“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient…” (Romans 1:28)
My friend, we must guard our hearts in these last days, and earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). The word “reprobate” basically means “unfit for use,” or a mind that lacks the ability to discern between what is holy and what is profane, and what is clean and what is unclean. (Ezekiel 22:26)
Paul pleaded with the church and gave us strong admonition, in that he warned us that the unrighteousness would not inherit the kingdom of God. In order to insure that there would be no question in regard to the intent of what the Holy Spirit was saying, he prefaced it with these words, “Be not deceived…”
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters (putting anything else before God), adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals), nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God.”
"And such were some of you;but ye are washed..." (I Corinthians 6:9-11)
We know that wickedness and deception would abound in the last days, for the Holy Spirit forewarned us of these things (II Timothy 3:1-5), but Paul’s plea was to us, the church, the people of God. The apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, warned us not to be taken in by the subtle and intellectually enticing lies of the devil in the last days. (I Timothy 4:1)
But yet, even with these stern warnings, we see these things all around us, even in our pulpits! A blatant disregard for the Word of God, and instead, a gospel based more on public opinion and political correctness.
“Well, that’s not love, brother!” someone might say. “Didn’t Jesus tell us to be “tolerant” and to love people?” But, my friend, it is always “love” to tell someone the truth; to warn them of impending destruction and eternal judgment is an act of love, especially if you are a preacher! It is never an act of love to hold back the truth because you think someone might get angry with you! In fact, that is incomprehensibly selfish, and will bring God’s judgment upon you! (Ezekiel 33:6, I Corinthians 9:16) In Jesus’ parable of the rich man that died and went to hell, even this wicked man had a burning desire to warn his family of that terrible place (Luke 16:27-28).
Jesus Christ has delivered us from every kind of sin and perversion. “Well, I was born that way!” Yes, there probably is no doubt that you were, as we were all born with certain weaknesses and sins in our flesh as a result of the fall (Genesis 3:6-7, Galatians 3:10, John 9:34), and that is the reason that the Father sent Jesus to the cross, and the reason that we must be born again! (Isaiah 53:4-5, I John 3:5-8) If we are born-again we have inherited new DNA! Spiritual DNA trumps natural DNA, and we are new creatures in Christ Jesus! (II Corinthians 5:17) Praise God, that I am no longer a drunkard, a fornicator, an idolater or reviler! Such was I, but I am no longer! (I Corinthians 6:11)
The gospel is all about freedom, my friend, and choices. Through Jesus Christ, Satan has been defeated, and we are once again given a choice. God sent His Son in order to destroy Satan’s power and bring deliverance to the captive; to set at liberty them that are crushed (Luke 4:18), and to give us newness of life (Romans 6:4).
Let us be sober in these days, and understand that the road to life is oftentimes difficult and always narrow, and sometimes we must make difficult choices. Jesus commanded us to “take up our cross” and follow Him (Matthew 16:24), and that “through much tribulation” we must enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). The scripture also says that “we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:14)
In the book of Revelation, Jesus warned the New Testament churches about many of these things. He was tough and demanding, and required repentance from lukewarmness, half-heartedness, and from “tolerance” of false doctrine and fornication. (Revelation 2:1-29, 3:1-22)
Our God has not changed, only the “times” have changed. The world has gotten progressively more perverse, just as God said it would, but let us hold forth the faithful Word as we have been taught, and continue with patience to run the race that has been set before us! (Hebrews 12:1)
