WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
" Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
The spate of abuse and heartbreaks among God’s people is the result of the misconception of the conditions under which the love of God is appropriated. This is particularly common among married folks in the church. As part of their marital vows, they are made to commit to a life together till death and this has exposed many persons to very dangerous situations in the hands of abusive spouses . Lives have been lost as a consequence of this gross misconception of the gospel.
This is contrary to what the scriptures teaches with respect to the commitments we make to each other. Spouses are to live together as long as their living together isn't a threat to their individual safety. When a person in a marriage situation decides to jettison scriptural principles concerning the marriage covenant and embraces an alien anti- Christ ideology that threatens the life of the other spouse :under such a circumstance it won't be wise to encourage their living together ( Corinthians 7:13-15) .We are not under obligation to forgive an unrepentant christian; to do so would be a violation of the law of divine justice (2Thess3:14).
The early church operated under a very disciplined regime that did not give room for the church to be a hiding place for perpetrators of nefarious activities in society : marital infidelity was at its lowest and businesses flourished .
What is practiced in most modern churches is a far cry from standards laid by the early apostles. There is a gross misconception of the concept of grace that teaches we would be completely exempted from the consequences of our wrong actions. It teaches a relative type of righteousness,that is, right is wrong sometimes. If that is the case all, prisoners should be released from prison and the police and military disbanded for working against God's grace. This is why many churches have become what Jesus describes as a 'den of thieves' .
It is a misconception of grace to preach that there isn't any need for repentance because "God understands ". Repentance goes beyond weeping and being sorry, it is a change of heart and actions.The scriptures teaches that whatever a man sows he shall reap, Galatians 6:7-8 AMP says "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." The bible describes the lower nature in Galatians 5:19-21 AMP "Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." habitually , indulging in these activities gives Satan the advantage .
The young man involved in sexual relations with his stepmother in 1cor.5:5 received a verdict ;Paul by the Holy Ghost said "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Whenever a Christian rebels against the authority established by the Holy Ghost in the church , they fall from grace and lose the joy of the lord. When King David had an adulterous relationship with Uriah's wife :killing him in the process , God forgave David the eternal consequences of his actions but Satan gained the advantage over David's household to serve as a deterrent to others ( 2Sam.12:7-14). Also when he took a census of the congregation against God’s instructions he paid dearly for his rebellion In Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira suffered the consequences of fraud against Peter who referred to it as 'lying to the Holy Ghost '. Satan is desperately looking for rebellious Christians to devour (1Pe 5:8). He delights in it.
God's forgiveness is balanced with justice, He does not forgive the wicked and unrepentant offenders ( Matthew 12:31,32,Rom.1:29-32) sometimes He forgives them when interceding prayers are made on their behalf and in other times He doesn't because of the impact of the crime on society and the spread of the gospel(. Ezk.14:14,18,20,1John 5:16 ).
The grace of God is not a permission to propagate immorality as many preachers falsely teach but on the contrary, it is the power to reject and overcome sin Titus 2:11-12 AMP "For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world," As you read this now, receive grace to overcome temptation in Jesus name.
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