This ad appeared in USA TODAY on Friday August 15, 2003 and August 27, 2003 (circulation about 3 million).
How Safe is Sin? Consider today’s message: "It is all right to sin as long as you practice SAFE SIN. Drunkenness is OK as long as someone sober drives you home. Narcotics are OK as long as you use clean needles. Sexual deviation is OK since it exists and so it should be approved. Promiscuity is OK as long as you take safe precautions. It is all right to sin, but please, play it SAFE!" The Bible gives the true perspective: "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death . . . For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH" (James 1:15; Rom. 6:23). Harmless Poison? Safe Sin is a flat contradiction. It would be like talking of a "healthy disease" or "harmless poison" or "clean filth" or a "lively corpse." It would be like a mouse talking about a safe mousetrap or a fish speaking of a safe hook or a pig thinking of a safe slaughterhouse. SIN IS NEVER SAFE. It is always dangerous, destructive, damning and always brings with it disastrous consequences. Consider Sodom and Gomorrah whose "sin [was] very grievous" who received "brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven" (Gen. 18:20; 19:24). So also God’s sobering warnings in Leviticus 18:22-24; 20:13; Romans 1:24-28. God’s Purpose and Plan "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4). What God has designed for a husband and wife is something very precious (see Gen. 2:20-25). It is not only SAFE, but it is also to be held in honor, unpolluted, unsoiled, pleasurable and satisfying. The problem is that people have DEVIATED from the healthy relationships which God intended: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (sodomy), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (one who abuses himself with a male), nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Is There Safety For Sinners? God has good news for those "whosoevers" (John 3:16) that recognize their need for God's righteousness: "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified (declared righteous) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11). "For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). There is great safety found in God’s only SAVIOUR: "There is now therefore no condemnation to them that are IN CHRIST JESUS" (Rom. 8:1). He is ABLE, WILLING and READY to save any person who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me (the Lord Jesus) hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). Don’t be charmed and deceived by the allurements of so-called "safe sin"! Put your trust in the risen Christ who is the only One who can safely save (John 3:16; John 1:12)!
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