Nevertheless
the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows
those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ
depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19
Those
who name the name of the Lord keep themselves from iniquity; they have
no intercourse with it. This is the mark of those who name the name of
the Lord; they have no communion with iniquity.
But
what if some who name the name of Jesus choose not to depart from
iniquity, can He still be said to be their Lord? Didn't He say to some
people, "Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not My command?" Is He
the Lord of the wilfully disobedient? I think not. Do we not foresee
grave danger in wilful disobedience even by those who name the name of
Jesus? And such are they who name the name of the Lord, but fail to
depart from iniquity. When the bible says that it is a fearful thing to
fall into the hand of God, was it entirely a warning to the unsaved, or
was it also a warning to His people who may be tempted to live a
lifestyle of iniquity?
In
Hebrews 10:26-31, we are warned against wilfully sinning after we have
received the knowledge of the truth; for there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery
indignation which will devour the adversaries. It
seems to me that God sees as His adversaries those who sin wilfully
after they have come to the knowledge of the truth. No wonder, the bible
hints of the fact that the Lord will judge His people, for it is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Since
these things are true, what manner of people ought we to be, seeing
that the Lord will judge His people, and we know that the judgment of
God is grave. Let's, therefore, reverence the Lord and depart from
iniquity. We
live in a time when a brand of the doctrine of grace is taught that
leave the hearers uninformed of the severity of God toward sin, wherever
it may be found. Therefore, may we take heed, lest we are deceived into
believing in a God who does not judge sin that is found in those who
call upon His name. The Lord will judge His own people.
Toni
