Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Corinthians 6:9 ¶ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 6:9 ¶ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor those who participate in homosexuality, |
Subject: How to accept a gay relative |
Bible Note: Dear Brad, Just a quick note here. First of all, you used the phrase "effective of a witness." Pragmatism is something deeply entrenched in American thinking, but it isn't a biblical philosophy. As believers we are not interested in what works, we are interested in obeying the Lord, regardless of the outcome. There are examples of great prophets for the Lord who had not a single a convert. God will judge us for our lives, but He will not do so based on the effectiveness of our witness. After all, who of us wants an effective witness? Instead, we want God to work in the lives of others, transforming them through the power of the Holy Spirit alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, in the atonement of Christ alone. True, the gospel is expressed in our words, but it is far more effectively expressed in our lives. Second, we must never disconnect the gospel from the law. The good news is that God freely extends salvation. The good news isn't even good news unless men understand their perilous condition before a holy God who must and will judge every descendant of Adam. Tell people, "Jesus loves you!" The average American will smile and say, "Sure. What's not to love?" Remember, the law must do its work before the gospel remedy may be applied. This is how Jesus and the apostles did evangelism. Third, be careful not to overemphasize one characteristic of God over another. It is very truth that He is a God of love. However, it is equally true that He is a God of wrath. Yet nowhere does it say He is love, love, love. Nor does it say He is wrath, wrath, wrath. Yet it does say that He is holy, holy, holy. God's attributes are in perfect harmony with one another. Nothing is conflicted. He is perfect, complete, and beautiful. I wish I could develop these ideas for you more. Unfortunately I'm quite pressed for time right now. I hope that it will help you to find an appropriate biblical balance. In Him, Doc "Many of today's church leaders have bought into the subtlety of pragmatism without recognizing the dangers it poses. Instead of attacking orthodoxy head on, evangelical pragmatism gives lip service to the truth while quietly undermining the foundations of doctrine. Instead of exalting God, it effectively denigrates the things that are precious to Him." --John MacArthur |