Tuesday, October 9, 2012

There is a generation... pt. 2

The second part of “There is a generation…” series comes from verse 12 of Proverbs 30 [n].

[vs 12] There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

There is little doubt to the fact that we live in a day when “every way of a man is right in his own eyes”. [n] And furthermore, we are easily justified (or pure) in our own eyes. We fail – or even refuse – to see ourselves as unclean or our righteousness (all of our works) as merely filthy rags; [n] for we are “lovers of [our] own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” [n]

America (even within the Church) is full of the works of the flesh; namely, “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” [n] These are in direct conflict with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.” [n]

As Christians, we are told to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” – BUT this does not mean to be silent or complacent, and allow sin to go unquestioned and not brought into accountability. The passage continues, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” [n]

We, no doubt, find it easier to condemn (and blame all of America’s problems on) those who promote atheism, abortion, fornication, homosexuality, and the things we see contrary to scripture, but the fact remains God has said, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” [n] “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.” [n]

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