Dear fellow laborers,

 

Many churches believe "once saved always saved", and as long as one accepts Jesus as their savior they will be in heaven.  Of course we understand that the reward of the saved is not heaven, but the Kingdom of God which will be on earth.

 

Contrary to what many churches preach today, the Apostle Paul wrote directly and distinctly about what would keep someone out of the future Kingdom of God.

I Cor 6:9-11 (NKJV) "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. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

 

In teaching the Galatians Paul admonished them about what would cause someone not to inherit the Kingdom:

Gal 5:19-21 "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."

Paul did not simply tell the brethren what kept them out of the kingdom, but he spoke of the characteristics God desires in each of us which will get us into the Kingdom of God.  God wants His people to rise above the barbarism of this world. People's lives are often governed mainly by their own appetites and desires.  They operate on vanity, jealousy and greed, which is a way which causes violence and ultimately death.

 

Most Christian leaders speak of grace to justify their belief Christians don't need works for salvation.   Paul does remind us of the grace made possible through Jesus Christ, but he also speaks of the need for works to be saved. He writes about good works, and he speaks in terms of walking in the spirit.  He said, "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Gal 5:16-18)

 

We aren't under the penalty of the law if we repent of breaking God's laws and strive to keep it as much as we understand it.  Then we strive to concentrate our minds on the good things and let God's Holy Spirit lead us.  We 'walk by the spirit', and we are led by the Spirit to demonstrate holy characteristics and traits. Paul said in Gal 5:22-25:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

 

The last fruit of the Spirit Paul mentions is self-control. How can the Holy Spirit lead someone who cannot control their own appetites and lust?  This is the way it was in the time of Noah.  In the world before the flood men did what was right on their own eyes, and Moses records this:

"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." (Gen 6:5)

 

It is not easy to conquer the greatest enemy we could ever have--human nature, but this is the goal. When we fall we do seek God's forgiveness through grace (unmerited pardon) made possible the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  It is impossible for us alone to conquer this flesh, but nothing like this is impossible with God.

 

Have a wonderful Sabbath and convocation tomorrow!

 

 

Your brother in Christ,

 

Jim Tuck