There is a massive deception in the body of Christ which has followed it from the first days of the church. That deception is based around justifying that a person who has asked Jesus in to their heart and live life as if they can willingly sin. They reason Jesus died for sin.
Yet Paul warns the Corinthians that those who practice sin will not be saved on that final day they cross over to eternity. He had good reason to speak about this to the church at Corinth; for in their church many of its members were living inappropriately and had no fear of God's judgment.
No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.. 1 Corinthians 6:8-10 (NKJV)
It is common to find church people who think their Sunday morning walk through the doors of the church and a few dollar as a tithe is enough sincerity to have God accept them.
We must ask how a little sincerity can be measured against complete sincerity? Also, why would God accept partial commitment to sincerity?
In complete sincerity, God gave His only Son. Jesus sincerity to His mission saves from sin. Is not the missing component, complete sincerity on the part of those He saves?
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:11-12 (NKJV)
The famous verse John 3:16 states, "all who believe in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life." However, the meaning of the word believe has great depth.
The Greek word translated to the English word, “believes,” has to have action to fulfill the belief. It far surpasses only knowing Jesus saves; it is a belief which causes a conviction and conviction causes a person to change the way they live. This is why the Apostle James wrote that you can say you have faith, but “Faith without works is death.”
A person who truly, "sincerely," believes will look into the truths of God for forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration from sin. The way they used to live will be gone and a life of purposeful living will result.
Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 1 Corinthians 6:13-15 (NKJV)
Because of the preaching of forgiveness of sin by the work of Christ on the cross, many Corinthians thought they could commit any sin and be forgiven. They were told "all sin" represents past, present, and future; and all sin would be forgiven by God. Therefore, they grasped the logic they can do what they want an never be accountable for it.
For instance, if a city allows brothels and they are legal by city ordinances, it may be lawful to have relations with harlots; but to God it is fornication and Christians are not to give their bodies to others. Sleeping with harlots shows no sincerity to repentance of sin.
Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:16-18 (NKJV)
Intimacy was created for a man and a woman to share as a commitment to each other. It was not designed to be a momentary fulfillment of lust; but a union of holy sincerity before God.
Intimacy effect a person emotionally and changes them spiritually. When intimacy is carelessly shared with others, the commitment to sincere love and respect for God is tarnished. Thus a person feels cheapened, unclean, and less committed.
In God's example to us; He has committed to us sincerity with His whole heart. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. From the hour in which we believe, God has committed eternal sincerity.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
The purpose for the forgiveness of sin is to unite us to God. The same sincere commitment in marriage is the commitment God expects from His own children. God wants singleness of heart and not for us to join ourselves to the ways of the world or forsake holiness to fulfill the lusts of our bodies.
Jesus told a story about son's request to receive his inheritance early from His father, the king. The father allow the son the inheritance and the son left the father to spend the money unwisely.
Jesus noted in the story, the father did not run after the son to rescue him form squalor; however, when the son returned ashamed, broken, and repentant, the father joyously accepted him back.
The boy's actions, to do as he pleased, put distance between he and his father. What the father gave to his son was only a small portion of the inheritance due to him. If the boy was never to return or to die away from the father, he would have never seen his true inheritance.
Those who chase after sin, sinners, and sinful ways, do so walking away from the truth of God. God's arms are ever open waiting for His chosen to return; however, it is up to them. God waits for sincerity.
