Depart from iniquity
posted by on 02/27/08
Our family recently read the short book of 2 John and I began to see how important this book is for every Christian to understand. “And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. …He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” I have recently seen how ”new age” teaching is a monster of lust and hatred wearing a mask of love and peace. What would the enemy of our souls like more than to re-define Jesus Christ, deny the fact of sin, and mock at God’s salvation? By doing so he could do what he likes best: unleash the passions of sin to destroy life and property and hinder us from entering into eternal life. Why would we call on the name of Christ if Acts 4:10-12 is a lie? Furthermore, sin cannot be dealt with while I pretend it does not exist. Notice Psalm 45:6-7 “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Think of the joy and the freedom that comes from knowing God and hating sin and overcoming the temptations that Satan sends to destroy our lives. Remember Psalm 97, especially verse 10: “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints…”, and again Hebrews 12: 28-29: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.” Finally, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Well-written, Michael. It takes some discernment to see the difference at first but once you see it, it stands out clearly.
The Lord led me to talk about the Harry Potter issue during our Wisdom Search last week. When I did some research I found that the general theme wasn’t witchcraft alone but the insinuation that “bad” witchcraft can be fought with “good” witchcraft. How subtle.
That’s not the end of the story. It happens that even the village here had a Harry Potter poster hanging where all the children could see it. Last week however, one of the new government workers asked if I could hang up one of my chalk pictures instead. Yesterday I was able to work on that and post a written message on Romans 8:28 beside it! I guess you could say Harry Potter and Superman have bowed to Jesus Christ. May more and more children desire to counter evil and sin, not with lesser evils and iniquity (good things done the wrong way,) but with the pure and powerful character qualities of our Lord and Savior.
This was particularly meaningful in light of the fact that at school I had just been sharing with my students the meanings of their English names. It reminded me that my name means “overcomer”. The Lord continue to make you an overcomer also Michael, and use you to clarify the all-too-often-obscured battle lines that should be so evident.
May the Bible, with the simplicity of Christ and His finished work, keep us from the dangerous momentary trends of the time.
I am encouraged by your insights. That last verse would really change people’s lives if they followed it; I’m going to keep that verse in mind today because I know I need that change. These verses might also be a good cross-reference: “… Our iniquity, like the wind, has taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee; for Thou hast hid Thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter …” (Isaiah 64:6-8)
Great word, Michael! I’ve been meditating recently on how the fear of the Lord is what causes us to depart from evil: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”
(Proverbs 3:7-8).
Astute observation Michael. All have sinned (Romans 3:23). This is painful for a anyone to seriously acknowledge. Many “religions” offer some means to atone for our own sins. The futility of this has led some to embrace Humanism, a convenient philosophy that formally denies sin. But, “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (I John 1:8). The Christian is simply one who honestly acknowledges and repents of his sin, then experiences peace through the atonement provided by Christ.
Men have become lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,…. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such TURN AWAY! 2Timothy 3:2&5
Today at our Good News Club the lesson was on resisting the temptation to sin. We viewed the life of Christ when He was tempted by Satan in the desert to submit himself under Satan.
Satan’s whole goal was to cause Jesus to fulfill a lustful passion. Our question was “How then did Jesus succeed in resisting the temptation?” We realized he had a upward focus. He studied to show himself approved. He knew the Word and it set Him free! He only did what His Heavenly Father told Him to do and this was what kept Him out of trouble!
We encouraged one another at club today to come back with testimonies next week on how we resisted the devil! I look forward to hearing what the Lord will do in these young lives! They were so excited to know how to go about resisting the devil! Praise the Lord!!!
Wonderful Scriptures everyone! It just so happens that the theme of the booklet we have been studying is Matthew 7:21-23. What will Jesus say to the many who did great and wonderful things that were not the will of His Father? “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity”. Each person must truly KNOW God Himself before we will ever understand His will and take part in His kingdom.
A few more Scriptures here: 2 Tim. 2:19-22, 4:1-4, Psalm 98:8-9, and 97:3.