Monday, February 15, 2016

ALL CHRISTIAN ARE HYPOCRITES

There are three kinds of people who identify themselves as Christians in this world:  born again believers in Christ, who, out of gratitude for the Lord saving them, "practice what they preach"; Christians in name-only, who "practice what they preach" in order to increase their odds of going to heaven; and Christians in name only, but who could care less about living according to the teachings of the Bible.  Unfortunately, the world can not, or will not, acknowledge the distinctions.  That is why they "lump us altogether" and call us hypocrites! 

To be honest, they are right in their view of Christians!  Even born again believers struggle with the battle that goes on between being led by the indwelling Spirit of God, and succumbing to the desires of the flesh.  The Apostle Paul spoke of this battle in his letter to the Romans (7:15-25), and the Apostle John indicated that true believers will, from time to time, fail (1 Jn. 1:1-10).  After all, sin is defined as doing that which the Lord forbids, or, failing to do what the Spirit leads us to do.  Sadly, I have trouble with the latter as much as I do the first.

That being said, there are many things that a true believer cannot continually do without serious consequences.  There are lists of them in the following passages, and while it is hard to believe, many true believers struggle with some of them!

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 
Galatians 5:19-21 - "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, 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."
Revelation 21:7-8 - "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

If you are a born again believer, one who acknowledges Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are an adopted child of God (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 1:5; etc.).  And as God's child, He has taken upon Himself, the responsibility of transforming us into the likeness of His only begotten Son (Rom. 8:28-29; Phil. 1:6; etc.)!  And as our "Parent," He has declared that He will discipline us when we fail to turn from sin (Heb. 12:5-13).  He also can take away His support, allow sickness, and even "call His errant child home" if there is no repentance (1 Cor. 11:27-31).

If you are saved, and you are practicing sinful behavior, you will regret it!
If you think you are saved, and you do not experience God's discipline, you are not!

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