Bible Blog Post for Matthew Karwon Wednesday June 16th

June 16
1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Acts 10:24-48
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 17:9-11
Written by Matthew Karwon

Proverbs 17:11
   Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

I'm a believer in "being saved by Grace." So, if we are saved by the
grace of Jesus (which we are, as Christians) why shouldn't we sin? How
do we make sense of this verse and others like this? For example:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Regarding these verses, one of our church speakers once said, and I'm paraphrasing:
"this verse is saying that these are things non-believers do."

In other words, if you're living a certain type of lifestyle, you must have
some unbelief in your heart, which lets you do the things you do.

If we receive grace and salvation by belief, then what do we receive by unbelief?

I want to be sensitive, I know there are believers out there who are struggling with things.
 I don't want to shame anyone. I don't mean to suggest that everyone who is struggling with
sin isn't a Christian. I also think that there is a difference between committing a few "small" sins

a day, like stubbing your toe and cursing, or glancing at the neighbors wife too long, 
there is a difference between that and a lifestyle of selfishness and rebellion.

 

I think that the Bible may be telling us that, if you really believe there is the Father in heaven, 

and Jesus is by His side, and they can see you, and you believe the Holy Spirit is real, and you
believe that God is all-powerful, then it is really, really hard to live a certain way. Perhaps even impossible.

Do you truly believe He is real?

Going back to the original verse: 11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

The King James Version puts it this way: 11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a
cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Not exactly a death sentence, but a warning that God will not put up with rebellion forever.