Those Christians who don't believe that we are in the end times full of debauchery and rebellion, may not be seeing the signs because they are focused continually on their personal pleasure.
When I write a post speaking against divorce and remarriage because half of the couples in the United States are indulging in it in spite of the fact that it is condemned by God and people come to fight, we have a clue as to the rebellion in the hearts of people.
Believers will fight bitterly, using manipulative name calling to demean those who speak against sin, in a battle to defend that which God calls violence.
Malachi 2:16 "For the LORD, the God of Israel, says that he hates putting away: For one covers violence with his garment, says the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously."
Many believers who will not divorce and remarry themselves will defend those who do. They become rabid with hate and anger at the suggestion that divorce and remarriage is a sin against God, coming up with every reason possible to endorse, accept and embrace that which God condemns. They will even defend the remarriages as legitimate marriages when Christ called it adultery.
Luke 16:28 ""Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery." (An ongoing state of adultery as long as the person remains with the second spouse.)
How many of you have lost friends because you stood against an adulterous marriage? How many believers live with the reproach of close family members, even church members who find our allegiance to God's word offensive?
I suggest that in these last days all our stands for righteousness will be met with anger and hate. Those who are sold out to obedience to God's Word, not out of legalism, but out of a deep love for our Savior, will be continually barraged with contempt from those who love their sin while loving their friends and family more than God. They would rather lose the fellowship of God to maintain the praise of men.
John 12:40-43
“He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”
41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the [d]approval of God."
Notice verse 42 "the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;"
Those who know in their heart the evil and violence of divorce and remarriage but say and do nothing are walking as the Pharisees did, fear of man rather than fear of God.
John 5:39-47
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men;
42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.
43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Many people will claim to know and follow the Bible, but at close inspection of their attitudes and lives, we see that their claims are only words, dead words that mean nothing.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
Our life, the way we operate on a daily basis, the things we speak boldly about and obey is the evidence of what and who we are, not words.
Anyone who defends sin is one who lies when he says he believes the Bible. If we believe in the bible as the inspired Word of God and the Holy Spirit as our teacher, then our lives will reflect that in how we respond to correction and each of the situations of life. When we regularly embrace sin by tolerating it in our acquaintances, then we have lied when we say we love God's Word.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
John 14:26 ""But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
If we do not hear the Holy Spirit, if He has become silent, it is because we walk in rebellion.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-2
19 Quench (silence) not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings (expounding on the word, not future telling).
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
Ephesians 4:30 "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
When someone corrects us with the Word of God, our response will expose a lot about us. When someone is defensive and argumentative, chances are good that we have met with a rebellious heart. It doesn't matter how often they attend church, whether they do good works all day long or the things they say, if they continually rebel against the principles of God, then their words lie and their actions of deed doing are fleshly.
No true believer will fight and argue with us when they are confronted with their sin, they will become ashamed. Those who have sinned and are repentant will go to God in prayer to confess and reconcile, not only with God but with us also.
May many believers take this matter of obedience to God's Word to heart. Realizing that Words have little power but God blesses those who love His Word so much so that they are grieved when they have violated it.
