Ephesians 5:5-6 “For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
Pastor Herk continues that there are a couple interesting aspects in verse five (above). The Apostle uses the present-tense word “has” rather than the future-tense phase “will" not have. The fallen natural man, having a sexually immoral or impure or greedy nature and lifestyle of darkness, will not have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God, because the sin and their condemnation remains. Jesus said in John 8:23-24, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14 “For He [God] has rescued us [those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents] from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son [Jesus Christ] he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The kingdom of the Son and the kingdom of Christ is not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom, so properly “of the royal power and reign of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah”. The word “kingdom” is the conjunction of two words “king’s” and “domain”. This world is Jesus Christ’s [the Son of God's] domain, the Messiah’s reign, for Jesus [the Lord of lords] is our Divine king who conquered sin and death; the Savior of the world and the head of the human family.
Revelation 20:10 tells us, “the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Since we know that Satan, the evil one, is not going to have any place in the future kingdom of God in Heaven, "in the kingdom of Christ" here refers to the current kingdom which is the sphere of influence and dominion of the Messiah and God on this earth, right here and now. The fallen natural man’s immoral desires of the flesh loves their darkness and will leap into sin headfirst. Because of sin and unbelief; they reject God’s offer of salvation through Christ, and forfeits their right to participate in the kingdom of Christ today and eternally in Heaven thereafter. They fail to receive the abundant life to the full that Jesus promised to His born-again, believing followers; the content, joyful and satisfied flock of the Good Shepherd.
The kingdom of God is the future home of Believers; where God resides, seated on His throne in Heaven and reigning outside of time and space throughout eternity. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery [drug abuse], hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The Apostle uses the future-tense phrase “will not inherit”.
It is clear that anyone who love the darkness of sin and unbelief, fails to repent and chooses to reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, therefore remains in their fallen sinful state and continues to live in their immoral lifestyle, therefore forfeiting their chance for redemption, forgiveness and eternal salvation from Hell and their rights to participate in the eternal kingdom of God in Heaven. Imagine that; keeping the wrath of God, accepting eternal punishment in Hell and forfeiting heaven for the fleshly, shortsighted, existential pleasures of sin for a season! By using the term “the kingdom of Christ and God”, the Apostle is emphasizing the fact that those unregenerate sinners who live an immoral lifestyle have absolutely no part or rights in the temporary kingdom on Earth or in the eternal kingdom in Heaven and with suffer the wrath of God for their sin, both temporally and eternally.
So, see that no one deceives you with vain empty words, devoid of truth, destitute of spiritual wealth, of one who boasts of his faith as a transcendent possession, yet is without the fruits of faith, with no purpose and without effect. For because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells born-again Christians, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
Let's conclude Pastor Herk's message on Believers and Unbelievers in the nest post.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment