Pam Padgett ... teacher
Deut. 17:2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the
Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the
sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And hath gone and
served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the
host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 And it be told thee, and thou hast
heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing
certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: 5 Then shalt thou bring
forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy
gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they
die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is
worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be
put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to
death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil
away from among you.
God gave instruction to deal very
strongly against those who did what is wicked in the sight of God .... stoning
them to death. By doing this the evil would be put away from among the people,
rather than being gradually accepted and increasing among them.
How
different are the ways of the flesh. Man tries to justify and protect the
evil-doer. We see strong evidence of the results of this as sexual sins, even
homosexuality, are increasingly accepted as "normal" by the world today.
But those of us who belong to God are led another way ... to expose and
deal with the evil. Paul dealt strongly with fornication that was reported
within the Church, and warned that, like leaven, this would spread it not purged
.....
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is
fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the
Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and
have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away
from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have
judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this
deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and
my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one
unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the
day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not
that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old
leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our
passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Paul also dealt strongly
when incorrect doctrines were brought to the Church ...
Galatians
5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and
be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you,
that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify
again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any
thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run
well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion
cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise
minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he
be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer
persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even
cut off which trouble you.
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