THE PRIDE OF GRACE
I Corinthians 5:1-3
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles – that a man has his father's wife. And you are puffed up, and have not mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present ) him who has so done this deed."
The Corinthians were proud that they were people of grace. They were not judgmental but opened their arms to everyone regardless of their lifestyle, so much so that they disregarded God's standards of holiness and morality. (Incest is included in the prohibited sexual practices of Leviticus chapter 18). They were such loving people that they could overlook sin in order to make people feel welcome in their assemblies. Paul called the church to judge sin. There is a difference between being judgmental in the sense that Jesus taught ("Judge not that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1) and making judgments about sin based on God's standards. I can remember the time when holy living was a requisite for church membership. Now we wink at sin so that people will feel welcomed and accepted. We don't want to offend people. We are proud of our grace. Since Jesus' bride is called to be "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27), shouldn't we rather mourn that the standards are so low in our assemblies? It may be old-fashioned, but I believe that God still calls us to holiness.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: People of grace do not have to lower their standards of holiness.
Have a judging day. Love you.
I Corinthians 5:1-3
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles – that a man has his father's wife. And you are puffed up, and have not mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present ) him who has so done this deed."
The Corinthians were proud that they were people of grace. They were not judgmental but opened their arms to everyone regardless of their lifestyle, so much so that they disregarded God's standards of holiness and morality. (Incest is included in the prohibited sexual practices of Leviticus chapter 18). They were such loving people that they could overlook sin in order to make people feel welcome in their assemblies. Paul called the church to judge sin. There is a difference between being judgmental in the sense that Jesus taught ("Judge not that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1) and making judgments about sin based on God's standards. I can remember the time when holy living was a requisite for church membership. Now we wink at sin so that people will feel welcomed and accepted. We don't want to offend people. We are proud of our grace. Since Jesus' bride is called to be "a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27), shouldn't we rather mourn that the standards are so low in our assemblies? It may be old-fashioned, but I believe that God still calls us to holiness.
TODAY'S THOUGHT: People of grace do not have to lower their standards of holiness.
Have a judging day. Love you.
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