in the home, in the school, in the classroom, in the professor's chair at the college, into the very highest courts of government a la Watergate, international politics, we are living to behold, verse 20 of Isaiah 5, before our own eyes, a situation in which what God calls evil is being preached as good and as virtuous. Now let me demonstrate it. Let's take that inflexible standard of right and wrong, darkness and light, bitter and sweet, the holy law of God, and let's just pick out several of the comma...

17:27 - 18:55 Read in full sermon

The point: The abolition of the death penalty cheapens life it does not sanctify life.

Argues that the abolition of the death penalty and the practice of abortion both cheapen human life, contrary to God's law.

God has secured the sanctity of life in many ways in his word but his law says thou shall do no murder. Thou shall not take human life except in those instances where my word says human life ought to be taken. And is it not interesting that in this day of woolly-headed and so-called liberal thinking the same people who have pushed and pushed and lobbied and promoted for the abolition of the death penalty have produced the mass murder of abortion laws both of which cheap in life. The abolition of the death penalty cheapens life it does not sanctify life.

23:58 - 24:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Abortion is murder.

Illustrates how the abolition of the death penalty makes human life seem cheap, emboldening criminals.

And if any man takes upon himself to destroy another man's life it will be with the price of giving his own life. Then and only then will the dignity of human life be maintained. In the abolition of the death penalty for murder and related crimes what's happened? Someone gets an itch to have a few bucks to go out and get a quick fix a few packs of heroin sticks his pistol in his pocket holds up somebody shoots him dead no fear. Why?

25:31 - 26:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Abortion is murder.

Notes that even godless psychiatrists admit women suffer immense guilt after abortions, indicating a natural moral awareness.

Precisely the same thing has happened with reference to abortion. If there were not a text in scripture upon which to establish the fact that at conception what is conceived is a human being and there are texts I'm convinced but if there were not it is inscribed upon the conscience of man in terms of the law of God. That abortion is murder. This is why the godless psychiatrists are admitting now that they can't handle the many women who are coming with tortured emotional lies because they can't rid themselves of the guilt that has followed from the abortion.

26:18 - 27:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Abortion is murder.

Illustrates how sexual immorality, including group sex and premarital relations, is now promoted as good and liberating.

Thou shalt commit no adultery. We're being told that that good sanctity of sex is an evil thing. Group sex is better. Let four or five couples get together for a weekend and bed around.

28:16 - 28:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He illustrates this inversion by applying God's commandments to contemporary issues: monotheism being called narrow, exclusive worship being called antiquarian, Sabbath observance…

Highlights how homosexuality is now presented as good and normal, despite God's condemnation in scripture.

And so it's good that they get rid of their sexual tensions by bedding around a bit. And furthermore we're being told that homosexuality is not sin perversion and wickedness. Although God himself burned two whole cities primarily because of this sin. This is not evil.

28:48 - 29:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Here is a description of the tragic moral perversion not only in the day of Isaiah but in our own day.

Illustrates the extreme inversion by noting the promotion of bisexuality as the ideal way to avoid 'hang-ups'.

And now the height of this impiety is being expressed in the idea that well really the best thing is to be bisexual. So when it's convenient to consort with those of the opposite sex fine. But if circumstances are such that someone of your own sex will do get rid of your hang-ups. It's terrible to be so hung up that all you can do is find fulfillment with a man if you're a woman and with a woman if you're a man.

29:32 - 29:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Here is a description of the tragic moral perversion not only in the day of Isaiah but in our own day.

Quotes a man who claims the worst curse on society is the concept of a one-on-one relationship and the home, advocating for their destruction.

You can hang up. And this is good. I heard one man actually say that the worst curse upon our society is our concept of the sanctity of a one-on-one relationship between a man and woman and our whole concept of the home. If we can get rid of that he says we'll get rid of all our hang-ups.

29:57 - 30:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Here is a description of the tragic moral perversion not only in the day of Isaiah but in our own day.

Illustrates the inversion of honesty by noting the claim that lies are essential for international and domestic diplomacy.

Even in the light of the scriptures such as Psalm 15 and Psalm 24 even when honesty brings me to personal hurt the righteous sweareth to his own hurt and keepeth it. We're being told lies are necessary for international diplomacy. Lies are necessary for domestic diplomacy. We're being told that lies are absolutely essential to the functioning of human government.

30:33 - 30:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Human wisdom has no fixed pole star of reference; in the place of God's eternal unchangeable word, there is the changing vacillating opinion of man.

Recounts how the acceptance of Darwinian theories led to God being removed from His creation, paving the way for moral relativism.

But more often than not the word despised in Scripture particularly in the Old Testament means to regard with indifference. And here is the picture. They have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts and regarded with indifference the word of the Holy One of Israel before any man any group of men, any nation can enter the condition described in verse 20 in which good is called evil evil is called good darkness light, light darkness bitter sweet, sweet bitter there must be this two-fold experience described in verse 24 there must be this rejection of the law of Jehovah and this regarding with indi...

32:09 - 33:39 Read in full sermon

The point: We live in a day that has little if any fear of divine wrath.

Observes the decline in the fear of hell, even in joking remarks, indicating a loss of consciousness of divine wrath.

a despising of the holy one of Israel the savior of his people do I need to spend much time in application to say that that's our day we live in a day that has little if any fear of divine wrath I've lived long enough to see the change in my own generation I can remember the time when even though it was said in a joking manner if a man was talking about a lecherous life a life lived in blatant disobedience to the law of God he'd say something about well I may go to hell at the end but I'm having fun on the way the consciousness that that kind of life brought divine wrath was there but it's wel...

39:29 - 40:57 Read in full sermon

The point: We live in a day that has little if any fear of divine wrath.

Uses Jesus' analogy to explain that true morality stems from a good heart, which is motivated by vital piety and the gospel.

terms and you begin to understand what makes them tick and what makes them tick why is there such an indifference to God's salvation because there's no troubling about divine wrath why no troubling about divine wrath because the inflexible standard that says this is evil has been perverted and inverted evil is called good and good is called evil and then of course that manifests itself in a total breakdown of morality public and private and that's always the pattern you see nothing but vital religion in the heart can maintain true morality in the life. Jesus said you've got to make the tree go...

40:57 - 42:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Our poor generation needs to go back to pre-kindergarten and to be told God made the world God made you God has given a law that law binds you break that law and you will die.

Describes the impenitent sinner's perception of God's silence as encouragement to continue in sin, as if their words bounce off a silent heaven.

will be exalted in justice you'll see that all of your barking about good being evil and evil being good has not changed the inflexible standard of Almighty God that's what God is saying the basis of this sober pronouncement is that God's character is unchangeable God's law is unchangeable God's law is unchangeable God's knowledge is perfect and God's patience will reach its end look at verse 24 the end of these descriptions of the sins of the people therefore in the light of this as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame so their root shall be ...

46:57 - 48:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Impenitent unconverted sinner sitting in this building God's pronouncements have not changed the wages of sin is death the wages of sin is death evil brings death.

Explains Psalm 50's imagery of God as a slumbering beast that will suddenly leap upon and tear apart those who forget Him.

when you saw a thief you consented with him you've been a partaker with adulterers you give your mouth to evil your tongue frames deceit you sit and speak against your brother you slander your own mother's son these things you've done and I kept silence you got bold you sinned here you sinned there you sinned in the other place and one sin gave birth to another and there was no intervention of divine judgment until God says you fooled yourself into thinking that I was altogether such a one as yourself you let bygones be bygones you think I'm going to let bygones be bygones time heals and you t...

49:53 - 51:22 Read in full sermon

The point: If you're prepared this night to own your sin and say oh God what you call good is good and I have not done the good and what you call evil is evil I have not loved you my heart's been a sink of idolatry I've loved every…

Uses the crucifixion of Christ to illustrate the inflexibility of God's law, where even God's Son could not be spared the penalty for sin.

God was dealing with his son on the basis of the inflexible standard of his law his law said this do and thou shalt live this fail to do and thou shalt die the curse of the law the curse of the law was upon all of the people of Christ and the scripture says he endured that curse for us it was the inflexibility of the law that demanded Calvary if ever God could call evil good for a moment would that moment not be when his own son was bearing evil if he could have called it good for a moment there would have been no shrouding of the heavens in darkness there would have been no agonizing cry my G...

53:13 - 54:39 Read in full sermon

The point: It's evil to lie business lies are lies and if you can't maintain that job and be honest then lose your job for Christ's sake and stealing is still stealing whether it's a bag of paper clips or a box of rubber bands or w…

Applies the principle of honesty to the workplace, suggesting that one should be willing to lose a job rather than compromise integrity.

passions of your flesh bring them to the cross and ask God by his spirit to put them to death through the virtue of your union with Jesus Christ you men women in your places of business good is still good and evil is still evil it's evil to lie business lies are lies and if you can't maintain that job and be honest then lose your job for Christ's sake and stealing is still stealing whether it's a bag of paper clips or a box of rubber bands or whether it's a piece of metal from the stock room whether it's ten minutes on your time card stealing is still stealing be not conformed to this world th...

56:07 - 57:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him shall the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his father's glory.

Describes the common reaction of disbelief when someone expresses belief in the binding nature of Old Testament law in the modern era.

whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him shall the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his father's glory it's dangerous living in an age characterized by Isaiah 5.20 why everybody's calling evil good and for me to stand with Jesus Christ concerning the inflexibility the irrevocable nature of the holy law of God is to expose myself to ridicule to social pressure I'm conscious of that I can almost see the look of incredulity on the faces of people at times I'm talking with them about this or that and they say well he sounds like the hal...

57:34 - 59:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him shall the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his father's glory.

Discusses the debate over women in church leadership as an example of deviating from biblical norms and being ashamed of God's word.

and when we believe the instructions in the epistles are the word of Christ as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14.37 if any man is spiritual let him acknowledge the things that I say unto you are the commandments of the Lord you take seriously right now in the Presbyterian church United Presbyterian church the gospel the gospel big issue the next general assembly is the whole matter of whether or not Jesus Christ will be obeyed with reference to the place of women in ecclesiastical office and their people determined to make a part of the ministerial commitments of every candidate for the ministry a...

59:02 - 60:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Will you not cry mightily to God for an outpouring of the spirit that will bring back to the consciousness of the church and to the world the inflexible standards of the holy law of God.

Observes the external appearance and lack of joy in many young people as a sign of their confusion and bondage resulting from moral inversion.

to be enjoying life huh this is the thing that breaks my heart and I speak not as an insensitive old fogey I speak to you young people this is what breaks my heart when I drive down Bloomfield Avenue and see a bunch of shaggy dirty sloppy smile-less creatures milling around wondering what it's all about their whole external appearance is a witness to the fact that they cannot make heads or tails or they can make neither head nor tails out of what it's all about joyless smile-less no enthusiasm for anything why they've been told that evil is good and they've found that you cannot in any real se...

61:59 - 63:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Will you not cry mightily to God for an outpouring of the spirit that will bring back to the consciousness of the church and to the world the inflexible standards of the holy law of God.

Identifies the root of labor and management problems as uncrucified covetousness and selfishness, a fruit of calling evil good.

to be enjoying life huh this is the thing that breaks my heart and I speak not as an insensitive old fogey I speak to you young people this is what breaks my heart when I drive down Bloomfield Avenue and see a bunch of shaggy dirty sloppy smile-less creatures milling around wondering what it's all about their whole external appearance is a witness to the fact that they cannot make heads or tails or they can make neither head nor tails out of what it's all about joyless smile-less no enthusiasm for anything why they've been told that evil is good and they've found that you cannot in any real se...

61:59 - 63:28 Read in full sermon