Fruit of the Spirit

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

Summer 2003                                                            Volume 4, Issue 3

(Sin of Ignorance, continued from page 4)

their sin. Here is a passage concerning those who knew not God’s will in Luke 12:47-48: “And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.”

Brethren, listen to Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and that counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Wow! That says a whole lot. Those who have fallen away are going to suffer a “sorer” punishment than the rest of the lost. This should really sober us up to have a great love for the truth and the Lord (2 Thess.2:10-12). We should heed the words of Solomon in Proverbs 23:23: “Buy the truth, and sell it not; yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

Neither the Jew nor sojourner could give ignorance as an excuse to God. Both needed to sacrifice to God for sin. Since all are under the New Covenant, ignorance will be no excuse for sin today (Acts 17:30-31). Some seem to think Christ overlooked ignorance when He uttered from the cross, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk.23:34). The word “forgiveness” here is the word aphete. It is translated suffer, or “allow” in Matthew 19:14, and “wait” (“let be” in the ASV) in Matthew 27:49. Jesus was simply asking for divine forbearance, not that the Father should overlook this sin. The child of God should always keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21), knowing we will face the Lord in judgment (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev.20:11-15).

Let it also be pointed out that the faithful child of God does not live on a tightrope, either. When he walks in the light, he has the blood of Christ to cleanse him from all sin (1 Jn. 1:7). The faithful stand uncondemned in the sight of God (Rom. 8:1-2) because Jesus is our advocate (1 Jn. 2:1). May we study diligently the word of God and lay it upon our heart, so that we will not sin against our holy God (Ps. 119:11).

George Reed
Salinas, CA.

Same Sex Marriage?

There is a well-defined movement in social and political circles to get approved same-sex marriages. This is not news, but God forbid that such a thing should become “legal”. Opposed to this movement are millions of us who do not believe that morals are an invention of society. The so-called same-sex marriages are not in the best interests of our country or the human family. Such marriages, if legalized, will eventually destroy marriage as God would have it. The human family, in tact, is the bed-rock of civilization (Gen. 2:24; 4:1; 18:19; Mat. 19:4-5; Mark 10:6; Eph. 5:22-33). People who condone same-sex marriages, lawmakers and lawbreakers alike, are people who have not only chosen to deny the right of Almighty God to regulate human behavior, but also the influence of the Bible on human life.

Man may call a relationship between two men or two women a “marriage,” but it is not if one accepts the teaching set forth in Scripture. In fact, a marriage between a man and a woman is not always a marriage. In the New Testament, Herod the tetrarch had taken his brother Philip’s wife. The Bible says he had married her (Mark 6:17). This was not a marriage in God’s eyes, it was an adulterous union. We must remember that marriage is not an invention of society. It is a relationship established by God Himself (Gen. 2:24).

(continued on page 12)

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Inside...
Page 1 - Jesus Loves The Little Children | Page 2 - Where In The Bible Will I Find...
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies | Page 5 - Where Did The Bible Come From?
Page 6 - Self Esteem, Part 1 | Page 7 - Christian Evidences | Page 8 - Same Sex Marriages?
Page 9 - The Christian Home | Page 10 - Continuations | Page 11 - The Children's Page
Page 12 - Announcements

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