What does rebellion against God mean?

Judges 2:11-14The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:16“I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil—for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands!”

Matthew 6:21“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Rebellion against God means turning away from him and his authority. We rebel against God whenever we give our greatest devotion to anything other than him. When this rebellion leads to false worship, our eternal future is in peril. Only God is deserving of our devotion and worship.

Isaiah 59:2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

1 John 3:4Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

Rebellion against God means deciding not to obey him. When we do this, we cut ourselves off from our creator because we want to live our way and not his.

1 Samuel 12:14-15“Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.”

Rebellion against God means refusing to listen to him.

Ezekiel 20:13“But the people of Israel rebelled against me [the Lord], and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They wouldn’t obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life.”

Sometimes, rebellion against God means being so stubborn that we refuse to obey even when obedience means saving our very lives.

Hebrews 3:12Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.

The ultimate rebellion against God is refusing to accept his gracious offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.