tousness, which is idolatry.” That word mortify simply means that we are to kill or to crush the life out of these things. They are to become like a corpse. (This does not refer to our physical members. Scripture does not advocate or condone suicide or abuse of our bodies. It is talking about that which comes as a result of the sinful ness of man.) The problem is that, like a be setting secret sin, we sometimes en joy it a little too much to want to be done with it entirely. It’s like the two society matrons who were solving the world’s problems. One asked her friend, “What do you think of capital punishment?” The other thought a moment, and then bravely asserted, “I think I’m for it, just as long as it isn’t too severe!” Some Christians act this way about sin. They’re will ing to mortify the flesh, just as long as they don’t have to kill it all, espe cially in the areas where they don’t really want to be rid of sin. God says that we cannot compromise in any of these areas. Impure affections, fornication and immorality represent the look, the thought, and the deed. ■Keep it in mind that men don’t suddenly fall into the sin of adultery. When a per son’s mind continually dwells upon such a subject, these desires become a part of the emotions. The Spirit of God has not been allowed to work. We are told here to kill unclean nesses. While fornication deals more with the act or deed, this represents thoughts, words, looks and gestures. It is both mental and moral. We are told to kill inordinate af fections. This has reference to evil passions. It would be hard to find a day when immorality has been more prevalent. U n fo rtu n a te ly , tho se things once realized as sinful are now given a cloak of decency. Think of how acceptable society has made di vorce, adultery, nudity, premarital sex, homosexuality, abortion, use of narcotics and all kinds of perver sions. The list seems to grow. 16
the subject of sin. The monarch, in furiated, said, “Chrysostom, if you don’t stop this preaching, I'll take your life!” Then more than eighty years of age, the saint responded, “Sire, you can’t take my life, for I am dead, and my life is hid with Christ in God.” What confidence this truth brings to our hearts! Colossians 3:4 tells us, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” Basically, the goal of a Christian is not some cemetery grave, mausoleum c ryp t or columbarium urn. It’s rather the glory that shall be revealed when we see Christ. This is not the Rapture, or the bodily resurrection of the believer into the presence of the Lord. This is rather the second phase of Christ’s return, when He comes to this earth in His glory bodily, visibly; when every eye shall see Him. In Colossians 3:5 we are given a very strong exhortation and com mand which cannot be overlooked, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornica tion, uncleanness, inordinate affec tion, evil concupiscense, and cove- Former classmates at Biola College enjoy a time of fellowship around the Student Union coffee shop. From left to right are Mrs. Mary Chase, Mrs. Annabel Cook (with back to camera), Rev. Edward Murphy, (serving with Overseas Crusades in South America), Rev. Clyde Cook (former missionary to the Philip pines and now director of Missions for Biola), and Dr. J. Richard Chase, Academic vice president of Biola College.
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