A God-Centered Sexual Ethic
1Corinthians 6:9-20

Intro: Remember that Corinth was afflicted with the love of philosophy and rhetoric. They wanted that which sounded good and seemed wise. It didn’t matter whether or not it was right, they just liked fine sounding and wise sounding things. (Cf. Acts 17:21 They spent their time either hearing or telling new things. Beware the itch for new things when the old will suffice.) Their pride led to division. Now, remember that James told us that envy and strife are accompanied by every evil work (James 3:16). It is no wonder, then, that Paul had to rebuke the Corinthians for the approval of a church member committing incest (1Corinthians 5:1-13). A proud and envious person who is striving with others is never satisfied, and that person is very likely to seek out his satisfaction in any place and manner that he can find it, except in God.

It is in this context that Paul establishes a God-Centered sexual ethic.

1. The Relationship Between Worship And Sex :9-11

They were once sexually immoral, but God has forgiven them and cleansed them of these things. The gospel of Christ is a message of sacrifice of self as well as good news that God gives us that which is better. Having cleansed them of their sins, God has given them Himself.

That being said, immorality is idolatry. Note the downward spiral of sin in Romans 1:18-17. The worship of the Creator is traded for the worship of the creature and carnal passions. It is not that the carnal passions are wrong, but outside of the context of worship of God, they are filthy and immoral, and they lead to that which is unnatural in the pursuit of pleasure and satisfaction. One only need observe the glorification of sex and the objectification of people in our nation to recognize that immoral sex is an act of misdirected worship.

True worship leads to monogamous, heterosexual pleasure. Note that the mandate given to Adam and Eve was not only to take dominion, but first to be fruitful and multiply. This mandate is about imaging forth God. It is about worshiping our Creator and showing His greatness through the way that we live. Being fruitful means having sex and raising children. Note also that there is pleasure associated with it, because Moses said that the man and woman were to cleave to each other, and that they were naked and not ashamed (Genesis 2:24-25). Man and woman were to enjoy their union, and they were unashamed in their union.

Later, Solomon wrote and exhorted his son to rejoice with his wife (Proverbs 5:18-19). Note that he was not instructed to rejoice in his wife, but with his wife. That is, he was told that he and his wife were to together find joy. That joy will first be in God, and then in each other. In other words, the joy that Solomon’s son was to have with his wife was the joy of worshiping Christ through expressing their love for God by loving each other.

This should be not be surprising to us, because husbands are told to have a God-Centered love for their wives- a gospel-motivated love. We are to love our wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25-33). This love is certainly a sacrificial love, but it is also a love that seeks to nurture, protect, and give joy to one’s wife. This includes giving emotional support and sexual pleasure.

Included in the issue of sex and worship is the issue of sexual flirtation and lust. They are both wrong. Jesus told us as much in Matthew 5:27-30 as He warned us against lust and the fact that it will lead to sin which could damn our souls.

2. Make Love As Worshipers Who Understand That God Has A Plan For The Body :12-14

Paul is probably repeating a statement that they made as an excuse for their sexual improprieties: “We are not under the law, so all things are lawful for me”. Paul says that, all things may be lawful, but not everything is helpful, and we are not to be brought under the power and dominion of anything. Only helpful things are truly lawful, and nothing should be lord of our lives other than Jesus Christ.

In saying this, Paul is still relating sexual morality to the gospel. We are not the servants of sin, but the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:17,22), and have been changed from being people dominated by sin (1Corinthians 6:9-11). With this in mind, we should not let sex rule our minds, hearts, and actions. Only Jesus should have that sort of power over our lives.

In verses 13-14, Paul anticipates their arguing that, since we have appetites for food and a stomach for food, that we should also be able to use our sexual appetites and organs to satisfy ourselves. Paul states that God is indeed in favor of our enjoying sex- the body is “for the Lord, and the Lord for the body”. God is not against fleshly pleasures, but He expects us to enjoy fleshly pleasures within the context in which He has created them to be experienced and enjoyed. Note how Paul is no prude at all, but he states that God is in favor of our pleasure. He doesn’t speak only about the negative aspect, but tells us where true pleasure is to be found- under the Lordship of Christ and as worshipers of Him.

To show just how much God is for our bodies, Paul states that the resurrection is proof that God is in favor of the body. Just as He raised up Jesus, He will raise us up from the dead (Cf. Romans 8:11). God is in favor of the body and fleshly pleasure! The body is the Lord’s, and is to be used in worship of Him.

3. Make Love As Worshipers Who Understand That Their Bodies Belong To Jesus :15-20

Our bodies are joined to Christ. Not only are we in Christ (See 2Corinthians 5:17), but we are part of the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13). This means that there is a union between us and Christ. We are not physically joined to Christ, but we are spiritually joined to Christ. Our bodies are made and redeemed so that we would give spiritual worship to Christ. That is why physical sin is not merely physical, but a matter of worship, as we have already seen.

When one is sexually joined to another, there is a one flesh union. This is not the same as marriage, which includes a lifetime commitment, but it is still a matter of two bodies joined as one. Being joined to Christ in a spiritual union, those who take the bodies which belong to Christ and commit sexual sin are actually dishonoring Christ. He is dishonored, not only because of our misusing His members; but, our members, being His members, means that we involve Him in our sin, in a sense. Those bodies which represent Christ here on earth surely are misrepresenting Him when involved with a harlot. Not only so, but the fact of most prostitution occurring at idolatrous temples meant that Paul was working hard to help the Corinthians to see that they were to fully leave idolatry.

Not only is sexual sin a sin against Christ, but it is sin against one’s own body, Paul says. John MacArthur says, “No sin has greater potential to destroy the body.” While other sins are apart from the body in that their effects are most often toward others more than toward ourselves, fornication is a sin against (Greek eis= into) that radically affects our bodies. The intimacy brought about by being joined to another is more than physical. It is an emotional intimacy. The damage that can be done to our bodies is indeed physical, and that of such a degree that it can kill us (See Proverbs 5:11,21-23;6:26-35;7:22-27) and condemn us, and that is an extremely emotional thing. In other words, all other sins do not have such a radical effect both immediately and in the hereafter as fornication, and especially that which is connected with idolatrous worship.

But, to take the issue of fornication being a sin into/against one’s body further, we must understand that our bodies are temples. We are desecrating the temple of the Holy Spirit. We remember that God does not take kindly to folks disrespecting His temple (See Leviticus 10:1-3;2Chronicles 26:16-23). No longer do we go to the temple to worship, but we are the temple. We sin into/against our own bodies because we desecrate the very holy of holies. Paul intends to shock (And I’m sure that he does so.) the Corinthians by making fornication analogous to having sex in the holiest place in the temple. In other words, fornication is sacrilege against our own bodies, the temples of God.

Not only so, but we are temples of the Holy Spirit because we have been purchased by the blood of Christ. The gospel truth is that Christ died to make us holy unto Himself (cf 1Corinthians 6:9-11;Ephesians 1:3-7;Titus 2:11-14). A God-Centered sexual ethic remembers that Jesus died to purchase us so that we could/would worship Him and find joy in Him more than in any other passion.

How do we glorify God in our body and in our spirit? We do so by seeking our joy first in Him, then by sharing our joy in Christ by showing Christian love in our sexual activities. We show love in that respect in two manners: 1. by refraining from sexual sin which is theft (1Thessalonians 4:1-8). We steal by taking that which is not our own- it is not our own because we are not married to the person, and it is not our own, because it is not ours to give to one who is not our spouse. 2. by passionately pursuing Christ and showing our joy in Christ to our spouse by being faithful to them as Christ is faithful to us. Not only so, but that love seeks to encourage the joy of our spouse just as Christ came that our joy might be full (John 15:11).

This is by no means an exhaustive study and exposition of the passage that is before us. Neither is it an exhaustive study of biblical sexual morality. I trust, however, that God will use this study to help us to understand where true joy is found (in Christ alone), and to lead us into the experience and sharing of that joy as we commit ourselves to enjoying God in the marriage bed. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled…” (Hebrews 13:4)

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“God is good, and his goodness appears in having so blended the honour of his name with the felicity of his creatures, that in seeking the one they should find the other.”

Andrew Fuller

Christianity A Source of Happiness

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• Review: “Andrew Fuller: Model Pastor-Theologian” (eardstapa.wordpress.com)

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Today’s Christians often focus on good feelings.  It seems that many think they have not experienced worship unless they have some sort of good feeling.  Is this how we should be?  Should every meeting with God’s people be a hand waving, hand clapping, shouting, laughing event?

Oh, I know, we are commanded to rejoice.  In fact, I love to read Deuteronomy 26:1-11 where the command is to worship and rejoice.  That resonates with me.   I also read that terrible things are threatened if we do not rejoice in the LORD cf Deuteronomy 28:47-48;Psalm 2:10-12.  There is no doubt that our worship should have a component of joy, and that joy should be a huge part of our worship.

The question I ask first of all is this: Is joy all there is to worship?  Scripture responds with a resounding “NO!”  Paul spoke of being sorrowful and rejoicing ( 2Corinthians 6:10 ).  Joshua commanded Achan to worship God (give glory to Him) by confessing his sin ( Joshua 7:19  ).   Worship includes much more than joy.

Worship includes prayer; or should I say that prayer is worship?  Either way that it is put, there is much truth in the statement.  The first mention of worship is found in Genesis 4:26.  The King James Version tells us that men began to call upon the name of the LORD.  The New Living Translation tells us that men began to worship the LORD by name.  We know, too, that prayer is not always an occasion of joy.  Sometimes prayer is filled with heartbreak and bitter tears.

Both Abraham and Job show us examples of worship in which joy is not seen as clearly as faith in the midst of agony is.

In Genesis 22:1-19 Abraham is called to give Isaac, his son, as a burnt sacrifice in worship to God.  Abraham faithfully obeys and is rewarded both with his son and more promises.  As I put my precious four year old son to bed each night, feel his arms wrapped around my neck, and hear him say, “I wuv you, Daddy”, I can tell you that it makes me take Abraham’s worship much more seriously.  In fact, I am now thinking of worship in general much more seriously.  After all, I cannot imagine having to give him up.  I cannot imagine the faith it would take in the worth and love of God for someone to give up his son.  Abraham’s worship makes many lukewarm Baptist song service look not only anemic, but dead when held in contrast with each other.

And Job?  What can be said about him?  His loss was great, yet his worship was equal to the loss.  In a short span of time he lost all that he had.  The only things left were the bearers of bad tidings and his wife, who told him to give up.  In spite of losing all of his goods and his family, Job worshiped declaring that God had given him all that he had, and that God had taken it all away.  He then said, “Praise the name of God.”  ( Job 1:1-2:10 ).  Job worshiped because he knew that God was more powerful than the forces that took away his possessions and his family.  Job worshiped because he knew that God was sovereign and wise in His doings.  He worshiped because he knew that God was trustworthy.  This is why he said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. ” (Job 13:15)

Then there’s Habakkuk, the guy with the weird name.  His worship was a mingling of anticipation, hard times, grief, and joy.  He said, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. ” (Habakkuk 3:17–19)

If we worship we cannot afford to neglect the fact that there will be difficulties and heartaches in life.  The only true worship is that which takes into consideration the realities of life, the sovereign goodness and wisdom of God, and our need to trust Him even when we are weeping.  It is then that true joy is experienced: the joy that comes from the confidence in the continued goodness of God even when we have no idea what pain may hit us next.  This joy is deep, abiding, and strong.  It is worship, because it exalts the worth of God as one who is all mighty, all wise, merciful, loving, gracious, and faithful.

“The motto of all true servants of God must be, ‘We preach Christ; and him crucified.’ A sermon without Christ in it is like a loaf of bread without any flour in it. No Christ in your sermon, sir? Then go home, and never preach again until you have something worth preaching.” [7/9/1876; sermon #2899]

via Preach Christ or Go Home—And Other Spurgeon Quotes on Christless Preaching – Justin Taylor.

The Sin of Sodomy And The Glory of God

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Ro 1:16-32)

The Great Exchange: God’s Eternal Glory for Fleeting Homosexual Pleasure

What makes sin sinful is the fact that it is a trade. Paul stated that there was a trade off of the glory of God for idols (Rom 1:23), and a trading of the truth of God for a lie (Rom 1:25). This change is not a transforming change such as that which happens when a tadpole becomes a frog. It is rather an exchange such as that which takes place when one changes his dollars into Mexican pesos.

The first dark exchange is a trading of the glory of the immortal, undecaying God for a man-made idol.

Jeremiah recognized the sin of idolatry as setting something up in the place of God. He plainly let it be known that to do so would result in depending on a failing source of joy as opposed to God, the eternal joy.

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jer 2:11-13) KJV Imagine the folly contained in the act of trading a free-flowing well for a broken bucket. The well is the source of water. The bucket only holds water that comes from another source. How foolish it is to forsake God, the well of living water for a busted bucket that can hold no water. That is precisely what we do when we seek our pleasure in self.

Jesus also spoke of how we can sin by serving something, or someone other than God. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Mt 6:24) KJV We serve money by seeking our joy and satisfaction in it. It is in the same manner that we serve God. Idolatry is seeking our pleasure outside of God. In fact, the Scriptures plainly tell us that greed, the unbridled desire for something or someone, is idolatry (See Col 3:1-5).

The next dark exchange, however, is much more extreme than the first. While the first exchange at least retained the unde that man’s object of worship should be external to himself, this exchange involves man’s worshiping of himself. It is a trading of the Creator for the creature. It is a trading of Him who is infinitely worthy and joyful for one who can never give joy, but can only derive joy from the Creator. Worship has moved from an external object to self and the passions of the flesh. Homosexual sin is the result of setting one’s self up as God in opposition to the infinitely bountiful and joyful Creator and seeking joy in self and self’s passions and longings.

These things being so, it is no surprise that today we see a religious sort of fervor among those who are seeking to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle. It is a religious issue. One worships the eternally happy God of the universe, a god of his own making, or his own flesh. Homosexuality is the worship of the flesh.

The Greater Exchange: Christ’s Righteousness for Our Sin

The glory of the gospel is that God’s glorious righteousness becomes ours by faith. No matter how wicked that we have been, we can be set free from sin by the grace of God. Our text tells us that the good news of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose from the dead, is God’s method for giving to us righteousness. Yes, Jesus’ righteousness will be accounted to everyone who believes the gospel. Isn’t that amazing? Jesus’ righteousness is exchanged for the believer’s sins. Paul spoke of this when he reminded the Corinthians of their conversion. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:9-11) KJV Looking at the list of sinners contained here we find that homosexuals are there, too. They are not beyond hope. You are not beyond hope. If you will believe Jesus to forgive your sins He will trade His righteousness for your sin. He will give you joy forever more. After all, He is the eternally joyful God. There is no limit to His pleasures, nor to the pleasures that He offers to you and me (See Ps 16:10,11;1Tim 1:9-11;6:17).

Isn’t that a much greater trade than swapping the eternally joyful God for the small-time pleasures of the flesh?

Numbers 14:17-23 (Young’s Literal Translation)

17`And now, let, I pray Thee, the power of my Lord be great, as Thou hast spoken, saying:

18Jehovah [is] slow to anger, and of great kindness; bearing away iniquity and transgression, and not entirely acquitting, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on a third [generation], and on a fourth; —

19forgive, I pray Thee, the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of Thy kindness, and as Thou hast borne with this people from Egypt, even until now.’

20And Jehovah saith, `I have forgiven, according to thy word;

21and yet, I live — and it is filled — the whole earth — [with] the honour of Jehovah;

22for all the men who are seeing My honour, and My signs, which I have done in Egypt, and in the wilderness, and try Me these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice —

23they see not the land which I have sworn to their fathers, yea, none of those despising Me see it.

Opponents of the Holy Scriptures often seek to discredit YHW (JEHOVAH) by speaking of times in which His wrath was exercised and people lost their lives.

Before us is the big picture, however:
1) God is going to fill the earth with His honor and glory.  I.e.  YWH’s greatness shall be displayed for all to see.

2) Those who persist in not valuing the worth, honor, and glory of God will not be forgiven, but will experience the just results of their sins.

3) Forgiveness is available.  YHW is not petty.  He is not quick tempered and easily provoked.  He is slow to anger and filled with mercy.  He is kind.  He will take away (forgive) the lawlessness and sin.

There is a balance.  God is severe to those who do not believe.  He is good to those who do believe.

Just musing…

The Joyful, Self-Sufficient Glory of God

God is happy being God. Does that shock you? Does it surprise you that God and joy can be spoken of in the same breath? Well, they can. In fact, God is the epitome of joy. “ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Ps 16:11) KJV Heaven itself is a joy filled place. Why? Because God is joyful. Because of this truth, gospel preaching should be preaching that leads us to joy. Why? Because the gospel is good news of God’s glory (See 1Tim 1:11 which can be translated “the gospel of the glory of the blessed/happy God.”). The gospel tells us that God is happy and wants to share that joy with us. What greater news can there be? After all, to reword an old saying “If God ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” On the other hand, if God is happy, the whole world can be happy!

God’s Self-Sufficient Joy

Why is God happy? God is pleased being God. God is pleased because He alone is God and is ruler over all. “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1Tim 6:16,16) KJV In all of the universe there is no god other than the God of the Holy Scriptures.

With the above truth in mind, let us examine first of all that God alone self-sufficient. When Moses inquired of the name of the God who was sending him to lead Israel out of Egypt God replied as follows: “ I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex 3:14,15) KJV God’s name and memorial (synonymous terms for God’s fame) are based upon the fact that He is the I AM. God exists by His own power. No one gives God breath, or life, or anything that He needs. Not only so, but He is alone in His self-sufficiency. There is no other god to compare to Him (See Deut 6:4;Jer 10:10-16). God glories in being JEHOVAH, the self-sufficient, all-sufficient God. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isa 42:8 ) KJV God has no lack, because He is by nature self-sufficient. Thus God is satisfied and happy being God.

God’s Sovereign Joy

God is happy because He is sovereign. That is, God rules over all and is happy being that ruler. As we read the Psalms we find that the Psalmist very often exults in God and His character. One characteristic of God in which the Psalmist rejoices is His sovereignty which sets Him apart from all else that is called god. “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Ps 115:1-3) KJV God does what pleases Himself. Notice this, now: whatever God does is simply because He is pleased to do it. When it is done, God remains pleased. Contrast that with us humans. We are often kept from doing those things which please us. When we do those things which please us, we are often not pleased with the results. God is not so. “ I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” (Ps 135:5,6) KJV We read that God’s sovereignty is not hindered, neither is He prohibited from doing that which pleases Him. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa 46:-11) KJV There is nothing that can stop the sovereign exuberance of God.

Perfect Joy

God’s joy is a perfect joy that is undimmed by any circumstance or person. God’s joy cannot be diminished, because God is eternal in nature (See Ps 90:1,2;Isa 57:15). Being eternal, God is undiminished in every aspect of His being. This is why the Psalmist said, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” ( Ps 16:11) KJV In fact, the Scriptures speak of God as incorruptible and immortal; meaning that He cannot decay or become diminished in any manner. Thus it is that God is happy because He is perfect. Not only so, but whatever He does is perfect. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (De 32:4 ) KJV Thus it is the God is pleased in who He is and in all that He does.

Gospel And Joy

Why is it good news to us that God is gloriously happy? First of all, we could expect no joy for ourselves if God were not happy. At the same time, however, we’ve not rejoiced in the glorious joy of God. We are sinners. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23 ) KJV Not only have we sinned, but we’ve sinned in a specific way: we have not given God glory (See Rom 1:21). Neither have we loved God supremely as He commands us to do (See Matt 22:35-40). “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:19,20) KJV This condemnation ends in eternal death as seen in Rev 20:11-15. The reason the joy of God is good news for us is that , in the midst of all of this sin and death, Jesus came as a man and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2Cor 5:19) KJV We now have access back into the joy of God. In fact, as Jesus walked the earth, He stated that He had come and spoken to us that our joy might be a joy like His joy. “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11) KJV In the end, Jesus plans to take us into His joy forever. His prayer for us was, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24) KJV Jesus desires us to forever be with Him in the place where there is fullness of joy. This is why He will declare to His own “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matt 25:21) KJV

These things being true, come to the fountain of the water of life (Rev 21:6;22:17 ) and drink. Come to the bread of life and eat. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) KJV

We live our lives as Christians without a good set of priorities, I’m afraid.

We value prestige, position, possessions, and personalities too much.

We like preaching that tickles the ears, moistens the eyes, gives a smile, but leaves us truly the same as we were when we entered the building.

We rate one’s successfulness by how much they have, or how much they gain.

Is that really what is important?

Jesus told the Pharisees “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.   And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.   And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”  (Luke 16:13-15) KJV

We must choose which master we will serve……will it be God or possessions?

Will we be covetous, or desire God?

To desire the true riches (God and His glory) goes counter to the wisdom of the world.  Will we be like the Pharisees and reject the truth, or will we pursue God?  Remember that the values of the world are hated by God.

What is truly important?

What will you choose?

Just musing…