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HOUSMAIL HM002 1998 THOSE WHO
WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM We
live in a world which has lost all sight of God's perspective about SIN. In
many places now, even the Church shows an increasing tendency to stay quiet
about some specific sins, or worse, openly approve of them. Paul
has a solemn warning for those who either commit the sin themselves or
approve of those who do. (Romans 1:32) It
is worth reminding ourselves occasionally, that the Bible has several lists
of people who will NOT inherit the Kingdom Of God. These
include: - From
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV Fornicators,
idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy,
drunkards, slanderers, swindlers. From
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV Those
who practise sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,
factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, etc. (Note
that etcetera at the end of Paul's list! it includes ALL the other sins Paul
hasn't specifically mentioned here!) From
Ephesians 5:3-6 NIV Sexual
immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking, greed
(covetousness equal to idolatry). From
Colossians 3:5-9 NIV Sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed (a form of idolatry), anger,
malice, slander, filthy language, lies. From
Revelation 21:8 NIV Cowardly,
unbelieving, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, magic arts, idolaters, and
ALL liars. From
Revelation 22:15 NIV Dogs
(homosexuals), magic arts, sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and
EVERYONE who loves and practises falsehood. It
has become all too common for Christians to make the terrible mistake of
separating these lists into "Big Sins" and "Little Sins"!
(Almost as though some of them don't matter quite as much to God!) The
truth is that there is no such distinction between sins. Unless they are ALL
forsaken, and forgiven, they ALL have the same end result ..... DEATH! ALL
OF THESE ARE THE SINS WHICH JESUS CAME TO DEAL WITH BY DYING FOR THEM. (Hebrews 9:28) ALL
OF THESE ARE THE SINS FROM WHICH JESUS WISHES TO TURN US AWAY, IN ORDER TO
BLESS US. (Acts 3:25-26) When
these sins are replaced with (Paul's list) love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (Galatians 5:22) And
with (Peter's list) faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness,
godliness, brotherly affection, and LOVE, they will keep us from being
ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8) Peter
says, "Whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has
FORGOTTEN that he was cleansed from his old sins." (2 Peter 1:9) and Peter
also says, that if we do these things, "There will be richly provided for us an
entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:11) Allon |