"Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall never pass away!" Matthew 24:35
HOMOSEXUALITY -
HOMOSEXUALITY...
For example, just because a man has a tendency towards lying doesn't make him a liar! He is a liar simply because he... LIES! Ditto the homosexual. The man is not a homosexual just because he has a tendency towards becoming one. He is a homosexual because he IS one! He is involved in the very act of homosexuality!
Thus their "addiction and sin" is not only against the Spirit (whom God intended to house the body/temple with the Spirit of God), but they sin against their own bodies as well, thus defiling the very way that God designed and created how a man and woman were to be "joined together as one" in the first place... thus it is a "Doubly Grievious Sin" - 1 Corinthians 6:18.
Secondly, before God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah, He drove righteous Lot out of there. God saw that what was left were the homosexuals and those who openly approved of what the homosexuals were doing there by approving their perverted lifestyles. In God's eyes they were ALL unrighteous!
In God's eyes (because they didn't like to retain God's words in their consciences) they all became "sick/perverted" and in need of being destroyed! In God's eyes there is little or no difference between the homosexual lifestyle and those who shamefully approve of that perverted lifestyle of theirs by joining and honoring homosexuals in parties, celbrations and feasts, as they had done in Sodom and Gomorrah.
(I pray that you too are 'Vexed' in your soul like righteous Lot was! - 2 Pet.2:7-8 - If you are not 'vexed' in your soul by what they do then it's because you either approve of what they do or remain neutral, uncaring. Either way this Bible Saying applies to you as well. - Eph.5:11-12)
Those who belong to the Lord are "vexed" by it because thay received the love of the Truth and are joined to Him in one spirit. They are "Given in Marriage to God and to each other as husband and wife", the way God designed it to be!
Our being saved FROM sin also includes our being sanctified TO God as well (Heb.2:11). This means that even though our marriage to our spouses is designed by God for bearing children and for our enjoyment, we also learn that we ourselves; upon our becoming born again, become a holy dwelling place on earth for God's Spirit upon His reception into our heart.... Firstly, to say or even believe that God made some men to become homosexuals or some women to become lesbians is an outright lie against God Himself! They are homosexuals and lesbians because "they alone" chose to be.
Therefore, we are commanded to FLEE all fornication and uncleanness, and are especially commanded not to sin against our bodies (1 Cor.6:17-20), as they had done in Sodom and Gomorrah.
2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
Psalms 119:136 (vexed because...) Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
1 Cor 6:13 Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
1 Corinthians 6:9 Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,
1 Cor.6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
139 (vexed because...) My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
158 (vexed because...) I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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.
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Therefore the kind of Bitterness and Hopeless Despair that causes one to commit Suicide shows more than just breaking a command (Matt.5:21), it shows the very condition that lacks the assurance of having ones hope and faith firmly planted in God; come hell or high water, in the first place (Heb. 1:11).
Hopelessness is the opposite of the Hope given in the Gospel, the Hope that one has been assured of through a living faith in Christ, thereby receiving the kind of Steadfastness and Grace (2 Cor.12:9) that enables every Christian to escape and endure any and every trial and hardship right on through to the end (Heb.12:1-2; 1 Pet.2:21).... so long as they remain IN Christ and He in them (John 15:4-7; Phil.4:13).Judas, for one, went and hung himself because he was never a true follower of Jesus! (Matt.27:5) God assures His own that no trial will come to them that will be able to overcome the sufficiency of His Grace (2 Cor.12:9).
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
1 Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
II Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
1 Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
The uncrucified self is cleverly wicked and will say or do anything to convince us that we have no need of acknowledging the Light, thus coming before the Cross in order to have our sins against God exposed for what they are (John 3:20).
This fleshy and disobedient "attitude" (aka "The Self"; "The Faith of the religious masses"; "Doing It My Way"; "The Wide Way") is what "the self" uses to try and cover up and clean up (i.e. reform) their outside act just enough (by going to church, self-sacrifice, going without, etc.) in order to suit themselves and what they believe appeases God's wrath (Matt.15:8-9). All being done because they fear the pains of hell.
However, what they are really doing is refusing the right of the Author of that faith; who they profess to know with their mouth, to come near enough to rule over and transform them. There is no replacing of the inside of that vessel of theirs with A Brand New Heart and Life In Christ, therefore there is no changing FOR them of "WHO" they are, and "HOW" they think... forever. (Matt.23:26; 2 Tim.3:5).
The most important thing a man can know is that he is and has been truly "born again"... only this time of "God"... and "know" that he has been... "most assuredly".... If our faith is NOT based upon the revelation of Christ and the whole counsel of God, then it is based upon a false sense of security. Such thinking is an open gate to deception (Gal.5:19-21).
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Matt 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Matt 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Luke 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
...But lo and behold (some find out afterwards) all the while it was none other than our own "SIN" - our own unyielded and uncrucified self [our "old man" - who Paul referred to in Ephesians 4:22-24] and who we let lead us to trust partly in ourselves and our works and what came forth from us in the first place.
Our Old Man deceived us into thinking that somehow we were really trusting in God and in the holy power He sends to those who love Him in order for us to TRY and live the Christian life through the new birth in the first place. (So what does all this "SELF-TRYING" do to Scriptures as Galatians 2:20-21???)
Now... what Doctrinal deception does is to take and "compromise" the word of God! By changing or watering it down into something it isn't, it takes and twists it (out of context) and then keeps and mixes in with that error just enough truth to make a new and pallitable doctrine or revelation out of it that one's flesh can live with until they overdose. Much like we feed rats tasty morsels of meat with tiny amounts of rat poison mixed in, until they eat their fill and... die.
This poisonous concotion of truth mixed with error is then taken and fed to the itching ears and taste buds of the flesh who are eager to hear, want, swallow and approve it (2 Tim.4:3-4).
And so, lacking the fear of God in them, they continue to show little regard or reverance for what "GOD ALONE" has already spoken, thereby refusing to acknowledge and abide by the whole counsel of God (ALL of the Truth - ALL of the time). (John 14:23; 2 Th.2:10-12).... Whereas before ("Self Deception") we let the vanity of our own minds (i.e. our own self-thinking) deceive us into thinking that "we"; in our flesh and by the power of our own might, were quite capable of pleasing God, of doing His will and of blindly believing that we were fast at work Trying to live for Him in our own unyielded and uncrucified strength.
Those who are deceived by others in this way have and show little or no discernment in "Spiritual Matters" (and the word of God IS a Spiritual matter!). Also, they are quick to argue against any and every clear word of God that opposes their beliefs!
The Bereans (Acts 17:11) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
I Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple.
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
It is imperative that we understand this! If we already tithed yet see a brother in need, what do we do? Do we give him money expecting no interest in return? YES! As much as will help him! This is exactly what "the religious world who already did their duty" doesn't do. Rather than making their yea a yea and nay a nay, and being FREE to give all or part of their money as the Spirit leads, instead they make vows and promises they can't keep (see Matthew 5:33-37 below) and in doing so they in turn bring themselves under law and God's curse!
There is no law that exists under God's Grace that demands that we tithe 10% or any other percentage of our money today to God. It is in the doing of these things that place us under law and in turn "ties up the Spirit" and keeps Him from doing what "He" might have us do otherwise. These "laws" were given to the Old Testament Jew to do and keep, and like all laws of God they were meant to be kept... "Perfectly". Being in Christ, it's who we are in Him, not what we do, that is Perfect. We are supposed to be DEAD to the law (Romans 7:6) - DEAD to the letter of it - and we will be so long as we live under the Spirit of it in the law of Freedom and Liberty!
If we feel led to give someone in need, or even someone who has blessed us with a few dollars or even a few thousand dollars, that's OK as long as it was the Lord who put it on our hearts to FREELY AND CHEERFULLY GIVE what we did at that time, regardless of the amount. (This is what one does who FOLLOWS the Spirit!)
As new creations in Christ, we must be as FREE and ready with ALL of the Lord's money as we are with everything else we have been made ministers of. IF we should fast or pray then NO ONE needs to know. Keep it secret, and only you and God will know! Otherwise "WE", by OUR Rules, end up quenching the leading of the Holy Spirit (with our rules like fasting, tithing, praying at certain times, etc.), and we end up following a bunch of hard and fast RULES instead, thinking that we're accomplishing something, when all we're accomplishing is being "Religious", the very thing that Jesus so strongly spoke out against.
Remember that we are only obligated to serve the Lord under NT Grace in freedom and in truth and in the Spirit, and not as prisoners bound by an oath under OT laws! (2 Cor.3:6)
First off today we must all make sure we understand how "anything" being done by us because of some man-made religious law - or out of the old testament law; like paying tithes or fasting, isn't being done at the sacrifice and expense of our not doing the weightier matters of it (Matt.23:23).
Understand, because they have already tithed, the rest of the money, they feel, is theirs. So when they run into a brother who is in need what do they say to him?! -- "Bless you brother", as they walk around him (thinking to themselves: "I already did my duty").
But if one believes their 10% tithe is what God "demands or expects" - OR - if they give "expecting" to get back ten-fold what they gave through some evil law of reciprocity (as many of todays false teachers preach), they can forget it! All they'll incur is His wrath instead.
Remember too those "foolish" Galatians who insisted on following their strict and unflexable rules rather than follow the Spirit (Gal.3:1-3).
In short, Beware of making and abiding in a law made out of a law - any law! Instead let us fix our eyes and our hearts on Jesus as seen in the Spirit, and not on the Old Testament Jewish law nor on this world's man-made "religious" laws observed by the flesh.
Matt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
1Thes 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself,
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
16 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
34 but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
If one truly is a "Christian" then that person has 'transcended' all that's deemed important to this world and has instead 'fixed themselves' on what's important in the next. For such is the power of knowing Christ in the present as well as in the future!
Let's say that I am a Christian, and I date someone who's a non-Christian. It's right to ask: "What's my motive? Why am I doing this?" Obviously I have allowed 'my' self to over-ride my faith in these 'matters of the heart'.
If my excuse is that I may later be able to 'convert them' over to Christianity by my dating the person, then my motives are all wrong. They are all wrong because they are 'unGodly'. They are not what 'God' wants but what 'I' want, and anything short of what God wants points to downright 'lust' - lust of the flesh, of the eyes, or of the pride of life.
Therefore if you are married and meet the Lord while you are married to an unbeliever, then try and stay together in the hopes that you can bring them to the Lord (also read 1 Corinthians 7:9). If you're not married but are dating an unbeliever after your conversion then the underlined quotes below apply especially to you....
The Bible has much to say concerning the differences between a Christian and a non-Christian. Until and unless a man is born again they have no idea or lasting interest of Spiritual things: the things of God: Love, and the fruits of the Spirit. Until then all they have and know are the things of man: selfish love (i.e. "lust"), and the self-centered motives of all men.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Joshua 24:15 ...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Romans 6:2
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
38 This is the first and great commandment.
Think about all this for a moment. Stop and think about the immensity of what Jesus is saying here! Stop and realize what He is calling "sin", and the many ways it can be committed? Sin can be done in thought, word and/or deed. Usually if it's done in deed (the final stage of lust) then the words of lust and the thoughts of lust have usually gone before it. All of these sins; including the outward act or deed, can be Hidden from the eyes of men, but NEVER from God.
Jesus says that it's not just the obvious, outward ACT of sinning (i.e. committing adultery) that's the Sin, but its what's in the "HEART" of that man and comes out of it - its what's in the way of how his Unregenerated Heart operates. This is what determines whether or not one sins. It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man but it's what comes out of his Heart (Matthew 15:11).
It is from his heart that swirls all sorts of evil thoughts, hateful thoughts, sinful thoughts, lustful thoughts, selfish thoughts, and it is these very thoughts that in turn lead to words and deeds that defile a man (Matthew 15:11). In other words: "Kill the old heart - put a new heart in place of the old, dead one (Ezekiel 32:26), (put off the carnal mind and put on the mind of Christ) and it's solved"! This is just what happens when that man becomes "Born Again".
"GOD" knows the thoughts of mens hearts! Even if we are successful at keeping hateful, and evil and lustful plans and thoughts away from the eyes of men, God Knows! God knows because He knows Hearts - and THAT is exactly why He sent down His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for all these sins of ours and forgive us of them, "AND" (by sending us the Holy Spirit) give us a NEW heart, one that is made flexible and sensative to God and doing "HIS" wishes, not ours; doing "HIS" word, not ours, and in doing "HIS" Will, and not ours.
Hidden sins are those lustful thoughts that we entertain in secret. Then (as the Scriptures say) when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:15).
Jesus says that not only can we sin in word or deed, but in "thought" as well (Matthew 5:28). He tells us that to even look at a woman (or have a woman lustily looking at a man) in lust, desiring to lay with them, then in that persons heart they have already sinned as sure as if they did the deed openly in the center of Broadway and Times Square. Therefore committing a "Sin" involves far more than what a man thinks sin is.
(And those who have come to Him, have come to Know Him personally, and to know Him is to Love Him, and seek to do His will - out of the (New) goodness (i.e. "Grace and Truth") now found in their hearts.)
Matthew 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:29-30 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Galatians 5:17; 26 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Romans 6:12-15 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of breaking all.
Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Matthew 12:34-36 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Why do I say that? "1 Corinthians 3:1ff" I say this because by Christ and the cross God has already judged this world and condemned it! It's over! Therefore what God alone says and has proven by His Spirit is true! Either every word is aimed at new life in the coming Kingdom or else it is all a lie, pure and simple! The spiritual man has his or her senses excercized to distinguish between good and evil.
Think about it - How can you explain to a baby about how two married people can enjoy each other? You can't! It's impossible! There's no connection! The understanding/maturity aspect just isn't there! "Spiritually speaking", the Christian "baby" (if there is such a thing) does not have its spiritual senses exercized either. They are unable to discern the sometimes subtle but always huge differences between good (that which is of the Lord) and evil (that which is of the flesh, the world or the devil). It's well past time that church grew up and realized these truths: Christ (God's everything) or nothing (the worlds everything)!
First off, those who believe we mustn't judge anything today that pertains to Christ and the church, are speaking in a spirit of antichrist, whether or not they know it. Of course we must never judge on the premise that "we" would never do such a thing, or that "we" would never sin like Joe Shmoe does, because we think that we're better than that! There can be, and must be no casting of the first stone - no judging according to the flesh! Our judging must be strictly according to God's judgment, knowing that everything has already been judged as being In and Of or Out and Not of Christ!
By saying that we mustn't judge, only goes to make those who judge rightly out to be unloving, when just the opposite is true: "Christ's first commandment" (Matthew 22:37). The baby is all... HEAD! The baby walks by sight, and judges outwardly on the basis of what it sees. It cannot judge inwardly on what it KNOWS FOR CERTAIN, because it doesn't know anything. They've never grown up. Their fruit is "soulish" at best! Over and over the Apostles address the differences (Hebrews 5:13-14) between these very two kinds of "Christians" as being either "spiritual or carnal".
They're not grown up and eating "meat" but still need to be nursed on "baby's milk" instead, still vying for power, still seeing and judging right and wrong based on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They're still back-biting, still selfish, still soulish, still worldly, still carnal, still thinking of what 'self' can get out of God IF and WHEN they learn to push the right buttons... and on and on it goes.
There are two ways that a person can and cannot judge based on the word of God...
Carnal Christians think the way that the world thinks of God: As being "Out there somewhere", thus going "out there" to find Him! However, it's NOT an intellectual, or manipulative, or childish, or selfish love of the word, where we in turn take charge of 'it' and expect 'it' to conform to 'our way of thinking'. No! Again, that is the worlds way!
A man must be brought LOW - "Woe Is Me" - brought low by the cross of Christ where he comes to realizes that in him (that is in his flesh) is found nothing worthy, no good thing. Zip! Only then is he ready to let go of it all - give it away and treat it all (the best and the worst alike) like 'dung'. Then will he be able to pronounce righteous judgment (always upon himself first and then on where others are coming from) without getting his "self" in the way!
The born again (mature) Christian walks by a 'real and inward faith' based upon a revelation of seeing Christ high and lifted up in glory (and at the same time) seeing himself low and brought down to shame and nothing. Such a man no longer walks according to 'pretended outward appearances' as the world does. Here too is a man who is capable of judging all things rightly, ever remembering that, "But for the Grace of God, there go I".
There are two bases of operation: The Spiritual and the carnal! The Spiritual man is coming from the operation of God (John 3:8) and is therefore capable of judging (primarily through the words and actions they see and hear weighed against the evidence they know and witness to) where that person's base of operations is coming from ... either from the Spirit or the carnal operation of the flesh, and therefore Christian babies at best.
THAT is how the spiritual man judges - he judges by WHAT (not WHO) he hears - judges by hearing the persons base of operations, his core, of just WHERE that person is coming from... either from Christ, or from the world, the flesh and the devil.
One is by way of this world's wisdom, and defending where this kind of knowledge came: "From man-made (i.e. "self") interpretations of the Scriptures" that do not take into account, nor do they honor, the full counsel of God. Instead they make excuses. This is the world's way!
Two is by way of God's wisdom in knowing Him and in knowing that "God's revealed word" is absolute and final, and they know they must judge/discern the spirits (1 Thessalonians 5:21) between what is of God and what isn't, and defend only the "good" (or "true") before the world (Jude 1:3). This is God's way!
Rather it's the kind of Spirit-filled, born again Love of the Living Word that comes and takes charge of 'US' instead, and where God then expects 'US' to conform to 'What HE says and the doing of HIS will', and always with our complete and joyful cooperation.
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 1 Corinthians 5:3
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 Corinthians 2:15
And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee... Luke 19:22
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 1 Corinthians 10:15
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 1 Corinthians 5:12
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 1 Corinthians 10:15
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 1 Corinthians 14:29
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? Luke 12:56-57
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. John 8:15-16
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.John 20:21-23
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 1 Corinthians 6:2-5
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Phil.1:9-10
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
The Scripture that is being used for, "And thy whole house will be saved", has taken on a new meaning these days coming to mean that everyone in a Christians house, living under his roof, will be saved, REGARDLESS whether they believe on Jesus or not. Yet the entire or whole counsel of God demands that without FAITH (and I speak here of individual faith) no one can be saved.
Just as I can't save you nor you, me, no matter how much we pray or whose roof we live under, neither does God have Grandchildren, but only children, only believers. These are not the natural children of believers I am speaking of, but the spiritual children of God. The whole purpose of Jesus sending us the Holy Spirit is PROOF that we are God's. Your faith towards me can't save me, nor can mine towards you save you! Our faith only applies to each one of us. We may plant and water but only God can grow it by bringing it to life!
If you would but read Scriptures as Acts 11:14 and Acts 16:31 you cannot miss who these promises were for. They are not for ALL of us today but for those people to whom the word was spoken to back then. The context surrounding Acts 11:14 speaks of a certain gentile man; a man named Cornelius, who when Peter came and spoke the Gospel to him, both him and all who were under his roof were saved that day. WHY? Because the Spirit knew that these people were ready to be baptized and expressly told Peter to go to Cornelius' house and say, "When you hear these words, then you and your house will be saved"!
Note afterwards what Peter said in verse 17: "Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"
Note too that the Scriptures say that Cornelius was: "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway." Acts 10:2
Now take another look at Acts 16:31. Can you show me the context that it is in? Here it is: "The gentile jailer was brought under the conviction of the Holy Spirit where he pleaded in verse 30, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" and in verse 31 they told him: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
It is obviously clear that the Holy Spirit told Paul and Silas what to say beforehand because they spoke to all who were in his house the same message and they ALL heard it and believed! The working words here are: "AND THEY ALL BELIEVED"!
Cornelius and his house in Acts 11, and the jailer and all in his house in Acts 16, are "PERSONAL MATTERS" that had specifically happened to them and their households in a specific time and place.
It is imperative that we do not take Scripture out of context or out of their proper setting. Although the truth is that in certain (but very few) households all are saved, BUT it is only because each and every one of them in that household had been brought under the conviction of the Holy Spirit - thus each and every one of them knew they needed to be saved - and when the word came to them each and every one of them turned to Christ believing upon Him to save them, and in turn for their faith in Him they received the promised Holy Spirit who caused each and every one of them to become Born Again!
The differences between what God says and what the world believes are night and day. One (the wrong one) is based on a false premise giving a false hope, the kind of a hope and a trust that says that God doesn't lie (as long as He says what "WE" want Him to say). [Of course we know that God does not lie (but only if "HE" says it and it is kept in its proper setting in the first place).]
Over and over again I cannot state enough how important it is to keep the word of God in context! It is vital (if we intend to teach it to others) that we keep and teach only the Whole Counsel of God. It is when a person takes a Scripture out-of-context and runs with it where the trouble begins and the tares begin to take root.
Note the word: "BELIEVED" here. It was because they all heard and believed the living word coming forth from out of Peter's mouth that they received the Holy Spirit - not the other way around!!!
Not only Cornelius but his whole house were devout Gentiles who all feared God. (Where do you see much of that these days???) That is why their whole house was saved - because when they all heard, they all believed! "They were ready! And when the word came to them they received it!"
In fact if one really believes Jesus then we must take Him at His word in Scriptures as Luke 12:51-53 and Matthew 10:34-36. There can be no Scriptural conflicts!
The other belief (the right one) is based on the true hope and trust through receiving the knowledge of the Truth, that without a personal faith (which brings with it the Holy Spirit) no one can ever or will ever be saved! No exceptions!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints
Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 - And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 - And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
[Without each of us individually receiving the revelation of the living Christ seated in glory (i.e. our receiving the Spirit of Truth), then our so-called 'faith' in a 'dead' person; who never became real and alive to be the resurrection and the life IN and TO US, is all in vain. 1 Cor.15:14-17; Matt.16:16-18]
