| A plea to Christians for a return to morality |
END OF ARTICLE
by Art Priebe______________________________________________January 22nd, 2009
Recent discussion with some acquaintances has brought up the opinion among some of them, that sexual relations between two
unmarried "consenting adults", even though one or both of them call themselves Christians, is not necessarily wrong. One of the main
points of contention between myself and the people I was conversing with, was the true meaning of the words
and . Some of them asserted that, as words have evolved and meanings have changed over the millenia, that these
words no longer have the same meanings that they had when the Bible was written, and they therefore reasoned that cohabitation as
we were discussing, is not sinful. I realized that I was ill equipped to answer these statements, as regrettably my knowledge of both the
Bible and the English language, is not as complete as it should be. Nevertheless I did some research, and did come up with some
dictionary entries and Bible citations that address this issue.
Please know that this writer is not speaking from some moral high ground; on the contrary, I have had my human failings in the past
and continue to battle temptation daily. But if you were at the beach, wouldn't a warning about a strong undertow bear more weight
coming from a man who had almost drowned in it, than from a man who had never waded out into the water?
I thought of using the example of my Mom warning me not to touch the hot electric stove burners so I wouldn't be immediately burned;
but I thought of a better example. No one would ever again touch a hot stove after being severely burned, but then I thought about
paint-huffing, which some young people engage in. They do it against the warnings of their parents, because it makes them feel good
immediately. But of course the long-term effects are disastrous, and sometimes fatal. This warning is for those I care about, to consider
the long-term physical and spiritual effects of something that delivers pleasure in the now.
I cannot hope to fill the shoes of John the Baptist, but my mission is to warn those whom I can, as was John's:
1: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
2: and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
3: This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him.' "
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FIRST, in order to settle the question about the definitions of words, I am reproducing here photographically, definitions of "adultery"
and "fornication", first from two Bible dictionaies dealing with the traditional or archaic meanings of the words, and then from several
very modern dictionaries that give today's current meanings.
One acquaintance looked in a single dictionary and found a definition of "fornication" that indicated that it only meant to have sexual
relations with a prostitute; however after searching in eight major dictionaries, I have found that they all seem to agree with each other,
in that the two words are synonyms, and that their meanings are essentially unchanged from Biblical times to today.
(Notice the
I believe that these definitions presented here make it undeniably plain that the meanings are the same today as when the Old and
New Testaments were written. So in that light, I have looked up everything I could find in the Bible about "adultery" and "fornication."
Let us see what God has to say about these two popular activities.
(Most citations are from the New American Standard Bible, except for a couple about John the Baptist which are from the New
International Version. Reading your Bible before and after the citations, so as to grasp the proper context, is encouraged!)
And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His
commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am
your healer."
You shall not commit adultery.
21: Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven will
enter.
22: "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your
name perform many miracles?'
23: "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
14: But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as
these."
17: And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only one who is good;
.....but that we write to them (the Gentiles) that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from what is
strangled and from blood.
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;"
John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth;
28: And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which
are not proper,
29: being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30: slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31: without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
1: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
2: May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3: Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
12: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.
15: What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
1: Therefore I urge you , brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which
is your spiritual service of worship.
2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God
is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
9: Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
.
9: I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
11: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one.
9: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
nor idolaters, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10: nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers,
11: Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God.
13: Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but
for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
18: Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
For we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the
past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality.
But immorality or any impurity or greed as is proper among saints:
5: Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which
amounts to idolatry.
6: For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled;
Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His
coming.
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
....just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and
went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
15: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16: So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars,
their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Let us read again this quote from
9: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? nor
idolaters, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10: nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers,
Now after reading each of the above Bible citations and dictionary definitions, I'm sure that anyone reading this,
will see that sexual immorality between persons not married to each
other, has no "gray area" in God's eyes. God does not make vague statements. Satan is the one who likes to create confusion.
The Bible promotes abstinence outside of marriage. Sex without marriage is just as wrong as adultery and other forms of sexual
immorality, because they all involve having sex with someone you are not married to. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only
form of sexual relations that God approves of.
Sex outside of marriage has become so common for many reasons. Far too often we focus on the "recreation" aspect of sex without
recognizing the "re-creation" aspect. Yes, sex is pleasurable. God designed it that way. He wants men and women to enjoy sexual
activity (within the confines of marriage). However, the primary purpose of sex is not pleasure, but rather reproduction. God does not
outlaw sex outside of marriage to rob us of pleasure, but to protect us from unwanted pregnancies and children born to parents who
do not want them or are not prepared for them. Imagine how much better our world would be if God's pattern for sex were followed;
fewer sexually transmitted diseases, fewer unwed mothers, fewer unwanted pregnancies, fewer abortions, etc. Abstinence is God's
only policy when it comes to sex outside of marriage. Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value,
and most importantly honors God.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
IT IS SAD TO NOTE that, in spite of the above well-known Bible verses, some Christians are nevertheless under the impression that
unmarried intercourse is perfectly permissable, and because they are "saved" they are somehow immune to accountability, even
though John the Baptist had this to say to people like this:
7: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
9: And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up
children for Abraham.
10: The ax is already at the root of the trees, and
Many of these misled people have been taught their erroneous beliefs by their "Christian" pastors, some of whom have doctorates in
theology! John the Baptist, who spoke only the truth to the people, did not go to any school of rabbis and prophets. It appears that
God decided that the truth had to come from a simple man, not a learned man.
John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
18: When I say to the wicked, "You will surely die," and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that
he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
20: Again,
21: However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because
he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.
Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
....but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung
around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in
yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
Luke 12: 47, 48
get ready or
48: But the one who did not know it, and commited deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few.
43: Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
44: You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does
not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and
the father of lies.
45: But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.
3: But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, from the simplicity and purity of
devotion to Christ.
13: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers,
14: No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15: Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to
their deeds.
As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be
accursed!
3: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine
conforming to godliness,
4: he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of
which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out
into the world.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear friends, I hope that this writing has been a help in banishing confusion, or a lamp unto your feet as it were, and please
understand that I am only the messenger, this message comes from God Almighty who loves His children with a love beyond all human
understanding, and is using His many servants to call His children back into His sheepfold in these final days before the imminent
triumphant return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this sin-weary world; we know not the day or the hour, and we are repeatedly warned to
be ready. I pray that no one who reads this will be caught doing evil on the day that He returns.
This message has been sent out with a deep abiding love for all my Christian brothers and sisters who may read this. Hopefully it will
be a blessing to you, and to whomever you decide to pass it along to.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Recent discussion with some acquaintances has brought up the opinion among some of them, that sexual relations between two
unmarried "consenting adults", even though one or both of them call themselves Christians, is not necessarily wrong. One of the main
points of contention between myself and the people I was conversing with, was the true meaning of the words
and . Some of them asserted that, as words have evolved and meanings have changed over the millenia, that these
words no longer have the same meanings that they had when the Bible was written, and they therefore reasoned that cohabitation as
we were discussing, is not sinful. I realized that I was ill equipped to answer these statements, as regrettably my knowledge of both the
Bible and the English language, is not as complete as it should be. Nevertheless I did some research, and did come up with some
dictionary entries and Bible citations that address this issue.
Please know that this writer is not speaking from some moral high ground; on the contrary, I have had my human failings in the past
and continue to battle temptation daily. But if you were at the beach, wouldn't a warning about a strong undertow bear more weight
coming from a man who had almost drowned in it, than from a man who had never waded out into the water?
I thought of using the example of my Mom warning me not to touch the hot electric stove burners so I wouldn't be immediately burned;
but I thought of a better example. No one would ever again touch a hot stove after being severely burned, but then I thought about
paint-huffing, which some young people engage in. They do it against the warnings of their parents, because it makes them feel good
immediately. But of course the long-term effects are disastrous, and sometimes fatal. This warning is for those I care about, to consider
the long-term physical and spiritual effects of something that delivers pleasure in the now.
I cannot hope to fill the shoes of John the Baptist, but my mission is to warn those whom I can, as was John's:
1: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
2: and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
3: This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him.' "
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FIRST, in order to settle the question about the definitions of words, I am reproducing here photographically, definitions of "adultery"
and "fornication", first from two Bible dictionaies dealing with the traditional or archaic meanings of the words, and then from several
very modern dictionaries that give today's current meanings.
One acquaintance looked in a single dictionary and found a definition of "fornication" that indicated that it only meant to have sexual
relations with a prostitute; however after searching in eight major dictionaries, I have found that they all seem to agree with each other,
in that the two words are synonyms, and that their meanings are essentially unchanged from Biblical times to today.
(Notice the
I believe that these definitions presented here make it undeniably plain that the meanings are the same today as when the Old and
New Testaments were written. So in that light, I have looked up everything I could find in the Bible about "adultery" and "fornication."
Let us see what God has to say about these two popular activities.
(Most citations are from the New American Standard Bible, except for a couple about John the Baptist which are from the New
International Version. Reading your Bible before and after the citations, so as to grasp the proper context, is encouraged!)
And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His
commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am
your healer."
You shall not commit adultery.
21: Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven will
enter.
22: "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your
name perform many miracles?'
23: "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
14: But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as
these."
17: And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only one who is good;
.....but that we write to them (the Gentiles) that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from what is
strangled and from blood.
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;"
John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth;
28: And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which
are not proper,
29: being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30: slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31: without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
1: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
2: May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3: Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
12: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.
15: What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
1: Therefore I urge you , brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which
is your spiritual service of worship.
2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God
is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
9: Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
.
9: I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
11: But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one.
9: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
nor idolaters, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10: nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers,
11: Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God.
13: Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but
for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
18: Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
For we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the
past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality.
But immorality or any impurity or greed as is proper among saints:
5: Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which
amounts to idolatry.
6: For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled;
Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His
coming.
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
....just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and
went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
15: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16: So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars,
their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Let us read again this quote from
9: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? nor
idolaters, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
10: nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers,
Now after reading each of the above Bible citations and dictionary definitions, I'm sure that anyone reading this,
will see that sexual immorality between persons not married to each
other, has no "gray area" in God's eyes. God does not make vague statements. Satan is the one who likes to create confusion.
The Bible promotes abstinence outside of marriage. Sex without marriage is just as wrong as adultery and other forms of sexual
immorality, because they all involve having sex with someone you are not married to. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only
form of sexual relations that God approves of.
Sex outside of marriage has become so common for many reasons. Far too often we focus on the "recreation" aspect of sex without
recognizing the "re-creation" aspect. Yes, sex is pleasurable. God designed it that way. He wants men and women to enjoy sexual
activity (within the confines of marriage). However, the primary purpose of sex is not pleasure, but rather reproduction. God does not
outlaw sex outside of marriage to rob us of pleasure, but to protect us from unwanted pregnancies and children born to parents who
do not want them or are not prepared for them. Imagine how much better our world would be if God's pattern for sex were followed;
fewer sexually transmitted diseases, fewer unwed mothers, fewer unwanted pregnancies, fewer abortions, etc. Abstinence is God's
only policy when it comes to sex outside of marriage. Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value,
and most importantly honors God.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
IT IS SAD TO NOTE that, in spite of the above well-known Bible verses, some Christians are nevertheless under the impression that
unmarried intercourse is perfectly permissable, and because they are "saved" they are somehow immune to accountability, even
though John the Baptist had this to say to people like this:
7: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
9: And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up
children for Abraham.
10: The ax is already at the root of the trees, and
Many of these misled people have been taught their erroneous beliefs by their "Christian" pastors, some of whom have doctorates in
theology! John the Baptist, who spoke only the truth to the people, did not go to any school of rabbis and prophets. It appears that
God decided that the truth had to come from a simple man, not a learned man.
John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
18: When I say to the wicked, "You will surely die," and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that
he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
20: Again,
21: However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because
he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.
Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
....but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung
around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in
yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
Luke 12: 47, 48
get ready or
48: But the one who did not know it, and commited deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few.
43: Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
44: You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does
not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and
the father of lies.
45: But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.
3: But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, from the simplicity and purity of
devotion to Christ.
13: For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers,
14: No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15: Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to
their deeds.
As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be
accursed!
3: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine
conforming to godliness,
4: he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of
which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out
into the world.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear friends, I hope that this writing has been a help in banishing confusion, or a lamp unto your feet as it were, and please
understand that I am only the messenger, this message comes from God Almighty who loves His children with a love beyond all human
understanding, and is using His many servants to call His children back into His sheepfold in these final days before the imminent
triumphant return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this sin-weary world; we know not the day or the hour, and we are repeatedly warned to
be ready. I pray that no one who reads this will be caught doing evil on the day that He returns.
This message has been sent out with a deep abiding love for all my Christian brothers and sisters who may read this. Hopefully it will
be a blessing to you, and to whomever you decide to pass it along to.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"adultery"
"fornication"
Matthew 3:1-3
From Harper's Bible Dictionary (1985) see also:)
From Vine's Concise Dictionary of The Bible (1999)
From Webster's Third New International Dictionary - Latest Unabridged (1961)
From Random House Dictionary of the English Language (Unabridged) (1969)
From Grolier International Dictionary (1981)
From the American Heritage Dictionary - Second College Edition (1985)
From The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1993)
From Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2001)
Exodus 15:26
Exodus 20:14
Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 19:14, 17
Acts 15:20
John 8:31
John 14:15
John 17:17
Romans 1:28-32, ESPECIALLY verse 32
Romans 6:1-3, 12, 15
Romans 12:1-2, 9, 12
I Corinthians 5:9,11
I Corinthians 6:9-11, 13, 18
I Corinthians 7:2
II Corinthians 10:31
II Corinthians 8:21
II Corinthians 12:21
Galatians 5:19
Ephesians 5:3
but if you wish to enter into
life, keep the commandments.
and from fornication
Your word is truth.
32: and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of
death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Do not be deceived; neither fornicators,
nor adulterers,
will inherit the kingdom of God.
must not even be named among you,
Each reader can take the preceding citation in whatever way seems proper to him or her; personally, after taking this quotation to
heart, I have decided to refrain from performing certain songs, even songs I myself have written in the past, that make any hint in the
lyrics at "one night stands" or cheating. (There goes almost half of country music!!) So, when you are at my shows, please don't request
"Help Me Make It Through The Night", it ain't gonna happen anymore, sorry.
heart, I have decided to refrain from performing certain songs, even songs I myself have written in the past, that make any hint in the
lyrics at "one night stands" or cheating. (There goes almost half of country music!!) So, when you are at my shows, please don't request
"Help Me Make It Through The Night", it ain't gonna happen anymore, sorry.
Collosians 3:5-6
I Thessalonians 4:3
Hebrews 13:4
I John 2:28
I John 3:4
Jude 7
Revelation 3:15-16
Revelation 21:8
for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
and immoral persons
Some of these passages affirm that a Christian must act and live according to the Word not only in the sight of God but
also in the sight of men, so as not to dishonor Christ whose name he bears. And others establish that a real Christian is
one who has given his ENTIRE life, mind, heart and body to the Lord, and not withheld any portion of it for his own desires.
also in the sight of men, so as not to dishonor Christ whose name he bears. And others establish that a real Christian is
one who has given his ENTIRE life, mind, heart and body to the Lord, and not withheld any portion of it for his own desires.
VERY SOBERING
I Corinthians 6: 9-10:
DO NOT BE DECEIVED; neither fornicators,
nor adulterers,
will inherit the kingdom of God.
unless they are
under the influence of a demonic spell to blind them from the truth,
(But if you are under a spell, I could put a shiny new red brick in your hand and you would swear on your life
that it is a feather!)
that it is a feather!)
Matthew 3:7-10
8: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown
into the fire.
into the fire.
Matthew 3:4
NOW GOD HAS PLENTY TO SAY ABOUT PASTORS OR SHEPHERDS WHO LEAD THEIR FLOCKS ASTRAY:
Isaiah 8:20
Ezekiel 3: 18, 20, 21
when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle
before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he
has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he
has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
(And this one is the one that I will apply to and
hope
you the reader
me the messenger:)
Matthew 5:19
Matthew 7:15
Matthew 24:11
Matthew 18:6
Matthew 23:13
Luke 12: 47-48
John 8: 43-45
47: And that slave who knew his master's will and did not
act in accord with his will, will receive many
lashes.
lashes.
From everyone who has been
given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
II Corinthians 11:3, 13-15
your minds will be led astray
disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
Galatians 1:8
I Timothy 6:3-4
I John 4:1
A plea to Christians for a
return to morality
return to morality
FOOTNOTE: What does the Bible say about common law marriage?
While marriages throughout most of biblical history involve some type of public ceremony (and celebration), such a ceremony is not
required for a biblical marriage to have taken place. In the case of Isaac and Rebekah and others, no ceremony is recorded. (Genesis
24:67). But a common ingredient between common-law marriage and the one involving a ceremony is a publicly expressed intent to be
married. Two people living together without that expressed intent does not constitute a common-law marriage, just cohabitation. Isaac
and Rebekah did not just begin living together, there was a clear expression of intent that their union be of a permanent nature
(marriage). Another common ingredient between common-law marriage and the one involving a ceremony and license is its legal
standing. In order for a common-law marriage to be disolved, a legal divorce must be pursued. (Of course, in God's original intent for
marriage, there should be no divorce.) Another ingredient in these biblical marriages that did not involve a public ceremony as
compared to those that did is that there was no sexual activity prior to their marriage, no cohabitating.
Secondly, as the Bible states that a Christian is to "provide things honest in the sight of all men" (II Corinthians 8:21, Romans 12:17), it
is important that their marriage do the same. Common-law marriage has a connotation in most people's eyes as being less-than-
honorable (under normal circumstances – not being in a prison camp, etc.). It should be a Christian's desire to live above reproach so
that Christ can be honored in all that he or she does (I Corinthians 10:31). For this reason, common-law marriage falls short of honoring
Christ; and a public, church ceremony with a good testimony for Christ and a good presentation of the gospel is to be preferred.
While marriages throughout most of biblical history involve some type of public ceremony (and celebration), such a ceremony is not
required for a biblical marriage to have taken place. In the case of Isaac and Rebekah and others, no ceremony is recorded. (Genesis
24:67). But a common ingredient between common-law marriage and the one involving a ceremony is a publicly expressed intent to be
married. Two people living together without that expressed intent does not constitute a common-law marriage, just cohabitation. Isaac
and Rebekah did not just begin living together, there was a clear expression of intent that their union be of a permanent nature
(marriage). Another common ingredient between common-law marriage and the one involving a ceremony and license is its legal
standing. In order for a common-law marriage to be disolved, a legal divorce must be pursued. (Of course, in God's original intent for
marriage, there should be no divorce.) Another ingredient in these biblical marriages that did not involve a public ceremony as
compared to those that did is that there was no sexual activity prior to their marriage, no cohabitating.
Secondly, as the Bible states that a Christian is to "provide things honest in the sight of all men" (II Corinthians 8:21, Romans 12:17), it
is important that their marriage do the same. Common-law marriage has a connotation in most people's eyes as being less-than-
honorable (under normal circumstances – not being in a prison camp, etc.). It should be a Christian's desire to live above reproach so
that Christ can be honored in all that he or she does (I Corinthians 10:31). For this reason, common-law marriage falls short of honoring
Christ; and a public, church ceremony with a good testimony for Christ and a good presentation of the gospel is to be preferred.
