|
When we hear the word adultery, our minds immediately
register sin. And so it should, for adultery is sin – a transgression of God’s
law (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). Today we live in a time when physical adultery is
accepted almost without question by the majority. Some in the Lord’s Church are
openly living in adultery! We have not taught fully nor correctly on this
subject in many congregations nor in our homes. There are some who “Do not want
to offend anyone.” So they do not teach on it at all. This is to our shame. For
God teaches that those who die in an adulterous state will be lost! (Galatians
5: 19-21; Revelations 22:15; 1 Cor. 6:9,10).
From a human standpoint, one might understand the non-Christian committing
adultery; and possibly an “unlearned” new convert doing so. But for one that
knows the truth and the consequences of living and dying in that condition, it
is impossible to understand.
However, there is another kind of adultery, which we do not take seriously
enough in our teaching. And that is spiritual adultery. But the consequences of
an unrepentant spiritual adulterer, carries the same consequences as physical
adultery.
Ancient Israel committed spiritual adultery in forsaking the Lord God of Heaven,
who had taken them for His own. We need only to read the books of Jeremiah and
Ezekiel to determine their fallen condition.
Someone may ask, “What is spiritual adultery?” and “How may we commit the same
today?” Once a person has been baptized for remission of sins and added to the
Lord’s Church, we become His Bride (Revelations 21:2; 22:17). Then when one
follows after religious error; doctrines of men, perversions of the scriptures
and leaves the church of the Lord, that person commits spiritual adultery!
Sometimes this is done through ignorance. A lack of knowledge and proper
understanding of the scriptures can cause a person to become weak. It is at that
point that Satan walks in and leads us astray. Over and over, we as Christians
are admonished to study and know the truth (2 Tim. 2:15,16). We are to, “Study
to show thyself approved unto God”, “Rightly dividing the Word of truth.” In 2
Timothy 1:13,14, we are admonished to “HOLD fast the form of sound words, which
thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good
things which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in
us.” …And while each of us has the obligation to know the Truth, we must also be
able to teach it to others. And while teaching the Truth in its purity, we must
admonish others to hold on to the Truth lest someone lead us astray by a
perverted gospel.
The apostle Paul also warns us in 1 Timothy 4:1-11 that in later times some
would depart from the faith. Timothy is told to put the brethren in remembrance
of the things which were taught of God. Verse 11 says, “These things command and
teach.” Our ignorance of these will not stand in the day of judgment! (Matthew
25:31-46.)
Today, there are Christians being drawn into error by smooth talking teachers
and preachers. Others are being drawn into groups who openly pervert the
scriptures because of a lack of wanting to be as “narrow as the scriptures.” So,
we not only teach the Truth, but be aware of false prophets who would pervert
the flock. And you sure cannot tell them by their looks! This needs to
especially emphasized to the college age young people. They are among the most
vulnerable; away from home. Lonely, sometimes not fully grounded in the Word and
sought by the perverters of the Word!
TID-BITS OF SOLOMON’S WITS
“As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair
woman which is without discretion.” (Prov. 11:22)
“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (Prov.
4:27) |
The
church of Christ
