Bible Thoughts

February 4, 2001

Sin has been defined in many different ways. It is often referred to as a "social problem." This leaves an opportunity for one to commit evil without feelings of guilt. Modern liberal religious teachers use such an approach.

Sin was real when it entered into the lives of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was a reality among the Israelites as they ignored God's law. The apostle Peter felt the weight of transgression as he denied Christ. The destruction of the Sodomites is a continuing monument to the existence of sin.

The early disciples were warned against committing fornication, homosexuality, stealing, lying, etc., in passage after passage(see Romans 1:26-32; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-6). John reveals the consequences of such transgressions as he points out, "but for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death"(Revelation 21:8).

Men lacking the courage to speak against such sins as noted above, as well as those who condone such transgressions, are not pleasing God. Rationalizing away the terrible impact of sin by modernistic social approaches will not remove the eternal consequences God has assigned for immoral conduct. There is a Hell and those who persist in sin will be there in eternity.

The reality of sin brought about the death of Jesus, the revelation of the gospel, and God's plan of salvation. Do you believe that condoners of evil will change God's word?

Paul, talking to the church at Corinth here, and, in the above verse mainly to the husband and the wife. He asked a very simple question, how do you know? So yes, it is talking about the wife and husband but the same could apply to every one of us today. We still have to ask, how do you know? We, as mankind live our lives and every day come in contact with others. Some are those that we know, others are those that we just pass by on the street, but not a day goes by without seeing someone. But how often do we realize the affect we have on others' lives, by your actions they know you and it will affect them in some way or another. What you say can change the way others think and act. And it does not have to be something big or very important to affect another, maybe just a “thank you” or a “how are you”, or maybe just a smile to make a person's day feel brighter. When you live the life that a Saint is to live, then people would see that in you, and that’s how we can convert someone through our actions. Throughout the Bible we can see this example. Take Jesus: he taught so many just by his actions, or how about Paul or Peter? They taught by their actions. The life they led, in fact, is still affecting us today. Every time we read of their lives it should teach us of the things we are to do and the snares we are to look out for. We, as saints, have an obligation to be kind and loving to all: family to family, friends to friends, the older to the younger and even the stranger that we pass by on the street. Each day is a new day, and every day our actions affect those around us. Most times we do not realize the impact we can have, and many times we do things that can have a negative impact, so we need to always be aware of the things we do or say and the things we don’t do or say.-Vaughn Botha

It is much easier for one to overlook the fault of a friend than the fault of an enemy(or someone not particularly liked). It is much easier to understand the position of one who is close to us than to see why those who are distant could believe such a thing. We have a tendency to be more understanding of one who is considered a close friend than a casual acquaintance.

The above mentioned reactions find their way into religious practice and feelings. We will sometimes go so far as to tolerate error in our friends that we condemn, with much enthusiasm, in our considered enemies. However, error is error and truth is truth--wherever(and in whomever) it may be found. That it has found its way into the life or teaching of a dear one to us does not change its character.

We must be careful lest we permit our nearness to someone blind us to reality. Paul did not permit the apostleship of Peter to interfere with his pointing out the unacceptable conduct of his spiritual brother(Galatians 2). Did he not show his concern for Peter by rebuking him and helping him recover from his wrongs? The true friend will point a man toward the truth. In fact: How could one be really concerned for another as he sees his tottering on the brink of spiritual disaster and refuses to offer assistance?

We must not permit our responsibility to truth to be blinded by the friendship of others. One brother advised years ago, "Do not put too much confidence in men." Most of us have lived long enough to realize the truthfulness of his words.

Friends are wonderful. They should be earnestly cultivated. Do not forget, however, that the Christian owes his first responsibility to God and to the truth of God's word.-jy