Topic: Damned By Adultery [December 27, 2016]
Text: Galatians 5:19-26
Key Verse: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness” (Galatians 5:19).
Latimer was raised to the bishopric of Worcester in the reign of Henry VIII. It was the custom in those days for each of the bishops to make a present to the king on New Year Day. Latimer went with the rest of his brethren to make the usual offering. But instead of a purse of gold, he presented the king with a New Testament in which was a leaf doubled down to this passage. “Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”.
Although, Paul’s aim of writing this epistle to the Galatians was to emphasise that salvation was by grace through faith, not of works lest any man should boast, he however highlighted in our text that grace is not a license to sin. He warned them of the danger of fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. All who live in sin shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The passage concluded with the presentation of the fruit of the Spirit, the evidences of the new life. In almost every listing of iniquities in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament, adultery and fornication always stay on top.
This besetting sin has brought down more people than any other in the Scriptures. Thousands of Israelites died in the wilderness for their immoral engagements with the Moabites. David the greatest of Israel’s kings fell into the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. And Solomon the wisest king had his heart turned away from God by his one thousand women, to mention but a few. Many great leaders in public office, politics, entertainment, business and other sectors including the church, have fallen victim to the sin of adultery with some ending their careers in shame.
As wise believers, we must keep our bodies under, like Paul recommended, lest after preaching the gospel to others, we ourselves become castaways. Our body is the temple of God and must always be presented as a royal diadem.
Thought for the day: Adultery is that ready pathway to perdition.
Bible Reading in one Year: Revelation 9-11
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
