We ought
not … to be puffed up, nor be severe upon those of old time, but ought
ourselves to fear, lest perchance, after [we have come to] the knowledge of
Christ, if we do things displeasing to God, we obtain no further forgiveness of
sins, but be shut out from His kingdom. And therefore it was Paul that said,
“For if [God] did not spare the natural branches, [take heed] lest He also not
spare you, who, when you were a wild olive tree, were grafted into the fatness
of the olive tree, and were made a partaker of its fatness.”
You will
notice, too, that the transgressions of the common people have been described
in like manner, not for the sake of those who did then transgress, but as a
means of instruction unto us, and that we should understand that it is one and
the same God against whom these men sinned, and against whom certain persons do
now transgress from among those who profess to have believed in Him. But this
also … has Paul declared most plainly in the Epistle to the Corinthians, when
he says, “Brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant, how that all our fathers
were under the cloud, and were all baptized unto Moses in the sea, and did all
eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for
they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them; and the rock was Christ.
But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the
wilderness.
These
things were for our example, to the intent that we should not lust after evil
things, as they also lusted; neither be idolaters, as were some of them, as it
is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither
let us commit fornication, as some of them also did, and fell in one day three
and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted,
and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur, as some of them murmured, and
were destroyed by the destroyer. But all these things happened to them as an
example, and were written for our admonition, upon whom the end of the world
has come. Therefore let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.” …
"Do
not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God.” And as it was not to those who are without that he said these things, but
to us, lest we should be cast forth from the kingdom of God, by doing any such
thing, he proceeds to say, “And such indeed were you; but you are washed, but
you are sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of
our God.” …
And again
does the apostle say, “Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of
these things comes the wrath of God upon the sons of mistrust. Do not therefore
partakers with hem.” And as then the condemnation of sinners extended to others
who approved of them, and joined in their society; so also is it the case at
present, that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” And as the wrath of God
did then descend upon the unrighteous, here also does the apostle likewise say:
“For the wrath of God shall be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of those men who hold back the truth in unrighteousness.”
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