Greetings, friend, and welcome! Today, we will be contrasting man’s religious efforts through the steps he takes to Jesus’ stepping down into death for us.
By default, humans try to establish a righteousness of their own. It is what all people apart from Christ do. They make their programs for self-improvement with various steps, rules, and laws. Their thinking is that if they keep taking the next step that they will better themselves, make themselves right, even be right with God; that is, they will reach heaven! But the Bible tells us that there is only one way to God.
Today, we will consider two passages of Scripture, which will illuminate this issue for us. At the end of the lesson, there will be only one question to allow you the opportunity to summarize the teaching and share your thoughts:
The first Scripture passage is Genesis 11:1-4, and it says:
“Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, (by the way they didn’t ask God) “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:1-4 (NIV)
Here we read that God told the people to scatter over the face of the whole earth, but the people had other plans. In building their tower, they were rebelling against God. They were literally trying to build their way up to God in heaven. They were trying to put step upon step, brick upon brick until their tower reached heaven.
And this is always man's way; this is the world's way; this is how Satan wants to blind us to the message of the cross. Satan wants to get us to think about working our way 'up.' This is why every religion in the world focuses on the individual working their way 'up' to God.
So, that's Genesis, chapter 11. A group of proud, industrious people who wanted to make a name for themselves by reaching God in heaven through their own efforts.