Dear Audrey,
Thanks for the feedback and my apologies for the delay in my response.
1. The WORD OF GOD commands us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)
2. It is not my intention to compel or convert anyone to follow the way I believe and understand
3. Anyone who desires to understand and follow the way in which I understand and follow, I am here to serve.
4. As for the others, they are of course completely free to have their own beliefs and understanding, as GOD has clearly said that I will deceive myself if I think if I am something when I am nothing (Galatians 6:3)
I do agree with your key point that the love of Christ Jesus is more powerful than satan’s kingdom, the lust of our flesh & eyes and the pride of life. When we are born again in the Spirit of God we will begin to grow in faith and love of Christ Jesus that empowers us to become Overcomers ( ie. sinfulness) and powerful soldiers ( ie. fighting the good spiritual fight against spiritual forces not human beings). This continued growth in the Spirit of God will change us ( ie. being perfected) to become Christ-like (ie. sons of God). As you know, this is an on-going process and a journey with Jesus Christ and learning to walk in the Spirit and Truth of Our Almighty God.
There are a couple of points needing some clarity and it is always safe to depend on God’s Word for understanding:
1. Refer to "doctor for the sick". The scripture reads as:
Mark 2:16-18 - 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
What I understand from this scripture is that yes, whilst Jesus was on earth he ate and drank with sinners, which of course all disciples are required to do. But Jesus also said that He came to call sinners to repentance. From the Gospel, it is clear that Jesus was not sitting and eating with the same sinners everyday. He was going out and meeting new sinners.
Matthew 10:14 (NKJV) - 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
I believe this is saying that when we give them the words of Jesus, which is calling sinners to repent, and if they do not want to listen, you have to go to others - You are not shunning these people who refuse to listen, you are humbly withdrawing and going to others. Bible verses will not contradict each other. Therefore, this verse will support the other verse, ie bad company (1 Corinthians 15:33) flee from all semblance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
All scriptures put together, clearly show, it is not being with the same sinners, who continue to reject JESUS, who is calling for their repentance.
I have personally suffered the consequences of continuing to be with the same sinners, and I too fell into the same sin, of what they were doing finally, and suffered the consequences of the sin. I suffered severe anguish and sorrow for sinning until JESUS CHRIST set me free again.
Now, I find that as I meet more sinners and tell them, a few want to follow and others reject, and I move on. When I am led in the spirit that I have ministered long enough and they are still not accepting it (it can be even over a period of months) when I am finally led to let it go, I let it go and continue ministering to others, and by GOD's mercy I have love in my heart for them. After all I remember that I too was a sinner until JESUS opened my eyes and gave me peace.
There are also sinners who are committing serious sins, and if I minister to them and they refuse to listen I move away immediately because they want to continue in their sin.
Example, sexual immorality - in such cases I just move on straight away after having known that they actually want to continue in that sin.
Those I 'left' (it does not mean that I shun them, it’s just that I am not regularly with them), they do come back from time to time to get counsel or even seeking prayers, because they know that I am attending to the calling that JESUS CHRIST, i.e. to spread the Good News to others and they themselves have said that they see peace in me and that my life is continuously changing for the better. I always answer them that it is because of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth.
Having said that, the Bible commands us to first seek the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) which is righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17) Therefore the spreading of the gospel is after I myself am in righteousness, peace and joy and to keep in my mind that my salvation has to be addressed.
If being with some people regularly is robbing my righteousness, peace and joy, then I have to leave for my own sake, because the Scripture states to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12); Concurrently, I must keep in mind that it is for me not to follow the Word legalistically but as led by the Spirit of GOD.
Note: I have decided to use the Amplified version to try and get a ‘fuller’ meaning.
2. Catching sins from non believers
Of course no one can catch another's sin but you can be under severe temptation from that group of people who want you to do what they are doing and this may include sexual misconduct, drunkenness, drugs, even violence.
God’s Word says:
a. Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. – 1 Corinthian 15:33
b. Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). – Philippians 2:12
c. Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be. – 1 Thessalonians 5:22
d. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. – Romans 12:2
e. If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you. – John 15:19
f. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:13-16
When we read and meditate on the above Scriptures, God’s Word will guide us to a powerful, peaceful, joyful and abundant life.
1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us evil company corrupts good character and there is no differentiation between mature or new born Christians. God’s Word is perfect and therefore irrespective of our maturity, this corruption WILL happen.
God’s Word also commands us to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth and all mankind and to be the salt and light in the world.
To protect oneself, one must certainly flee from such people.
The serious danger is if one does not flee from such people, who are exhibiting such conduct, and if you fall into those sins, it may be impossible to escape from them. Hebrews 6:4-6, For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. This scripture may very well be warning us.
3. ‘Hangout’ – What do we mean and understand by this word?
The common understanding is to ‘regularly be in the company and association of a group or groups of people’. This action would contradict God’s commandment as shown above.
Hanging out regularly with a same group of worldly people will begin to corrupt you and your soul. The evil spirits, bad language and worldliness that accompany worldly people will begin to affect you and your soul. This is dangerous for you and contrary to God’s Commandment.
When we look at Jesus Christ and His Disciples as an example, the only group Jesus and His Disciples regularly ‘hung out’ with was fellow believers and those wanting to do the will of God.
As for non believers, Jesus and His Disciples would preach, teach and be the salt & light to this group and then they move on - do not regularly hang out with them.
Therefore it is good and safe to follow the example Jesus Christ has commanded and set for us.
4. Great Commission
a. Mark 16:17-18 says, and these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Also remember what Mark 16:16 those who do not believe, JESUS is saying they will be condemned. That is why we have to keep on telling more and more people.
b. Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
Yes, I agree that it is our goal in life to go and makes disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything we have been commanded.
It is also equally important to teach other believers to cast out demons (this can be any evil spirit such as fear, mind controlling demons, confusion, sexual immorality, covetousness, gossiping, murmuring, etc - all these can be cast out in the Name of Jesus Christ), healing the sick, speaking in new tongues etc as we live in a spirit world. Every believer needs to know the power they have in Christ to overcome the demonic forces.
Summary / Conclusion:
Romans 8:14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. If we want to be sons of God, we have to be led in everything that we do as the scriptures says in John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
May peace of Christ be with you. God bless you!
Servant of Christ,
Dhanusha
