Author: Nathaniel

“So—you’ve received the Holy Spirit—amazing—praise God! But what does that mean for your everyday life? This article unpacks the functions of the Spirit and how to live empowered by Him. Therefore, this article takes a close look at Walking in the Spirit: What Happens After Salvation?

The Need to Walk in the Spirit

In the article, “All About The Holy Spirit,” I talked about how we receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior according to Ephesians 1:12-13. Let’s take a quick look at that:

12. that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, NKJV

As I mentioned the last time, by default, we are walking in the lust of our flesh. We are born with a sinful nature and a spirit of disobedience handed down to us by our parents, Adam and Eve. As the Scripture tells us in Ephesians 2:2 in part, “according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” This prince is Satan himself. His influence is the power of the air—for now, and it is this spirit that works in us, causing us to be disobedient to God. We don’t have to look very hard to see the evidence of this spirit at work. We need to go no further than our televisions! When individuals say, “I was born this way,” they are telling the truth. But that’s not an excuse because there is a solution—right in the Scriptures. Let’s look at what it says in Gal. 5:16 

16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. NKJV

This verse highlights that following the Holy Spirit helps believers resist sinful desires.

Once we have the seal of the Holy Spirit—identified by it, and are empowered by it, [very important to be empowered], a transformation takes place, and that becomes the Spirit that works in us. Then, as the Scripture reassures us, if we “walk in the Spirit,” we “shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

That raises a critical question: What does it really mean to walk in the Spirit?

What Does Walking in the Spirit Mean?

To answer that, let’s start with the word “walk.” In Scripture, walking often represents our way of life. To walk in the Scriptures figuratively signifies life or living. The Greek word translated as walk is peripateo (per-ee-pat-eh’-o). Let’s look at this:

This definition is from the Strong’s Concordance.

NT:4043 peripateo (per-ee-pat-eh’-o); from NT:4012 and NT:3961; to tread all around, i.e., walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport [transfer] oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):

KJV – go, be occupied with, walk (about). So we see the meaning “be occupied with”—to be occupied with the Spirit.

To walk in the Spirit is to live in the Spirit—be guided by the Spirit. We must follow the Holy Spirit’s leading—be led by the Holy Spirit, which keeps us from fulfilling the lust of our flesh.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Now the question becomes, what happens when we walk in the Spirit? What is it like to walk in the Spirit, and how do we know that we’re walking in the Spirit?

Well, the Scripture has the answer to those questions found in Gal. 5:22-23. Let’s take a look. 

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23. gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. NKJV

Here again Scripture uses figurative language: fruit represents the visible result of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. The Scripture mentions the “fruit” of the Spirit. Fruit in this context represents a result. When a seed is fully ripened or mature, the result is a fruit. When the Holy Spirit is ripened in us, the result is fruit—Spiritual fruit. “Fruit” is considered a by-product that develops over time and necessitates careful attention and cultivation.

Now, let’s examine this fruit. There are nine ingredients in the fruit, which fall into groupings. The first three are internal and can come from God alone.

The first ingredient is” love.” This love is not the superficial love based solely on feelings. This love is an unconditional love—exemplified by God sending his Son to save sinners (Romans 5:5), and by the selfless and constant care of Jesus.

Love serves as the foundation for all the other fruit ingredients listed. Without love, all of the other ingredients of the fruit are simply meaningless—they are spiritually counterfeit. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” NKJV

The next ingredient is “joy.” This inner joy persists regardless of circumstances. Unlike happiness, it endures through unhappiness, providing deep satisfaction even in difficult times. The connection with God through Christ remains constant, even during life’s challenges. Happiness is based strictly on feelings. When we’re feeling good, we’re happy. But when we’re not feeling good, we’re not so happy.

But when we have joy, we are fulfilled even as the world around us is crumbling.

The next ingredient is “peace.” This ingredient fosters a sense of calm trust in God’s control and justice, especially during difficult times, and reflects the belief that it is not we, but God, who governs all; God is in control. This peace is a peace that only Christ and the Holy Spirit can give us.

Let’s look at what Jesus said about it in John 14:27

27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The world can’t give us peace or joy, for that matter. Only the Spirit of God can give us true peace, and there is nothing like it. As Paul wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The world doesn’t understand it, and neither can it supply it.

So, we’ve covered the first three ingredients. The next three ingredients relate to each Christian’s relationships with others:

The next ingredient is “Longsuffering” (patience). This ingredient gives us forbearance and fortitude, which enables us to patiently endure individuals who continually irritate us. It also enables us to be more patient with life’s circumstances in general. It helps us to, as the expression says—don’t sweat the small stuff! The Holy Spirit’s work in us can make the big stuff become small stuff, leading us not to sweat it, and increasing our endurance.

The next ingredient is “kindness.” Kindness means taking action to help others, just as God did for us, by meeting their needs practically and pragmatically.

The next ingredient is “goodness.” Goodness is exemplified by actions intended to benefit others, regardless of their actions or perceived merit. Rather than responding negatively to wrongdoing, it involves refraining from retaliation and choosing constructive responses. When we have goodness, we always look for good in a situation. It’s there, and the Holy Spirit attunes us to look for the good and make the best of it. It helps us to, as the expression goes, if someone hands you a lemon, make lemonade!

Now, as we reflect on these qualities—patience, kindness, and goodness—we see that they are not simply abstract virtues, but tangible evidence of the Spirit at work in our character and conduct. They transform our daily interactions, guiding us to respond to frustration with patience, to reach out to those in need with kindness, and to seek the good in every circumstance. Such fruit cannot be manufactured by sheer willpower; it is cultivated as we surrender more fully to the Spirit’s leading. Walking in the Spirit!

The remaining ingredients round out this spiritual portrait and present more general character traits that should guide a Christian’s life:

The next ingredient is “Faithfulness.” This ingredient embodies qualities of steadfastness and reliability, illustrating a consistent and dependable commitment that emulates God’s unwavering commitment to us. A Christian should be reliable and trustworthy, speaking the truth. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. NKJV, and we know who that is!

The next ingredient is “Gentleness.” Gentleness is strength under control. It gives one the ability to respond to others with humility rather than harshness. An individual who exercises gentleness is humble, considerate of others, and submissive to God and His Word. Even when anger is the appropriate response, as when Jesus cleared the temple, gentleness keeps the expression of anger on the right track. Gentleness even correctly applies force. It allows us to apply strength with precision and restraint, exactly as needed.

The last ingredient is “self-control.” Self-control empowers us to resist our impulses and live disciplined lives that are pleasing to God.

The management of personal desires and the exercise of restraint are critical components of individual growth. Ironically, unregulated desires that seem to promise satisfaction and empowerment may ultimately undermine self-reliance. By choosing to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we may initially experience a diminished sense of self-sufficiency or independence. On the other hand, this approach can expedite the development of self-control more effectively than relying solely on one’s personal efforts.

For example, imagine someone who struggles with impatience in daily life—perhaps they become frustrated during a long wait in traffic or when a colleague is slow to respond. They may initially feel that expressing their frustration is the best course of action.

But rather than allowing irritation to dictate their reaction, they can pause, turn inward, and ask the Holy Spirit for patience and self-control. Over time, rather than simply forcing themselves to remain calm, they will discover an inner reservoir of peace taking root. This calmness would not have been possible by willpower alone. This outcome illustrates how surrendering to the Spirit’s guidance can foster genuine transformation and proficiency or control over one’s impulses. Reacting to our impulses may offer short-term relief, but can hurt us in the long run, making us poor representatives of Christ and taking us out of God’s favor.

All nine ingredients of the Fruit of the Spirit have been covered. It is important to note that “Fruit,” however, is singular, indicating that all the ingredients exist as a unit, as opposed to many different pieces of fruit, and that all of them are imperative to all Christians. We can’t exhibit one or two virtues and call ourselves Christians; alternatively, we are to exhibit all of the fruit of the Spirit.

Think of it as a cake. You can’t have a cake with just flour, or only eggs, or even eggs and flour. It requires sugar, milk, and flavoring—a host of ingredients to make a complete, wholesome, and tasty cake. And so it is with a Christian. Just like a cake is incomplete with missing ingredients, so too is a believer who lacks one or more aspects of the Spirit’s fruit. We need the full recipe. We need all the ingredients of the Spirit to be fit for the Kingdom of God.

 All these ingredients form the tapestry of the “fruit” of the Spirit: a singular, unified work that shapes us into the likeness of Christ.

Individuals demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit not through personal effort, but as a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit sets Christians apart from a godless, evil world, reveals a power within them, and helps them become more Christ-like in their daily lives.

This transformation is the result of walking in the Spirit—we become more like Christ as the days pass.

So after we accept Christ and receive the Spirit, we must “walk” in it. Walk is a verb—a word of action.

Let’s take another look at Galatians 5:16:

16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

In order not to fulfill the lust of the flesh, we must “walk in the Spirit.” That means if we’re not walking in the Spirit—being led by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit —we’re walking in the flesh. That means we are fulfilling our base desires, doing whatever our flesh—our sinful nature, leads us to do.

The Spirit vs the Flesh

Let’s look at verse 17:

17. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. NKJV

Now here is where the rubber meets the road. When the flesh wars against the Spirit.

This verse discusses the spiritual condition of two opposing influences within Christians—the Holy Spirit and what is referred to as the sinful nature, understood as desires or inclinations associated with human tendencies (see also 5:16, 19, 24). According to the text, these forces are not considered equal, with the Holy Spirit described as significantly stronger, as it states, “so that you do not the things that you wish.“ The Holy Spirit prevents us from doing what we may wish—if we listen to it and obey it. 

These two verses together suggest that relying solely on our own personal judgment may lead to poor decisions, and that attempts to follow spiritual guidance through individual effort alone are insufficient. They advise that overcoming these internal conflicts is possible through the assistance of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:9; Eph. 4:23-24; Colossians 3:3-8).

Let’s look at verse 18:

18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. NKJV

This Scripture counters the idea of legalism and brings to mind another passage of Scripture in 1 Timothy 1:9-10, which says: 

9. knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10. for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, NKJV

The point? The Law is for sinners, but if we are walking in the Spirit, we are not under this Law; it doesn’t pertain to us. We are free from the curse of the Law because if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The Law condemns and convicts, it does not give the power to obey, but praise God because His Word says in Rom. 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” NO CONDEMNATION!

Verses 19-21 give us details of the works of the flesh:

19. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20. idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21. envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV

This passage repeats the sins mentioned in 1st Timothy, as well as in other passages. It also states the demise of those who are walking on this side of the equation: “they will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Because of time, I’m not going to elaborate on the works of the flesh as I did the fruit of the Spirit. They are also fairly self-explanatory, anyway.

Now, I would like to direct your attention to verse 17 again. It states, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another,” Now what I want you to notice and pay close attention to is that these and only these are the two forces that exist to humanity: the flesh (the sinful nature), and the Spirit.

There is no third force; there is no in between. Understand that we are either walking in the Spirit or we are walking in the flesh. A faithful Christian is not walking in the Spirit on the day of worship, and walking in the flesh the rest of the week. Walking in the Spirit is not a part-time job, and attaining the fruit of the Spirit is not a one-day affair, but a 24/7 365 day affair.

Jesus made this very clear in Matthew 6:24: NKJV

24. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.   

There are only two, and we can only serve one, while despising the other. We cannot serve God and the world—walking in our flesh.

As we have seen in Scripture, those who walk in the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God. So let us not be deceived into thinking that once we are saved, we will always be saved. If an individual chooses to remain or return to walking in the flesh, that individual is lost—unless they repent.

Anyone who thinks they can live a life of compromise between these two forces is only fooling themselves.

As Jesus said in Matt. 12:30, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” The fact of the matter is, it is impossible to be neutral about Christ. Anyone who is not actively following him has chosen to reject him.

As Paul wrote in Rom. 8:9, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” NKJV

Any person who tries to remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil is choosing to be separated from God, who alone is good. To refuse to follow Christ is to choose to be on Satan’s team. After all, we are born with his spirit.

Therefore, as the Scripture tells us in Rom. 8:8, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” So if we want to have a relationship with God and continue to please Him, we must walk in the Spirit.

It is Satan’s job to make sure that we “walk in the flesh”—that he will remain and always be the master that we serve.

From the time we accept Christ, he will be nipping at our heels. Therefore, we must be cautious and exercise wisdom, for the Scripture warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV, which says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

But praise God—we are not alone in this walk. He has given us His Spirit to guide us, empower us, and complete the work He began in us.

But the choice is ours. We must make up our minds—are we going to walk in the Spirit or are we going to walk in the flesh—amen!

Please feel free to leave any questions, comments, or concerns below.

For a short and full YouTube video on this topic, click below.

Blessings!

All of the events that are occurring around the world are signs of the end time. They are manifestations of prophecies proclaimed thousands of years ago. This article will illuminate the parallels between those prophecies and the events of today as we look at the signs of the end time.

The Signs of the End Times

In Matthew 24, Jesus foretold the signs to look for that would indicate His soon return. During the latter portion of His discourse, Jesus illustrated what the world will be like as His return approaches.

In Matthew 24:35-39, Jesus said: 

35. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. No One Knows the Day or Hour (Mark 13:32-37; Luke 17:26,27,34,35; 21:34-36)

36. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

37. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

38. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

39. and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. NKJV

In this passage, Jesus gave a specific example, “but as the days of Noah were.” In other words, as it was in the days of Noah, during the times of Noah.

When considering the approaching end time, we often address earthquakes, wars, famine, pestilences, crime, and violence. However, we fail to address the social behavior that Jesus addresses, which will occur when His return occurs. There tends to be an insidious undercurrent regarding this aspect of Christ’s message that is often overlooked.

During the days of Noah, there was a communal apathy regarding the message Noah was conveying. This period was a time of probation. As we see in verses 37-38, the citizens were going on with life as usual, as they knew it, not considering the warnings of the oncoming destruction about to come upon them. This could have been avoided had they entered the ark.

However, when Noah and his family entered the ark, and the door was closed by the angel of the Lord, probation was terminated.

Once probation was closed, there was no more probability of being saved. We are living in a situation today that is parallel to the days of Noah. We are living in a period of probation—a time of grace. For the most part, the world is going on with life, and people are unaware of the situation and what lies ahead, just as it was during the days of Noah. Those of us who are followers of Christ must do all to be ready for His return. However, prior to His return will be the close of probation. Moreover, it is essential that we are ready—to be in a good relationship with God at the close of probation.

The Days of Noah

To get a deeper look at what the days of Noah were like, one needs to go to the Scriptures in Genesis to observe the Biblical record of the days of Noah.

Genesis 6:5, 11-13 Reads: 

5. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

11. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

13. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. NKJV

Verse 5 states that the “wickedness of man” was “only evil continually.” Now, this condition was some grave evil! In the days of Noah, the citizens’ mentality was so evil and wicked that it was a perpetual part of their thinking. It was a continuous thought pursuit.

 Verse 11 states that “the earth was filled with violence.” Murder, war, crime, and all sorts of violence were predominant in society. Does this sound familiar? We need to look no further than our televisions to see just how much violence fills the earth today.

Verse 12 says that God observed when looking at the earth that “indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” Again, the media informs us of the corruption surrounding us today.

In verse 13, God made it clear to Noah that the world had reached a point of no return because of the evil and violence, and it was time for Him to act. Jesus said in Luke 17:26 NIV, “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. Once again, the world is reaching the point of no return with the ongoing evil and violence that is occurring. However, just as in the days of Noah, the general stance of the population is one of insignificance. Individuals continue to do what they have always done without any consideration of what is going on around them. As Jesus said, “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage…” and this occurred right up until the flood arrived.

Furthermore, they were opposed to the truth. There was much scorn against Noah. While the Scriptures don’t reference the scorn, rocket science isn’t required to know it existed. He was building an ark where it had never rained, and he was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). Therefore, he undoubtedly faced much scorn. They must have mocked him unmercifully.

The Days of Lot

There is another parallel Jesus referred to to make His point found in Luke 17:28-37, which reads: 

28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

31. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32. Remember Lot’s wife.

33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

34. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

In verse 28, we see that the days of Lot were a time of economic fortune: building, planting, buying, and selling. It was a time of prosperity and acute materialism. And they ate and drank to their satisfaction.

However, in verse 29, we see that the party was over when Lot departed from Sodom, and judgment fell and destroyed them all.

In verse 30, Jesus made clear that it will be the same when He returns.

In verse 31, we find a prompt to have our priorities in order. When the Lord returns, we must not worry about our, as the Scripture reads, “stuff.” Wherever we may be, “the housetop” or the field.” When the Lord returns, we can’t go back for our “stuff,” and we must be willing to depart with our worldly goods.

In verse 32, Jesus refers to a past example: Lot’s wife. In Genesis 19, the angel that bought Lot and his family out of Sodom gave them specific instructions. In Genesis 19:17 it reads: 

17. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

They were not to look back, but Lot’s wife did (Genesis 19:26), and she was destroyed. It is essential to obey all of the Lord’s instructions.

Lot had his own issues about leaving Sodom. Genesis 19:15-16 reads:

15. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

16. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

In verse 16, we see that Lot hesitated, so the angel grabbed him by his hand and hurried him out of harm’s way to a path of safety. Lot obviously did not want to abandon the comfort, position, and wealth he enjoyed in Sodom. So, his heart, which is where his treasure was, made his movements from Sodom slow. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

What a strong warning about the peril of having one’s heart set on the cares and riches of the world!

God was merciful. Observe how God’s mercy toward Abraham extended to his nephew Lot and his family. It is because Abraham pleaded for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33), God said that He would not destroy the righteous with the wicked (vs. 26). Although there weren’t fifty righteous people in the city, God was merciful and saved his nephew Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom. As it reads in Genesis 19:29. “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” Here we see how God’s mercy toward Abraham extended to Lot and his family. Because Abraham pleaded for Lot, God kept His promise, was merciful, and saved Lot from the fiery destruction of Sodom.

It is easy to pass judgment on Lot for being paralyzed by Sodom when the choice seems so clear to us. However, for us to not make the mistake of Lot, we must see that our hesitation to obey stems from the false attractions of our culture’s pleasures.

Today’s world is steeped in materialism, just as in the days of Lot. Many are so immersed in the things of this world that they are unaware of what is going on around them spiritually and what is to come, thus placing themselves in imminent danger.

The majority are not preparing for the Second coming of Jesus, even among those professing Christianity. Among the most significant origins of the crises of the modern world are an anesthetized human conscience, a detaching from religious values, and a prevailing individuality emboldened by materialistic philosophies.

The Apostles, Peter and Paul, foretold what to look out for and expect prior to the imminent return of Christ.

·         Scoffers

·         Seducers

·         Intensifying wickedness

2 Peter 3:3-7 reads:

3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: [the flood]

7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The last days mentioned in verse 3 is the period between the first and second comings of Jesus—probation. Therefore, we are living in the last days.

Verse 6 parallels the last days to the days of Noah. In Noah’s day, the earth was judged by water. However, God’s covenant with Noah included a promise that the world would not be destroyed by flooded waters again (Genesis 9:11).

But take note in verse 7 that at the Second Coming, it will be judged by fire. This fire is described in 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 19:20, 20:10-15. The same Word that created the world and destroyed it by flood has reserved it for “the day of judgment.” This judgment will be against the scoffers, seducers, and the intensifiers of wickedness.

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul wrote: 

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.

Conclusion

We are living in times analogous to the days of Noah and Lot. In both occurrences, God judged the wicked following His call to come out. There is a call to come out given to us today. It is the call to come out of Babylon. Rev 18:1-5 reads: 

1. And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Babylon represents the mark of the beast. It is spiritual Babylon. While it may not be to embark on the arc-a physical unit, or to leave Sodom-a literal place, but a spiritual place, to leave the worldly conviction, and enter the safety of making our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). This is our sole responsibility. We must keep our convictions on heavenly things.

Unfortunately, we are regularly distracted and, as a result, unable to comprehend the deceptions of staying in this world as though it will exist forever. This distraction is one of Satan’s devices in his toolbox.

 We are guilty of being nearsighted (2 Peter 1:9), focusing only on the present and disregarding the reality of the impending judgment of the world.

We are undoubtedly approaching the time of the sealing (Revelation 7:3). Since we exist at the sealing time, the only thing we have now is the close of probation.

This close of probation is expressed in Revelation 22:10-12 which reads: 

10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

Here, we see a final proclamation against the wicked of the world and an approbation to the righteous. This decree is the close of probation.

Verse 12 are the words of Christ. He will return with the rewards to give to mankind according to his works—good and evil. As Christ’s return becomes imminent, there is greater polarity between God’s followers and Satan’s followers. We must study the book of Revelation, hear its message, and be prepared for Christ’s imminent return.

We must follow the words of Christ as He said in Matthew 24:44, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” NIV

The signs are upon us, so let us heed the warnings of Christ.

When God’s kingdom comes, will you be included? You can be sure of it by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you haven’t already. In a prayer, confess your need, ask for pardon from your sins, and thank God for welcoming you into His family.

Live for your Lord now. Help someone deal with a problem. Give someone a positive message from the Bible. Pray for someone in distress.

Amen

Please leave your questions,  comments, and concerns below.

 Blessings!

Jesus said we should be perfect. How can we, as fallible human beings, be perfect? This article looks at Jesus and perfection.

Are we Perfect?

Ps. 51:5 reads, “For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. NLT In this verse, David acknowledges the origin of his sin, which led to his sinful actions. He acknowledged the fact that because of the sin of Adam, sin fell upon all of mankind (Romans 5:12). Therefore, from the time we are conceived, we are born sinners.

 1 Tim. 1:15 reads, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” NKJV In the previous verses (1 Tim. 1:1-14), Paul acknowledges his sinful behavior. In verse 15, he declared himself the chief of all sinners.

Rom. 7:14 reads, “So the trouble is not with the Law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.” This Scripture is part of a passage (Rom. 7:7-25) where Paul describes his struggle with sin, which applies to all of us. While we agree with God’s Commands—the Law, we can’t obey them completely, being slaves to sin. The Law condemns and convicts; it does not give the power to obey them.

In the lives of Christians, there is a constant struggle against the sinful nature embedded in our flesh. It is a struggle between the Holy Spirit’s leading and the flesh (the sinful nature). Gal. 5:17 reads, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” NIV

Although Christians have a new life in Christ, they nonetheless have a mind and a body susceptible to defying the Spirit’s leading and being enticed by sinful desires. However, we must resist those desires. This consequence is the spiritual warfare Christians are engaged in.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” We are born with this sinful nature embedded in us that gives us the propensity to sin and struggle against righteousness. Yet, Jesus says we are to be perfect!

What Does it Mean to be Perfect According to the Bible?

To get a complete picture of what Jesus was saying in Matthew 5:48, it is helpful to look at the full context of the verse contained in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:43-48 reads:

43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45. that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47. And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

48. Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. NKJV

The word translated as “perfect” is teleios. It can also be translated as “mature” or “full-grown” (as in Eph. 4:13; Hebrews 5:14-6:1). Christians can be perfect if their behavior is appropriate for their maturity. In that way, they are perfect, with much room for growth.

Considering all that Jesus had said in this passage, the perfection Jesus required of His followers did not include strict and flawless obedience to the Law. It required an understanding of how the Law pointed to the perfect heavenly Father. The Law is not the standard of perfection; however, God is.

Those who genuinely love God and desire to follow Him will keep his Law as he requires. We do this not in our own strength, or to put ourselves over others, or because we are already perfect. We do it because we are striving to be perfect.

As followers of Christ, we can be perfect in the following ways. 

In character — In this life, we can never be flawless—sin-free. However, we can seek to be as much like Christ as possible. Eph. 5:1 reads, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” NKJV

Children imitate their fathers. We must imitate God our Father and His Son.

In holiness — We are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. At the same time, we are to assign ourselves to God’s desires instead of our own and carry His love and mercy into the world.

In maturity — We cannot immediately attain Christlike character, holiness, and righteous living. Still, we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. As we expect distinctive behavior from an infant, a child, a teenager, and ultimately an adult, God expects different behavior from us, depending on our stage of spiritual development. This maturity is a perpetual growth process (2 Pet. 1:2-10).

When studying the Hebrew and Greek words translated as perfect, they mean something such as: entire, growth—maturity, integrity, truth, without blemish, full, sincerely sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, and whole.

These terms indicate something either in the progress of growing excellent and complete or the exact and complete standard itself. While we cannot live in a state of sinlessness, we can live in a state of moral integrity by being consistently surrendered to Christ and obedient amongst the abundance of the iniquity in the world.

Philippians 3:15-16 reads:

15. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

16. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. NIV

 The King James translation uses “perfect” instead of “mature.”

 Attempting to live a perfect Christian life is problematic because it leaves one drained and discouraged. They may feel so far from perfect that they think they can never please God with their lives. Paul used perfection (3:12) to mean mature or complete instead of flawless in every detail. Mature individuals must press on in the Holy Spirit’s power, knowing Christ will reveal and complete any difference between what they are and what they should be. However, Christ’s provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel driven.

Further, verse 16 informs us that Christian maturity involves acting on the guidance we have formerly received. While we can acknowledge that we still have so much to learn, the instruction is to live up to what we already know and live out what we have already learned. May we not be distracted by a relentless search for truth.

God sets the divine standard high. He must ask for perfection from us because He is perfect. High standards protect us from low-quality experiences. Individuals who are not reaching for perfection are not maturing. Therefore, we are to strive for perfection continually.

In love — We can pursue to love others as completely as God loves us.

In reality, the fact of the matter is—no one’s perfect. Furthermore, no one does the best they can do either (Rom. 3:9-20). Rom. 3:10 reads, “As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.”

A common expression is that no one is perfect, and God understands. However, that is remissive thinking. If we give credibility to our feeble efforts at righteousness, we will never recognize our desperate need for a Savior.

We will never be sin-free. We will continue to sin on occasion. There is a considerable difference between perpetrating a sin and persisting in sin. The most faithful Christians occasionally commit sins but do not cherish a specific sin or persistently choose to practice it.

The key is not to live a life of sin, have iniquity in our hearts, or have a sinful lifestyle. Our lives should not be characterized as sinful. Sin in the life of a Christian should be a mishap, not an active, leading force.

For example, we can accidentally say something that offends another, sometimes without our knowledge. We can lose our temper and sin. We can also sin unknowingly. We may struggle with a particular sin, and while winning the battle most of the time, we capitulate at one time or another. The point is that it’s a struggle, but not something that is part of our lifestyle. Negative, evil thoughts are sins we struggle with. The point that one is struggling shows that that individual desires to live with Christ.

All who are living for Christ will have a struggle and sometimes lose that struggle. The Scriptures allow for this. 1 John 1:9 reads, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Understand that sin is highly unacceptable, so God sent His Son Jesus to save us (1 John 3:8).

Confessing or acknowledging our sins is agreeing with God that an act or thought was wrong. To concede this to God, seek forgiveness, and commit not to repeat it (Repent) keeps our relationship with God favorable. Prov 28:13 reads, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them [repent],  they will receive mercy. We can overcome the curse of sin through confession and repentance.

It is the constant, deliberate sin—iniquity, that separates us from God and will cause us to be judged harshly (Hebrews 10:26-27). Therefore, we must be guarded against taking God’s grace and mercy for granted. Paul made this clear in Rom. 6:1-2 where he wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The readiness of God’s mercy must not be used as an excuse for neglectful living and moral slackness.

There is great anxiety in the daily Christian experience. The struggle is that we agree with God’s commands but cannot do them flawlessly because of our sinful nature. Consequently, we are sorely aware of our sins. Nevertheless, we must resist those sinful desires.

When we feel confused and overwhelmed by sin’s appeal, let us claim the freedom Christ gave us. His power can lift us to victory.

Our propensity to sin must under no circumstances dissuade us from endeavoring to be more like Christ. Submission and conformity are the keys to discipleship. Perfection should be the aspiration of every true, faithful Christian.

The message of the Sermon on the Mount is about Christ’s call for His disciples to excel, rise above mediocrity, mature in every area, and become more like Him. Those who attempt to meet Christ’s demands cannot meet them on their own strength. Only through the Holy Spirit will the individuals who strive to become like Christ ultimately experience sinless perfection, even as Christ is perfect (1 John 3:2-3). The Law condemns and convicts, it does not give the power to obey. Salvation cannot be found by obeying the law alone. Only Jesus Christ can set us free. We must strive for perfection and be like Jesus. 

Closing Summary

The Christian life is a process of becoming more and more like Christ. This process will not be complete until we see Christ face to face. However, that being our ultimate destiny should inspire us to purify ourselves. To remain pure means to keep straight morally, free from the corruption of sin. God does purify us, but we must take action to remain morally fit and strive for perfection (1 Tim. 5:22; James 4:8).

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

The Bible and sex are two words that aren’t usually used in the same sentence. However, the Bible addresses sex very profoundly from the beginning to the end. This article explores the Bible and sex.

The Biblical History of Sex

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 NKJV reads:

9. That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

10. Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.

“and there is nothing new under the sun.”The first point to make in the area of sex is that what we are seeing today is not new. All of the sexual immorality that is going on today has happened before during Biblical times. It was actually worse in Biblical times than it is today. We are well on our way to reaching that point, but we aren’t there yet.

In this article, we will look at the history of sex—from the beginning.

Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV reads:

26. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply;

Here, we see God as the creator defining gender—male and female. This principle carries through the balance of Scripture.

Genesis 2:24-25 NKJV

24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Here, we see a definition of sex and gender and a definition of marriage between a man and a woman. This definition is the Biblical perspective.

Let’s look at how the Bible acknowledges God as the creator found in The Three Angels Messages.

Rev 14:6-7 NKJV

6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth — to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people — 

7. saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

This first angel’s message is a call to fear God, to give glory to Him, and to worship Him. It also links God to the creation, as the creator of the earth, the seas, the fountains, and the waters. It also sheds light on the fact that God, as the creator, is the definer of reality—what is real and what is not, including sex, gender, and marriage. If we acknowledge God as the creator, we are not privileged to have Him conform to our reality, but to have Him relay His reality to us.

Today, God has been rejected and abandoned by a great many people. As a result, they have established their own reality. This reality goes against the sacred Scriptures.

However, this article explores God’s reality as He intended, which is reflected in the Scriptures, as shown in Genesis 1 and 2. As we continue, it will become clear how quickly this reality was broken down after the fall of man.

The Beginning of Polygamy

Genesis 4:19 NKJV

19. Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.

Remember that in Genesis 2:24- 25, marriage was to be between one man and one woman. But here we see that Lamech, a descendant of Cain, took two wives. He was the first polygamist. He was the first one to redefine God’s reality.

Today, in the media, we see depictions of men having more than one wife. There is a term known as thruples. Which is a man married to two women, and each of those women is married to the man and each other. These relationships are becoming more prevalent in society today.

Understand that these things are not new. While they may be new to us, they are not new in the history of time, nor in the history of Biblical sex, sexuality, gender, and marriage. For us to stay on track concerning the will of God concerning sex and gender, our focus must be on Genesis chapters one and two.

Genesis 29:28-30 NKJV:

28. Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also.

29. And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

30. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

Genesis 30:3-4, 9 NKJV

3. So she [Rachel] said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”

4. Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

9. When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife.

Now at this point, Jacob has four wives. What we see here is that God’s people were also subjected to false ideas and a false understanding of marriage, gender, and sexuality. Society had reached a point where false ideas about marriage and relationships were ubiquitous in the land. These false ideas had turned out to be so prevalent that it was not regarded as sin.

As accepted as it was, this lifestyle caused much distress in family units. This deprivation of society regarding the family is part of what caused God to judge the earth and bring on the flood. 

Prostitution in the Bible

In Genesis 38:15-16, Judah, one of Jacob’s sons, a leader of one of the tribes of Israel, propositioned his daughter-in-law for sex because he mistakenly thought she was a prostitute. Hence, prostitution was prevalent in the land.

Sex in Worship

Let’s look at Numbers 25:1-3 NIV:

1. While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

2. who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods.

3. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

This apostasy occurred while Israel was on the verge of entering the Promised Land. What this passage brings out is that there was a connection between sexuality and worship during this time. Most sexual sins that were committed in the Promised Land were connected to the worship of the false gods.

This sinful worship is the same plot that Satan is laying for us today to keep us from the heavenly Promised Land. One of His mediums is sexual immorality to turn individuals away from God. God created sex to be enjoyed, but Satan has intervened and perverted as he does with everything that God has created. However, most are blinded to the fact that what is happening today is related to worship. It is worship that is the final conflict that we will be judged on.

Sexual Law Established

God gave the Israelites many profound warnings before they entered the Promised Land in Leviticus 18. In Leviticus 18:5-20 NKJV, it reads:

5. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

6. ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.

7. The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.

8. The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.

9. The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.

10. The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness.

11. The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father — she is your sister — you shall not uncover her nakedness.

12. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father.

13. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.

14. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.

15. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law — she is your son’s wife — you shall not uncover her nakedness.

16. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.

17. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness.

18. Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

19. ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.

20. Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her.

God warned and instructed against these behaviors because they existed in the Land (the Promised Land) they were about to occupy. In His wisdom, God understood that they would be subjected to this sinful culture. In verses 24 and 25 of Leviticus 18, God said, “Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.”

Israel would experience pressure from the surrounding nations. Just as societal pressure existed then, it exists presently. Today, we call it peer pressure, which has expanded to every facet of society—including the church. Young adults in the church have false perceptions concerning sexuality. Many young adults in the church do not see homosexuality or transgenderism as an issue. Delaying sex until marriage is considered old-fashioned by most. For decades, premarital sex has been virtually pervasive among Americans.

It is damning enough for worldly individuals to have these views. However, for Christians in the church, including some members of the Clergy, to have these views is absolutely preposterous! The Scriptures are unambiguous on the issues of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc. We have no excuse for embracing and accepting these abominations. We see that these things occurred in the past and were wrong then. They are occurring today, and they are still wrong.

Transgender in the Bible

Transgender is not new. This behavior also occurred during Biblical times, and the Israelites were warned about it. Deuteronomy 22:5 NKJV reads, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an ABOMINATION to the Lord your God.”

This cross-dressing was passed down from Babylon and was part of ancient pagan worship to the goddess Ishtar of love, war, fertility, and sex. The apostate Israelites worshipped this goddess under Ashtoreth—The Queen of Heaven. In Deuteronomy 32:16-17, worshipping pagan deities is linked to worshipping demons.

Needless to say, this practice was not favorable worship with these pagan practices. God offered worship where people were respected and valued, and they had an idea of sexuality and gender that was in line with what is defined in Genesis chapters one and two.

Both the Old and New Testaments speak against these ungodly acts. Romans 1:18-32 addresses these behaviors and God’s wrath against them.

Conclusion

Again, remember what it says in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 NKJV, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. (10) Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.”

What is being done today, has been done before. It was wrong then, and it is wrong today.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

The Rapture – Is it fact or myth? Many Christians are taught and believe in the mysterious actions of the Rapture. What does the Bible teach about the Rapture? This article will answer that question as it covers the Bible and the Rapture.

What is the Rapture? 

Rapture is a word used by Christians to express the belief that before Christ returns and before the Great Tribulation, Christians worldwide will be raptured into the air and taken to heaven by some secret and mysterious event. Those who are not Christians will be left on earth and see individuals disappear without any explanation, leaving loved ones in despondency.

Those who are left behind will face the Great Tribulation. Three to seven years afterward, Jesus begins His reign on earth.

The Bible and the Rapture

This doctrine is based on the passage found in 1 Thess. 4:16-17 NKJV, which reads:

16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The word Rapture comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Scriptures that translates “shall be caught up” as rapiemur, which means “will be caught up” or “will be taken away.”

This passage is essential to those who believe in the Rapture. However, is Paul really talking about the Rapture or perhaps something else? There are three crucial questions to address.

When considering the doctrine of the Rapture:

1.      Will Christians disappear worldwide without explanation?

2.      Will Christians be caught up in the air years before Christ returns?

3.      Will Christians be in heaven during the tribulation?

To answer the first question, we again look at 1 Thessalonians 4, from verse 13. It reads:

13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Paul mentions that this is when those who died [sleep] in Christ will be resurrected. He additionally said, “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.” This does not appear to be a mysterious vanishing. It appears to be more of a triumph event announced to the world by Jesus Himself.

To address this issue accurately, it behooves one to look at other passages that address this event. Paul describes this same event in 1 Cor. 15:50-53 which reads:

50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Again, we see that this is not a secret event as a mighty “trumpet shall sound.” It also mentions the “last trump,” meaning that there will be a series of trumpets, and this event will occur at the “last trumpet.”

So, where are these trumpets? In the book of Revelation, we have a precise series of events leading up to the return of Jesus’ return and the beginning of God’s kingdom on earth. Chapter 6 of Revelation contains the seven prophetic seals John sees in his vision revealed by Jesus.

The first four seals represent the end-time events ahead. These first four seals represent the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, symbolizing global religious deception, warfare, famine, and disease. Verse 8 reads, “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

The fifth seal continues by unfolding a martyrdom of Christians. Jesus describes this time in Matthew 24:21, where he said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This time will be so dreadful that no time before or after will ever equate.

After two and a half years of this tribulation, the sixth seal is opened, and the heavenly signs take place. Rev 6:12-14 reads:

12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

These events indicate that God and Jesus Christ will soon intervene in world affairs. This time is described by Isiah the prophet as, “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion.” NKJV

This year-long day of the Lord begins when the seventh seal of Revelation is opened in Rev 8:1-2

1. When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. NKJV

Here, we see the sequence of trumpets involved in end-time events as Paul described.

After the rides of the four horsemen, the Great Tribulation, and the heavenly signs, we arrive at the time of the series of trumpets indicated by   Paul. The first six trumpets initiate devastation: one-third of the earth’s vegetation is burned up, one-third of the seas become blood, one-third of ships and marine life are destroyed, and one-third of the earth’s waters become bitter, and one-third of the Sun, Moon, and stars cease to shine.

To follow, the most destructive military exchange in history will take place, and one-third of mankind will be eliminated. This event is described in Joel 2:11 NKJV, “For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?” This description represents God’s wrath unleashed on unrepentant humanity. However, these are only the first six of the seven trumpets addressed in the Revelation passage. The seventh trumpet is addressed in verse 15, which reads, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” This describes a significant change in world politics!

Going back to Paul’s passage in 1 Corinthians, he says that at this trumpet, the seventh, is when the resurrection will occur. This time is when the authentic Christians, past and present, will be gathered together, glorified with immortality to meet Christ in the air (1 Thess. 4:17) and be with Him forever.

These passages prove that this event is not a secret disappearance. Additionally, Jesus describes this moment to the disciples, illustrating this event’s public nature. Matthew 24:29-31 reads:

29. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

30. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. NKJV

These passages, describing the end-time events, are consistent and in perfect sequence concerning the Great Tribulation, the heavenly signs, the seven trumpets, and the appearing of Christ at the last trumpet, as well as the gathering and glorifying of the faithful Christians, and the commencing of God’s glorious “reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10).

It is clear from Scripture that this event is not a vanquishing into thin air that will occur as the unsaved wonder where they went. All eyes will see, and all ears will hear. We also see that this event occurs after the tribulation. A day is coming when the faithful people of God will face persecution similar to that of the Dark Ages.

However, as God protected the faithful during that time, He will do the same during the Great Tribulation. He has promised to provide a way of escape for us from any temptation. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV reads, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” God is faithful and will protect His faithful servants (Matthew 24:21-22).

Another passage used for rapture advocates is Matt 24:36-41.

36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

While this passage focuses on the return of Jesus, it is not the Rapture but the return on earth when Christ will set up His kingdom on earth. The action of this passage focuses on judgment, illustrating the separation of the wicked from the righteous. The ones taken in this passage are taken for judgment.

This focus is more evident in a parallel passage in Luke 17:34-37. In verse 37, the disciples asked where the ones taken up would go. In verse 37 NIV, His answer is clear, “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”  Jesus painted a dreadful picture of judgment that those taken up would meet death—vultures gather to devour the bodies of the dead.

The doctrine of the Rapture is a misinterpretation of Scripture. Still, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, truth will prevail. We must learn to lean on Him.

Amen!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

Salvation is a fundamental tenet of Christianity. The ultimate goal for every Christian is salvation and eternal life. Man’s widespread need for salvation is one of the most explicit teachings of the Bible. So, what is salvation, and how is it achieved? The best answer is found in the Scriptures. This article looks at salvation and the Bible.

What is Salvation?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the first definition is deliverance from the power and effects of sin.

Sin is any lack of conformity to the holy character of God (Rom. 3:23).  The sinful nature is expressed in selfish thoughts and actions and rebellion against the will and plan of God (Jn. 3:19-20; Gal. 5:19-21).  The creature expressing its will over the will of the Creator is sin because the Creator has the right of authority over His creation for His will to be done (Isa. 14:12-15; Romans 1:18-32, 8:5-8; 9:19-21).

Sin separates man from God.

The need for salvation goes back to the removal of man from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). After that event, man’s life was marred by strife and difficulty. Progressively, corruption and violence dominated the world (Genesis 6:11-13). When God wiped out the sin of the world with the Flood, He also executed the first act of salvation by saving Noah and his family. These eight people became the basis of another chance for humanity. The salvation of Noah and his family was viewed by the apostle Peter as a pattern of that complete salvation which we receive in Christ (1 Peter 3:18-22). Salvation is needed because humanity is depraved.

Salvation is God’s great gift and work in which He forgives sin and gives eternal life to a converted sinner as a free gift of His grace (Eph. 2:8-9).  Forgiveness is needed because all people are born sinners, showing their sinful nature soon after birth (Gen. 6:5; Ps. 14:1-3; 51:5; Rom. 3:10-18).  New life is needed because all people are born spiritually dead, separated from God (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3).  Having a sinful nature and being spiritually dead results in individuals being completely depraved, for they are unable to please God by the good deeds they may achieve (Isa. 64:6; Jer. 17:9; Mk. 7:20-23; I Cor. 2:14; Gal. 5:19-21).  The sinner is under the just condemnation of God, who is perfect in holiness, purity, and righteousness (Ezra 9:15; Ps. 22:3; Ps. 48:10; Isa. 6:3; Jer. 9:24; Hab. 1:13) and must judge sin (Ezek. 18:4; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 6:23).

Sin is any lack of compliance with God’s holy character and will.  Our sinful nature is expressed in selfish thoughts and actions and rebellion against the will and plan of God. It is transgression against the law of God. 1 John 3:4 reads, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

God loves all people and desires them to be with Him, but He cannot tolerate sin and sinners in His presence because of His holiness and righteousness.  He loves the sinner, but hates sin. Therefore, He must and will condemn and judge sin.  The penalty for sin is death, both physical and spiritual (Gen. 2:16-17; Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23).  Physical death is separation from life in this world; spiritual death is separation from God. Sinners are unable to die for their sins and live and are unable to make themselves acceptable to God by any works of righteousness (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 8:7-8; Tit. 3:5). Consequently, God’s righteous justice must be satisfied another way.  Because of His love, mercy, and grace (1 Jn. 4:8), God conceived a plan to pay the price Himself to save and make people right before Him and welcome them in His presence.

To accomplish this plan, God sent His Son to be joined to humankind (Jn. 1:1-2, 14).  This plan commenced with the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20-23).  The plan included Jesus dying on the cross as a replacement for all sinners (Ps. 22:1, 11-18; Isa. 53:3-12; Rom. 5:6-8).  Jesus, who had no sin of His own, permitted all sins to be placed upon Himself (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:21-24).  He evidenced being separated from God in the words, spoken from the cross, “Why have you forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46).  His words, “It is finished,” declared the payment to be completed (Jn. 19:30).  His resurrection from the dead three days later proved that sin and death had been conquered, the price fully paid (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 20-23).  His separation from God in death and the shedding of His blood paid the redemption price (Eph. 1:7), fully satisfying God’s righteous justice (1 Jn. 2:1-2) and providing the basis for sinners to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-19).  His death rendered propitiation for the sins of humanity.

This is what salvation is all about. God’s plan of salvation is open to all to be saved from eternal death to eternal life.

To be Saved or Lost, which is easier?

This, indeed, is an interesting question. As usual, one only needs to consult the Scriptures. As mentioned earlier, sin entered the world through the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. After that, all of humanity is stained with a sinful nature. Rom. 5:12 NKJV reads, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Therefore, from birth, we are lost. A child never has to be taught to do wrong. They do wrong automatically and must be trained and guided to do what is right. However, even with this guidance, children grow up with a propensity to sin because we have a spirit of disobedience (Eph. 2:2) until we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

This is why Jesus said in John 3:3-7

3. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Since we are born lost, it is easier to be lost because we are lost by default—automatically.

Understand that it is Satan’s objective to keep us lost. It is Satan’s influences that keep us in a lost state. Ephesians 2:2 refers to him as “the prince of the power of the air.” Jesus referred to him as the “prince of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). This perpetual influence makes it difficult for individuals to be saved.

Jesus makes this clear in the passage of Matt 7:13-14 NKJV:

13. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

14. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

At some point in our lives, we are faced with a choice of which path to continue. We are already on the broad road from birth. Therefore, it is easy to remain on that path, the broad road to destruction through the wide gate.

This gate leading to life is narrow, not because it is difficult to become a Christian but because accepting and trusting in Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Only one way exists, and only a few choose to walk that road.

It is also “difficult” to stay on the narrow road because “the prince of the power of the air” and “the prince of this world” are constantly warring against us so that we stray off the course. This circumstance is spiritual warfare that every human being is involved in. It is especially trying for Christians traveling the narrow road to life. It may be easy for an individual to become a Christian and follow Christ once they decide to do so. However, it can become increasingly difficult to remain one.

The road is hard to travel because genuine discipleship calls for surrender and servanthood. The fact is that following the crowd along life’s easy path results in destruction. Deciding to travel the narrow way of difficulty and sacrifice will finally lead to eternal life.

It is important to note that if we make no choice, we remain on the broad road to destruction. Jesus said in Matt 12:30 NKJV, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

It is impractical to be neutral about Christ. Any individual not vigorously following Him has automatically chosen to reject him. Any individual who attempts to remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil chooses to be separated from God, who alone is good. “No man can serve two masters” Matthew 6:24. To refuse to follow Christ is to choose to be on Satan’s team.

It’s easier to be lost, but much better to be saved!

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

Deception is all around us. Conspiracy theories have increasingly been on the rise. In this climate of deception, how do we know what to believe? The Bible addresses deception, and this article investigates Biblical Deception.

The Imminent Deception 

Deception is the mixing of truth with error, unlike a lie, which is absent of all truth—all error.

Matthew 24:3-5

3. Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4. And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

5. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. NKJV

In this passage we have a warning from Jesus, we have the nucleus of the dilemma. “Many” will fail to “take heed” (discern, examine, perceive) Biblical truths. As a result, they will stumble into deception. Truth protects, and error harms; therefore, the more of God’s Word we know, the more error we can discern.

Gen. 3:1-4

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2. And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;

3. but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'”

4. Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. NKJV

The serpent deceived Eve. She admitted that she was deceived in verse 13, which reads:

“‘And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” NKJV

There was some truth (Gen. 3:7, 22). After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, their eyes were opened.

In the text, Satan predicted that something would happen and then tells a lie by stating, “you will surely not die.”

When their eyes were opened, they did not experience a wondrous enlightenment as Satan had implied. Instead, they experienced shame, fear, and guilt (vss. 7, 8, 10). Neither were they elevated to the same status as God.

The Seeds of Deception

Eve was deceived by the serpent. As a result, she and Adam rebelled against God’s Command by eating the forbidden fruit.

King Saul was deceived” by his fear and jealousy, which led him to rebel against God’s instructions and acted in disobedience.

Judas Iscariot was deceived by his greed and betrayal, ultimately leading him to rebel against Jesus and betray Him.

The Israelites in the wilderness were deceived by their doubts and fears despite God’s miracles and deliverance and rebelled against Him multiple times.

There is a trend throughout the Scriptures. Deception, whether through fear, jealousy, greed, or doubt, appears to be a common thread in these instances of rebellion. This highlights the fact that deception often ignites the flames of rebellion. Deception serves as the initial step that leads to rebellion. Deception leads to rebellion.

The Imminent Apostasy

Matthew 24:11-13

11. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

12. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

13. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. NKJV

Acts 20:29-31

29. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

31. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. NKJV

1 Tim. 4:1

4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, NKJV

2 Peter 2:1-3

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

3. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. NKJV

Jude 3-4

3. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

4. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV

These passages collectively depict the imminent threat of apostasy. They are a series of warnings of the impending apostasy. Again, deception proceeds apostasy. The book of Jude serves as a solemn warning against the dangers of apostasy in the church. Just as it was prevalent in his time, it is prevalent in ours.

We must be vigilant in our faith and firmly rooted in the truth to avoid deception and apostasy. We must as the Scripture reads, “contend earnestly for the faith.”

We must be aware of the falsehoods among us (Matthew 7:15-19). Men are deceptive with their words. We must note what they teach: God’s Word or man’s doctrines. We must test the spirits. [1 John 4:1-3] Otherwise, we cannot earnestly contend for the faith if we do not bring our teachers into subjection.

Jude’s audience was unaware and not on guard of the deception that had crept into the church. Today, we are very unaware. We must confirm the Word for ourselves to discern truth from error. We must be on guard so that we will not be deceived. When we are deceived, we will rebel—knowingly and unknowingly. We are prone to deception and prone to rebellion.

Contending for the Faith

Why must we contend for the faith?

o   The false teachers are ungodly people. They pervert the divine ideal of holiness. I Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 2:9, Lev. 20:26, 1^st Peter 1:14-16, Rev. 21:27

o   They teach that grace allows us to live ungodly—immoral lives. They pervert the doctrine of grace.

Titus 2:11-14—The grace of God teaches us that we are to live godly, sober, and righteous lives because Christ arrived to redeem us from every lawless deed and free us from the power of sin. He came to set the captives free.

o   They deny Jesus Christ—His authority and power.

§  Matthew 28:18, Eph. 1:21-23—Christ has all authority, all power; to deny this is to deny Christ. With all power and authority, Christ came to free us from the shackles of sin. Through His Word, He intended to reveal Himself while equipping us for salvation.

o   They deny the all-sufficiency of all Scripture

§  2 Timothy 3:16-17—To deny all the sufficiency of Scripture is to deny Christ. To say that the Old Testament doesn’t matter is to assume that the New Testament alone will qualify us for every good work. ALL Scripture has been given by God.

We cannot cherry-pick what Scripture should be or should not be applicable. All—all Scripture should be counted as applicable.

2 Peter 1:3—God has given us all things of life, all things pertaining to godliness. His Word is to be heeded from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation. Nothing is to be neglected.

John 1:1-4, 14, Rev. 19:12-13—To deny the all-sufficiency of Scripture is to deny Christ.

How do we contend for the faith?

We must use the weapons that are at our disposal. Eph. 6:10-18 reads:

10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;

18. praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — NKJV

This is what we ought to do. Our ability to stand is contingent upon our being willing to put on “the whole armor of God. “ Because we can’t stand against “the wiles of the devil” on our own.

We must be girded with truth, being honest and truthful in all aspects of life.

The breastplate of righteousness—Put on Christ’s righteousness in faith, live a moral and upright life, and do what is right and just according to God’s will.

The feet shod with the gospel of peace—Be ready to share the everlasting gospel proclamation with others.

The shield of faith—Trust in God, His protection, and His provision.

The helmet of salvation—Stand in the assurance of salvation found in Christ.

The Sword of the Spirit- The Word of God—Use the power of God’s Word to guide our thoughts and actions. 

The great deception, the mother of all deceptions, is coming. The beast of Revelation 13, when he performs deceitful miracles and wonders, is coming. This will lead to the conclusion of Spiritual Warfare and the Great Controversy.

Therefore, every weapon matters—the whole armor. With all prayer, be vigilant and seek God’s guidance and strength. We must use our weapons at our disposal. Put on Christ; stand for Christ!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

June 1^st commenced Gay Pride Month, which is often shortened to Pride Month for the LGBT community. However, is this really something to celebrate? What does the Bible say about pride? This article will explore pride and the Bible, and more specifically, Gay Pride.

Pride and the Bible

The title of this article alone spells trouble. It spells trouble because it contains a foul word—pride. Pride may not be a dirty four-letter word as we commonly know, but it is still a foul word, especially in the eyes of God.

So, for starters, what is pride? Very simply, exaggerated self-esteem and conceit; excessive appreciation of one’s worth or virtue.

Pride is idolatry. When our minds are filled with pride, we focus on ourselves, leaving no room for God. Anything that takes our focus off God is idolatry. A heart that has pride is at enmity with God.

Now, over time, society has put a positive spin on pride, leading us to use pride in a positive context. For example, I’m so proud of my son or daughter graduating from college, I’m proud to be a homeowner, I take pride in my work, or I’m so proud of myself for the weight I’ve lost, I take pride in how I look.

Oh yes, we throw the word pride around as though it’s an asset. But this is just another insidious way for the enemy—Satan, to oppose God. He will do anything and use anybody wittingly or unwittingly to go against God. Which is why the Scripture describe him in Eph 2:2 as the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Therefore, it behooves us to find another word to express our positive frames of mind. The dictionary is full of them, and isn’t interesting that we often choose pride to express our satisfaction and gratification.

While culture may change things, God does not change. As he said through His prophet, Malachi in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…”

So, for the record, this article is not about the cultural adaptation of pride, but how God sees pride and makes it clear in His Word.

In the King James translation, pride appears 49 times, all negative. There is nothing good about pride. Prov 13:10 NKJV says, “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.” In Mark 7:21, Jesus said that pride is one of the evil things that come from the hearts of men and defile them.

The fact of the matter is, no matter how we sugar coat it, pride leads to arrogance.

Pride is idolatry. When our minds are filled with pride, we focus on ourselves, and whatever we have pride in, and nothing else can get in, leaving no room for God. Anything that takes our focus off God is idolatry. A heart that has pride is at enmity with God.

Sometimes, God provides a loophole, allowing us to do what we want and remain in His will. For example, David desired to build God a house, but God said no because he had too much blood on his hands. But God said his son Solomon could build the house. So David was still able to build the house vicariously through his son (1 Chronicles 22:6-8).

One of the ways pride manifests itself is through boasting. The Scriptures speak against boasting. 1 Cor. 1:26-29 NIV reads:

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are,

29. so that no one may boast before him. NIV

It is important to note that God called ordinary people to carry out His work in the Old Testament. Such individuals as Moses (Exod. 3), Deborah (Judg. 4-5), Gideon (Judg. 6-8), and many other people of humble origin confirm that success came through His power, not theirs. The foolish and weak can never say that God chose them because of their talent or intelligence. Instead, God chooses those counted as nothing by the world and turns them into great people for Him. People’s abilities, social standing, or knowledge have nothing to do with God’s choice. Skill and wisdom do not get a person into God’s kingdom — faith in Christ does — so no one can boast that their achievements helped them secure eternal life.

Nevertheless, God makes a way for us to boast. In Jer. 9:23-24 NIV, God speaks through His prophet, saying:

23. This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,

24. but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,”  declares the Lord. NIV

Many must realize that although God is loving and merciful. He is also holy and just.
In this passage, God pointed out to Jeremiah that there are three widely accepted human sources of boastfulness — intelligence, strength, and wealth. Each turns out to be unworthy of our ultimate trust. So, if we must boast, it is God, and God alone, that is worth boasting about and that we know and understand Him. All other boasting is futile.

Gay Pride

So, June is Gay Pride Month, and there will be a lot of celebration and boasting.

Prov 14:34 says: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” It is righteousness, godliness—that makes a nation great. But sin is a disgrace to any people. Nationwide sin denigrates a nation.

But our nation is exalting sin. Now, for sure, sin is sin, but Gay pride—exalts, promotes, and praises homosexuality—a particularly egregious sin. God’s Word in the Old and New Testaments shams homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 declares it as an abomination. It carries a particular stench in the nostrils of God.

Romans 1:22 addresses it as “vile affections,” and 1 Tim. 1:10 describes it as “those that defile themselves with mankind.”

Look at what the Scripture says in 1 Cor. 6:9-10 NKJV

9. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10. nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV

God does not sugarcoat immorality, paper over lies, or fail to punish unrepented sins.

There is no place in God’s kingdom for homosexuals—period—full stop!

And yet, our nation is dedicating a whole month to gay pride. This month, gay pride will be on display in living color, celebrating homosexuality. Gay…pride, that’s a double indictment—homosexuality and pride all wrapped up into one. That’s double jeopardy. Gay pride is a consequential dynamic.

Gay Pride is not new! As the wise and discerning King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9 in part, “…and there is no new thing under the sun.”

The Consequences of Gay Pride

The account of Sodom and Gomorrah is well known, and look at what the Scripture confirms about that situation in Jude 7

7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

This verse will be addressed further a little later.

But for now, this “strange flesh” mentioned refers to homosexuality; that was only half of Sodom and Gomorrha’s problem. The other half is addressed in Ezekiel 16:49-50

49. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

This passage brings out the other half of the cause of Sodom’s demise—pride. Notice that pride—listed at the forefront—took Sodom down. This passage reads like the ingredients of a food label; the ingredients are listed in the order of their dominance of the product’s makeup. The first ingredient is the most prevalent.

Likewise, in this Scriptural list, pride is first and foremost. Pride and going after strange flesh became the two main forces that destroyed Sodom.

Here, in these two passages regarding the case of Sodom, we have gay pride, and we see the result. God, as the Scripture reads, “took them away.”

Pride alone is a consequential dynamic. We don’t have to be homosexual to be affected by pride, and it takes nations down. Notice that the Scripture mentions daughters. These were the cities dependent on Sodom and Samaria, respectively.

There is a dear price for a nation to pay that commits abominations before God.

This gay pride is a continuation of the saga of Satan’s assault on the family. He knows that the family is the foundational unit of society, and if he can tear that down, so goes the nation. This assault began with the women’s Liberation and sexual revolution movements and onto the gay rights movements. They are the offspring of the postmodern movement, which has injected a spirit of subjection into society. As a result, everything has been bought into subjection—including truth. It has brought every established tradition and metanarrative into subjection. It has cast doubt on everything believed as solid foundational truth and every institutional belief, including the church. All of these movements equal one word—rebellion.

This nation is shaking its fists in rebellion against God. Satan is undoubtedly strutting his stuff. Just as the Lord uses earthen vessels to spread the gospel, Satan is using earthen vessels to carry out his rebellion, and he is playing them like a fiddle—especially in Hollywood.

A famous Television celebrity said, “I believe that if Jesus were here, He would attend the gay pride parade.” Considering all things, that is probably accurate. Jesus could attend a gay parade, considering what He said when He was questioned about eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. He said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” [Luke 5:31-32] Therefore, while He may attend a gay parade if He were here, it wouldn’t be for the reason that that individual alluded to. He would not have celebrated homosexuality but condemned it with a statement beginning with “it is written,” as He often did so many times.

Another very famous celebrity said, “The god that I serve doesn’t care whether you’re tall, or short, whether you’re born black, or Asian, or gay.”

Amen to that. It must be a blessing for an individual to have their very own god to serve! 

Statements are made by individuals that say: God is a God of love, and they believe that as long as two people of the same sex truly loved each other, it was okay with God for them to get married.

These are lies from the very pit of hell—both of them. God loves the sinner, which is true, but he hates sin. God loves the homosexuals, but He hates homosexuality. Therefore, we should encourage removing it, the repentance of it instead of celebrating it.

It raises the question, what Bible are these individuals reading? Prov 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Homosexuality may seem right to some, but it is still a sin, regardless of how society perceives it, and in the end it will be death. Unrepented sin demands God’s wrath!

We are back to the days when “there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25). When morality is all but thrown to the ground and stomped.

Now, society is one ball of confusion. Households are turned upside down, women have challenged men’s roles, men want to be women, women want to be men—men have husbands, and women have wives. Boys want to be girls, and girls want to be boys, and some don’t know what they are or what they want to be.

The Federal Government has added fuel to the fire. Not to make this political, but I would be amiss not to mention this. Fifteen states are suing the government. In 1972, a civil rights law called Title IX was passed. Its original purpose was to protect females from discrimination based on sex in federally funded educational programs and provide them equal opportunities.

However, on April 19^th of this year, a change was published by the Department of Education, redefining the meaning of sex to include gender identity. This change gives males identifying as female the right to use female restrooms and locker rooms and join female-only organizations. Under the revised rule, “harassment” can include using biologically… accurate… pronouns.

Schools and colleges that fail to comply stand to lose federal dollars.

This ruling falls under the category of foolishness!

We are living out the Scripture in Rom. 1:22, which says, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”

Nowhere is there a more sinister attempt to change thinking than in the matter of the way God created us—male and female.

This article is not politically correct. This political correctness, known as PC, is another tool of Satan and is an existential detriment to society. We must be greatly concerned about what we say, write, or think. We have to be concerned about using the wrong word, a word that may be considered offensive, insensitive, racist, sexist, or homophobic.

It is an insidious, sinister deception aimed to bring about social transformation through dialectical means. It’s an attack on free speech. There are increasing attacks against those who hold views that are not in line with the progressive liberal dogma of today. These views offend the progressives, and they want to stamp out any such speech or information. They seek to tear down and destroy it.

Ironically, freedoms of speech and religion are rapidly being suppressed by intolerance and intimidation by the very ones who protest the most about intolerance.

The PC movement is a tool that involves denigrating authority, destroying the family unit, and controlling speech, behavior, and, ultimately, thought. It is totalitarian in nature and is highly prevalent on college campuses, creating an overly sensitive generation that is offended by practically everything. Yet we wonder why depression and mental illness are so prevalent these days in our young adults. The colossal amount of negative energy is overwhelming the youthful minds of our population.   However, the overall intent is ultimately for the nation as a whole and all of Western civilization.

Political correctness is part of a larger agenda at work today. There is nothing innocuous about it. The forces behind political correctness seek a godless world whose goal is to remove the moral underpinnings of an orderly world based on the Scriptures.

 Satan wants to have his way. One of his most effective deceptions is to lead us to believe that human reasoning without the Holy Spirit and the Word of God is sufficient. He desires to turn upside down all biblical and traditional values and bring about an amoral, anything-goes world. A relentless attack on normality and morality.

I mentioned earlier that we will see gay pride in living color. The parades with the floats and costumes, the parties and speeches of how far the movement has reached. Indeed, there will be plenty of color! Perhaps too much color as the symbol for the LGBT+ community is the rainbow, which is the symbol of God’s covenant to the world after the flood. It was chosen by the LGBT+ community to display diversity and was considered ideal because it is found in nature.

What apostasy—what fragrant rebellion against God!

Now, how long is God going to allow this to go on? Certainly not forever.

It was mentioned earlier that there would be more on Jude 7. For fuller context, we start at verse 5.

5. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

In this passage, Jude states three examples of rebellion: (1^st) the nation of Israel—who, although they were delivered from Egypt by God, refused to trust Him and enter the Promised Land (Num. 14:26-39); (2^nd) the angels—although they were once pure, holy, and living in God’s presence, some gave in to pride and joined Satan to rebel against Him (2 Peter 2:4); (3rd) the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—the people were so full of sin that God wiped them off the face of the earth (Gen. 19:1-29).

Now, the question. If God’s chosen people, the apostate angels, and prior sinful cities were punished, how much more will the rebellious nations of today be severely punished? Israel has been severely punished more so because it knew better; it witnessed God’s presence and power and was the force God used to wipe out ungodly nations. God desired Israel and Juda to be a righteous example to a pagan world. Yet, they turned away from Him and persisted in doing evil until they reached the point of no return. Therefore, God allowed them to be taken captive (Jer. 25:10-11).

 Read God’s condemnation adjudication upon Israel in Isa 3:9-10 NIV, “The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.”

We are no better…we are parading gay pride. Today’s our nation has all the examples in the Word of God, and we witness God’s creation and goodness daily. Yet, we are promoting pride and sin.

These are serious times. It behooves all of us to observe the signs of the last days because we are a nation primed for a fall.

Now, to be clear, this article is not against homosexuals but against homosexuality—the promotion and embracing of it. God is a God of love, and He loves us all, including homosexuals. As the Scripture says, “God so loved the world.”

But we must understand—He also hates sin. The Scriptures makes this clear. 1 John 3:8 reads, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Sinners are in line with Satan, and we know how God feels about him. He loves us and provided His Son as a sacrifice to save us from “the works of the devil”

Scripture also says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore, I say this to all of us, including homosexuals. Whatever sin is in our lives, we’d better move away from it because He won’t allow sin to go unpunished forever.

The clock is ticking, and we must be mindful of the Scripture in 2 Peter 3:9,

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” NKJV

We have seen what has happened to nations that celebrated gay pride in the past.

When a nation allows this level of cultural rot to exist and celebrates it, how long can it stand?

Our nation needs to follow Jeremiah’s cry of despair where it is written in Lamentations 3:40,

“Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord;” NKJV

Gay pride is a serious offense, and if this nation doesn’t repent and change, it’s going down just as the other gay pride nations have gone. Prov 16:18 says, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” So we’d better be prepared because it could happen during our lifetime. It was approximately 359 years from the time Israel was led into idolatry to the time of their captivity. God is patient, but He is faithful to His Word. This nation is 247 years old and counting—the clock is ticking.

Let us not celebrate pride and sin of any kind but let us spread and live The Three Angels Messages.

Understand that God will not hold back the four winds of strife forever (Rev. 7:1).

We must remember the Words of our Lord and Savior in Luke 21:36:

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Amen

 Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

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