11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
Peter here is calling them “aliens” as he did in the beginning of his letter, intending to bring into focus their citizenship in heaven and that they are not of this world. Peter wants them to know that if they are to be a holy people of God they must begin their Christian journey by abstaining from fleshly lusts, because that behavior will give them trouble in the spiritual life. In fact, it will bring them back to the darkness of their previous life and put them at war against their new life with Christ. Therefore, the Christian is to “abstain” from (or retreat from) fleshly lusts (animal desires) so that he may continue a life of Christian joy and peace and love and all that the Holy Spirit brings into the soul.
We have heard over and over again that the shooting was because of “political differences.” But I would rather say that it was due to hatred against God and His truth. And I think that it was mainly from a strong bitterness that was built up against what Charlie Kirk was saying against Robinson’s moral beliefs and against his romantic relationship with his roommate who was transgender (who was transitioning from being a man to a woman).
I have a feeling that that relationship, and what Kirk said about it, took him to a very dark place by which he felt compelled to act against Kirk. I can imagine that Robinson was hurt deeply by what Kirk said, and possibly was moved with revenge and rage by demons.
We know from the bible that immorality, especially homosexuality and other perversions, will produce in the heart wickedness (Gen. 6:5), degrading passions and a depraved mind (Rom. 1:25-29). In the end, these who do these things are filled with all kinds of unrighteousness, including “murder” (Rom. 1:29).
We will be absolutely holy and sinless. That concept is very appealing to me, and I suppose to all of us who struggle with sin and have a longing to be free of it. Romans 6 has much to say about sin and how we sometimes find ourselves becoming slaves to sin; then also about how we may be free from sin and slaves of righteousness and live in sanctification.
Well, after we die, or after we are raptured, our struggle is over. We will receive absolute victory over sin—because God will give us a brand-new body without sin. Let’s look at two different verses and see what they say.
Philippians 3:20-21
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
The part we want to examine here is that He, the Lord Jesus Christ, will transform our old natural body into a body like His own glorious body. A body without sin.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
In this group of verses we have come in the middle of a discussion about resurrection and what our resurrection body will be like. In verses 36-38, Paul compares our dead body and our resurrection body to a dead seed that sprouts new life. Just as a dead seed sprouts new life, God gives new life to the body of a believer who dies. It will be a body just like the old one, but will be a new resurrection body.
In verses 42-44 Paul tells us how the new body is different from the old one. The body we have now is perishable—we get old, sick, and eventually die. But our new body will be imperishable—it will never get sick or diseased; and it will never die. Our present body is dishonorable—because of the way we have treated it; we have sinned against it. Bur resurrection body is a body of glory and honor. Thirdly, our present body is weak and frail and subject to temptation and sickness. But out new body will be strong and powerful. This old body is a natural body, but our new resurrection body will be a spiritual body, that is, a supernatural body having no natural limits.
In Revelation 21:8, 27 and 22:15 we are given a description of people who won’t be allowed into heaven. Combining these verses together, we come up with people who are unclean, cowardly, abominable, liars, murderers, idolaters and sorcerers. And as Revelation 21:27 infers, these people’s names will not be written in the Lamb’s book of life.
So here we see the great contrast. All those who are excluded from heaven (and are not written in the book of life) have remained in their sins—because they have rejected God’s salvation; hence their sins remain with them forever. But those who are saved, they have been forgiven of all sins and cleansed by His blood.
Now I want to take a little time trying to describe what being holy and sinless will be like in heaven. But that’s going to be very hard, because none of us has experienced it. We have always been sinful. I suppose the best we can do is try remembering when we have been less sinful.What it was like. Okay, I’ll try. Way back when I attended an all-day Christian conference (this was when I was about twenty-five years old), I remember being so uplifted by all the excellent bible teachers; and even more, by speaking to so many smiling, fellow believers about all their wonderful Christian adventures. That entire day was like experiencing heaven on earth. Sin was the last thing on my mind.
Attending church hasn’t always been pleasant for me. Some churches I have attended were nothing but a drag. But the church I am attending now is so blessed. I enjoy the fellowship with so many fellow believers, and I so look forward to singing the hymns and courses and all the worship.
Putting these two things together, I would say that when I have been in Christian fellowship and surrounded by good bible teaching and the worship of God, my sin is at a low point—and that is why I feel so uplifted.
I’m thinking that being holy and sinless in heaven for eternity will be at least a thousand times better than at any low point of sin on this earth. It will be so glorious. We will be surrounded by believers and the fellowship will be wonderful. Awe! Breathing the fresh clean air will be so good. And feeling the heavenly light on our faces will be blessed. We will walk in His light forever and enjoy His wonderful fellowship—never thinking about sinful temptation ever again.
I can’t believe that the media are pushing the Pride events so hard. And they seem so happy about it—that we are giving all the queer people a happy place to go, and be who they are. They announced that this whole month (in Minnesota I guess) is dedicated to Pride people (homosexuals) and that there are over 600 places for them to go. (But in the end they won’t be allowed in Heaven). I wish the church would say something—because the entire movement of pride is evil! And we ought to give them the message of truth—that God hates what they are doing, and He sees it as wicked and a rebellion against Him. (Have you noticed lately how the Pride rainbow colors are displayed everywhere?)
In the ancient world God destroyed all people except Noah because of their wickedness. Then again in Abraham’s day He destroyed two entire cities, all but Lot and his children for their wickedness. They were Pride people too! God was grieved because of them (Gen 18:20). And I hope we as Christians are grieved too.
This sin it seems is not going away. It is multiplying! (their colors are everywhere.) Just as the whole world was infected in Genesis 6, and just as two entire cities were infected, don’t you know that the same thing is happening now. Soon Jesus will come and remove all His people (the Rapture) and He will bring seven years of His wrath on the world. Then one-thousand years later, even when Satan and the demons are locked up, the world again (at least much of the world) will be rebellious against God. This time the entire world and all this universe will be destroyed by fire. Read it in 2 Peter 3:10-12. It is also mentioned in Revelation 20:11, “The earth and heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.” It sounds like God just makes the earth and the heavens disappear. In 2 Peter it reads more like a great explosion by great heat where the elements (the atoms) melt away. Finally, all evil will be gone! And God will make all things new— “A new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). I don’t see any idea of a renovation—as most people teach.
This is the message that we ought to be preaching to the world. That all their rebellious pride will not last. It will soon be gone—destroyed. And if they want to see and be a part of the beautiful new earth they must leave behind their sin and rebellion against God, because nothing of the way they are, nothing impure will be allowed to enter heaven (Rev. 21:8, 27).
I don’t know why, but I have never thought of lying as a really bad sin—such as murder or adultery. I remember when I was little and told a lie; I really didn’t think it was that bad or that anyone would be hurt by it. I couldn’t understand why my mom and dad thought it was so bad and why they told me that I should never tell a lie.
Well, as the years went by, I grew to understand why it was bad and how you can really get yourself into trouble over it. Yet some people never get that understanding. They still say, what’s the harm in a little white lie? I have heard people say that lying is just part of life; everybody does it.
In my study of heaven, in three different verses where God is describing the glory and holiness of heaven, it also emphasized who would not be allowed in heaven—those sinners who would end up in hell. Here are those verses:
Revelation 21:8
8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:27
27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:15
15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
Notice that in each of the verses, those who are liars are on the list (bold for emphasis). Hence, those who practice lying will definitely be disqualified from heaven. I know lying is bad, but I found myself still wondering why it made this list. Why would lying disqualify one from heaven? Here are a few ideas I came up with—reasons why lying is so bad:
It is deceptive and seeks to deceive others.
It is against truth and righteousness—which is what heaven is.
Lying is the beginning of corruption and the basis of it.
Lying is a political sin: it seeks to win self and makes self look good. It will take down and corrupt a whole nation.
It begins in the life of a child and if not corrected will form the life and corrupt that entire life.
It is of the devil. He is the greatest liar, and like the devil will pervert the whole life and the life of many others.
It cannot be allowed in heaven or else all of heaven with its truth would be corrupted. For this reason, liars must be kept in hell forever.
Who are the liars?
They must be found out and stopped. The courts must try to reveal them. It is so important for a continuing and lasting society. I would say that it is important to find and cut off lying in one’s own life as well as in the leadership of cities and countries. But it must start in my life. If we can’t recognize it in our life, how can we see it in others. Judges must esp. be able to see and stop it—and to punish it severely. It must be seen as a terrible evil.
I sometimes wonder how some people can be so insensitive to sin, without a bit of guilt or remorse. I’m thinking about those who do sin for a living and think nothing of it. They seem to thrive in it, and the gospel has no effect on them.
I’ve been reading The Gospel According to Jesus, by John MacArthur. He has some very good incites on the parable of the soils from Matthew 13:3-9.
And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 “And others fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 “But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 “And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 “And others fell on the good soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 “He who has ears, let him hear.”
First we need to explain that the seed represents the Word of God and the gospel; the sower is one who presents the gospel to the unbeliever; the soil is the human heart—or the people; and the birds that ate the seed is Satan.
The purpose of sowing the seed is to build the kingdom of God—to save souls for His kingdom. In the parable, Jesus describes four kinds of soils (or four kinds of people) that the seed falls on. The first three described (vs. 4-7) is soil that is not prepared correctly for the seed of the gospel to germinate. These people will not be saved. Only the fourth kind of soil—good, fertile soil—will respond to the gospel and be saved.
In this blog we will focus on the first soil mentioned (v. 4). The sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some of the seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
This first soil is soil that is hard-packed. It is soil that is on a path that has been packed down by people constantly walking on it. The seed that lands on this path, as you can imagine, has no chance of taking root. The hard-packed soil represents people with a hard heart. Like the hard-packed soil, their heart is hard. It has been hardened by repeated sin and abuse. The Old Testament called these people “stiff-necked.” Their repeated sins and rebellion against God has made them what they are: unresponsive to the gospel (and the Word of God), unconcerned, indifferent, even hostile to the gospel. These are definitely unsaved people; because a believer will commit sins and even be rebellious, but he will not stay that way. The Holy Spirit will cause him to repent and he will be delivered.
Hence, this parable is directed to unsaved people. They need a heart change. The soil of their heart needs conditioning. The hard-hearted person has no chance of being saved unless his heart is softened. How?
By prayer and by the Word of God and by love from a kind friend.
It is a sad thing to see this person; they have no understanding of the gospel and no sorrow over their sin, because the devil has plucked all the seeds of the gospel away. They seem to be so oblivious to sin, to living a sinful life. These are the ones who march for Pride month; these are the ones who fight for abortion rights; these are the ones who sell themselves to pornography and also the ones who love viewing it; these are the ones who have no understanding of the truth and the Word of God and will call Christians and conservatives extremists. They fight for global government and for the climate change movement. Most of them will not repent and be saved. Much prayer is needed for the few who will be saved.
I have been somewhat surprised to hear of the support of trans-people lately, and generally all the LGBTQ people. Of course, since I am a bible believing Christian, I have a different perspective on it. All this kind of behavior is forbidden in the bible. In all of Paul’s teachings, sexual relations outside of marriage (of a man and a woman) is considered immoral. And in Romans chapter one, Paul explains how when a person rejects God and is not thankful to God, his heart is darkened and he will dishonor his own body and will do things that are not natural; and they will burn in their lust for one another—a man for a man and a woman for a woman. And God will give them over to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1:21-28).
No person is born a homosexual. They may have an inclination toward it (because of the sin nature), but they still have a choice to do what is right according to the bible, the word of God. We have seen in the history of the world and of nations how that when people have turned away from God and have slidden into all kinds of sexual perversion, that there is an implosion. This happened in Rome, as well as in Greece, Egypt and Babylon. Their immorality destroyed them.
We have seen also, in two cases, how when people became so sinful—particularly in homosexuality—that God Himself had to step in to destroy them. The first case, as you know, was with the great flood. Their sin was so bad that God decided to start over with only Noah and his family. In Genesis 6:5 we read, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Then a few hundred years later a similar thing happened in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 18: 20 the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.”
In chapter nineteen is a story of the kind of homosexual wickedness that was in Sodom. Terrible! In verses 24 through 28 is recorded what happened.
Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord; 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.
All homosexuality and what they call LGBTQ is entirely sinful and against God. It is dishonoring to the body and a total rejection of God and His creation. And this transgender movement is horrible—trying to change the way God made them. It is also dishonoring to God and to ourselves. These people have lost their way and are sick. They need help—to accept the way God made them. They in no way need to be encouraged to change themselves. This movement is entirely evil.
Stephen Nielsen 