Having therefore, brethren, boldness to
enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way, which He hath
consecrated for us, through the veil,
that is to say, His flesh; and having an
high priest over the house of God: let us
draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast this profession of
our faith without wavering;
(for He is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 10:19-23
The actions of people are evaluated by a much more rigid standard and that standard is the Bible. Have you ever hear the statement, "a white lie?" Or have you heard someone say that it is a "little sin?" First, and foremost: there are no "little white lies," or "a little sin," to be found in Scripture. Jesus never qualified His statements be the culture of the world, or on some social standing of those who were listening to Him. The Sermon on the Mount is a good example. The Sermon on the Mount is a warning, a warning of a greater danger inasmuch as that which a person holds in their heart will activate them to either do good or evil. Temptations come, and go, and temptations will expose a person. How a person deals with the issues within a temptation, idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, etc., were dealt with in the same manner, there was no qualification: sin is sin. Paul makes this very clear: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchraft, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, 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 inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21). Nothing was left out, even those things that the world and cultural Christians allow, at least in some manner. Adultery was a separate issue, and fornication was a separate issue and in this world those two words have been conjoined so as to mean the same thing, albeit a small qualification at times making one worse than the other. This is not true according to Jesus and the writings of Paul.
Did you get the point? Those who commit any of these things they WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Some Churches state that a person cannot work for their salvation, and this is true for it is a free gift from God. This does not some work is not involved for a person must do all they can to resist the devil and this is work and if this work is not done then your salvation is at risk. Oh, you might exclaim, "I believe once saved always saved." Your salvation is assured and the only thing you must do is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). The King James Bible add the suffix "eth" making the word to be in the present tense, and our English adds the letter "s" to a verb making it to be in the present tense. Furthermore the Greek word translated in the present tense is also a participle making to be translated literally: "presently believing." The same is true in John 3:16 so then an Authentic Christian is one that is presently believing and by that belief exercises good works, first to themselves by not becoming involved in sin, yes there are sins that a person may commit that they do not they have committed. Second towards others they do good things and as their basis, their command they are to love people with God's principled love.
Cultural Christians, even liberal Christians have lost ethical reverence for a sense of holiness of God (Galatians 5:21). Cultural or liberal Christians have created a form of worship that they take seriously and at the same time reduce Authentic reverence for God, it is all about themselves and is seen by such euphoric gyrations, music that is more like the world causing people to act like the world, or to do things that Jesus did not do nor commanded us to do: i.e., going around in some sort of treasure hunt with a piece of paper that is leading them to someone they say God led them too be able to pray with them. The Gospel is not preached only experiential Christianity.
When a person comes to the point to know that they are sinners in need of a Savior and they come to believe in Jesus Christ they are His and the Holy Spirit will create in a person an understanding to desire to please God in all things and not to offend Him. Sin is viewed in the Bible as a rebellion against the rule of God in a person' life. Here then is this: persistent sin may indicate that a person has not actually accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and are not "presently believing" and to not have a proper relationship with Jesus Christ, with God, the Godhead. Let us make this one thing clear: Evil will be punished and only true righteousness will be rewarded.
Are you now "presently believing?" If so then allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to a place in life whereby you become an Authentic Christian, to have Authentic Christian Faith.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning
of wisdom: a good understanding
have all they that do His commandments:
His praise endureth for ever.
Psalm 111:10
You are saved by the blood of Jesus: live as such
Richard L. Crumb
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