Speaking of the Lord’s Supper, the apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian congregation, “For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he comes. Wherefore whosoever (remember, he’s writing to church members – believers) shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily (having sin in their life they have not confessed and abandoned) shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (See I Corinthians 11:26-27). Can you think of a more serious sin than that?? “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation (judgment) to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep (have died).” (See I Corinthians 11:28-30). Notice that God’s judgment on this sin is immediate and extremely harsh, some believers even suffering he death penalty!
Do you really think this particular sin is the only sin God punishes in a believer’s life? Not at all! God punishes the sin of lying and fraud quickly as well even to the extent of taking the life of the offender. (Read Acts 5, verses 1 through 11. Ananias and Sapphira had lied to God (verse 4), and God exacted immediate and terrible punishment on them for their folly). “ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone!” (See Revelation 21:8). There is no caveat in that verse that excludes Christian liars. Ananias and Sapphira were Christians. “And there shall in no wise enter into it (the holy city) any thing that defiles…or makes a lie” (See Revelation 21:27). In no wise, the text says, and certainly not through Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega who uttered that warning. One last time the solemn warning is given, “Blessed are they that do (keep) his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city, for without are dogs (the unclean), and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolators, and whosoever loves and makes a lie” (See Revelation 22:14-15).
Men may mock and defame those who keep God’s commandments now, but someday they might stand dumbfounded as they watch the commandment keepers enter in through the gates of the Holy City while they themselves are turned aside! At the final fall of Babylon (earth’s false religious systems including every confusion from Buddhism to Islam and Mormonism to Roman Catholicism), the sacred record says, “Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (See Revelation 14:12). The two go hand-in-hand. Jesus said, “I have kept my Father’s commandments” (See John 15:10). “And the dragon (Satan) was angry with the woman (God’s church), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST” (See Revelation12:17). The testimony of Jesus Christ was “I have kept my Father’s commandments” (Again see John 15:10).
“Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law (God’s law), for sin is he transgression of the law” (See I John 3:4). And God’s law goes far beyond keeping the Ten Commandments. Anything God says, “Don’t do this” constitutes a law of God, and failure to obey that directive is sin and “every transgression and disobedience receives a just penalty of punishment” (See Hebrews 2:1-2). Those who customarily escape such punishment need to contemplate Hebrews 12, verses 5 through 8 and 2 Corinthians 13:5, for their only escape is to confess each sin and forsake the same. The blood of Jesus Christ then covers their sins. God help us all to understand.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley