28 Characteristics of the Wicked
How would you define a wicked man? What are some words that come to mind when thinking of one? Sinner? Evil? Disobedient? Proud? Liar? Blasphemer?
In this particular study, we would like to examine the Scriptures and see how the Word of God defines someone who is wicked and evil before God and men. May we glean much information from the Scriptures as a result of this study.
1. Sinner
Proverbs 1:10 - "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
A sinner is one who is accounted as guilty. He is an offender. He is sinful. With flattery and fair speech, he seduces, deceives, allures, and persuades others into wrongdoing.
2. Deceiver
2 Timothy 3:6 - "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women...."
Like serpents, these false prophets slyly wind their way into families. They try to insinuate themselves into the good opinion of others. They are after the weak-minded - "silly women" - who are easily flattered, charmed, and under the influence of sinful pleasures and propensities and various kinds of passions and lusts. They capture the minds and hearts of these "little women" and bring them into captivity through their crafty art and deceitful tricks.
3. Disobedient
Titus 3:3 - "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."
1 Peter 2:7 - "...but unto them which be disobedient..."
Nehemiah 9:26 - "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against Thee..."
These are those who are unpersuadable, rebellious, and not compliant to any law, whether it be that of parents or of civil authority. They are heady and obstinate. They are unbelieving, incredulous, and impenitent. They take offense and stumble at the Word.
4. Wasting and Destruction Are In Their Paths
Isaiah 59:7 - "Their feet run to evil...wasting and destruction are in their paths."
In the course of life, these workers of iniquity perpetrate violence, oppression, destruction, devastation, robbery, spoil, and ruin. Their path is covered with such activity whereby they break down and trample on the rights of others. They are set on ruining, hurting,and fracturing the good-will of others.
5. Fearful
Proverbs 28:1 - "...wicked flee when no man pursueth..."
Revelation 21:8 - "But the fearful...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire..."
These ungodly and impious folk are full of apprehensions. The guilt in their consciences makes them a terror unto themselves. Their secret fears haunt them wherever they go. The sin in their hearts makes them cowardly. They vanish away, escape, depart, and hide when no one is actually hunting them down.
These are those who also are afraid to take a stand for the Lord. They will not dare to take up their cross and discharge their duty to the Lord. They will not boldly and clearly define themselves as the followers and friends of God in this wicked and adulterous generation.
6. Violent
Proverbs 16:29 - "A violent man enticeth his neighbor..."
These are the ones who deal wrongfully, unjustly, and cruelly with others. All day long they devise mischief and seek to oppress their fellow man.
7. Fierce
2 Timothy 3:3 - "...fierce..."
This person is the opposite of one who is gentle, mild, and pliable. He is rough, harsh, cruel, wild, impetuous, and savage.
8. Abominable
Revelation 21:8 - "...abominable..."
This person is polluted with unnatural lusts. His conduct is highly offensive. He lives in open sin and practices detestable vices. His behavior incites the disgust of both God and his fellow man.
9. Alienated From God
Ephesians 4:18 - "...being alienated from the life of God..."
Ephesians 2:12 - "...aliens from the commonwealth of Israel..."
Colossians 1:21 - "...alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works..."
Through willful ignorance, these people are alienated or estranged from God. They resist the Light of the Gospel. Therefore their hearts are hardened in Sin. They have an aversion and hatred for the way of holiness, purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. They have given themselves over to another. They are said to be the property of another - Satan himself. Their understanding is perverse and through their wicked works, they show that they are total strangers to true religion.
10. Blinded
2 Corinthians 4:4 - "...god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..."
The "god of this world" is Satan. He has the affections of these people's hearts. They obey his will, carry out his plans, and further his cause. Through Sin, their minds are blinded and their hearts are hardened. Their minds or understanding is darkened, obscure, and all mental discernment is blunt or dull. They see no beauty in the plan of redemption - truth, chastity, honesty, and the fear and love of God. Because of the hardness of their hearts, they cannot feel the force of its message and are insensible to its appeals. Their conscience is seared through repeated acts of iniquity.
11. Boastful
Psalm 10:3 - "...wicked boasteth of his heart's desire..."
Psalm 49:6 - "...boast themselves in the multitude of their riches."
This is a very common characteristic of the wicked. He loves to boast. He boasts of his power and success. He boasts in the fact that he could do whatever he pleases. He boasts in the things that he should rightfully be ashamed of doing and saying. He boasts in the fact that he is superior to others. He looks with disdain and contempt on others. He glories in his wealth, strength, beauty, talent, etc. He takes pride in his passions, lusts, and desires. He is always looking out to excite the admiration of others. He actually feels that his great wealth is a sure token of God's favor on his life and an indication to all of his superior industry and ingenuity.
12. Untoward
Acts 2:40 - "...Save yourselves from this untoward generation."
Those who are "untoward" are wedded to sin and marked for ruin. They are winding, perverse, crooked, obstinate, not easily guided or taught, corrupt in principle, and wicked in conduct. They walk contrary to God and are to be avoided like the plague.
13. Unthankful
Luke 6:35 - "...unthankful..."
2 Timothy 3:2 - "...unthankful..."
Ingratitude is considered to be one of the worst crimes. Whenever people are unthankful is a sure indication that there is a decline in religion. These people are without grace or gracefulness. They are thankless and unpleasing.
14. Loathsome
Proverbs 13:5 - "...wicked man is loathsome..."
These are morally offensive. They act disgustingly.
CONTINUED...
How would you define a wicked man? What are some words that come to mind when thinking of one? Sinner? Evil? Disobedient? Proud? Liar? Blasphemer?
In this particular study, we would like to examine the Scriptures and see how the Word of God defines someone who is wicked and evil before God and men. May we glean much information from the Scriptures as a result of this study.
1. Sinner
Proverbs 1:10 - "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
A sinner is one who is accounted as guilty. He is an offender. He is sinful. With flattery and fair speech, he seduces, deceives, allures, and persuades others into wrongdoing.
2. Deceiver
2 Timothy 3:6 - "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women...."
Like serpents, these false prophets slyly wind their way into families. They try to insinuate themselves into the good opinion of others. They are after the weak-minded - "silly women" - who are easily flattered, charmed, and under the influence of sinful pleasures and propensities and various kinds of passions and lusts. They capture the minds and hearts of these "little women" and bring them into captivity through their crafty art and deceitful tricks.
3. Disobedient
Titus 3:3 - "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."
1 Peter 2:7 - "...but unto them which be disobedient..."
Nehemiah 9:26 - "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against Thee..."
These are those who are unpersuadable, rebellious, and not compliant to any law, whether it be that of parents or of civil authority. They are heady and obstinate. They are unbelieving, incredulous, and impenitent. They take offense and stumble at the Word.
4. Wasting and Destruction Are In Their Paths
Isaiah 59:7 - "Their feet run to evil...wasting and destruction are in their paths."
In the course of life, these workers of iniquity perpetrate violence, oppression, destruction, devastation, robbery, spoil, and ruin. Their path is covered with such activity whereby they break down and trample on the rights of others. They are set on ruining, hurting,and fracturing the good-will of others.
5. Fearful
Proverbs 28:1 - "...wicked flee when no man pursueth..."
Revelation 21:8 - "But the fearful...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire..."
These ungodly and impious folk are full of apprehensions. The guilt in their consciences makes them a terror unto themselves. Their secret fears haunt them wherever they go. The sin in their hearts makes them cowardly. They vanish away, escape, depart, and hide when no one is actually hunting them down.
These are those who also are afraid to take a stand for the Lord. They will not dare to take up their cross and discharge their duty to the Lord. They will not boldly and clearly define themselves as the followers and friends of God in this wicked and adulterous generation.
6. Violent
Proverbs 16:29 - "A violent man enticeth his neighbor..."
These are the ones who deal wrongfully, unjustly, and cruelly with others. All day long they devise mischief and seek to oppress their fellow man.
7. Fierce
2 Timothy 3:3 - "...fierce..."
This person is the opposite of one who is gentle, mild, and pliable. He is rough, harsh, cruel, wild, impetuous, and savage.
8. Abominable
Revelation 21:8 - "...abominable..."
This person is polluted with unnatural lusts. His conduct is highly offensive. He lives in open sin and practices detestable vices. His behavior incites the disgust of both God and his fellow man.
9. Alienated From God
Ephesians 4:18 - "...being alienated from the life of God..."
Ephesians 2:12 - "...aliens from the commonwealth of Israel..."
Colossians 1:21 - "...alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works..."
Through willful ignorance, these people are alienated or estranged from God. They resist the Light of the Gospel. Therefore their hearts are hardened in Sin. They have an aversion and hatred for the way of holiness, purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. They have given themselves over to another. They are said to be the property of another - Satan himself. Their understanding is perverse and through their wicked works, they show that they are total strangers to true religion.
10. Blinded
2 Corinthians 4:4 - "...god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..."
The "god of this world" is Satan. He has the affections of these people's hearts. They obey his will, carry out his plans, and further his cause. Through Sin, their minds are blinded and their hearts are hardened. Their minds or understanding is darkened, obscure, and all mental discernment is blunt or dull. They see no beauty in the plan of redemption - truth, chastity, honesty, and the fear and love of God. Because of the hardness of their hearts, they cannot feel the force of its message and are insensible to its appeals. Their conscience is seared through repeated acts of iniquity.
11. Boastful
Psalm 10:3 - "...wicked boasteth of his heart's desire..."
Psalm 49:6 - "...boast themselves in the multitude of their riches."
This is a very common characteristic of the wicked. He loves to boast. He boasts of his power and success. He boasts in the fact that he could do whatever he pleases. He boasts in the things that he should rightfully be ashamed of doing and saying. He boasts in the fact that he is superior to others. He looks with disdain and contempt on others. He glories in his wealth, strength, beauty, talent, etc. He takes pride in his passions, lusts, and desires. He is always looking out to excite the admiration of others. He actually feels that his great wealth is a sure token of God's favor on his life and an indication to all of his superior industry and ingenuity.
12. Untoward
Acts 2:40 - "...Save yourselves from this untoward generation."
Those who are "untoward" are wedded to sin and marked for ruin. They are winding, perverse, crooked, obstinate, not easily guided or taught, corrupt in principle, and wicked in conduct. They walk contrary to God and are to be avoided like the plague.
13. Unthankful
Luke 6:35 - "...unthankful..."
2 Timothy 3:2 - "...unthankful..."
Ingratitude is considered to be one of the worst crimes. Whenever people are unthankful is a sure indication that there is a decline in religion. These people are without grace or gracefulness. They are thankless and unpleasing.
14. Loathsome
Proverbs 13:5 - "...wicked man is loathsome..."
These are morally offensive. They act disgustingly.
CONTINUED...