THE FIERY EVENTS OF SCRIPTURE
Part Two of Three
From divine viewpoint, one form of sexual sin is no greater or no worse than any other (1). For example, the heterosexual fornicator or adulterer is no less embracing immorality than the homosexual that engages in same-sex activities.
The type of sexual activities that we desire or engage in are choices that we make.
If we were to be honest, we would concede that regardless of how spiritually mature we have become, we do not always feel like doing what Scripture requires of us.
Furthermore, for a variety of reasons, there are many times when we have been tempted to embrace activities that God forbids. Our overt sins are no more than the sins of the mind manifesting themselves in overt activity.
The good news is that being tempted is NOT a sin. Jesus remained sinless, even though He was tempted in every way that we are. But unlike us, He chose NOT to sin (2).
Even though being tempted is not, in of itself, a sin, Jesus found it important enough to make not being led into temptation a part of our ongoing prayer life (3).
Rather or not the temptations we face will become sin, are choices that we make each and every day. Each and every day, Christians choose between sin and obedience, and between continuing or forsaking sin (4).
Insanity is often defined as the inability to distinguish right from wrong; the inability to comprehend the consequences of our actions; or doing the same thing the same way while expecting a different outcome.
By this definition, we are all a little crazy! Without Biblical discipleship, we can not distinguish right (accurate Bible doctrine) from wrong (sin or man made religious traditions). How long and or how often have we lived in ignorance of, or in denial of the inevitable, Romans 6: 23 consequences of sin, and or the Matt. 15: 9 consequences of embracing man-made religious traditions in our worship or in our attempts to address our spiritual needs.
“For the wages of sin is (spiritual, temporal, or physical) death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6: 23 NASB parenthesis mine).”
“But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB) “
How many times have we done the same thing, the same way, but still expect a different outcome? Many Christians are no further along the road to spiritual maturity than they were on the day they were born-again.
We may not like or agree with what God’s Word has to say, but advancing disciples do know when they have done, are doing, or thinking about doing something that runs contrary to what the Bible has to say.
It is the accumulated result of these daily choices that determines the quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life. The quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life neither increases or decreases the INTEGRITY of one’s salvation (5), but determines the quantity of the heavenly reward (6) and privileges (7) to be received, as these are reserved for those who choose to advance in discipleship during their appointed time, here on Earth.
Discipleship is the daily study (8) and application (9) of the Word of God to ALL that one thinks, says, and does. We find the time to listen to the daily news and weather forecasts, the latest gossip, and to do just about everything else that we want to, but many of us can’t seem to find the time to spend in God’s Word.
Regular self-examinations (10), daily confession, and forsaking past sin(s) is a necessary and ongoing part of a successful post salvation spiritual life.
The “confessional” of Scripture is open 24/7.
There are blessings (11) and or consequences (12) for the choices, that we, as Church-Age believers, make every day.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9 NASB)."
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal. 6: ,7 NASB)."
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the (rewards of the) kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit (the rewards of) the kingdom of God. Such WERE (past tense) some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1Cor. 6: 9 -11 NASB parenthesis mine).”
. . .
The gift of eternal life that one received the moment he or she was born again is irrevocable (13). The work (14) of God that He performed at the moment that one was born again is irreversible.
But that does not mean that there aren’t other consequences, both here on Earth (15), and in Heaven (16), as a result of post salvation sin that we commit.
God does accept us just as we are at the moment of salvation, but that doesn’t mean He wants us to remain in or later enter into a post salvation lifestyle of sin.
We are living in a period of human history when good is called evil, and evil is called good (17).
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Is 5: 20 NASB)!”
There is a future period of time (The Great Tribulation) coming after the Rapture takes place, but before the Second Advent, that the human experience will be so horrific that if it had not been cut short by the Second Coming, no life on the planet would survive (18).
Church Age believers, having been taken away in the Rapture, will not be here on Earth during this horrific period, but will, along with the tribulation believers, return with the Lord at the Second Advent (19).
According to 1Thess.4: 17, after the Rapture takes place, wherever the Lord Jesus Christ is, be it in Heaven or Earth, the resurrected Church will be there with Him.
“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them (the previously departed believers) in the clouds to meet the Lord (and be reunited with the formerly departed believers) in the air, and so we shall ALWAYS BE WITH the Lord (1Thess.4: 17 NASB parenthesis mine).”
By now you might be asking what does our daily decisions have to do with the “end of the world” events that have been laid out in Scripture. If some of these are more than 1,000 years away, why not just eat, drink, and be merry, explore all that this world has to offer, before our individual appointed times for departure arrives?
This was the thinking of Solomon (20) during his frantic search for happiness, purpose, and meaning in life, BEFORE coming to his ultimate conclusion, that without God and the things of God, everything is meaningless (21).
There is nothing wrong with pursuing the wholesome things that are here on Earth (22), as long as such things are kept in their proper place of priority (23).
The more of an interest one has in the things of God, the less of an interest he or she will have in the things that this world has to offer.
The things of God apply to the here and now, and are what prepares us for eternity.
Only God knows when the coming end of this present world will take place. But what we all have to acknowledge is that today could be the appointed time of departure for any one of us. As of that moment, whenever of by whatever means it comes, it will be too late to make any changes, for the better or the worse, in what eternity has in store for any one of us.
. . .
Since the 2Pet. 3: 10 event involves the removal of heavens (Stella universe) as well as the Earth, I believe it will be a direct act of God demolishing the present heavens and Earth (24), before creating the new ones (25).
The Doctrine of Divine Sovereignty teaches that the timing of this final event is in the hands of God. Nothing has ever taken place, is taking place now, or will ever take place without having first passed through the filters of God’s direct or permissive will.
End of Part Two
(1)\\\\\\\\tJames 2:10 (2) Heb. 4: 15 (3) Matt. 6: 13 (4) 1John 1:9 / John 8: 11 (5) Rom. 8: 1 (6) 1Cor. 6: 14 (7) Rev. Chapters 2 & 3 (8) 2Pet. 3: 18 (9) James 1: 22 (10) 2Cor.13: 5 (11) 1John 1: 9 (12) 1Cor. 6: 9-11 (13) Romans 11: 29 (14) Eph.4:30/Titus 3: 5 (15) Heb.12: 6 (16) 1Cor. 13: 15 (17) Isa. 5: 20 (18) Matt. 24: 22 (19) Rev. 20:10 (20 ) Eccl. 8: 15 (21) Eccl.1: 2 (22) 3John 1: 2 (23) Mark 8: 36 (24) 2Pet.3: 10 (25) Rev. 21
Part Two of Three
From divine viewpoint, one form of sexual sin is no greater or no worse than any other (1). For example, the heterosexual fornicator or adulterer is no less embracing immorality than the homosexual that engages in same-sex activities.
The type of sexual activities that we desire or engage in are choices that we make.
If we were to be honest, we would concede that regardless of how spiritually mature we have become, we do not always feel like doing what Scripture requires of us.
Furthermore, for a variety of reasons, there are many times when we have been tempted to embrace activities that God forbids. Our overt sins are no more than the sins of the mind manifesting themselves in overt activity.
The good news is that being tempted is NOT a sin. Jesus remained sinless, even though He was tempted in every way that we are. But unlike us, He chose NOT to sin (2).
Even though being tempted is not, in of itself, a sin, Jesus found it important enough to make not being led into temptation a part of our ongoing prayer life (3).
Rather or not the temptations we face will become sin, are choices that we make each and every day. Each and every day, Christians choose between sin and obedience, and between continuing or forsaking sin (4).
Insanity is often defined as the inability to distinguish right from wrong; the inability to comprehend the consequences of our actions; or doing the same thing the same way while expecting a different outcome.
By this definition, we are all a little crazy! Without Biblical discipleship, we can not distinguish right (accurate Bible doctrine) from wrong (sin or man made religious traditions). How long and or how often have we lived in ignorance of, or in denial of the inevitable, Romans 6: 23 consequences of sin, and or the Matt. 15: 9 consequences of embracing man-made religious traditions in our worship or in our attempts to address our spiritual needs.
“For the wages of sin is (spiritual, temporal, or physical) death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6: 23 NASB parenthesis mine).”
“But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB) “
How many times have we done the same thing, the same way, but still expect a different outcome? Many Christians are no further along the road to spiritual maturity than they were on the day they were born-again.
We may not like or agree with what God’s Word has to say, but advancing disciples do know when they have done, are doing, or thinking about doing something that runs contrary to what the Bible has to say.
It is the accumulated result of these daily choices that determines the quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life. The quality of one’s post salvation spiritual life neither increases or decreases the INTEGRITY of one’s salvation (5), but determines the quantity of the heavenly reward (6) and privileges (7) to be received, as these are reserved for those who choose to advance in discipleship during their appointed time, here on Earth.
Discipleship is the daily study (8) and application (9) of the Word of God to ALL that one thinks, says, and does. We find the time to listen to the daily news and weather forecasts, the latest gossip, and to do just about everything else that we want to, but many of us can’t seem to find the time to spend in God’s Word.
Regular self-examinations (10), daily confession, and forsaking past sin(s) is a necessary and ongoing part of a successful post salvation spiritual life.
The “confessional” of Scripture is open 24/7.
There are blessings (11) and or consequences (12) for the choices, that we, as Church-Age believers, make every day.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9 NASB)."
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal. 6: ,7 NASB)."
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the (rewards of the) kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit (the rewards of) the kingdom of God. Such WERE (past tense) some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1Cor. 6: 9 -11 NASB parenthesis mine).”
. . .
The gift of eternal life that one received the moment he or she was born again is irrevocable (13). The work (14) of God that He performed at the moment that one was born again is irreversible.
But that does not mean that there aren’t other consequences, both here on Earth (15), and in Heaven (16), as a result of post salvation sin that we commit.
God does accept us just as we are at the moment of salvation, but that doesn’t mean He wants us to remain in or later enter into a post salvation lifestyle of sin.
We are living in a period of human history when good is called evil, and evil is called good (17).
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Is 5: 20 NASB)!”
There is a future period of time (The Great Tribulation) coming after the Rapture takes place, but before the Second Advent, that the human experience will be so horrific that if it had not been cut short by the Second Coming, no life on the planet would survive (18).
Church Age believers, having been taken away in the Rapture, will not be here on Earth during this horrific period, but will, along with the tribulation believers, return with the Lord at the Second Advent (19).
According to 1Thess.4: 17, after the Rapture takes place, wherever the Lord Jesus Christ is, be it in Heaven or Earth, the resurrected Church will be there with Him.
“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them (the previously departed believers) in the clouds to meet the Lord (and be reunited with the formerly departed believers) in the air, and so we shall ALWAYS BE WITH the Lord (1Thess.4: 17 NASB parenthesis mine).”
By now you might be asking what does our daily decisions have to do with the “end of the world” events that have been laid out in Scripture. If some of these are more than 1,000 years away, why not just eat, drink, and be merry, explore all that this world has to offer, before our individual appointed times for departure arrives?
This was the thinking of Solomon (20) during his frantic search for happiness, purpose, and meaning in life, BEFORE coming to his ultimate conclusion, that without God and the things of God, everything is meaningless (21).
There is nothing wrong with pursuing the wholesome things that are here on Earth (22), as long as such things are kept in their proper place of priority (23).
The more of an interest one has in the things of God, the less of an interest he or she will have in the things that this world has to offer.
The things of God apply to the here and now, and are what prepares us for eternity.
Only God knows when the coming end of this present world will take place. But what we all have to acknowledge is that today could be the appointed time of departure for any one of us. As of that moment, whenever of by whatever means it comes, it will be too late to make any changes, for the better or the worse, in what eternity has in store for any one of us.
. . .
Since the 2Pet. 3: 10 event involves the removal of heavens (Stella universe) as well as the Earth, I believe it will be a direct act of God demolishing the present heavens and Earth (24), before creating the new ones (25).
The Doctrine of Divine Sovereignty teaches that the timing of this final event is in the hands of God. Nothing has ever taken place, is taking place now, or will ever take place without having first passed through the filters of God’s direct or permissive will.
End of Part Two
(1)\\\\\\\\tJames 2:10 (2) Heb. 4: 15 (3) Matt. 6: 13 (4) 1John 1:9 / John 8: 11 (5) Rom. 8: 1 (6) 1Cor. 6: 14 (7) Rev. Chapters 2 & 3 (8) 2Pet. 3: 18 (9) James 1: 22 (10) 2Cor.13: 5 (11) 1John 1: 9 (12) 1Cor. 6: 9-11 (13) Romans 11: 29 (14) Eph.4:30/Titus 3: 5 (15) Heb.12: 6 (16) 1Cor. 13: 15 (17) Isa. 5: 20 (18) Matt. 24: 22 (19) Rev. 20:10 (20 ) Eccl. 8: 15 (21) Eccl.1: 2 (22) 3John 1: 2 (23) Mark 8: 36 (24) 2Pet.3: 10 (25) Rev. 21