Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the craving of sinful mankind, the lust of the eyes, and the boasting of what we say or do—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
I have heard it said before. What is the will of God in my life. What does God want me to be? What does God want me to do? Where does God want me to go? Scripture records that and it is very wise of us to let these words sink down into our ears.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; (1 Thess 4:3-5)
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. (1 Peter 2:15-16)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:16-18)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
John speaks about **The cravings of sinful mankind.** Scripture tells us we were brought forth in iniquity and in sin we were concieved. That is all of us were born with a sinful nature , inherited from the representatives of all the human race. Adam and Eve. Who failed to believe and thus obey God. But instead believed the lie of the serpent, the dragon, the devil of old, Satan. The adversary of everything that is contrary to and in opposition to the One True, Holy, and Righteous God.
All of us have that prospensity toward sin. For there is no one righteous, no not one. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus Himself said we are evil. (Matt 7:11; Luke 11:13) that we were slaves to sin and free from the control of righteousness. (Romans 6:20-23) Sin was our master. We obeyed it's commands coursing thru every fiber of our being. For we are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. We were born that way. And we desire to satisfy those inherited sinful desires.
The Apostle Paul expounds on those cravings in Gal. 5:19-21 "Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, (any sexual activity outside the bond of marriage between a man and a woman) impurity (contamination, polluted, foul, filthy), sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery (The use of witchcraft, incantations, and drugs in calling up familiar spirits: The New Testament uses the word Pharmakeia, from which our english word pharmacy is derived) hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions (that promote heresies), envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21)
The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1 "To God's chosen people, exiles scattered through out various provinces of the day "with minds that are alert and fully sober,(self controlled) set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
You have been set apart brought from darkness to the light of the world. You are not your own. You were bought with a price. The precious blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Cort 6:20)
We have been called out from this present evil age to let our light so shine, that the world can see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. Paul added, "preach the word." Have genuine concern for the lost, knowing the severity of their fate without the one mediator; the way, truth and life; the only name by which anyone can be brought from darkness to life and from death to life. Remember one plants, one waters but God gives the increase.
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. (1 Cor 6:9-10)
But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 5-7)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Not one will stand before the judgement seat and claim God did not give them enough proof of His existence. All of creation says there is a creator. It is not a result of some accidental chance happening. God created for His glory and purposes. But mankind decided they wanted to be like God and so all creation was subjected to futility. Cast out of the paradise of Eden away from the God who brought them into existence.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
No one gets away with anything. God is all knowing. God is all seeing. The book of life will be opened. Those written in the book will hear, "well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the lord." But those who loved the things of this world.....those who do not believe...
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 fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers (gossips), backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:18-32)
The world is so consumed by its own fallenness it can not see how utterly corrupt and condemned they are. All they comprehend is the here and now. They want as much as they can get. Eat, drink and be merry, they say for tomorrow we die. No God means no consequences to their actions. Death is the end all. Nothing comes after we take our last breath.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:1-5)
Scripture says everyone will give an account of what they did in this life. But it is not what you do that counts, no number of good works can justify entrance into God's kingdom. For all are tainted, polluted by sin.
The only way you can escape condemnation at the judgement seat is through the one mediator between God and all the human race, Jesus the Christ. Nothing else will do. Jesus Himself said, "without me you can do nothing." That is nothing anyone can do that is of intrinsic value to gain entrance into the Kingdom of God. For all our righteous acts are as filthy rags. (Is. 64:6)
So in these few verses we see that God wants us to abstain from sexual immortality. Just the opposite of what this world is telling you to do. It is not easy. The Christian walk is a disciplined one. The world will temp and tease. Entice and ridicule. And think it strange of you not to satisfy the lust of the flesh. Remember this example from Scripture. Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked forward to the reward. (Heb. 12)
God wants us to do good. That they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Peter said sanctify (set apart; consecrate; purify) the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15)
God's chosen people in Jesus Christ have hope that one day they will be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Which Paul said, is far better. God's people look forward to the New Heavens and New earth where righteousness dwells.
But he who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; 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 and 22)
But he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still....And for those who have trusted in the only name under heaven by which anyone can be saved there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. ”
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