You can't deny it. It is written in black and white that
drunkards shall burn in Hell or does it say that?
Strong's Concordance
methusos: drunken
Original Word: μέθυσος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: methusos
Phonetic Spelling: (meth'-oo-sos)
Short Definition: a drunkard
Since we are dealing with drunkards, what are drunkards? We
know the English definition that drunkards are habitual drinkers that always
get drunk (a person who is drunk or who often gets drunk). The definition in
Greek is about the same.
—Greek Word Study
(Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)
1) drunken,
intoxicated
—Thayer's (New Testament Greek-English Lexicon)
From G3184; tipsy, that is, (as noun) a sot:—drunkard.
It really has nothing to do with our past drunken condition but
our present condition, Are you a drunk today? Most of us have been drunk at one
time or another but what is your condition at this moment in time? Are you a
drunk?
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us
therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of
light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
thereof" Romans 13:12-14.
Can you function for a day without having a beer or becoming
intoxicated by wine?
Intoxication can take on many different forms. One word is
"reeling." Someone who loses his balance and staggers or lurches
violently is considered to be reeling like a drunk.
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto
all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah
and against Jerusalem" Zechariah 12:2.
Trembling is another term: "Shaking from alcohol withdrawal is one of the major withdrawal
symptoms that occur when you stop taking this substance. In some cases, the
trembling is so light that only the person who is suffering from it notices the
shaking. In other cases, the shaking is extremely noticeable to everyone around
the person. Shaking from alcohol withdrawal typically only develops in someone
who is an alcohol abuser or addict, not in individuals who occasionally drink
small amounts of alcohol."
Loudness is a term that also refers to drunks. Drunks are
loud and have unusual behavior. A person on the internet confesses, "I get
really loud when I'm drunk."
I think loudness is what is referenced by the "new wine"
remark made on the day of Pentecost,
"Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto
them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto
you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it
is but the third hour of the day" Acts 2:13-15.
Intoxication also brings rage:
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and
whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" Proverbs 20:1.
Why Does Drinking Release the Rage? Understand Alcohol-Related
Anger and Aggression: http://www.choosehelp.com/topics/anger-management/why-does-drinking-release-the-rage-understand-alcohol-related-anger-and-aggression
Drunk songs are popular in the world today. Do you remember
the lyrics to, "Too Drunk to Karaoke?"
Too drunk to karaoke
Too drunk to karaoke
If you keep on drinkin', you're gonna be
Too drunk to karaoke, just like me
Too drunk to karaoke
Too drunk to karaoke
The Holy Script says "Wine is a mocker." A mocker
is a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to
another. Synonyms are baiter, harasser, heckler, mocker, needler, persecutor,
quiz, quizzer, ridiculer, taunter, tease, teaser, torturer. Why does wine cause
so much distress and yet many think they are having fun while drinking it? Fun never last. Pretty soon the alcohol takes
control of the drunkards' life and they are tortured by health problems and loss of
friends. The alcohol inside a drunk is destroying their health, life, and everyone around them.
"I been drinking
heavily twice a week for about 7 years now but was always was the noticeable
one from early on, quite self-destructive in terms of use. I can’t seem to
control the anxiety which consumes me after two drinks, it's a horrid feeling
like walking on thin ice i don’t know what’s in store for tonight once started.
Before was always
happy go lucky merry drinker while at uni, but following bereavements ,health
conditions, job change etc, this seemed
to have replaced by unhappy, frustrated and angry alcoholic."
I hate to add to the drunks' sorrows but does the
Bible say that drunks are going to Hell if they don't quit their addiction to
alcohol? Unless they repent of their addiction, will they eternally perish?
Many preachers would readily agree that they are on the broad way to Hell due
to their addiction to the sinful beverage.
I know Christian people who love Jesus who cannot withdraw
from the need of alcohol. It has become their friend in times of crisis and has
become their everyday joy. They could not withdraw from drinking no more than a
man in a desert could withdraw from drinking water for his thirst. They are
hooked: hooked, line, and sinker. They
are completely without reservation addicted to strong drink. Let me repeat, "Drunkards….shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Drunkenness is a sin that should be repented of. You do not
have to be deceived by, "Once a drunk, always a drunk." You can kick
the habit. Ask Jesus to come into your life and sincerely resist the devil of
strong drink. But there is more than putting the words of condemnation upon drunkards. Take time and read this Sermon by John R
Rice about the evils of alcohol and then continue reading my post.
I have preached in a way that most preachers have preached
in the past that drunkards are children of Hell. Certainly every sin is worthy
of Hell. But I refrained from telling you the whole truth until now. Most
preachers quote verses without thought to what it means. Take my opening verse.
""Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" 1
Corinthians 6:10.
It sounds straight forward that drunks will not go to
heaven. But have you examined the entire list? I often wonder, how many thefts
does it take to make a thief? How much lust does it take to have committed the
sin of covetousness? Or how much intoxication does it take to make a drunkard? I
think my friend it only takes one theft to make a thief, one bad desire to commit the sin of covetousness, and a few strong drinks
to make a drunkard.
I know many are thinking that habitual or practices of binge drinking are what the Bible is talking about. I disagree. It only takes one lie to become a liar, one lust to have committed adultery, and one night of binge drinking to become a drunkard. I know the English definition speaks of a drunk as one who habitually drinks. But I think John R Rice make the Biblical definition more clear,
"You know that the word drunk is part of the word drink, drank, drunk; or, drink, drank, drunken. A drunkard is a man who drinks. Anybody who drinks any alcoholic liquor is under the influence of it, is affected by it, and to that degree is drunk."
A drunk might be clever and say, "Well I'm not drinking right now, so you see, I'm not a habitual drinker." However, in my definition I say that if you have been drunk and continue to drink to intoxication then you are a drunkard. A horse runs to the water trough when thirsty like a drunk runs to a bar or gets a bottle when he needs a drink. Whether you do it once a week or once a month, you are in my definition a drunk. If most people would only admit to their sin then they could find cleansing in Jesus Christ.
I know many are thinking that habitual or practices of binge drinking are what the Bible is talking about. I disagree. It only takes one lie to become a liar, one lust to have committed adultery, and one night of binge drinking to become a drunkard. I know the English definition speaks of a drunk as one who habitually drinks. But I think John R Rice make the Biblical definition more clear,
"You know that the word drunk is part of the word drink, drank, drunk; or, drink, drank, drunken. A drunkard is a man who drinks. Anybody who drinks any alcoholic liquor is under the influence of it, is affected by it, and to that degree is drunk."
A drunk might be clever and say, "Well I'm not drinking right now, so you see, I'm not a habitual drinker." However, in my definition I say that if you have been drunk and continue to drink to intoxication then you are a drunkard. A horse runs to the water trough when thirsty like a drunk runs to a bar or gets a bottle when he needs a drink. Whether you do it once a week or once a month, you are in my definition a drunk. If most people would only admit to their sin then they could find cleansing in Jesus Christ.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John
1:9.
Knowing that intoxication, however slight, is a sin is
not the great revelation I want to share from 1 Corinthians 6:10. It is the word in the word "inherit."
If you would use your concordance, you would know where I am
going with it.
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption"
1 Corinthians 15:50.
Showing you this verse will make a lot of religious people
confessing to be Christians mad. I just revealed the truth behind 1 Corinthians
6:10. Can you see it? It is the simple revelation that flesh and blood will not
inherit the kingdom of God. That is, no unchanged person will inherit the kingdom of God.
You are flesh and blood aren't you? Then you will not inherit the kingdom of God in your
flesh.
Many of the religious say that in order to be saved you must clean up your act. That's great but not for salvation. You need the new birth first.
Many of the religious say that in order to be saved you must clean up your act. That's great but not for salvation. You need the new birth first.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
John 3:3.
That is why Christians are always talking about the new birth.
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit" John 3:6
"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is
life because of righteousness" Romans 8: 8-10.
We all need the new birth. We need to become spiritual
creatures by faith in Christ and then at the appointed time we will receive our new spiritual bodies
that are perfect.
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality" 1 Corinthians 15:52-53.
Christianity speaks much about the resurrection and yet many
forget that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If flesh and
blood will not inherit the kingdom of God, neither will all our sinful works.
This puts an end to all those trying to please God with good
works in order to merit salvation. No amount of self-cleansing of the old dish
or vessel will make you any more worthy of Heaven. It is the new creation that
gets the new body. The old creation is dead. If you could be made holy in the
flesh, God would have taken you to Heaven the way you are. Instead, He has to
change you completely.
Then can I be a drunk and still go to Heaven. Drunkenness
has nothing to do with going to heaven but it does have much to do with pleasing
God. God forbid that you should think in such a way that you want Heaven and
sinful living too. We must repent because God calls everyone to REPENT.
The old man is dead to sin and should stay dead,
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore
reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Romans
6:11-12).
The old man works for the devil,
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Christ was raised from the dead so that the new man might
live,
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).
Our life is hid in God,
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God”
(Colossians 3:3).
The new man can do no wrong since he is no longer in the
flesh,
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:9-10).
“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”
(Romans 6:6).
We are not to let the sin nature of the old man reign any
longer in our mortal body. We are to deprive sin from exerting its influence on
us. We are called to live for God and suppress our sin nature of the old man.
A preacher telling you that if you do not live righteously
then you will go to Hell is speaking far from the truth. We need the new birth that
gives the new man and the future new perfect body. It is a gift of God not of
works.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8-9.
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