PRACTICING SIN
II Corinthians 12:20-21
"For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as you do not wish, lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced."
Paul planned to visit the church at Corinth again, and he pleaded with them to clean up their act before he got there. He listed a catalogue of sins which they were allowing to continue in their midst with no apparent repentance. He did not want to find these things in their fellowship, and he threatened them with a rod of correction which they would not want. These sins are not just "accidental" sins; they are continuing lifestyles of ungodliness. We all sin and fall short of God's glory, and there is cleansing of these sins by the blood of Christ (I John 1:7). But blatant, willfull, and unrepented sin as a lifestyle is another story. "Practicing" sin as a way of life is repugnant to the true Christian. I think that Paul was incensed because he understood that Christ died so that He might have a church "not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). To claim to be a Christian and yet continue to live in ungodliness is a slap in the face of Jesus, and a contradiction of the name "Christian." May it never be! As a Christian, I need to practice holy living as an intentional lifestyle.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Sin is repugnant, but practicing sin is even more repugnant.
[end]
Have a godly day. Love you.
II Corinthians 12:20-21
"For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as you do not wish, lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced."
Paul planned to visit the church at Corinth again, and he pleaded with them to clean up their act before he got there. He listed a catalogue of sins which they were allowing to continue in their midst with no apparent repentance. He did not want to find these things in their fellowship, and he threatened them with a rod of correction which they would not want. These sins are not just "accidental" sins; they are continuing lifestyles of ungodliness. We all sin and fall short of God's glory, and there is cleansing of these sins by the blood of Christ (I John 1:7). But blatant, willfull, and unrepented sin as a lifestyle is another story. "Practicing" sin as a way of life is repugnant to the true Christian. I think that Paul was incensed because he understood that Christ died so that He might have a church "not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). To claim to be a Christian and yet continue to live in ungodliness is a slap in the face of Jesus, and a contradiction of the name "Christian." May it never be! As a Christian, I need to practice holy living as an intentional lifestyle.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Sin is repugnant, but practicing sin is even more repugnant.
[end]
Have a godly day. Love you.
No comments:
Post a Comment