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Upon seeing the title of this article, without a doubt, the immediate reaction of many people -- including quite a few Christians -- will be to reply with a certain air of disgust "No! Of course not! I would never do such a terrible thing! I love my spouse!" However, what if I were to tell you that some people commit adultery their entire lives without even ever realizing it? WHAT???!!! If you are wondering what in the world I am talking about, then please continue reading this article, and everything will become clear to you.

Now, to begin, if there is one thing which the New Testament clearly teaches us, it is that remaining separate from the world, and not acting like the rest of the citizens of the world, was in fact a core principle of the Early Church of the First Century. They believed it, and they likewise very much practiced it. This doctrine of being separate from the world was taught directly by Jesus Christ, as well as by the original Apostles.

For anyone who may doubt that this is so, please carefully consider the following group of verses. As you will clearly see, we Christians are simply and truly NOT a part of this present evil world. That being the case, we need to separate ourselves from its wicked ways as much as we possibly can. Stated more plainly, we are in fact strangers and pilgrims -- or foreigners -- on this Earth, who are only temporarily passing through this world on our way to the Promised Land of God's Heavenly Kingdom, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Here then are the verses. There is no way of getting around what they say, unless we purposely choose to be deceived:

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."


"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."


"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."


"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."


"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"


"No man that warreth [meaning spiritual warfare] entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."


"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."


"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."


"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."


Yet despite this teaching being so clearly established in the Scriptures, sadly, in our modern day, there are so many self-professing Christians who live and behave no different from the rest of the world. Contrary to what Jesus and the Apostles said and taught, these Christians have so hidden their spiritual light under a bushel, that one can hardly even tell that they ARE Christians, if at all. Such people have totally compromised their faith due to a variety of reasons.

Sometimes, such compromise in their lives is due to peer pressure and political correctness. Perhaps they're afraid of being mocked or rejected by their peers, whether it is their own family members, co-workers or anyone else. Some Christians fear societal ostracism -- or being outcasts -- and even potential persecution from those people who really hate our Christian faith. Then there are those Christians who simply like the materialistic lifestyle which the world affords them. Or perhaps there is some other unnamed reason.

But regardless of the reason, the bottom line is that rather than choose the sometimes difficult life of faith, such weak Christians have foolishly chosen the easier road by blending in with the world. They pursue making lots of money, having the finest car, living in an impressive home, wearing the latest styles of clothing, donning fancy jewelry, putting on piles of makeup and dying their hair so as to enhance their personal appearance, and doing so many other worldly things to maintain their image and social status.

But it doesn't end there. Some worldly Christians will even go so far as to drink and smoke, and have a marijuana toke. They will cuss just like their co-workers. Many of them will also observe national holidays, even though they know that such holidays are based on lies, paganism and even idolatry. Tragically, when a Christian brother or sister comes along and then lovingly tries to show them the error of their ways, rather than humbly receive the correction, they will often attack that brother or sister, accuse them of simply being judgmental and self-righteous, or else they will say "Just leave me alone. Jesus knows my heart."

How many times have you heard some weak, worldly Christians say that? "It is really okay that I do these things, because Jesus knows my heart, and He is fine with it." Now I'm going to really shock you. Do you know who else says "Jesus knows my heart"? Gays and lesbians who absolutely refuse to give up their abominable, sinful lifestyles. They have become so terribly deceived, that they now even form LGBTQ+ churches where they have foolishly convinced themselves that God is pleased with them, and accepts them exactly as they are.

My friends, that is exactly what happens when we choose to reject the truth of God's Word. It is extremely dangerous to do so, because once the Bible is out of the picture, we can justify and do just about anything we please. In short, we open ourselves up to some very deep deception. Or perhaps a person does not outright reject the Bible on the whole, but they will do something that is just as bad. They will give it their own personal interpretation so that the Bible conforms to what they want to believe and do, instead of what the Bible actually says. This is precisely what the "Queen James Bible" does. It is a complete abomination! Now in the case of the LGBTQ+ community, they seem to intentionally ignore the fact that Jesus said the following on two separate occasions in the Gospel of John:

"When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: GO, AND SIN NO MORE."


"Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: SIN NO MORE, LEST A WORSE THING COME UNTO THEE."


As you may know, many worldly people are quick to point out that during His time on the Earth, Jesus associated Himself with publicans, harlots and sinners. This is indeed true, and there are a number of Scriptures which in fact confirm this point, as we can easily determine by the following set of verses:

"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."


"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."


"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."


"And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."


"And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."


"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children."


"Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."


But you see, while such worldly people and weak Christians are rather quick to point out how Jesus associated Himself with such societal outcasts, they either ignorantly, or in some cases intentionally, refuse to acknowledge exactly why the Lord did that. The previous group of verses provide us with a very clear answer when the Lord says "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." In short, they purposely ignore the "Go, and sin no more" part. And so, because of this, instead of living as the new creature in Christ that they are supposed to be -- that is to say, according to the inner man of the Spirit -- they continue living the life of the old man of the flesh. Consider the following group of Bible verses:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."


"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."


"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"


"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."


"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;"


"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;"


"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.‭ Neither yield ye your members ‭as‭ instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members ‭as‭ instruments of righteousness unto God.‭ ‭‭For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.‭"


"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not . . . I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."


What these Christians who compromise with the world really need to realize is that we simply CANNOT be ashamed of our faith and our Christian beliefs, and try to hide our true selves like a chameleon. Why do I say this? Well, because if we are so ashamed of our faith , and if we do choose to hide our spiritual light, the Scriptures makes it very plain that Jesus will likewise be ashamed of us. In fact, He will even deny knowing us before His Father. Consider the following group of verses which verify this important point:

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."


"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, HIM WILL I ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER which is in heaven."


"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: IF WE DENY HIM, HE ALSO WILL DENY US:"


"For I AM NOT ASHAMED of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."


"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I AM NOT ASHAMED: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."


"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, LET HIM NOT BE ASHAMED; but let him glorify God on this behalf."


So as it should be quite evident to you by now, instead of trying to blend in with the world -- which will inevitably lead to serious compromise in our lives -- we need to do our very best to remain as separate from the present world as we possibly can. Now that we've firmly, clearly and Biblically established this point, we are really going to get into the meat of the matter, and exactly why this article is called "Are You Committing Adultery?". Earlier, I shared with you the following verse that was written by the Apostle James:

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


It is important for you to understand that when James writes "Ye adulterers and adulteresses", he is NOT talking about physical/sexual adultery; although that is indeed a grievous sin before the Lord as well, which I discuss in other of my articles. Rather, James is writing about a different kind of adultery. In other words, he's really talking about SPIRITUAL adultery, as the rest of the verse clearly bears out. More specifically, James is talking about adultery with the world. But exactly what does James mean when he says this? Please continue reading, and it will soon become very clear to you.

As some of my readers will know, the Holy Scriptures teach us that through our faith in Christ and being born again in the Spirit -- as per Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter three -- we Christians are spiritually married to Jesus . We -- the Church -- are His spiritual bride, and He is our spiritual husband, just as Israel was married to the Lord in the Old Testament. This Scriptural truth is born out by the following group of verses:

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be MARRIED TO ANOTHER, even to him who is raised from the dead [meaning Jesus], that we should bring forth fruit unto God."


"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."


"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"


"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."


"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."


"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."


"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.‭ And five of them were wise, and five ‭were‭ foolish.‭ They that ‭were‭ foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:‭ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.‭ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.‭ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.‭ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.‭ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.‭ But the wise answered, saying, ‭Not so‭; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.‭ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.‭ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.‭ But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.‭"


So what we can learn from all of these verses is that when we ignore the Lord in our lives -- meaning that we abandon our spiritual husband -- don't follow His teachings, and for whatever our reasons choose to follow the ways of the world instead, we are committing adultery with the world. When we hide our spiritual light under a bushel, and choose instead to live and act just like the rest of the world so that they can't even tell that we're Christians, then we're committing spiritual adultery with the world.

In short, similar to physical/sexual adultery where a spouse is unfaithful and engages in sexual intercourse with another man or woman, we are in effect committing spiritual adultery with the world. The world becomes our on-the-side lover, and God does NOT like it one bit, because as the Scriptures also inform us, He is a very jealous God, as we can determine by the following set of verses:

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"


"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"


"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."


"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,"


"(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."


To continue then, earlier, I shared the following two verses with you. Please carefully notice the first four words that the Apostle John writes, even before he exposes the dangers which exist in the current world. He very specifically says "Love not the world", because when we are loving the world, we are not truly loving God first. As I said a moment ago, we have abandoned our spiritual husband, and we've become guilty of committing spiritual adultery with the world, as the Apostle James wrote:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."


"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."


So then, rather than allow Satan to tempt us and to ensnare us with the temporary things of this present world and life -- that is to say, with the things which appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life -- we need to remain sober and vigilant, and we need to ignore his crafty temptations and sly devices, as we see by these two verses:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"


"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."


In short, my friends, just as Jesus and the Apostles did, we likewise need to set our affections -- that is to say, our thoughts -- on things above, on heavenly things, and NOT on those things which merely pertain to this Earth. Here again are some additional Bible verses which verify this point:

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."


"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."


"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."


"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."


"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


"No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."


Please go to part two for the conclusion of this article.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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