The sad truth about some who call themselves Christians -
Some who call themselves Christians need to start reading the Bible more, and they need to stop listening to the lies of those who tell them that certain sins are okay.Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 and Ephesians 5:3-14 are just a few Scripture portions that talk about some sins that should not characterize believers.
It's Satan who wants to blind the eyes and stop up the ears, and he and his followers let people think that repentance isn't necessary and that God is okay with certain sins.
What is really disturbing is when people who call themselves "Christians" attack those who share the Gospel and Scripture online (or in person) with others.
Some who profess faith in Christ actually don't want people to read or hear the truth of Scripture...that God is not okay with sin...that sin brings eternal punishment in Hell...that Christ came to die on the cross to take the place of sinners...so that those who repent and trust in Him can be saved.
This leads me to wonder if these people are truly saved themselves, though only God knows for sure.
It's hard for me to imagine true Christians telling other people not to read the Gospel or Bible verses.
Some people think that it is unloving and judgmental to warn someone of the eternal consequences of sin..and to proclaim the good news about repentance and faith in Jesus.
Repentance is a major theme in the Bible, as well at faith.
It is not something to be abhorred and shied away from!
Yet, some think that we should avoid mention of repentance...it's all about "accepting" Christ rather than remembering that He is to be received as Lord.
Some people actually ridicule and judge those who are warning of God's just judgment...not our own.
They are deceived into thinking that God's being loving means that He accepts sinful behavior, and that He actually affirms people who practice sin!
They don't seem to realize that they are the ones who are not being loving to their friends and others, because true love warns of danger.
Love understands the truth and cares about consequences.
Love wants people to forsake sin...to have an understanding of what sin it, so that true repentance can take place if the Spirit is working in the heart of that person to believe the Gospel.
Love wants people to know what they need to be saved from...not to just give a person a warm fuzzy bandage to pretend that sin is not sinful.
If the person is not a Christian, they need to understand the true Gospel, and they need to see that the Gospel transforms lives.
If a person is continuing in unconfessed sin, and if they think that the sin is perfectly acceptable and natural and commendable, then they should examine themselves to see if they are in the faith.
For believers, we should know that we need to continue confessing and turning from sin.
We desire not to sin.
This doesn't mean that we don't have struggles with sin, but it does mean that we will not rejoice in unrighteousness.
As we grow, we come to hate sin more, and we want to obey God more.
A true child of God will be convicted when sin is pointed out.
We have been washed /cleansed in the redeeming sense, but we want to have a deeper and purer communion with Christ by not leaving our sin unconfessed....like a dirt smudge on a clean shirt.
How do you know that you are really a Christian? from The Master's Seminary on Vimeo.
God's love is not about accepting sinful behavior. God still hates sin, and there is only one way to be reconciled to God. Once reconciled, there will be a God-ward growth. It may be gradual, but people will not grow very well if they don't spend time getting to know God better through His Word.
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