Flirting with Sin

The wicked have always been “destitute” of the truth, despising it, trampling it, mocking it with disdain. I saw an example of this once in the New York Post, as one writer confidently declared, “Science has now replaced faith.”

Paul's greater concern was always for those who had known the way of truth, confessing their faith in Christ, yet continued to flirt with sin. Paul wrote of those who attempt to hold the truth in unrighteousness, an act that enrages God. He described them as people “…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions…” (Romans 1:25-26, NKJV).

Others, held in bondage by their lustful pleasures, turned to false teachers to try to find peace. They ended up accepting “…destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:1-2).

All of Paul’s messages on apostasy and the antichrist were aimed at such carnal Christians. They were not meant for the idolaters of Rome, the heathens of Greece, the pagan tribes in unknown places. Paul’s message was one of great importance to the church; and he wrote it to be read in churches, directly to believers.

If you do not believe this, simply recall the scriptures. The Bible says that in the days just prior to Jesus’s return, Satan will bring such an overwhelming flood of seduction that he will attempt to deceive even the people of God. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24). It will not matter how long a Christian has walked with Jesus; he will face temptations he has never had in his life. Even the strongest believer will be tempted to doubt God’s faithfulness and mistrust his Holy Word.

You see, Paul’s words throughout the New Testament were calling God’s people everywhere to love the truth, to search it out, study it, and obey it. He wrote, in essence, “Let the truth be your guide and do not turn aside from it, lest you open yourself to deception and end up believing a lie. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see the truth, ears to hear it, and a heart to love it.”