19 But the foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seal, The Lord knoweth who are his: and, Let everyone that calleth on the Name of Christ, depart from iniquity.
20 Notwithstanding in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some for honor, and some unto dishonor.
21 If any man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Lord, and prepared unto every good work.
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If you name the name of Christ, better walk away from living in sin (yes even the popular ones that seem ok). God wants to make us vessels of honour if we purge ourselves in Christ!
Are you being sanctified, and prepared for every good work?
It's time for us to look in the mirror of God's Word, and to ask the Lord to help us depart from those habits and ways that are displeasing to Him. There are many sins. There is one in particular which is a huge problem in today's churches.
I am talking about unmarried/unwedded/unlicensed cohabitation (Paul calls it Chambering in Romans 13:13 KJV).
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
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The word for Chambering in the Greek is KOYTAY, and it literally means (from Blue Letter Bible http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2845&t=KJV ):
- a place for lying down, resting, sleeping in
- a bed, couch
- the marriage bed
- of adultery
- cohabitation, whether lawful or unlawful
- sexual intercourse
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
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Here the word KOYTAY is translated as "Bed" and it is approved. Why? Because "Marriage" is what precedes the word in this verse! Marriage means a wedding, according to the Greek. Weddings are where covenants take place. Jesus attended a wedding during His time on earth. He also distinguished married cohabitation from unmarried cohabitation. They are not the same thing!
John 4:18 NLT
for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”
Christians have been so worried about the same sex marriage ruling by both Canadian and American courts and governments. But meanwhile, we have kicked God's true marriage covenant to the curb. Many (but not all) Christians today are taking unbiblical short cuts that God never approved of. We now just say a private vow, sleep together, have casual sex with our boyfriend or girlfriend and call that "married in the sight of God." It's time to get serious and to purge ourselves. Will it be easy? No. Will it bring lasting reward? YES! To those who are chambering, either get married, or separate. Do one or the other. Because God can't use a vessel which resides in an unclean situation.
The following video explains the need for Christians to have integrity, especially when it comes to the need for a man and a woman to live in separate dwellings until they are legally married.
Cohabitation/chambering and sexual intercourse (aka living together) is reserved for one man and one woman, who have already gotten married and possess a license, signed by witnesses and the minister. In the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let every word be established. Moses, Jesus, and Paul each said that same statement in the Bible. It is a general principal, but it definitely applies to something as vital as marriage.
Let every Christian obey the government in power, because God put it there. Resisting government means resisting the ordinance of God. (Romans 13) However, we are not required to go against Scripture or God should a government ask us to do so.
Most people do not argue with the fact that all drivers need a license (plus insurance) in order to begin driving a car. You don't start driving until you have all your papers in order. Government requires it. Christians need to follow that requirement - if you want to drive, then get your license.
The exact same principal applies to marriage. You are not married unless you get the certificate first and your papers are legally signed by the minister and your two witnesses in a public setting. You cannot call yourself married in the sight of God if you are actively resisting the ordinances God established in government.
As for the same-sex marriage laws in the land, God allowed that. No these laws are not right rulings. But they happened. Since God is sovereign, He knows what national events need to occur in order to get the attention of His churches. See, Habakkuk struggled with the same thing about God. God allows injustice sometimes in order to correct His people. Read Habakkuk, all three chapters. In the end, Habakkuk learns to trust God, even when God allows injustice in order to correct His people whom He loves. In the end, God always removes injustice and bad governments. In His time. He wants to accomplish something in His church in the mean time.
Do we really value marriage, Christians? If so, follow the legal requirements before getting into the same house and the same bed. (Rom. 13:1,2,13 and Heb. 13:4)
Purge yourselves. That is what God wants. He wants to use you as a clean golden vessel for doing the works of God!
Are you separated from your spouse but not legally divorced? Then you are not free to date someone new. Either get a legal divorce or get reconciled, whichever God is leading you to do. But whatever you do, you are not free to start dating while still legally married. People get into all kinds of trouble when they skip God's steps and ordinances.
Please watch our video and prayerfully consider the Lord's word. Let His Spirit teach and guide you.
We all need to depart from iniquities of different kinds. It starts with me. And it starts with you. Let's practice righteous living and please the LORD! Let's get ready for the Master's good works! Will we always get it right? No, of course not. Humans fail all the time. I know I still fall short sometimes!
That is what God's grace is for. But at the same time, we are also not living in rebellion either.
For the times we do fail, confess it to Jesus. Any and all past or present sins are UNDER THE BLOOD of Jesus! Confess your sins to Jesus, He is faithful and just to cleanse you and forgive you! (1 John 1:9-10) Just as He told the woman caught in adultery, He says the same today: "I don't condemn you, go and sin no more."
God bless you.
Pastor Curtis
-Wed. July 8th 2015 10:34PM EST
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