offering god substitutes text: i sam. 15:19-23 scripture reading: mal. 1:6-14

Offering God Substitutes

Text: I Sam. 15:19-23Scripture Reading: Mal. 1:6-14


Intro Substitute: “To put under, put or use in the place of, or instead of: to take the

place of; a person or thing put in the place of another; to replace; take the place of something or someone.” (Webster)

There are some substitutes that are perfectly fine: Substitute sugar/salt Substitute teachers Substitute prescription meds Substitutions that are beneficial in the same or equal way

are generally accepted!


Intro There are substitutions that are not fine: (Recipes: salt for sugar, vice versa) Don’t substitute Styrofoam for fiberglass in airplanes or

automotives. Don’t substitute one size battery for another size Don’t substitute the wrong type of fuel (diesel vs. unleaded) in

cars Substitutions that can cause harm or are not beneficial

are not accepted!

While we understand these principles in the physical

world, there are those who attempt to offer Godsubstitutes!


Intro

I Sam. 15:19-23: Saul substituted God’s commands with

his own definition of “obedience” It was not accepted, and had disastrous consequences for him!

Many today subvert what God says to offer Him a poor,

miserable, unacceptable substitute!


Examples of Men Unsuccessfully Offering God Substitutes

Sarai and Abram (Gen. 16:1-16; 21:1-12): Sarah proposed a substitute for God’s promise and plan,

and Abraham went along with it: Hagar instead of Sarah Ishmael instead of Isaac

Abraham was to have a son by Sarah, not by Sarah’s handmaid, Hagar (Gen. 17:18-21)

Gen. 21:11. Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had

said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised.

God does not accept

substitutes!



Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2): They offered “strange fire” to God and were killed

Lev. 16:12 Lev. 10:9 Whatever the source of the “strange” fire, they abused their

office of priest in a way that profaned their offering Lev. 10:3, 6: God refused to accept their substitute and Aaron

was deprived of two of his four sons

Lev. 10:1-21. Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took

their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

2. And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

God does not accept

substitutes!



King Saul (I Sam. 15:1-23): I Sam. 15:1-3: Annihilate Amalekites I Sam. 15:7-9: Spared the king and animals

I Sam. 15:10-23 (Vs. 11, 28-29): God refused to accept Saul’s substitute.

I Sam. 15:20-23: Obedience trumped sacrifice (15:22)

I Sam. 15:23, 28; 16:1: Rejected as king by God!

I Sam. 15:2222. Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight

in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

God does not accept

substitutes!



The priests of Israel (Mal. 1:6-14): The priests of Israel tried to substitute blind, sick and injured

animals for unblemished ones, and thus they insulted their God

Lev. 22:17-25: The law specified the type of animals to be offered as sacrifice and their unlawful substitute was unacceptable!

Mal. 1:7-87. "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.

But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.'

8. "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.

God does not accept

substitutes!



The Religious Leaders of Jesus’ day (Mt. 15:7-9): The scribes and Pharisees substituted pure service from the heart

with lip service (purely external service)

They had same problem as their fathers did in the days of Isaiah – substitution!

Mt. 15:7-97. "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of

you:8. 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,

BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.9. 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING

AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

God does not accept

substitutes!



The Galatians (Gal. 1:6-9; 3:1): The foolish saints at Galatia were bewitched into accepting

another gospel for the genuine and all-sufficient gospel Paul preached But the Holy Spirit through Paul branded it for what it was: a

perverted gospel, a powerless gospel, and a condemning gospel

They were willing to accept a substitute, but…

Gal. 1:6-76. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting

Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

7. which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

God does not accept

substitutes!



Sarai and Abram (Gen. 16:1-16; 21:1-12)

Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2)

King Saul (I Sam. 15:1-23)

The priests of Israel (Mal. 1:6-14)

The Religious Leaders of Jesus’ day (Mt. 15:7-9)

The Galatians (Gal. 1:6-9; 3:1)

The Scriptures (both O.T. & N.T.) contain examples that God does not accept substitutes!

Examples of Men Unsuccessfully Offering God Substitutes Today


If God didn’t accept substitutes then, why do people

believe He does today?II Jn. 9-11: Their human creeds for God’s Word

Mt. 15:9; II Tim. 4:3-4: Their doctrines for God’s




believe He does today?Mt. 16:18: Their churches for the Lord’s church

Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12: Their ways for God’s way

Mt. 7:13-14; Jn. 14:6: Their many ways to heaven for

God’s one way (Jesus)Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:35-39: Infantbaptism for the baptism of penitent believers!

Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12: Sprinkling or pouring

(or prayer) for immersion!




believe He does today?Heb. 5:8-9; Js. 2:14, 26: Faith only for obedient

faithMt. 7:21-23: Good works in eyes of men for work

Godplanned for the churchEph. 5:19; Col. 3:16: Instrumental music for singing

Mt. 23:9-10; II Tim. 4:5: Titled and garbed clergy for

preachers (Pastors, Priests)!I Tim. 2:5: Many religious mediators (Priests, Pope)

for God’s one (Jesus)




believe He does today?Rom. 12:1-2: Mere physical presence for dedicated,committed presentation of their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God

II Tim. 3:5: A form of godliness rather than living godly

(Titus 2:11-12)Rom. 1:20-25: Exchanged truth of God for a lie,

served the created instead of the CreatorThere will be many people who will be surprised to

findthat God still does not accept substitutes! (Mt.

7:21-23)


Conclusion While there are areas in life where substitution is acceptable, when it comes to God’s word and His

commands for life, He does not accept substitutes!

Those who substitute the gospel and

faithfulness for their own will (Rom. 10:1-3) will be delivered

intoHell rather than Heaven! (Mt. 25:41; II Thess. 1:7-9)

Since God does not acceptsubstitutes, neither should

man try to offer them to God!

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)

Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)

Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.

10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)

For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),

Pray (Acts 8:22)

offering god substitutes text: i sam. 15:19-23 scripture reading: mal. 1:6-14

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