SLOWLY DYING – PART II
Hello everyone. I am back to discuss the different types of
sins. We last talked about the sin of lying. The next sin that we’ll discuss is adultery. Adultery is an act of unfaithfulness
in marriage that occurs when the husband or wife voluntarily engages in sexual intercourse with another person outside of
their marriage. In the Old Testament several prophets used adultery as a metaphor to describe unfaithfulness to God. I see
it today where many are unfaithful to God. Just as many are stepping outside their marriages, many are stepping outside of
their trust and faith in God by turning to other people, looking toward little gods for satisfaction, and outright in rebellion
against God. Why do people cheat on God? Why do people cheat on their spouses? People cheat because of selfishness. People
are looking to satisfy their own selfish desires. People don’t trust God because people don’t know Him. People
don’t read His word to get to know Him. So people depend on self because people think they know themselves. Adultery
is one of the works of the flesh. This will take us to the next sin, that is a work of the flesh, which is fornication.
Fornication
is consensual sexual intercourse between two persons of the opposite sex not married to each other. The Bible dictionary says
fornication is various acts of sexual immorality, especially being a harlot or a whore. Paul used the term fornication to
cover all sinful sexual activity. Revelation says much about fornication, condemning those guilty to eternal punishment. Revelation,
as well as the prophets, extends the meaning of fornication to include political and religious unfaithfulness too (Rev. 14:8;
17:2, 4; 18:3; 19:2).
The
next sin that we’ll talk about is uncleanness. Uncleanness means morally or spiritually impure. It also means soiled,
dirty, defilement, to make filthy, corrupt, to violate chastity of, to violate the sanctity of, desecrate, dishonor, contaminate,
and pollute. How can one be unclean? Well one can be unclean on the physical side with dirt on them or one can be unclean
on the inside by having impure thoughts. Impure thoughts can lead to and result in shameful activities.
Now we will talk about hatred. Hatred is a sin defined as a strong negative reaction toward someone considered an enemy.
Hatred is intense hostility, ill will, and resentment. What should be done when hatred and persecution occur? Jesus says to
rejoice at the opposition. Hatred is condemned and love toward enemies is encouraged.
Now let us talk about drunkenness. Drunkenness is the result of consuming a quantity of alcohol and the outcome being
the impairment of the mind or body. Have you witnessed someone being drunk? I have. I thought it was comical and funny because
the person was loud and slurring their words, swaying back and forth hitting the wall. Then they would pass out on the floor.
I have seen the ugly side of drunkenness too, where the person is cussing and fussing and beating on someone. I was in a state
of drunkenness in the past in my early 20’s and I didn’t like the way it made me feel. The alcohol made me dizzy.
I left it alone after that. I understand now why God tells us not to be in a drunken state of mind because alcohol has bad
evil spirits that take over you and you lose control.
Did you know ignorance is a sin! Ignorance is lacking in knowledge. I found this out at Prayer & Bible study that
is held on Tuesdays @ 6:00pm. God’s word informs us that sins of inaction are sins, and ignorance is no excuse for wrong-doing.
I learned that the Israelites were held accountable for the sins they committed ignorantly. Many modern-day Christians seem
to think if they don’t study their Bibles and don’t familiarize themselves with the standards and principles God
has given in the Bible, they will not be responsible for their sins committed in ignorance. This is not so! God requires us
to become careful students of His word, for it is disobedience to His word that constitutes sin. So we can’t claim “oh
I didn’t know.” What do you have to do if you are a calendar year filer? You know, you have to file your tax return
by April 15th and pay your taxes if you owe. We are all held accountable to know the tax laws and the same is true
for the Word of God. We are accountable to read and study God’s word the Bible to show ourselves approved. As parents
we are responsible to teach our children God’s word because the learning process starts in the home. So I will say that
ignorance is not bliss and neither are heresies.
Heresy is false doctrine or teaching that denies the foundational belief of Jesus Christ. In 2 Peter 2:1 it talks about
“false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
Next is idolatry. Idolatry is a physical or material image or form, representing a reality or being considered divine
and thus an object of worship. In the Old Testament idols were a problem of long standing. One of the first acts of rebellion
of the Hebrews centered around the golden calf made under Aaron’s leadership in the wilderness in Exodus 32. In Exodus
20:3-5 it is telling all that we shall have no other gods before Him. We shall not make for ourselves carved images. We shall
not bow down to them nor serve them. So God is telling us to not put anyone or anything before Him. God must be first in everything.
The last sin that we’ll talk
about is homosexuality. Homosexuality is sexual relations between people of the same sex. Homosexual behavior
is recognized as sinful because it violates God’s original plan for heterosexual monogamy. God created mankind as male
and female to procreate within the context of marriage. It doesn’t matter what type of sin because sin is sin and all
sin separates us from our Creator God the Father. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:19-21, “the works of the flesh are evident,
which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand,
just as I also told you in time past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Romans
1:18-32, Paul tells us “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of
men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be know of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it
to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because , although they knew God, they did
not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing
to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and
birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts,
to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned
in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their
error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind,
to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same
but also approve of those who practice them.”
So what can be done about sin? God is waiting for you to realize that you are a sinner and He can cleanse you from
all unrighteousness if you will repent of your sins and accept His free gift of salvation by accepting His Son Jesus Christ
as your Lord and Savior. You see I am a sinner just like you, but the only difference is I have confessed my sins, asked for
forgiveness, and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, so I am still a sinner, but a sinner saved by grace.
