The Right Perspective in 2016

There are two things I know in life: that I am a great sinner, and that (Jesus) Christ is a great Savior."--- John Newton

Genius The Movie

Unequally Yoked

This is series of articles designed to help professing Christians to turn from their wicked ways and get back to following New Testament ethics.  Compromise is increasing in the church.  Popular opinion among churchgoers is often in stark contrast to the very words of Jesus on many issues.  Christians need to know the word of God and get back to using it as a reference book when they are faced with important decisions. 

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV)

The above passage is often quoted as proof that Christian should not marry a non-Christian.  And yes, that is an appropriate application of this passage and I will discuss this further later in this post.  But there are a lot of other ways that a Christian can be unequally yoked to a non-Christian besides just marrying one.

I know a Christian who had a non-Christian business partner.  The non-Christian partner was dishonest.  He cheated on paying taxes for the business by claiming purchased items for tax exemption that were not really being used for the business, but were really personal items.  It started out with just small items, but then it gradually built up to more and more expensive things.  Then the unbeliever stole from his partner and blamed him for tax cheating when he got caught.  The result was a messy lawsuit.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

II John 1:10-11 (KJV)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

II Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)

I now return to subject of the sinfulness of a believer marrying an unbeliever.  It must be clarified that if you are already married to a non-Christian, you should remain in the marriage as long as the unbelieving spouse would have you remain.  (See I Corinthians 7:13-14.) 

But for a believer to marry an unbeliever is unthinkable.  If you do it, you will be putting yourself into a situation of temptation to be drawn into the sins that your spouse may commit and you may be tempted to abandon your faith altogether.  If you are looking for a church, do not join a church where they perform marriage ceremonies for such mixed couples.

Soulforce foisting itself on chuches

Taking Back the Rainbow

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The following banner was displayed in front of a mega church in suburban Chicago at the Willow Creek Community Church. The banner was displayed in protest to the radical homosexual activist group, SoulForce, presence at the church. Apparently officials of the church met with the radicals.

Homosexuality Is Sin.

Case Closed

— God

“Or do you not know that the (wicked) will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;

neither the (sexually immoral),

nor idolaters,

nor adulterers,

nor (male prostitutes),

nor homosexuals,

nor thieves,

nor the (greedy),

nor drunkards,

nor revilers,

nor swindlers,

will inherit the kingdom of God.

“Such were some of you;

but you were washed (clean),

but you were (set apart for God-like living to do His work),

but you were (made right with God)

in the name of the Lord (through) Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

--- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Yes, we are all sinners. We are all separated from God. We all need Jesus to overcome our sins and our sinful natures.

Shining God's Light on the Koran

This article is part of an on-going series contrasting the Judeo-Christian Bible with the Koran on a variety of topics. Previous articles include: "Was Abraham a Jew or a Christian?", Idolatry 101, 102, 103, Oneness, Unbelievers, God's Character, The Resurrection, The Proclamation, The Judgment, The Creation of Man, The Creation of Woman, and The Fall of Man: Part 1-The Command, Part 2 – The Disobedience, Part 3 – The Consequence, Part 4 – Its Ramification, Right Dividing (Interpreting) the Word – Part I, Part II Part III, Mortality versus Immortality, Worship, Adam or Jesus?, God Begat a Son, and the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

Does God Love the Wicked?

Here is something with which the Koran and the Holy Bible absolutely disagree.

THE KORANIC ACCOUNT

“God does not love evil doers.”(1)

COMMENTARY ON THE KORAN

The message is quite clear from the Koran. God does not love those who do evil. The wicked are those who do evil.

THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT

“You have heard that it has been said, You shall love thy neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That youmay be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (2).

Behold, all souls are mine (Gods’); as the soul of father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (3)

I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saieth the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. (4)

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (5)

COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT

In the Old Testament we read that God does not delight in the destruction of the wicked. What pleases Him is for the wicked to repent of their evil and do what is correct in Gods’ eyes. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said love your enemies. This is what God does. He is good to the righteous and the wicked alike. Therefore, those who know God are to love their enemies. Do good to those that mistreat them and pray for those who take advantage of them. This is what “being perfect” means. Jesus showed Gods’ love for us in that while we were still sinners He died for us. Jesus died for evil doers.

God is perfect. He loves His enemies; even you and me. Each one of us is God’s property by reason of being created by Him. Death and destruction is separation from God and torment by fire in hell. Death and destruction are followed by judgment by Jesus, banishment and confinement into the Lake of Fire, the second death, forever.

Jesus took our sins in His own body, while on the cross, thus satisfying the justice demanded by God with His (Jesus’) sacrifice. There is no other way to escape the Lake of Fire, which is forever separation from the living God. Perhaps you would like to repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your heart? You can do so right now. A simple sample prayer is, “Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sin and come into my heart.” I urge you to pray this today. Jesus is waiting.

REFFERENCES

1. The Koran, Page 47 Paragraph 3:58
2. The Holy Bible, Matthew 5:43-48
3. The Holy Bible, Ezekiel 18:4
4. The Holy Bible, Ezekiel 18:32 The Holy Bible, Romans 5:6-8