GIVE ATTENTION TO PCG ARTICLE ON SIN OF IDOLATRY

IDOLATORS

Eph 5:5 –Fornicator, unclean person, covetous man.—vs.  5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

GOD’S CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE IDOLATERS!

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The Sin of Idolatry

June 1, 2012 | From theTrumpet.com

It’s more common than you might think.

STEPHEN FLURRY

HERE ARE SOME QUOTES (in pink) FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE OF S. FLURRY, TO WHICH ADDITIONS that are very important ARE MENTIONED  BELOW (in black)—

NOTICE THE seriousness OF THOSE POINTS---

“God placed special emphasis on two of the Ten Commandments.

Notice: “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 26:1-2).

Keep my sabbaths, God said, and don’t bow down to idols. These were the two great test commandments for the people of Israel. Now why would God emphasize these two in particular? Because these two, more than the others, were designed to keep man in the closest, most intimate contact with his Maker!

“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage,” God thundered at Mt. Sinai, before reiterating the ten indispensable laws mankind has always needed to regulate their relationships with God and man.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” God continued (Exodus 20:1-3). That word before means “in place of.” God musthave first place in our lives—always; without exception. This First Commandment forbids man from placing anyone or anything in front of God. It forbids idolatry.

Now notice how the Second Commandment flows right out of the great command to put God above all else. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God …” (verses 4-5).

This commandment obviously forbids the use of any physical substitutes or aids man sets up in order to “worship” God. But what about the spiritual idols we set up in our hearts, as it says in Ezekiel 14:3? We may not bow down to any physical idols made of stone, wood or precious metal, but our modern world is filledwith idolatry, just the same!

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“Every person has his idol,” Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in his Autobiography. For Mr. Armstrong, it was an egotistical sense of self-importance—the desire to attain status in the eyes of his peers.

For us, it may be an inordinate love of self—or vanity—as it was with Lucifer. His heart was lifted up because of his own beauty—so much so that he wanted to raise his earthly throne above his own Creator’s (Ezekiel 28:17; Isaiah 14:13).

Maybe it’s pursuing the physical beauty of others that we place in front of God. Just look at how our Western culture glamorizes beauty, among women especially—as if good looks and a youthful appearance are all that matters. It seems the reverential treatment of celebrity icons has reached near-saturation point in society today.

Perhaps it’s physical wealth and materialism that prevents us from putting God first, like the young man who told Jesus he had obeyed all of God’s commandments since the days of his youth. But when Jesus told him to give up his earthly possessions, he went away sorrowful because his heart was so attached to material things.

Pleasure seeking also separates a lot of people from God—things like entertainment and sports or excessive television viewing. God’s way of life, after all, is very demanding. Among other things, He expects us to observe His weekly and annual sabbaths, to tithe on all of our income and to seek Him daily through effectual fervent prayers and diligent Bible study. If we find ourselves spending most of our leisure time pursuing things other than God, then pleasure-seeking might be an idol.

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Some make an idol out of gluttony, drunkenness and other such addictions. Instead of looking to God in time of need, they turn to physical substances in order to cope or to escape.

Still others insist on putting friends or family members ahead of God. They would rather give God second or third place in their lives than face alienation from loved ones over their obedience to God’s laws.

And what about our profession or career? God praises those who work with all of their might, but if we turn to work, as some workaholics do, in order to avoid responsibilities at home or in the Church, then we can make a god out of working.

On the other hand, there are also those who simply refuse to work—who make a god out of idleness and ease.

Whatever it is, if we place it ahead of God and living according to His laws, it becomes a false god! If it interferes with our relationship with God, the Bible says, then it becomes an idol—and it must be crushed!

In the case of Mr. Armstrong, it took God 28 years to finally stamp out every last vestige of self-assured confidence, which was vain idolatry!

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry,” Paul wrote to the brethren at Corinth, well over a thousand years after Israel had come out of Egyptian captivity. He knew well that the idolatry command was not meant for some bygone age. It was written for us. Like the rest of the Ten Commandments, it applies to our time today!

And it remains, even to this day, as one of two critically important test commands. If faithfully obeyed, it automatically draws us closer to our Maker!

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Keep yourselves from idols, as John wrote to conclude his first epistle. Give God first place in your life. Make your relationship with Him more important than anyone or anything else.

Nothing in this material life, after all, is as important----

IDOLATORS

Defined in Eph 5:5 –Fornicator, unclean person, covetous man.—vs.  5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6        Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

3 - But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

WHOREMONGERS IN SECOND DEATH, OUTSIDE NEW JERUSALEM.

(Re 21-22 discusses New Jerusalem)

Re 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Re 22:15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie

We should NOTICE---in Re 21: 8, all types of idolaters WOULD BE IN SECOND DEATH---and Re 22: 15 SAYS THAT THEY ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY (New Jerusalem). Eph 5: 5 says THEY DO NOT HAVE INHERITANCE IN THE Kingdom of God!

WELL, ALL THOSE WHO FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF CALLED OUT SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL---THIS IS NOT A TIME TO FIGHT ONE AGAINST THE OTHER---BUT SEEK OUT YOUR SALVATION THROUGH FEAR!

Php 2:12--work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

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Eph 5:5 –Fornicators are idolaters---Eze. 16: 29 mentions the spiritual fornication of PCG!—PCG a whorish woman, says Eze. 16: 30—36 !---vs. 36: 36  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations,--- 38  And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

THEREFORE THE ENDTIME CHURCH OF GOD, PCG TURNED OUT TO BE IDOLATERS!

They had thus become Laodiceans!

Re 3: 16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18  I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Do not PCG exhibit the above? –they point to others as if the others should repent! but they are blind to their being Laodiceans!

PCG rebels to think that they committed Eze. 44: 7 and broke  the covenant---Eze. 16: 59 says they broke the covenant they made in Eze. 16: 8!

LORD is sending the fire of His—Jer 5: 14-23: 29—(LORD’s words are fire)--

Re 3: 20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

JESUS CHRIST KNOCKS THROUGH HIS SERVANTS PF Eze. 30: 3! HE SENDS HIS VOICE! JESUS CHRIST OVERCAME THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE TO MAKE A FRESH NEW COVENANT AS HIS PEOPLE FAILED THROUGH THE LAW IN THE FIRST COVENANT!

The only way for a believer to overcome is to BELIEVE IN HIS DEATH TO BE FORGIVEN THROUGH HIS BLOOD OF REDEMPTION---that is to be Baptized unto His death, Ro 6: 3-7, which gives His rigteousness unto Holiness, vs 19, 22, so that THE BELIEVER MAY PARTAKE HIS THRONE, SERVING HIM, Re 21: 3-5, 22: 3,4. (Re 22: the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:--4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads).

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JESUS CHRIST REQUIRES CHURCH TO BE WITHOUT BLEMISH--

Eph 5:25-- Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Christ gave Himself for the church that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the  washing of water by the word.

He gave a fountain of water, Zec 13;1, by the word-that means water is given through the word—word of God given freely—word of God teaches how He washes to cleanse the church,  SO THAT His wife SHOULD PRESENT HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH-HE WANTS A CLEAN WIFE! NO SPOTS-NO WRINKLES-BUT A HOLY CHURCH WITHOUT BLEMISH.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.--8  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.—14--Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

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Eph 5:5 –Fornicator, unclean person, covetous man.—vs.  5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

WE SHOULD NOT BE FOUND CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE!

Nobody had got inheritance in Kingdom of God, therefore we see that JESUS CHRIST HAD WARNED US TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN ACTIVITIES OF OUR LIVES!

Explanations of MHC commentary gives valuable admonishing—

(In blue)

I. To fortify us against the sins of uncleanness, &c., the apostle urges several arguments, and prescribes several remedies, in what follows,

1. He urges several arguments, As,

   (1.) Consider that these are sins which shut persons out of heaven: For this you know, &c., #Eph 5:5.  They knew it, being informed of it by the Christian religion. By a covetous man some understand a lewd lascivious libertine, who indulges himself in those vile lusts which were accounted the certain marks of a heathen and an idolater. Others understand it in the common acceptation of the word; and such a man is an idolater because there is spiritual idolatry in the love of this world. As the epicure makes a god of his belly, so the covetous man makes a god of his money, sets those affectations upon it, and places that hope, confidence, and delight, in worldly good, which should be reserved for God only. He serves mammon instead of God. Of these persons it is said that they have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God;  that is, the kingdom of Christ, who is God, or the kingdom which is God’s by nature, and Christ’s as he is Mediator, the kingdom which Christ has purchased and which God bestows.  Heaven is here described as a kingdom (as frequently elsewhere) with respect to its eminency and glory, its fulness and sufficiency, &c. In this kingdom the saints and servants of God have an inheritance; for it is the inheritance of the saints in light. But those who are impenitent, and allow themselves either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, are not Christians indeed, and so belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shall they ever come to the kingdom of glory. Let us then be excited to be on our guard against those sins which would exclude and shut us out of heaven.

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   (2.) These sins bring the wrath of God upon those who are guilty of them:

"Let no man deceive you with vain words, &c.,

#Eph 5:6. Let none flatter you, as though such things

were tolerable and to be allowed of in Christians, or as

though they were not very provoking and offensive unto

God, or as though you might indulge yourselves in

them and yet escape with impunity. These are vain words."

Observe, Those who flatter themselves and others with hopes of impunity in sin do but put a cheat upon themselves and others. Thus Satan deceived our first parents with vain words when he said to them, You shall not surely die.  They are vain words indeed; for those who trust to them will find themselves wretchedly imposed upon, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. By children of disobedience may be meant the Gentiles, who disbelieved, and refused to comply with, and to submit themselves to, the gospel: or, more generally, all obstinate sinners, who will not be reclaimed, but are given over to disobedience.  Disobedience is the very malignity of sin.  And it is by a usual Hebraism that such sinners are called children of disobedience; and such indeed they are from their childhood, going astray as soon as they are born. The wrath of God comes upon such because of their sins; sometimes in this world, but more especially in the next. And dare we make light of that which will lay us under the wrath of God? O no. Be not you therefore partakers with them, #Eph 5:7.

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ISRAEL TOO ARE CONSIDERED AS IN HEATHEN NATIONS BY GOD, Eze 36:21 ,  THEY WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK FROM NATIONS (from captivity, after teaching them, through Holy Spirit, Ez 39: 28,29)

Eze 36:21  But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.

Eze 39:23  And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.

Zec 8:13  And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

WHETHER ISRAEL OR GENTILE, ALL BELIEVERS SHOULD NOT BE IDOLATERS!

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Jas 1:22 -- be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

GOD’S CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE IDOLATERS!

It is prophesied that ISRAEL would give up their idolatry--

IDOALTRY would be given up by God’s children--

Isa 2:8  Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made.

Isa 2:18  But the idols He shall utterly abolish.

Isa 2:20  In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made,

Isa 31:7  For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold––sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

Isa 45:16  They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols.

Isa 57:13  When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you.

Jer 2:5  Thus says the LORD: "What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?

Prophecies say that Laodiceans, ISRAEL of last era had become idolaters! (shown above from Eze. 16).

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TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST---

Jer 14:22  Are there any among the idols of the nations that can cause rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are You not He, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait for You, Since You have made all these.

CONFIRM THAT LORD SAYS THAT ISRAEL OF RO 9: 4,6, ARE IN NATIONS, Eze. 12: 15!

ISRAEL WERE AS HEATHEN NATIONS AS THEY WERE SENT INTO CAPTIVITY IN NATIONS, Ez 12: 15! Could H.W.Armstrong give rain for present truth!

PCG should not disgrace JESUS CHRIST through exalting H.W.Armstrong!

IT IS JESUS CHRIST WHO COULD GIVE RAIN AND SHOWERS TO COME OUT OF CAPTIVITY, Zec 9: 11!

Jer 5:24  They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season.

THIS IS WHY PCG GOT THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST AS FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, AS AN HORRIBLE TEMPEST-to chasten them!

Jer 18:15  "Because My people have forgotten Me, They have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, From the ancient paths,

Jer 16:18  "And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols."

Ps. 11: 6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

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LORD’s inheritance ---heritage is ISRAEL!

The present day leaders had not understood the way of God, JESUS CHRIST!---they proclaim things different to what God wants in His SANCTUARY! Therefore all what they do are LIES IN THE NAME OF GOD!

PCG SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SIN OF IDOLATRIES –FOREMOST IDOLATRY OF BEING COVETOUS NATURE WHICH MADE THEM COMMIT SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY TO BREAK THE MARRIAGE COVENANT THEY MADE IN Eze. 16: 8 IN Eze. 16: 59, BY BRINGING STRANGERS INTO ALTAR OF SANCTUARY OF JESUS CHRIST, Ez 44: 7---

THIS IS NOT A SMALL MATTER TO JESUS CHRIST, HIS WAY AND DWELLING PLACE IS SANCTUARY, Ps. 77: 13.

PCG HAD POLLUTED HIS DWELLING PLACE WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LEAVE IT!

PCG CAUSED ALL THESE TROUBLE TO JESUS CHRIST AS THEY SINNED AGAINST HIM--

La 1:8  Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: --they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.—Laodiceans HAD TURNED BACK ---SHE IS NAKED—CLOTHES GIVEN IN Ez 16: 8-14 ARE NOT WITH HER!—SHE BROKE COVENANT, Ez 16: 59---La 2:17--He hath fulfilled His word that He had commanded in the days of old: He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and He hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee,--

NOTICE HE HAD FULFLILLED HIS WORDS!---prophecies are fulfilling!

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NOTICE THE FOLLOWING VSS--

Jer 12:7  I have forsaken Mine house, I have left Mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.

Jer 16:18  - they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols."

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land.

LORD’S HERITAGE IS HOUSE OF ISRAEL---HE HAD LEFT THEM---THEY ARE FILLED WITH IDOLS---AND HE WOULD PLEAD WITH THEM---THEY ARE AMONG NATIONS!

SPIRITUALLY Laodiceans ARE IN NATIONS!

Amos 9: 1 - I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them;

4  And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, 7  Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto Me, O children of Israel?-- 8  Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.

9  For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations,

11 - In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

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Laodiceans would be brought back from their captivity after POURING THEM WITH LIFE GIVING WORDS, (Holy Spirit, Jn 6 : 63). ---Eze 39:29  Neither will I hide My face any more from them: for I have poured out My spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

JESUS CHRIST THROUGH POURING HIS SPIRIT, HIS TEACHINGS FOR LIFE, WOULD ESTABLISH THE WORK OF THE HANDS OF ISRAEL--

Ps. 90: 1 -A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 16  Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.--17  And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

THIS IS WHY THE LORD IS ESTABLISHING THE PROPER MINISTRY HE WOULD BE PLEASED WITH AS MENTIONED IN MAL 3: 3!

HE COULD HAVE DESTROYED ALL SINNERS! BUT HIS MERCY TOWARDS HIS COVENANT (to Abraham, Isaac , Jacob, David, Jer 33:24 -26),  MADE HIM FAITHFUL TO KEEP IT BY CORRECTING ISRAEL, HIS CHILDREN!

LORD’s day work is to establish THE TRUE DAVID’S THRONE WHICH EXALTS GOD AND WORSHIP HIM IN THE MANNER HE PLEASES, Isa 66: 23 WOULD BE ESTABLISHED JUST AS IN THE DAYS OF DAVID, 1 Chr 23: 30-31.

WHEN Laodiceans REMOVE THEIR IDOLS---THEY WOULD BE KEEPING COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS CHRIST!

When the LORD is chastening in His CHILDREN leading to repentance, Ro 2:4, through His words, He is pointing to errors or wickedness of His people- We should UNDERSTAND AND CORRECT OURSELVES---- REPENTING TOWARDS HIM---- BOWING OUR KNEES TO HIM!

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Rom 2: 4  Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11  For there is no respect of persons with God.

IN HIS MERCY HE IS CORRECTING ---SO WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL---AND CORRECT OURSELVES!

ALL PRAISE TO THE ALMIGHTY JESUS CHRIST OUR MERCIFUL SAVIOUR AND REDEEMER, Amen and Amen.

Gentile witness 2

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