Wednesday, September 14, 2022
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).
Are these people really saved—or really lost?
The saints in Corinth were exhorted: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33,34). Greeks by culture, the Corinthians had let their heathen neighbors adversely influence them. While members of the Body of Christ, the Corinthians were listening to pagan philosophers (among other false teachers). Too focused on the world’s “wisdom,” they had been distracted from “the knowledge of God.” Therefore, their Christian lives were asleep. Certainly, they should be ashamed—to the point of reforming. How deceived or misled we truly are if we think we will always be faithful to the Lord, that we will never disregard His words to us!
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-14 (which you would do well to read in your own personal Bible study), the Holy Spirit through Paul reminds these saints of how ancient Israel forgot what the LORD God did for them and forsook what He had told them. Verses 11-14 recapitulate: “[11] Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [14] Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” That is, “Be careful to be grateful to God, lest you saints at Corinth wind up like the apostate Israelites centuries ago!” Actually, the Corinthians were already dabbling in false religion, “fellowshipping with devils” (verses 20,21)!
Saints, we too had better be attentive to the many spiritual perils around us….
333 Words of Grace 