What Does The Bible Say?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

FORNICATION

 The other day I overheard a young lady ask another what  ‘fornication' meant? It is true that this word, like many, is not used much today. Perhaps because our culture has such a relaxed view of sexual relations. The idea of having sexual relations between people who are not married (fornication) is common. It is rarely frowned on and even encouraged some.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

 Colossians 3: 5-8 says... "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander and foul talk from your mouth."

 Galatians 5:19-21 says... "Now the works of the flesh are plain; fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

 Fornication is called earthly or of the flesh. Fornication is in a group of really bad sins. Fornication will keep you out of the kingdom of God. Fornication must face the wrath of God.

 These passages warn us that fornication is serious. Those who practice fornication should repent (stop). The words used are "Put to death". To put it simply, God made us as sexual beings. He intended for us to fulfill these needs in marriage. Nowhere else.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Pornography

 There are no neutral people on the subject of pornography. Some are totally repulsed by it. Others say since it is only images and not real, they see no harm in it.

What Does The Bible Say?

 Matthew 5:27-28 says... " You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

 Job 31:1-2 says... "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin? What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high?"

 Here, the Bible teaches us sin begins in the heart long before physical action is taken. We have become immoral people in our minds and imaginations. We also realize, like Job, our relationship with God is damaged when our minds are impure.

 Let's join with David and pledge: "I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cleave to me." Psalm 101:3
 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Homosexual Marriages

 Some may ask, "What about a committed, loving homosexual relationship?" Even some government authorities are granting marriage licenses for such couples.

What Does The Bible Say?

 Matthew 19:4-6 says... "He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning, made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one'? So they are no longer two but one."

 All other scripture references to marriage agree with Jesus' statement.
1. Marriage is created by God.
2. Marriage is a covenant between males and females.
3. Since sexual intimacy between people of the same sex is sinful, a Biblical marriage is impossible.

Government mandates may or may not be right. There was a time it was legal to own slaves. Today it is legal to kill an unborn baby.

 Hebrews 13:4 says... "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous."

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Lord's Supper

 There are many questions concerning the Lord's Supper. Who should eat? Should we eat the bread and drink the cup or only the bread? Should we partake weekly, monthly or yearly?

What Does The Bible Say?

 I Corinthians 11:23-29 says... "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."

 Acts 20:7 says... "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech until midnight."

1. The Lord instituted it.
2. The Lord told his disciples to eat the bread and drink the cup.
3. Paul the Apostle repeated the instruction to the church, to eat the bread
and drink the cup.
4. We eat this meal as a memorial to Jesus.
5. The Lord's Supper is an opportunity to confess our faith. "We proclaim His death."
6. We are to examine ourselves and eat this meal humbly and sincerely, never casually or arrogantly (unworthy).
7. In the Old Testament, God commanded, "Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). God's people did not quibble about which Sabbath. They kept every Sabbath.

The Church, in the Apostles' day, ate the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day...the first day of the week. Since every week has a first day, we eat the Lord's Supper every Sunday.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

How Many Churches-

 Every time there is a census there are more churches named. Several years ago the number was over 5,000. These churches differed from one another in name and doctrine. Some welcome this diversity. 

What Does The Bible Say?

 Matthew 16:18 says... "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it."
 John 17:20-23 says... "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me."
 I Corinthians 1:10 says... "I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."

 In these passages we learn:
1. Jesus promised to build His church not churches.
2. Jesus prayed that His followers would be one or together.
3. When the church in Corinth was dividing, the Apostle Paul insisted that they be united.

When churches divide, Christ is not glorified and the world does not believe. That is a high price to pay for our selfishness.