In The Faith

Once again the Lord said to me, “You don’t know the power of iniquity, nor the extent of its root of bitterness.” But this much I did know; if the root of a plant is corrupt, there is no way for it to produce good fruit. Wrong thinking can produce a heart full of iniquities, jealousies and disloyalty. As James said, “When a man is tempted, he is drawn away by his own lust”. It is not the lust of the devil, neither was it caused by the devil. But it is our thoughts that are often contrary to the will of God. We simply follow after the method satan used to create his iniquity, (wrong thinking), to create our own. But the question is, “Once we create iniquity in our hearts, are we considered to be children of God?” I think John answers that question in the passage below.

1 John 2:28

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Many of God’s children will be ashamed when Jesus returns to receive the church. One of the definitions of iniquity is unfair behavior. If we chose to do the works of unrighteousness, then we will forfeit our birthright even as Esau forfeited his. It was a privilege and an honor to be chosen to be the firstborn. He had no regard for that honor and treated it as a light thing. This was unfair behavior. It undermined all God had done for him. Therefore, the benefits of being the firstborn were forever lost. Our Lord testified of this truth in the last chapter of the Bible.

Revelation 22:11-15

11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The Bible says iniquity is the spirit that works in children of disobedience. Let us not forget that to disobey is to know the right way but refuse to walk in it. This fact suggests that iniquity could and does work in the children of God who choose to forsake the way of God. Does this mean that satan lives in all disobedient saints? I think not.

However, there is a progression of sin and judgment found in the sovereignty of God. The following passages confirm this fact.

2 Corinthians 13:5-7

5. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

6. But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

7. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

The word reprobate means: worthless, undisciplined, to disapprove, reject, cast away and to throw back. In layman’s terms, a reprobate is one who was called unto salvation, but lives a worthless, undisciplined life that causes him or her to become disapproved by God and thus cast away or taken out of the kingdom. The spirit of God departs from that person and they are thrown back into the kingdom of darkness.

1 Timothy 5:24

Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

These are souls who have brought God’s judgment upon them in this world. Their hidden sin is brought to the light and the counsels of their hearts are made known. In other words their true sentiments toward godliness and holiness are exposed along with their sin.

God judges them as undisciplined despisers of his government and condemns them to eternal damnation. In essence their sin has already come up before the judgment and the day of their calamity is already determined.

Saul hunted and sought to kill David for many years. He killed eighty-five priests of the Lord, destroyed the city of Nob, killing every man, woman and child, (even the newborns), and did much wickedness in the sight of the Lord;

1 Chronicles 10:13-14

13. So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;

14. And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

If ever there was a time to contend for the faith this is it. Those who know the truth must fight to stand for it in spite of all opposition from within or without the Body of Christ. We must cease to nurture sin in the church. God has forbidden it and it will not be the legacy of the true sons of God. We are the children of the kingdom of light. But that light must shine bright enough to dispel the darkness.