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The Road To Acquittal


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†. 1Cor 6:9-10 . . Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

NOTE: numbers of well-meaning folk have attempted to use that verse to prove that gays and lesbians are hopelessly doomed to eternal suffering. But that would mean fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners, are hopelessly doomed too. It would also mean that Christ didn't die for the whole world, but just for a select portion of the world, which certainly isn't true. (cf. 1John 2:2)

†. 1Cor 6:11 . . And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God

The koiné Greek word for "justified" is dikaioo (dik-ah-yo'-o) which means: to show, or to regard as innocent; in other words: justification (in this instance) pertains to Jesus' cross; which was an official act of God that fully satisfies justice for one's wickedness.

It's ironic that numbers of immoral people are going to make it to safety when they cross over to the other side while numbers of clean-living religious folk won't.

†. Matt 21:31. .Verily I say unto you; that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

The audience to whom Jesus spoke those words consisted of Judaism's chief priests and elders: the cream of the crop (Mtt 21:23). The prOBlem with those guys in that particular incident was that, although they were very religious, they were not very righteous. It would seem then, that God isn't nearly as pleased with church attendance, rOBes, rituals, sacraments, and holy days of OBligation as he is with righteousness. (cf. Isa 1:10-20)

I'm not saying immorality is better than religion; but what I'm saying is: hypocrisy is even worse. However, both the hypocrite and the immoral can OBtain an acquittal at the cross.

Webster's defines "acquit" as: to discharge completely (as from an OBligation or accusation). An acquittal is much superior to a hung jury. When you're acquitted, you have the protection of the principle of double jeopardy; which means, essentially, that you cannot be put on trial again for an accusation for which you were adjudged innocent in a previous proceeding. However, an acquittal doesn't necessarily mean the court was convinced you were innocent; it simply means there wasn't enough evidence to put you away.

Now, what's interesting about the process of heaven's acquittal is that the Bible's God has plenty enough evidence to put you away; no doubt about it since He keeps detailed files on everyone recording every second of every day of their lives. So the question becomes: How can a divine jurist of the highest possible integrity acquit people when He has at His disposal plenty enough evidence to put them away? Has he no conscience? How is justice served by acquitting guilty people?

Yom Kippur is an annual Jewish holy day during which ancient Jews were reminded that their sins were still on record in Heaven, because the maximum that Aaron's atonement system could OBtain for them was a reprieve. In other words; Aaron's atonement system didn't satisfy justice for one's sins; it merely covered them for the time being.

However, the cross fully satisfies justice for one's sins rather than merely covering them, thus allowing a righteous God the liberty to acquit deserving-of-hell sinners; including, but not limited to: fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners,

†. Isa 53:6 . . All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

†. 1John 2:2 . . He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The koiné Greek word for "sanctified" in 1Cor 6:11 is hagiazo (hag-ee-ad'-zo) which, in a nutshell, means to render something holy. New Testament sanctification is both a process and a status. In this case, it's a status. Now think about just how incredible 1Cor 6:11 really is. It's saying, in as clear a syntax as the British vernacular of 400 years ago allowed; that the fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners in the church at Corinth had the status of "holy" by means of the cross. No, they weren't intrinsically holy; no sir, not by any stretch of the imagination. But God no longer saw them for what they really were; He saw them for the status He gave them in His son.

†. 1Cor 1:2 . . Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus

†. 1Cor 1:30 . . But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

†. Heb 10:14 . . For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Christianity's enemies often criticize that we have a license to steal because of the cross. Well, let me say to them, that when you think about it; a license to steal is the only possible way anybody is going to make it to safety when they cross over to the other side. The justice of God is very thorough, and each and every sin merits capital punishment.

†. Rom 6:23 . . For the wages of sin is death

What's so bad about death? Well, to begin with; people's first death is already earmarked for Adam's sin. (Rom 5:12, Rom 5:17-18). So then, people's first death can't be used to atone for their own sins because it's earmarked to atone for Adam's.

However, everyone will live one more time.

†. Dan 12:2 . . And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

†. John 5:28-29 . . The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

People's second life can, and will be, used to atone for their own sins. However, each count merits the death penalty. Here's how it works: Supposing a sinner is convicted of 250 counts of lying. They can satisfy justice for one of those 250 lies by forfeiting their resurrected life; but how are they going to satisfy justice for the other 249 lies since there is only one resurrection per person?

Answer: only by a perpetual death in the reservoir of liquefied flame depicted at Rev 20:11-15.

C.L.I.F.F.
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