The Truth in Print Vol.
30, Issue 5, June 2024
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
What Are the Works of the Flesh?
The works of the
flesh in the New Testament scriptures are part of God’s moral analysis to be
taught and applied. The Vatican recently issued a new document stating when
people ask their priests for a blessing “an exhaustive moral analysis should
not be placed as a precondition for conferring it” – this is mentioned later
with comments in this article. The works of the flesh are sin (I Jo 3:4). We’re
told they are what keeps one from Heaven, and sends one to Hell – thus, the
truth about them must not be rejected.
The works of the flesh can be divisive being
sound doctrine (I Cor 11:19). God’s word applied correctly will divide the
faithful from the unfaithful. False churches push Woke philosophies and LGBT+
based on out right acceptance (!!) of the works of the flesh.
The Works
Of The Flesh Are Part Of The “NOT DO” Legislation In The
Authority
Of Christ Revealed In His New Testament (Matt 28:18-20).
This
warning was given to the churches of Galatia.
Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness,
Gal 5:20
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of
wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies,
Gal 5:21
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell
you beforehand, just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
This
Warning Was Given To The Church At Corinth.
1Co 5:9 I
wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually
immoral people.
1Co 5:10
Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of
this world, or with the covetous, or
extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the
world.
1Co 5:11
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone
named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or
covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not
even to eat with such a person.
1Co 5:12
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?
Do you not judge those who are inside?
1Co 5:13
But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "PUT AWAY
FROM YOURSELVES THE EVIL PERSON."
Those practicing the works of the flesh go
astray from the truth:
Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted,
"I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He
Himself tempt anyone.
Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is
drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Jas 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved
brethren.
“deceived” [G4105] Strong’s: to (properly cause
to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce,
wander, be out of the way.
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit
adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou
kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Notice the two works of the flesh identified
here are adultery and murder.
1Co 6:9 Do you
not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
1Co 6:10
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners
will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
“Do not
be deceived”
– do not be deceived by the change in vocabulary
to promote Woke philosophies -- God’s
vocabulary in the N.T. scriptures hasn’t changed – that’s the advantage of the
koine Gk. text. These sins stated in the New Testament make men sinners (I Jo
3:4).
Other Works
Of The Flesh.
Rev 21:8
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all
liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death."
· “murderers” [G5406]
Strong’s: a murderer (always of criminal [or at least
intentional] homicide) --- Abortion is found
here! It is a top issue for this year’s presidential election.
· “all liars” Liars lie
and want others to accept their lies. We live daily with
Woke lies
about what a man is, what a woman is, how many genders there
are, lies about what equality in DEI is. Think
about the lies told children by doctors who destroy their lives before they
ever get started in life. Lying teachers try to enforce acceptance of the Trans
lie upon all students. We know God didn’t make homosexuals and lesbians, for he
condemns their acts!
The Works
Of The Flesh Are Sin To Be Repented Of At
Baptism (Acts 2:38).
Here are excerpts from an article for
illustration purposes.
Article: WORLD (AP) Pope approves blessings for same-sex
couples that
must not
resemble marriage – By Nicole Winfield and David Crary updated 5:14 AM GMT-7,
December 19, 2023.
The Vatican
issued a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican
policy by insisting that people seeking God’s
love and mercy shouldn’t be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis.” (Dec.
18)
ROME (AP) —
Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests
bless same-sex couples, the Vatican announced
Monday, a radical shift in policy that aimed at making the church more
inclusive while maintaining its strict ban on gay marriage.
But while
the Vatican statement was heralded by some as a
step toward
breaking down discrimination in the Catholic Church, some
LGBTQ+ advocates warned it underscored the
church’s idea that gay couples remain inferior to heterosexual partnerships.
Note B.L.: Well, morally according to Christ’s
works of the flesh they are fornicators not non-fornicators! What is said
fornicators in the above scriptures?
The Catholic Church and LGBTQ+ rights
This is not the first time Pope Francis has
worked to open the Church to the LGBTQ+ community. Some say it’s too much, and
others say that it’s not enough.
Note B.L.: The Scriptures settle this for
faithful local churches of Christ – you are to tell them they’re living in sin
(Col 3:5-7).
Last month, the Vatican said it is
permissible under certain circumstances for trans people to be baptized as
Catholics and serve as godparents.
Note B.L.: Apply God’s law to repent and be baptized for the
remission of
sins (Acts 2:38) --- baptism certainly is not
for the remission of sins when one lying out their teeth saying that
they are the sex they are not.
“Being homosexual isn’t a crime” — Earlier
this year, the pope said these words in an interview with The AP, criticizing
laws that criminalize homosexuality.
Note
B.L.: Obviously, the key here is crime versus sin in the works of the flesh.
What are the works of the flesh? Sins that demand local church
discipline,
with withdrawal if not repented of (I Cor 5:1-5,12-13).
Months after becoming pope, Francis said “who
am I to judge” when it comes to the sexual orientation of priests.
But it says requests for such blessings for
same-sex couples should not be denied. It offers an extensive and broad
definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a
transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy shouldn’t
be held up to an impossible moral standard to receive it.
Note B.L.: What happened to walking in the
light to have fellowship with God! (I Jo 1:7) --- and being a liar if you say
you have it while walking in darkness (I Jo 1:6). You are in “darkness” not
surpassing it (see “a transcendent relationship” in the above quote) when you
are committing fornication.
“For,
those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral
perfection,” it said.
“There is no intention to legitimize
anything, but rather to open one’s life to God, to ask for his help to live
better, and also to invoke the Holy Spirit so that the values of the Gospel may
be lived with greater faithfulness,” it added.
Note B.L.: What in the world is “faithful” in
this junk!
The document marks the latest gesture of
outreach from a pope who has made welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark of his
papacy. From his 2013 quip, “Who am I to judge?” about a purportedly gay
priest, to his 2023 comment to The Associated Press that “Being homosexual is
not a crime,” Francis has distinguished himself from all his predecessors with
his message of welcome.
“The significance of this news cannot be
overstated,” said Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry, which supports
LGBTQ+ Catholics. “It is one thing to formally approve same-gender blessings,
which he had already pastorally permitted, but to say that people should not be
subjected to ‘an exhaustive moral analysis’ to receive God’s love and mercy is
an even more significant step.”
Note
B.L.: The works of the flesh in scriptures are an exhaustive moral analysis to
be taught and applied.
The Vatican holds that marriage is an
indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed
same-sex marriage and considers homosexual acts to be “intrinsically
disordered.” Nothing in the new document changes that teaching.
What Are
The Works Of The Flesh? They Are A Part Of God’s Moral (The
Bad In Character Part) Analysis.
The
Application Of The Works Of The Flesh In Teaching Visitors Who Are
Same-Sex Couples Is They Are Living In Sin (Col
3:5-7).
The Works
Of The Flesh Are A “Classification” Of Others – Let God Do The
Classifications!
Article: WORLD (AP) Pope
approves blessings for same-sex couples that
must not resemble marriage – By Nicole Winfield
and David Crary updated 5:14 AM GMT-7, December 19, 2023.
Quote:
In the new
document, the Vatican said the church must avoid “doctrinal or
disciplinary schemes especially when they lead
to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism whereby instead of evangelizing,
one analyzes and classifies others.”
Note B.L.: So, I guess God’s classification of
the various immoralities in the works of the flesh is just too authoritarian --
homosexuals, sodomites, drunks, adulterers, et.al.
Quote:
It said ultimately, a blessing is about helping people
increase their trust in
God. “It is a
seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered,” it said.
Note B.L.:
Since when a blessing NOT (!!) be the truth about one’s sinful
condition. Does hearing the truth help? This
“seed” comment is Catholic Theological Blah, Blah, Blah.
The
Identifying Of The Works Of The Flesh Is The Love Of Truth, And
Leads One To Repentance And Obedience.
Article: WORLD (AP) Pope
approves blessings for same-sex couples that
must not resemble marriage – By Nicole Winfield
and David Crary updated 5:14 AM GMT-7, December 19, 2023.
Quote:
It stressed
that people in “irregular” unions of extramarital sex
— gay or
straight — are in a state of sin. But it said that shouldn’t deprive
them of God’s love or mercy. “Even when a
person’s relationship with God is clouded by sin, he can always ask for a
blessing, stretching out his hand to God,” the document said.
Note B.L.: So, now they are practicing the
works of the flesh! This “clergy” blessing is a farse – the Catholic church is
the apostate church following Christ having established His church in the first
century (Matt 16:18; Acts 2:41-42 is the beginning of the church of Christ as
promised; Peter had a wife when he helped to start it! (Matt 8:14; I Cor 9:5).
The ones claiming to bless are in an apostate church – the blessers themselves
are also in a state of sin. Their own priests expose the Catholic church for
its error and leave all the time. God’s command to repent is His love! (Acts
2:38; Rev 3:19). The identifying of the works of flesh by rebuke is love! They
all need to repent and follow the N.T. scriptures – that would take doing away
with the Catholic church.
The Works Of The Flesh In Scriptures Are Part Of God’s Moral
Analysis To Be Taught
And Applied!
Quote:
“Thus, when
people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis
should not be placed as a precondition for
conferring it,” the document said.
Note B.L.:
So, when they ask that is not the time to tell them they are in a
state of sin!
The Works
Of The Flesh When Practiced Do Not Go, And Cannot Go With
Commitment To Christ.
Article:
WORLD (AP) Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples that
must not resemble marriage – By Nicole Winfield
and David Crary updated 5:14 AM GMT-7, December 19, 2023.
Quoting Ramon Gomez:
Ramón
Gómez, in charge of human rights for the Movement for Homosexual Integration
and Liberation group in Chile, said the statement was a step toward breaking
down discrimination in the church and could help LGBTQ+ people in countries
where even civil unions aren’t legal.
But
he said the document was “belated” and “contradictory” in specifying a
non-ritualized blessing that cannot be confused with marriage. Such a mixed
message, he said, “thus once again gives the signal that same-sex couples are
inferior to heterosexual couples.”
Note
B.L. Looks like the push is still on and always will be!
The Vatican admonition to refrain from codifying
any blessing or prayer appeared to be a response to Flemish-speaking bishops in
Belgium, who last year proposed the text for a prayer for same-sex couples that
included prayers, Scriptural readings and expressions of commitment.
In
Germany, individual priests have been blessing same-sex couples for years, as
part of a progressive trend in the German church. In September, several
Catholic priests held a ceremony blessing same-sex couples outside Cologne
Cathedral to protest the city’s conservative archbishop, Cardinal Rainer Maria
Woelki.
Note B.L.: These people are nuts! The word
“commitment” means “to bind or obligate oneself.” The proof is required
repentance before baptism, and what the scriptures teach must be done with
those baptized who desire to go back and practice the works of the flesh (Cf. I
Cor 5:5, 11-13; I Cor 6: 5-6, 9-11. Notice “such were some of you” in the
warning not to go back (I Cor 6:9-11).
The Works
Of The Flesh Are God’s No (!!) To Blessing Same-Sex Unions.
Article:
WORLD (AP) Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples that
must not resemble marriage – By Nicole Winfield
and David Crary updated 5:14 AM GMT-7, December 19, 2023.
Quote:
The Church
of England on Sunday announced a similar move allowing
clergy to bless the unions of same-sex couples
who have had civil weddings or partnerships, but it still bans church weddings
for same-sex couples.
The Valley Church of
Christ
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services –
Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening –
7:00 pm
To learn more call,
visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com