At the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, there was only one family that was removed before the destruction of the cities of the plains.
At the time of Noah, there was only one family that was protected from the wrath of God when He destroyed the people of the world.
There are many people who say they are Christians but who reject the word of God, claiming they are Bible believers. They follow the traditions of men in their culture and negate and minimize God's Word. Many are not members of our family in Christ but would assert they are. With discernment, we may be able to see who is who, but not perfectly.
This is why it is so important to ask questions and assert Scripture, their responses to our openness will be clues about them. We judge those in the church as the Bible commands so that we know who to avoid and who to become friends with.
Ungodly people who say they are Christians but act in cloddish worldly ways will undermine our own walk if we spend too much time with them.
Matthew 7:21-23 "I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
In a situation like this, in which we cannot always know who is saved and who is not, we must exercise the principles of God. When a person who claims to be a believer will not listen to the truth, while they defend their cultural standards, they cannot be close friends with us.
We are not here to change anyone else; we are here to learn for ourselves what righteousness looks like and follow after that. If others do not share our conviction to obey the word, they cannot walk with us.
One of the greatest delights of authentically born-again believers is the love of discussing the Scriptures. Even when we disagree, we love to share passages that would help us come to a closer agreement. It takes humility and kindness to discuss a disagreement. When arrogance and pride are involved, nothing gets resolved.
When we discover we cannot rationally and reasonably discuss important Biblical matters with someone without their anger emerging is the time to minimize contact with those who are not rational and reasonable, those who see winning as the objective rather than growing closer in the relationship.
God said our primary goal of meeting together as brothers and sisters is to edify one another in the word so that everyone grows.
What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.
We do not attend the gathering to be solitary alone with God; we can do that at home. We gather to build up one another in the faith through sharing of psalms, hymns, speaking, sharing, and considering the needs of others in the group. We meet together to help one another grow spiritually and emotionally into mature witnesses for Christ.
Ephesians 5:19 "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,"
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."
Each one of us as believers in Christ must be dedicated to using our gift, not under the direction of any other person, but rather under Christ, His Holy Spirit. Anyone who discourages this must be admonished and removed if they will not listen.
