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There are those out there that do not say this. But that is what we are instructed to do within the Bible. For the Bible is the Word of God and when you ask Jesus into your life you are binding yourself to these words.
Then why do those in the pulpits and stand upon the dais not say these words? Are they not the representative of God? In actually no they are not. They are a representative of those that appointed these people the leaders. In actuality when you accept Jesus as your Savior you yourself become a representative of God. It is your responsibility to make sure what you are hearing is the truth of the Bible. Yes the Bible does say this:
Ephesians 4:11 – Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
If those you have chosen to lead you do not bring unity in our faith and true knowledge of God’s Son so that we can stand a pure reflection of Jesus Christ Himself, are they serving God or themselves? The answer is they are serving themselves.
In Ephesians chapter four the title of this article is written by Paul, but here is the complete picture of this part of the Bible, for it is important that people start to learn how to take the word of God in context:
“17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
What I find that many now days try not to acknowledge is the statement that the gentiles “live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” Now there are those that call themselves “Christian” and do these very things themselves. As was just shown above we are to come into unity and seek after being a true reflection of Jesus Christ. Jesus the one and only perfect being ever to walk this planet. If people live in lustful pleasures and impurity they are nowhere near that reflection.
We are told that we must leave our sins behind. We can no longer live in the sinful lives that so many cherish more than God. For by doing so they are not “Christian,” but a gentile, a sinner, and something that is not welcome in heaven.
Ephesians 4:30 – And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

First and foremost, we must make this perfectly clear:
faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26)
Just as works alone is death, so is faith alone. It is a meeting in the middle of these practices that allows people to truly be called “Christian,” and alive.
In the Old Testament part of three books were dedicated to rules to follow to live ones live in service to God. Many if not most think these rules and regulations are now void. This is not true. They have just been simplified to be understood easier. While some of the more harsh rules have been taken out of the hands of humanity and returned to He that till sit upon the Great White Throne.
In the simplified version by loving God with all our heart, mind and soul first should totally remove selfish lust, desires or wants.
By treating our fellow humans as we would wish to be treated is the next most important rule.
The first removes the desire to commit suicide, so the second removes the desire to murder, for example.
It is made clear that nature in all its forms are of God. So any desire to go against nature is an act of rebellion against God and is seen as death.
The desire to horde our wealth and to seek after luxuries is called “of the world” and anything of the world is death. Yet most horde their wealth and seek after luxuries. When the Bible clearly states that if you have been given wealth you are to share it with these within the faith that are in need.
1 John 3:7 – If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
All of these are in the Old Testament and were abridged by Jesus and His apostles. If it is called a sin in the old it still a sin in the new.
Thinking you can go through this temporal existence and say through faith you are saved. Yet make no effort to follow what the Bible teaches, you seek death.
So when you speed, you seek eternal death.
When you go against nature, you seek eternal death.
When you seek after wealth and fame. You seek eternal death.
When all you care for is only yourself no matter the cost to others. You seek eternal death.
The only grey zone in the Bible is living a faithful life and doing that through works. This is what is needed to show you know the simplified rules of the New Testament. Otherwise it is black and white. Death and life. This is I why the entire Bible counts. Not just the old and not just the new.
The old give you the specifics on most that still hold true as confirmed by the new. If this were not so, then Jesus died for nothing.

dreamwalker1960

Thoughts out of the blue

“Live no longer as the gentiles do”

The rules didn’t go away they just got simplified