Believers In Christ Who Are Without Christ

Are you a believer who has continued practicing sin? Are you aware the Apostle Paul writes to believers and warns them of failing the test and God not being with them? In our day of ear tickling preachers you will likely never hear this. They will tell you you are under grace. Brothers and sisters, grace does not cover sin. If you are practicing sin Paul warns that you "formerly lived in sin" and have not repented.

Are you trampling under your feet the blood of Christ? Grace does not cover sin. It took the blood of Jesus and him taking the wrath of God for sin! If you have believed in Christ you must repent of sin and continue in the faith and maturity! Are you living in sin and professing to be a believer? James has a word for you:

• James tells us "19You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear." James 2 ISV

2 Corinthians 12 ISV Paul tells us,
19Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority ofg the Messiah,h and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up. 20I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. 

• Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. 21I am afraid that when I come my God may again humble me before you and that I may have to grieve over many who formerly lived in sin and have not repented of their impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity that they once practiced.

Continuing into chapter 13

2 Corinthians 13 ISV

1This will be the third time I am coming to you. “Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses.”a 2I have already warned those who sinned previously and all the rest. Although I am absent now, I am warning them as I did on my second visit: If I come back, I will not spare you, 3since you want proof that the Messiahb is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is making his power felt among you. 4Though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by God’s power. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you.

5Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don’t you, that Jesus the Messiahc lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? 6I hope you will realize that we haven’t failed our test. 7We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not to show that we have not failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for—your maturity.

10For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.

11Finally, brothers, goodbye. Keep on growing to maturity. Keep listening to my appeals. Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.