Mean People Telling The Truth

"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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 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. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)Paul the Apostle. Many today would say how mean or intolerant of him to speak this way. Well, it was written about two thousand years ago by a man who was destined for great things in his religion of Judaism. ^"14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.( Galatians 1) "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.( Philippians 3) It was the God he thought he served. The God he so zealously fought for...." I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it"...Dod had other plans. " ¹⁵ But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, ¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles." Here he was, destined, he thought, to rise in the ranks of the Jewish religious leaders. Stopped in His tracks by the very one he was persecuting. "As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(Acts 9) Some scholars think Paul had a complete rhetorial education, which would mean that he had attained the highest level of education possible for a person living in the Greco-Roman world. Reading his letters in the New Testament reveals an intelligent, creative, diligent and persuasive individual. A man who cared deeply for those who did not believe what he knew was the truth. You can see his passion for the lost in acts 26, when standing before King Agrippa the King said to him “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”²⁹ And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” He longed that the pagan King had knowledge and faith in the One True God. And though persecuted by his own people, the Jews, in Romans 9 stated " I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen." Accursed from Christ for his people the Israelites. That's love. That's laying down your life more than I think any of us would care to admit we would do for our friends let alone our enemies. And yet this in itself is Christ like. Paul said "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Sounds arrogant. But Paul talked the talk and walked the walk. It is what Jesus did for the world. Laid down His life, to rise again from the dead proving He was who He said He was. The One "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53) Paul realized it was absolutely essential to confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. That there was/ is no other way to inherit the Kingdom of God. No other way when you die to go to heaven. Jesus is truly the Blessed hope. The only hope of eternal life. Without Him you are guilty, an enemy of God, condemned for an eternity. Jesus own words make that very plain “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."(John 5:24) The world cries out, 'That isn't fair! What about all the good people doing good works for their fellow man." Well, it is good to help others, to contribute to clothe and feed the poor. To care for the elderly and sick. The widows and orphans. But this of and by itself does not warrant an entrance into heaven. For all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. In the sight of God there is no one righteousness. No not one. Jesus Christ is the only way, truth and life. He is the bread of life, that came down from heaven that gives life. He is the only doorway by which anyone can enter into heaven. He is the Word who was in the beginning with God and was God. The Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Truth is God doesn't owe us anything because he has given us everything. Life, breath all things come from Him. And yet He saw to it in eternity past, before the foundation of the world, before man took his first steps into sin, to provide a saviour. His one and only Son, who He sent from heaven that through Him we might have eternal life. Why? Because God so loved the world. It's not that we loved Him but He loved us and is not willing that any should perish. But that all would come to repentance. But one must know that they have transgressed God's commands. That they have broken His law. That they are indeed a sinner and separated from God. That God will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He has ordained. He proved it, by raising Him from the dead. Paul again in Acts 17, witnessing to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers reasoning with them among their own idols. He was laughed at, shouted down, chased by his own people, the Jews, in his missionary journeys. Beaten, whipped, thrown in jail and eventually beheaded in Rome under Nero. Yet Paul desired to obey, because he was amazed everyday, by the grace of God who saved the chief of sinners. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." He did not compromise what he knew was truth. The truth is still the same truth. This is a present evil age. People of the world are blinded by the god of this age. They are dead in their trespasses and sins, following the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air and are by nature children of Gods wrath. That is what most of the world would say is mean and unfair. If you think Paul's words I quoted in the beginning of this are unfair, listen to the Lord Jesus Himself. “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”(Mark 7:20-23 ) Both Jesus and Paul said this for a reason. To show you your need for a saviour. And all the Apostles stressed that if Christ Jesus is indeed in you you will desire to live a new and holy life. Living with a partner, practicing sexual acts outside the marriage vows goes against the behavior God desires of human beings. Homosexual acts-passive or active-an abomination to God and will bring His wrath upon those who partake. Gossiping, drunkeness, stealing, coveting all sin in the sight of a Holy God. Practices Gods people will pray they can be rid of and act according to His will to be holy because He is holy. Many paths to God? One Way to the only God. Through Jesus Christ His Son. The Way, the Truth and the Life. There are many today accepting of alternative lifestyles, homosexual marriage, sex outside marriage abounds, adultry a common occurance. I fear for those blinded by the god of this age, who believe it's mean or in tolerant to speak aganist these things. Truth is I fear for these people. For one day they will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. "The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”(Rev 21) Mean, intolerant to tell you these things? They did it...I do it as a warning in love. John Newton's dying words were "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things — that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour." I know this is true. That's why I write these things to you. If you don't believe pray to God. "Have mercy on me a sinner." Ask Him to show you His truth. To open the scriptures. Be sincere. For God gives grace to the humble. But he resists the proud. You might call me mean for saying that. So then I'm a mean person in good company with Paul and Jesus Christ....Telling You The Truth.