The 1Cor. 10: 13 means of escape often begins by acknowledging the areas of sin that appeals to fallen nature within us. By denying the influential presence of such weaknesses (1), or their sinful nature, we are only one step away from walking into the trap. After learning what our personal area(s) of weakness are, we then make ongoing choices not to place ourselves in a location, an activity, or an environment that opens the door of opportunity. Knowing James 2: 10 consequences that ANY sin can cause, the devil is well-pleased, and is more than glad, to provide us with the means and opportunity to engage is the area(s) of sin that we, as an individual, can so easily entangle us. Everyone is NOT doing it, but sad to say, the Matt. 7: 14 majority is, having taken the devil’s bait. Of all of the types of sexual sin out there, it is interesting to note that it is fornication (sex outside of marriage) and adultery (sex with someone other than his or her spouse) that Hebrews says will bring certain divine discipline. I say interesting because fornication has become socially accepted, and adultery is more common than what most would care to admit, even among many who fill the pews on a regular basis, and or claim to be followers of Christ To violate the laws of Man concerning adultery, one must engage in an actual physical activity, but Jesus took it one step further when He said, “…if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind (Matt. 5: 28 NASB2020).” The same principle applies to ANY form of sexual immorality. James 2: 10 and makes it clear that all of us are in the same stinking, sinking boat of sin, and in the same and equal need of salvation. As a result, no one is in a position to “judge” anyone else. But that doesn’t mean that we are not to evangelize the spiritually dead souls around us, nor does it mean that we are not to spiritually edify fellow-believers, when God gives us the opportunity to do so. In such cases, disciples are identifying the sin; not judging the sinner. There are no rest areas along the road to spiritual maturity. Every born-again believer is either moving forward or back-sliding, at any given point in time. When back-sliding involves ongoing sin, a born-again believer should expect to receive divine discipline (2). When an advancing disciple neglects or runs away from what he or she knows to be the plan of God for him or her, he or she should expect divine “re-direction,” as did Jonah, finding himself being tossed into a raging storm at sea, winding up in the belly of a large fish (3). Again, post (after) salvation discipleship, that being the ongoing study and application of the Word of God, is initially for the spiritual edification and the development of spiritual maturity in one-self, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (4). When gross immorality in any form becomes the norm for any nation or the society at large, God is going to impose increasing levels of corresponding national discipline (5). Each level of divine national discipline is more severe than the previous one(s), with the maximum level of national discipline resulting in its loss of status of an independent nation from among the international community of nations. If we justify and or excuse our own sin through human rationalization, we can enjoy the seasonal pleasures of sin (6), and can find comfort and reassurance in the company other like-minded and behaved individuals. But even if this season of pleasure should last for a lifetime, it is still “short-lived” when compared to Eternity that will never end. The day will come for all of us, be it in time or eternity, to pay the fiddler (7) after having danced to the devil’s tune. It may be unconditional acceptance, but it is not unconditional love that is in view when we see others that we know that are on the road that leads to destruction, and say or do nothing about it. I say this because love desires the best for the object of our love. The question is, do we love God enough (8), and do we love others enough, that we are willing to become their “enemies” by telling them the truth (9). Accepting, allowing, facilitating, or condoning ANYTHING that can lead to the death or destruction of our family members, friends, society, nation, or world, is NOT an expression of love. Some “Christian” religions teach that there are mortal (more serious) sins, and that there are venial (less serious) sins, with corresponding solutions. This seems to make sense to human reasoning, as in the case of the administration of justice by secular authorities, there are such practical distinctions. A shoplifter would not expect to receive the same sentence as an armed bank robber, even though both are thieves. Scripture (10) teaches us that God cannot even look upon ANY sin (or sinner) with approval, let alone be in acceptance with sin or in fellowship with the sinner, be it now in time, or in Eternity future. This is why God the Father had to forsake (turn His back on) the Humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ during the hours on the cross when He took on the sins of the world and atoned for them. This included the future sins of the one we face in the mirror. In Psalms 22, Jesus was NOT asking God the Father “Why” He was being forsaken. Jesus knew from the very beginning that this was a part of the mission that He had been sent to accomplish. He made this clear to His closest disciples on their way to Jerusalem. It was, however, the subject of prayer so intense that it resulted in blood being mixed in His sweat in the Garden, just before His arrest. In quoting this Psalm that was written centuries before the crucifixion, He was confirming what was taking place, as Psalms 22 contains many details of the crucifixion. Scripture (11) teaches that when we break just one of God’s laws, we stand as guilty as the one who has broken them all. This places ALL of us in the same stinking, sinking, boat of sin, and in the equal need of salvation. Upon arriving in Heaven, every human soul will do so in the capacity of either a born-again believer who has been totally forgiven (12), or in the capacity of an unbeliever who is to be totally condemned (13). There is no other status recorded in Scripture. In the meantime, don’t be deceived. One cannot be comfortable with sin and be in fellowship with God.
End of Part Four (1)1John 1: 8 (2) Heb. 12: 6 (3) Jonah 1: 17 (4) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (5) Lev. 26 (6) Heb. 11: 25 (7) Gal. 6: 7 (8) Luke 14: 26 (9) Gal. 4: 16 (10) Hab. 1: 13 (11) James 2: 10 (12) Rom. 8: 1 (13) Rev. 20: 15