14/03/2017 - PUNISHMENT FOR DISHONOR

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And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 1 Corinthians 5:2

The gifts of the Holy Spirit abounded in the church at Corinth.  However the Corinthian members did not act wisely when handling the situation of a man who dishonored and disrespected his father’s bed.  Due to this, the Gospel was ridiculed by the lost that were not yet saved.  Unfortunately today we have reports of people who also bear terrible witness.  This is why many of the lost do not come to our church services and learn the Word of the Lord.

There are those who are saved that are drawn by worldly subject matters and accept what the Word does not.  They behave like fools as if the Almighty did not know what was good for us when he prohibited certain things as registered in the Scriptures.  Alas, everything that the Omniscient forbids should never even be mentioned by the children of God, much less practiced.  Who does not observe biblical precepts reveals no knowledge of the Lord.  The unfaithful will be condemned on Christ’s return.

When the Christian agrees to the practices proscribed by the Word and puffs up in his carnal understanding, he certainly is one step from perdition.  Remember that Jesus said that only those who persevere to the end will be saved.  It is to no avail for a believer to serve the Lord in sanctity his entire life if he later lends ear to sin and is lost to eternity. (Ezekiel 18:24)

The apostle Paul censured and reprimanded the brothers of the church of Corinth for being condescending with the man who abused his own father’s wife.  This man should have received a serious scolding and been removed  from among them, but the elders did nothing.  Therefore the apostle assumed the authority of a minister of God and rendered that sinner to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that the spirit be saved on the Day of Christ (1 Corinthians 5:3,5 ).

Let us examine the example of Jacob in the case of his first born, who came upon his bed.  Although many years had already gone by since Reuben had dishonored him by lying with Bilhah, Raquel’s servant and his concubine, Jacob was merciless with the disrespectful first born when dispensing blessings among his sons.  Don’t fool with sin because this story shows what will happen to those who promote scandal.

Jacob’s declaration makes our hearts bleed.  “Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it— He went up to my couch ( Genesis 49: 3,4 ).  Reuben saw that the adventure with Bilhah was certainly not worth it since he lost excellence in position and power.

That this may be an example to those who even having reached the privilege of being members of the Body of Christ, fall into adultery and various other sins.  The day will come when our works will be manifested.  Imagine Reuben’s face when hearing he had lost out to being the most excellent.  Be careful not to hear the same about you from the lips of the Lord.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares