At the end of part 2 of this series I made a passing reference to the last 5 verses of the 6th chapter of the Apostle Paul’s 2nd letter to the church at Corinth where he commanded that they rid themselves individually and corporately of sin (adultery) that had been allowed to take place within the church.  In chapter 7 he congratulates them for having cleansed the church and themselves “of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit by perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (vs 1).  In verses 8-11 he noted that they had not become sorry with a “worldly sorrow” (because they had been caught), but rather they had “sorrowed with a godly sorrow” (true self-convicting sorrow that had led to true repentance).  The Corinthians had “sorrowed after a godly manner” which could “lead to salvation.”  This is sorrow “not to be repented of” (vs 10).  This is sorrow that puts an end to the sin so that repentance would not be needed again.  Paul said in Romans 2:5  that if one continues to sin after receiving forgiveness, one “treasures up (accumulates) sin” until the time of judgment and, in so doing, “crucifies Christ afresh (again)” with each sin (Heb. 6:6).  God knows the heart.  He knows when one is truly repentant.

In verse 11 Paul characterizes their godly sorrow by reminding them of their sincere repentance and sorrow which was characterized by: “what carefulness, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire (to please God), what zeal, yea, what revenge” on themselves for having allowed sin to infect both the individuals and the church.  “In all these things you have approved yourselves (before God) and have been found to be clear (of sin) in this matter.”

Now let us return to the final 5 verses of 2 Corinthians chapter 6.  This is one of the most pointed and clear condemnations of the “only believe” theology that has ruled Satan’s Catholic/Protestant Church System for some 1900 years.  This is the church populated by “sinners saved by grace” who have “turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness”–freedom from God’s control (Jude 4).  This deadly church theology had infected the church at Corinth, prompting Paul to write a scathing letter to the people in which he condemned them for allowing fornication to continue within the body of Christ.  In the 5th chapter of his first letter to the church he accused the people of allowing fornication to take place to the point that they had become proud of their open-mindedness toward sin.  He told them that they should have thrown the guilty man out of the church (vs 2).  In verse 3 through 5 he stated that he (Paul) had judged the man guilty (yes, we do judge others) by the power of God and had delivered him to Satan to be put to death.  In verse 6 he compares the man’s fornication to leaven that would afflict the whole church if not ripped out.  “Purge out, therefore the old leaven so that you may become unleavened”–having no sin within the body of Christ.  He told them in verses 7 and 8 that they must keep the feast of Passover (yes, God’s holy days are kept by His church today), but that they must keep it in a state of holiness.  In verse 11 he lists some of the sins that must not be allowed within the church.  Anyone with sin in their lives must not be allowed to partake of the feast of Passover and must either repent and return to God or be put out of the church.

In chapter 6 Paul reminds the people that “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, not revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of God.”  Then Paul puts church sinners on notice by saying that “such WERE some of you.  But you WERE SANCTIFIED (set aside for holiness), and JUSTIFIED (had past sins forgiven).”  In 1 Peter 4:17,18 we are reminded that “only the righteous will be saved, and they just barely.”  Where does this place the “only believe”/ “sinners saved by grace” crowd?

The men and women of the Corinthian Church had come very close to having their SEALS BROKEN.  For sure the fornicator had done so.  Those who were allowing him to continue in his sin were equally guilty and dangerously close to being rejected by the Lord.

If, as we are told repeatedly, sin has no effect on one’s supposed salvation, why all the emphasis on holiness?  If the seal cannot be broken, why did Paul tell the people to either clean the sin out of the church or leave it? as we find in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.  Here the apostle asks the people several questions that, if taken to heart and answered, will clear up once and for all the church-grace-sin issue.  Here he tells the Corinthians not to be spiritually involved with unbelievers (sinners) in the church.  He askes what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness?  What communion does light have with darkness? does Christ have with Satan? does God’s temple (saint) have with idols?  The answer is NONE.  Therefore, God’s people are to come out from among sinners saved by grace, separate themselves from them and have nothing to do with them on a spiritual level.

This should put to rest any thought that one’s seal cannot be broken by sin.  Another question does arise, however: ARE THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE SEALED ACTUALLY SEALED?  ARE THEY IN ANY WAY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD IN GOD’S VIEW?  ARE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS ANY CLOSER TO GOD THAN MUSLIMS, BUDDHISTS, ATHIESTS, ETC?  If the Holy Bible is indeed God’s Truth as Jesus proclaimed, the answer is “NO.”  L.J.