My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In Psalm 86:2, it is written, " 2 Preserve my ¹soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. "  The Bible teaches that to be holy means to be godly.  In Titus 2:11, 12, it is written, " 11 For ^athe grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present ¹world. "  God says that living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, is the result of denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.

In 1 John 2:15-17, it is written, " 15 ^aLove not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  ^bIf any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, ^aand the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  17 And ^athe world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. "  The lust of the flesh, for example, is not of the Father.  God has ordained that our fleshly desires be satisfied according to His will ( see Matthew 7:21-27 and James 1:22, for example ), for in Hebrews 13:4, it is written, " 4 ^aMarriage is honourable ¹in all, and the bed undefiled: ^bbut ²whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. "  Sexual immorality is a sin.  In 1 Corinthians 6:16-18, it is written, " 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for ^atwo, saith he, shall be one flesh.  17 ^aBut he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.  18 ^aFlee fornication.  Every sin that a man doeth is ¹without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth ^bagainst his own body. "  We live in a world that is preoccupied with sex.  One cannot turn on the television, for example, without seeing a commercial with some kind of sexual content or sexual connotation.  It is difficult for us, as Christians ( see Acts, chatper 11 ( especially verse 26, for example ), for example ), to live a godly life in this ungodly world.

Immodest dress is prevalent in this world.  Sinners ( see Matthew 26:36-46 ( especially verse 45, for example ), for example ) venture out into this world wearing nothing more than underwear, it would seem.  Those who dress in this sinful ( see 1 John 3:4, for example ) manner are either uneducated regarding God's will, or they do not care.  In Philippians 2:4, it is written, " 4 ^aLook not every man on his own things, but every man also on the ¹things of ^bothers. "  When we look on our own things and the things of others, this means that we care about the well-being of ourselves and others.  The word " normal " is defined as follows, namely: " nor·mal  (nôr´mƏl)  adj.  1  In accordance with an established law or principle; conforming to a type or standard; regular; natural.… "¹  In Psalm 78:5, it is written ( please read this entire psalm to get the immediate context ), " 5 For ^ahe established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that ^bthey should make them known to their children. "  Moreover, in Psalm 78:7, it is written, " 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. "  God's word ( the Holy Bible ) is His law.  Therefore, what the Bible teaches is normal.  Thus, it is normal to show that we care by looking on our own things and the things of others.  It is normal for us to show our concern for those who are dressed immodestly, for example.  In 1 Timothy 2:9, it is written, " 9 In like manner also, that ^awomen adorn themselves in modest apparel, with ¹shamefacedness and ²sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly ³array. "  God commands ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13, for example ) that Christian women dress modestly.  However, God has not ignored the men.  In 2 Corinthians 11:29, it is written, " 29 ^aWho is weak, and I am not weak? who is ¹offended, and I ²burn not? "  The apostle Paul ( see 2 Corinthians 1:1 ) wrote ( see 10:1 and 13:10, for example ), here, that he burned with indignation whenever someone was caused to stumble spiritually.  If Paul was angry at this sinful situation, then how do we think God feels about it?  Immodestly dressed men can cause the women to stumble spiritually.  Second Corinthians 11:29 applies to the subject of immodest dress, for example, with regard to women and men.

The lust of the eyes can result in the sin of covetousness, for example.  In Exodus 20:17, it is written, " 17 ^aThou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, ^bthou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. "  The sin of coventousness can lead to the sin of stealing, for example.  In Proverbs 6:30-35, it is written, " 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is ¹hungry; 31 but if he be found, ^ahe shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.  32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman ^alacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.  33 A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.  34 For ^ajealousy is ¹the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.  35 He will ¹not regard any ransom; neither will he ²rest content, though thou givest many gifts. "  In this latter passage of Scripture, the adulterer is equated to a thief, because he has stolen the sexual satisfaction that belongs to that woman's husband.  Additionally, in Ephesians 4:28, it is written, " 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather ^alet him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give ^bto him that needeth. "  One reason God commands us to work, is so that we will have something to give to the needy.

The lust of the eyes can lead to the sin of a lack of contentment.  In Hebrews 13:5, it is written, " 5 Let your ¹converation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, ^aI will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. "  The sin of a lack of contentment can result in gambling, for example.  We must learn to be content with our wages ( see Luke 3:14, for example ).  The love of money is condemned in the Bible, for in 1 Timothy 6:9, 10, it is written, " 9 But they that ¹will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and ²hurtful lusts, which drown men in ³destruction and perdition.  10 For the love of money is the root of ¹all evil: ²which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. "  Christians who are guilty of loving money will err from the faith, for example.  The desire to gamble will lead one to enter a casino which, is itself, a sin.  We are commanded by God to not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, for in Ephesians 5:11, it is written, " 11 And have ^ano fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, bur rather ¹reprove them. "  When one is engaged in the sinful act of gambling, he or she is taking money from others, rather than earning an honest living, as God commands.  Living a holy or godly life means avoiding gambling and any other sin ( see 1 Timothy 5:22, for example ).  Having one's life preserved is conditional upon being godly.  Please search the scriptures daily, as the Jews of Be-re´-a did ( see Acts 17:10, 11, for example ). 🕮

1. NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright © 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 664.