Rom. Ch.1
26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet
28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 Cor. 6. 9:10
9) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
In the light of what has been said, let's consider the outcome of practicing sin. Multitudes think that walking an aisle, signing a card, and sending one's photograph for baptism constitutes a salvation experience. Soothed and salved by such religious pilgrimages to the altar or prayer room, they continue the practice of every abominable degradation known.
Regardless of their decadent lifestyle, all is well because, once upon a time, they made a beeline to the altar. Unfortunately, all they gained by it was "exercise," not an "experience. " The "move" made, the practicing sinners rest in an unexperienced experience and they will die as unconverted converts. How deceived they are! How sad they will be at the judgment when Christ cries, I NEVER knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23). As I say such convicting truth, I realize that some sin-laden world lings are angry. They are crying, "Christian liberty, Christian liberty." Ah, but Christian liberty is never a driver's license to steer one's life into the pathways of sin! Others lament, "We are under grace and thus are able to do anything and everything." Ah, but grace does not allow for a lifetime of disgrace! The "Apostle of grace" dogmatically teaches this. This is not open for opinion.
Strange as it may seem to some, Paul's "grace" message concerning sin is identical to John's "legalistic" discourse about iniquity. Why not? God wrote all of the Bible. He used Paul, John, and others -- even their personalities and vocabularies -- but He guided every word into place ( 2 Peter 1:21). As a result, Paul, as well as John, makes it clear that one cannot love sin, desire sin, chase sin, live in sin, and check into a sinless heaven. Though any Christian can commit any sin at any time, Paul nevertheless concludes that there must be evidence of a "new nature" constantly battling against an "old nature" if one has been born again. No evidence -- no experience with God! It's that simple.
This is so, because the Spirit of God becomes "grieved" ( Ephesians 4:30) and "quenched" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:19) when believers sin. The believer, in turn, shares the grief produced by the indwelling Spirit. Then, if he continues in sin, he is "spanked" spiritually ( Hebrews 12:6) and may "die" prematurely ( 1 John 5:16), going home "ashamed" ( 1 John 2:28) and suffering the loss of all rewards -- being saved as by fire (1 Corinthians 3:15). It is foolish, to teach that Paul's "grace" proclamation allows one to live in sin. If this alone can't at least capture one's attention, something is bad wrong.
If, at this point, one is still unconvinced, Paul's following warnings should settle it once, for all, and forever.(IF a person is seeking Truth). Hear him in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not [SHALL NOT. That's right, shall not!] inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators [premarital sex experimenters and "trial marriage" proponents], nor idolaters, nor adulterers [extramarital flingers and swingers], nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind [homosexuals], Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards [social tipplers who tipple one too many], nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul again warns in Ephesians 5:3-7: But fornication [premarital sex], and all uncleanness, or covetousness [love of materialism and filthy lucre], let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.For this [you] KNOW, that no whoremonger [immoral sex practitioner], nor unclean person [smutty jokester], nor the covetous man, who is an idolater [money lover], hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [None? None!] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things [sins] cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. No doubt about it. Depraved, debauched, decadent practitioners of sin inhabit the lake of fire for all eternity ( Revelation 21:8).
One more judgmental alarm is sounded by Paul in Galatians 5:19-21. He says, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things SHALL NOT [What? SHALL NOT!] inherit the kingdom of God. Such grammar is so simplistic and understandable that further comment is unnecessary. It all convincingly says, he that practiceth sin is of the devil.
Does all this mean, then, that practicing sinners have no hope? Perish the thought! God loves sinners and sent His Son to Calvary's cross to shed His blood for a world of wicked inhabitants. This blood, which flowed so freely from a love-filled Savior, cleanseth from ALL sin ( 1 John 1:7). Because of it, a great number of Corinthians described in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 as fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners were eternally forgiven as verse 11 proves. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. This is what the "second birth" did for them and will do for you today if you receive Christ. Remember, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).
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2006-11-03 23:42:32
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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8⤊
2⤋