“All God sees when He looks at a believer is the righteousness of Christ. We’re covered in the blood, brother!” How many times have I heard that, or similar statements, coming from the mouths of preachers, Bible teachers, rank-and-file believers during testimony time at church! “All God sees when He looks at us is the purity of His Son, Jesus Christ.” Sounds so scriptural and right doesn’t it. It’s the devil’s snow job.
Take ten or fifteen minutes to read Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation. Jesus addresses Himself to seven different literal assemblies of believers. Note well what He points out, what He plainly sees. Notice how often He gives them the command, “Repent!” Notice how He says, “I have somewhat against thee.” Notice how He says, “I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Notice the chilling words He employs when addressing the Laodicean assembly: “I will spue thee out of my mouth…thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked.” (See Revelation 3:16-17).
Yes, Jesus DID say, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.” But that doesn’t mean He approves of what He sees as He stands there. Read Revelation 2 and 3 carefully. Jesus says He is standing in the midst of these seven assemblies, too. But note well what He sees and what He says. Yet how many times have I heard believers quote Matthew 18:20 and construe it to mean the Lord is present in their assembly and fellowshipping with them in harmony and peace, etc.
When Paul wrote “All things are lawful for me,” he was quoting the gnostic argument put forth by some of the members of the Corinthian assembly, He warned such that “all things are not expedient,” Rob someone in the marketplace and they might find themselves in a Corinthian jail, or worse. Have sexual relations with their neighbor’s wife and they might find themselves missing a few teeth. Again he quotes the gnostic argument “All things are lawful for me.” And again warns, “but all things edify not.” Some behaviors will benefit us while others can ruin our reputation. (See I Corinthians 10:23).
God have mercy on those foolish ones who do not rightly divide the Word of God, who merely parrot what their preachers and “learned” leaders say. It’s going to be a one-on-one affair at the judgment of believers. We won’t have Reverend So-and-So beside us defending our errors and shortcomings. We have a few (perhaps) years (maybe days) to get it right while we live and breathe. Let’s strive diligently to do so lest we board the ship of fools and sail blindly onto the hidden rocks below..
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley