The Sin of Gluttony

7/30/2019 The Sin of Gluttony

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#1. REASONS FOR ABSTAINING FROM

OVEREATING FOOD

Introduction 1: By definition, a glutton is simply "one who eats too much", and as this

study will show, gluttony is a sin. It is a sin that until now has rarely been preached in

modern churches, partly because many Christians are indulging in it, and thus themessage would be unpopular, but also because food is one of the devil's most powerful

weapons to render us spiritually impotent, and he has deluded many into believing that it

is not a sin at all. It was the very thing that he used to tempt Eve, in order to bring sin intothe world and cause the fall of mankind, and according to both accounts in the gospels, it

was the first thing that he attacked Jesus with after a forty day fast in the wilderness. We

should not be ignorant of the fact that the devil will try to ensnare us into overeating,because it can deceive us, bring spiritual poverty, war against our soul, displease God,

and cause us to disobey God . It is contrary to spirituality, it reaps corruption, it is sinful,

it can exalt our heart, or cause us to forget God, or deny God, or forsake God. It is anattribute of a fool, an evil servant, it leads to pride, and is contrary to the cross of Christ.

It is also a failure to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, our heart will become set on

it, it will prevent us from becoming like Jesus, and it could ultimately cost us our

salvation unless we forsake it. Thus gluttony is a very important subject, and it is hopedthat this study will highlight its importance, so that many of its captives will be led to

complete deliverance from it; for "Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin." (John

8:34).

#1.02 FOOD WAS THE ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT OFTEMPTATION USED BY THE DEVIL TO RELEASE SIN AND

DEATH INTO THE WORLD

GENESIS 2:16-1716 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you

may freely eat:

17 But ofthe tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day


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that you eat of it you shall surely die.

GENESIS 3:1-71 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had

made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of

the garden?2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shallnot eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

4 And the serpent said to the woman, You shall surely not die:

5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you

shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasantto the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate,and gave also to her husband with her; and he ate.

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and

they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

ROMANS 5:12 (Paul)12 Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so

death passed into all men, by which all sinned.

Note: The human desire for food was one of the things that the devil used to bring sin

into the world and cause the fall of mankind. This food was not necessary, there was

plenty of other food in the garden of Eden beside the forbidden fruit, but when Eve "saw

that the tree was good for food ... she took of the fruit of it, and ate, and gave also to herhusband with her; and he ate." (Genesis 3:6), and thus "sin entered into the world, and

death by sin;" (Romans 12:5). The fact that the devil has used man's desire for food in the

past so successfully, to entice him into disobedience, you can be sure that he willcontinue to use the same means to cause man to keep sinning against God. The word of

God says, "Neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27), "Resist the devil, and he

will flee from you." (James 4:7), "for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians2:11). These are instructions for every one of us to be aware of this sin, and to forsake it

if it applies to us.

#1.04 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS DECEITFUL

PROVERBS 23:1-3 (Solomon)

1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you:

2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.3 Do not desire his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Note: This scripture can be interpreted in both a spiritual and a physical sense, but if we

consider it only in a physical sense here, then we need to ask ourselves, "How is dainty

food deceitful?" Simply by being a pleasure to taste, there is a temptation to eat too muchor too often. Then if our heart becomes set on doing it, we will inherit all the problems

that come with it.


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#1.06 BECAUSE GLUTTONY BRINGS SPIRITUAL POVERTY

PROVERBS 23:20-21 (Solomon)20 Do not be among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall

clothe a man with rags.Note: Unless we are poor this does not always apply in a physical sense, some people are

so rich they would never become poor no matter how much they ate, but in a spiritualsense it is always true to some degree.

(1) The flesh is contrary to the spirit so that we cannot do the things that we should, thisis why during important times of seeking God, we often combine prayer with fasting.

(2) It is impossible for us to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), and if we are "in

the flesh" we cannot please God (Romans 8:8); therefore it follows, that we cannotoperate in faith when we are "in the flesh". As faith is the means by which we receive all

things from God (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23-24; James 1:5-7) this would lead us tospiritual poverty.

(3) The time wasted through overeating also makes us spiritually poor. Apart from the

time taken to eat, many fall asleep after a big meal, while others have to sit and "let theirfood go down". The temporary contentment that some find after eating food makes for

laziness and an unwillingness to work. All this time wasted could have been better spent,

studying the word of God, praying, or doing his work.

#1.08 BECAUSE GLUTTONY CAN CAUSE US TO VOMIT

PROVERBS 25:16 (Solomon)

16 Have you found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for you, lest you are filled withit, and vomit it.

Note: In the context of food, honey can be symbolic of anything pleasant to the taste,

food or drink. From personal experience, vomiting occurs when we, who are not

normally used to over indulgence, suddenly do it. Our system cannot cope with thequantity consumed, so our body rebels and causes us to vomit in order to relieve itself.

When we frequently over indulge, our system expands to cope with the quantity, and

vomiting ceases to be a problem.

#1.10 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS NOT GOOD

PROVERBS 25:27 (Solomon)27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Note: Eating much pleasant tasting food is not good because our heart can become set onit, and we will inherit all the problems that come with it. An occasional indulgence is not

acceptable either, because occasional sin is not acceptable to God. Is it all right to kill

occasionally, or steal occasionally, provided that we do not do it too often? If not, then it


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is wrong to overeat occasionally.

#1.12 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF A FOOL

PROVERBS 30:22 (Agur)

22 For a servant when he reigns; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

LUKE 12:19-20

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take

your ease, eat, drink and be merry.

20 But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then

whose shall those things be, which you have provided?

Note: A fool is one who has said in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 53:11), therefore

he has no hope after this life, and his attitude is to enjoy himself now while he has the

opportunity.

(Isaiah 22:13) "let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die."(Luke 12:19) "eat, drink and be merry."

(1 Corinthians 15:32) "let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die."

Should we as Christians imitate such a fool? or should we imitate Christ as the scriptureteaches? Jesus' attitude to food was very different to that of a fool.

#1.16 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF AN EVIL

SERVANT

MATTHEW 24:48-51 (Jesus)48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for him, and in an

hour that he is not aware of,51 And shall cut him in two, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall

be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

LUKE 12:45-46 (Jesus)

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to

beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not look for him, and at an

hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two, and will appoint him his portion with

the unbelievers.

Note: The fate of an evil servant is to be cut in sunder, and have his portion with the

unbelievers (Luke 12:46; Matthew 24:51). Should we as Christians imitate an evil

servant? or again, should we rather imitate Christ as the scripture teaches? Jesus' attitudeto food was very different to that of an evil servant.


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#1.18 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE WICKED

JOB 15:20-21, 27 (Eliphaz)20 The wicked man labours with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden by

the oppressor.

21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.27 Because he covers his face with fatness, and has put fat on his loins.

JEREMIAH 5:26-2826 Foramong my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that sets snares;

they set a trap, they catch men.

27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are becomegreat, and grown rich.

28 They are grown fat, they shine: yes, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they do

not judge the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; the right of the needy

they do not judge.


25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall

want.

Note: These scriptures show that one attribute of the wicked is that they cannot satisfytheir appetite for food, and so many of them end up fat. The fate of the wicked is clear,

"The wicked shall be turned into hell," (Psalm 9:17). Again we need to ask the question,

should we as Christians imitate the wicked? or should we rather imitate Christ as the

scripture teaches? Jesus' attitude to food was very different to that of the wicked.

#1.20 BECAUSE OUR HEART BECOMES SET ON IT

ECCLESIASTES 7:2 (Solomon)

2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting: forthat is the

end of all men; and the living will lay itto his heart.


11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of

the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Note: One of the ways that we set our heart on things is by doing them. God is

continually refashioning everybody's heart in the same way:

(Psalm 33:13-15) "The LORD looks from heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.

From the place of his habitation he looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth.He fashions their hearts alike; he considers all their works."

As this refashioning is partly according to the deeds that we do (Psalm 33:13-15; 62:10-12; Proverbs 1:30-31; 7:1-3; 14:14; Ecclesiastes 7:2; 8:11; Jeremiah 17:9-10; 32:19),

when we, who do not normally overeat, begin to do it, our heart is refashioned

accordingly until it becomes set on it; that is, we have a lust for it. Because God's


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sentence against our evil work is not carried out speedily (Ecclesiastes 8:11), by the time

we notice the physical effects of it, in this case getting fat, our heart will have become

fully set in us to do it, and it will be much harder to stop.

#1.22 BECAUSE FLESHLY LUSTS WAR AGAINST THE SOUL

ROMANS 7:22-23 (Paul)22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and

bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

1 PETER 2:1111 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts

which war against the soul.

Note: The battlefield for spiritual warfare is in our mind, and when we attempt to forsakea sin, we are attempting to recapture for God, part of our heart that is under the devil's

control, being possessed by a lust. It is his spirit, called "the prince of the power of theair" (Ephesians 2:2), that works in all those who are disobedient to the word of God. Hisfirst line of defence is usually to try to blind our minds to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4),

and to sear our consciences (1 Timothy 4:2), in order to keep us from knowing that we

are in sin. Once we have been enlightened by the word of God (Psalm 119:105, 130) andour conscience becomes un-seared, he will try to twist the scripture in order to hide the

consequences of our sin from us, as he did with Eve in the garden of Eden when he said,

"You shall surely not die:" (Genesis 3:4). Nevertheless, the devil is "a liar, and the father

of it." (John 8:44), and the scripture indicates that sin will condemn any of us unless weforsake it (Ezekiel 3:20; 18:20; 18:24-26; 33:12-13; 33:18; Romans 6:23). So having

acknowledged our condition, let us trust in God to deliver us through Jesus Christ, who

has already paid the price for our deliverance (Matthew 1:21; Acts 3:26; Romans 8:3-4; 2Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24).

#1.24 BECAUSE GLUTTONS CANNOT PLEASE GOD

ROMANS 8:5-13 (Paul)

5 Forthose who are according to the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but thosewho are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,

neither indeed can be.

8 So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in

you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because

of righteousness.

Note: The reason why "those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:8), is

because "those who are according to the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;" (Romans


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8:5). So while God wants us to mind spiritual things and set our hearts on heavenly things

(Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33; 18:22; Colossians 3:2), the devil wants us to

indulge in fleshly things because the flesh and the spirit are contrary to one another, andfleshly lusts war against the soul. As long as we yield ourselves to obey the devil we are

his servants (John 8:34; Romans 6:16; 1 John 3:8) and surely that does not please God.

God is a loving God (Matthew 7:11; Romans 8:32; 1 John 3:1; 4:8; 4:16), and he verymuch wants to express his love towards us by giving us good things (Matthew 7:11; Luke

11:13; Romans 8:32; James 1:17), but because we have to receive by faith (Matthew

8:13; 9:22; 9:29; 15:28; Luke 8:50; James 1:6; 1 Peter 1:9), then we cannot please himwhen we are "in the flesh" (Romans 8:8), because we are unable to receive. This is the

reason why it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), because if we are

not able to receive, he is not able to express his love for us by giving.

#1.26 BECAUSE WE ARE COMMANDED NOT TO DO IT

ROMANS 13:13-14 (Paul)13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering

and wantonness, not in strife and envying.14 But you put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make provision for the flesh, to

fulfil its lusts.

2 TIMOTHY 2:22 (Paul)22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with those

who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 PETER 2:1111 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lustswhich war against the soul.

Note: These commands, "make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts." (Romans

13:14), "Flee also youthful lusts:" (2 Timothy 2:22), and "abstain from fleshly lusts

which war against the soul." (1 Peter 2:11), are, along with other things, commands not toovereat. One of the principles of Satanic worship is to indulge in fleshly lusts, and when

we obey God by abstaining from them, we are giving glory to him, but when we indulge

ourselves, then we are giving glory to Satan. Also all disobedience to God's word is sin(Leviticus 22:9; Numbers 15:31; 1 Samuel 15:22-24; Daniel 9:5; 9:11), so making a

provision for a lust of the flesh is also a sin. It is worth noting that:

(1) All Christians are called to forsake sin (Psalm 4:4; Ezekiel 18:30-31; John 5:14; 8:11;

Romans 6:1; 6:15; 1 Corinthians 15:34; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 3:9; 5:18).

(2) Salvation is for the obedient (Hebrews 5:9; 2 John 9; Revelation 22:14).

(3) Salvation is not for the disobedient (Romans 2:8; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; 2

Thessalonians 1:7-8; 1 Peter 4:17-18).

(4) Some may say that they have faith and do not need to be obedient to be saved or

delivered, but faith and obedience are in fact inseparable, and this is made clear by such


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statements as:

(Romans 1:5) "obedience to the faith",

(Romans 10:16) "they have not all obeyed ... who has believed our report?"

(Romans 16:26) "the obedience of faith:"

(Hebrews 11:8) "By faith Abraham ... obeyed;"

(Revelation 14:12) "the saints: here are those who keep the commandments of God, and

the faith of Jesus."

Besides this, faith and obedience will both obtain the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:14; Acts

5:32), salvation (1 Peter 1:9; Hebrews 5:9), freedom from sickness (Luke 17:19; Exodus

15:26), spiritual purity (Acts 15:9; 1 Peter 1:22), justification (Romans 3:28; 2:23),

righteousness (Romans 9:30; 6:16-18), answers to prayers (Matthew 21:22; 1 John 3:22),and enable us to overcome the devil (Ephesians 6:6; Romans 16:19-20). Scripture tells us

that "faith without works is dead." (James 2:17; 2:20; 2:26), and one of its works is

obedience to the word of God. So as long as we are disobedient to God in any area of ourlives, we can expect our faith to remain far below what it should be.

#1.28 BECAUSE THE FLESH LUSTS AGAINST THE SPIRIT

GALATIANS 5:16-17 (Paul)

16 This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 Forthe flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these

are contrary the one to the other; so that you cannot do the things that you would.

1 PETER 2:1111 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lustswhich war against the soul.

Note: The flesh and the spirit are contrary to one another (Galatians 5:17), and we cannot

operate in both areas at the same time, "For those who are according to the flesh do mind

the things of the flesh; but those who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit."(Romans 8:6). When we sincerely seek spiritual things, fasting becomes part of our way

of life, and the devil will use any lust for food, either to prevent us fasting altogether, or

to break our fast, and so rob us of the blessings that we could have obtained.

#1.30 BECAUSE SOWING TO THE FLESH REAPS CORRUPTION

GALATIANS 6:7-8 (Paul)7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also

reap.8 Forhe who sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows tothe Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Note: In a spiritual sense, sowing to the flesh is letting knowledge of any fleshly activityenter our heart, whether through our eyes (Genesis 3:6; Proverbs 23:31-32; Ezekiel 14:6;

Matthew 5:29), or through our ears. The evidence that what we hear goes into our heart is

often indicated by the word of God (Proverbs 1:5; 18:15; 22:17; 23:12; 23:19; Ezekiel


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3:10; Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:14-15; Luke 8:11-12; 8:15), all of which can be considered

as sowing to the spirit. In a physical sense we can sow to the spirit with our deeds (Psalm

33:13-15; 62:10-12; Proverbs 6:20-22; 7:1-3; Jeremiah 32:19), or to the flesh with ourdeeds (Psalm 33:13-15; 62:10-12; Proverbs 1:30-31; 14:14; Ecclesiastes 7:2; Jeremiah

17:9-10; 32:19), so when we indulge ourselves in a fleshly lust, we are just reinforcing

that lust in our hearts. The solution then, is to abstain from the lust until it is removedfrom us (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 1 Peter 2:11; Titus 2:11-12).

#1.32 BECAUSE GLUTTONS CAN NEVER SATISFY THEIR

APPETITE

JOB 27:13-1413 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which

they shall receive of the Almighty.

14 If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be

satisfied with bread.


25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall

want.

PROVERBS 27:7 (Solomon)7 The full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

PROVERBS 27:20 (Solomon)20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of a man are never satisfied.


8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing,nor the ear filled with hearing.

ECCLESIASTES 6:7 (Solomon)7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

HOSEA 4:1010 Forthey shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not

increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

MICAH 6:14

14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied; and your casting down shall be in the midst ofyou; and you shall take hold, but shall not deliver; and that which you deliver I will give

up to the sword.

Note: These scriptures make it clear that if we are not taking heed to the Lord, then we

can eat, "but not be satisfied;" (Micah 6:14), and we can eat, "but not have enough:"(Hosea 4:10). The cure then, for this longing for food, is not to fill our bellies, because as

every glutton will know, there are times when we can be completely full, and yet still feel


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hungry. The cure is to sort out our differences with God, acknowledge our offence what

ever it may be, and let him remove this desire from us. Any failure to tackle the root of

the problem will never set us free, because if God truly loves us, he will never let us offthe hook.

#1.34 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS SIN, SPIRITUAL FORNICATIONGENESIS 25:29-34

29 And Jacob boiled soup: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red soup; for I am faint:

therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do

to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his

birthright to Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil soup; and he ate and drank, and rose up, and

went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

HEBREWS 12:16-17 (Paul)

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel offood sold his birthright.

17 For you know that afterwards, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was

rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

EZEKIEL 16:4949 Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and

abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the

hand of the poor and needy.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:13 (Paul)

13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.

Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

PHILIPPIANS 3:17-19 (Paul)17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark those who walk so as you have us for

an example.

18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that

they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in theirshame, who mind earthly things.

Note: When Esau sold his birthright for "one morsel of food" (Hebrews 12:16), he

demonstrated that fleshy things, such as food, were far more important to him than

spiritual things, such as his birthright. God has called us to live a spiritual life, and whenwe give fleshy things preference over spiritual things, we are despising our calling just as

Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:34). This is an act of unfaithfulness to God, and


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the writer of Hebrews calls Esau a fornicator for making such a choice. The confirmation

that over indulgence in food is sinful, and spiritual fornication also, is given by other

scriptures:

(Ezekiel 16:49) "this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, ... fullness of bread,"

(1 Corinthians 6:13) "Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroyboth it and them. Now the body is not for fornication,"

(Philippians 3:18-19) "they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ... whose God is their

belly, ... who mind earthly things."

As all Christians are called to forsake sin, then we should all diligently seek to avoid over

indulgence in food.

#1.36 BECAUSE GOD HATES GLUTTONS

GENESIS 25:29-3429 And Jacob boiled soup: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same red soup; for I am faint:therefore was his name called Edom.31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do

to me?33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his

birthright to Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil soup; and he ate and drank, and rose up, and

went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

ROMANS 9:13 (Paul)

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Note: God loves the wicked enough to send Jesus to die for their sins (John 3:16; 15:13;

Romans 5:8), but he hates sinners who refuse to repent (Psalm 5:5; Jeremiah 12:8; Hosea5:9; Malachi 1:3). God hated Esau because he thought more of fleshy things such as food,

than he did about spiritual things such as his birthright, which should have been infinitely

more important to him. Esau was so ruled by his fleshy appetites that he sold hisbirthright for a meal, "one morsel of food" (Hebrews 12:16). Compare this with Jesus'

attitude towards food, refusing to turn stones into bread after eating nothing for forty days

and forty nights, and Paul's attitude also:

(2 Corinthians 6:4-5) "in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, ... in

fastings,"(2 Corinthians 11:27) "in hunger and thirst, in fasting often,"

(1 Corinthians 9:27) "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any

means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Should we as Christians let our fleshly appetites rule our lives like Esau? or should we

rather strive to follow the examples of Jesus and Paul?


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#1.38 BECAUSE OUR SPIRITUAL HEART CAN BECOME

EXALTED

DEUTERONOMY 8:11-14

11 Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God in not keeping his commandments,

and his judgements, and his statutes, which I command you this day:12 Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and dwelt in

them;

13 And when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold ismultiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;

14 Then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you

forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

PSALMS 119:69-70

69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep your precepts with my whole

heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in your law.

HOSEA 13:66 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was

exalted; therefore they have forgotten me.

Note: The warning was given to the Israelites, "Beware that you do not forget the LORD

your God ... Lest when you have eaten and are full, ... Then your heart be lifted up,"

(Deuteronomy 8:11-14), and the same warning is for us today. The fact that it was laterfulfilled as warned against, "they were filled, and their heart was exalted;" (Hosea 13:6),

ought to be an extra impetus for us to avoid eating too much. Pride was the original sin of

the devil, "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty," (Ezekiel 28:17), and he isnow "a king over all the children of pride." (Job 41:34): the leviathan is figurative of thedevil. Anything that could cause us to be lifted up with pride, to become like one of his

subjects, ought to be avoided diligently, and while these scriptures show that overeating

is one thing that can lead to pride, "I humbled my soul with fasting;" (Psalm 35:13),indicates that humility can come through doing exactly the opposite.

#1.40 BECAUSE UNSATISFIED HUNGER CAN BE A FORM OF

CHASTISEMENT

LEVITICUS 26:23-2623 And if you will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary to me;

24 Then will I also walk contrary to you, and will punish you yet seven times for yoursins.

25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: andwhen you are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you;

and you shall be delivered to the hand of the enemy.

26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread inone oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and you shall eat, butnot be satisfied.


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HOSEA 4:10

10 Forthey shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall notincrease: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

MICAH 6:13-1413 Therefore also will I make you sick in smiting you, in making you desolate because of

your sins.

14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied; and your casting down shall be in the midst ofyou; and you shall take hold, but shall not deliver; and that which you deliver I will give

up to the sword.

PROVERBS 13:25 (Solomon)25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shallwant.

Note: Unsatisfied hunger is not always a chastisement for sin because Jesus was temptedwith it (Matthew 4:1-4; Luke 4:1-4), but the evidence that an unsatisfied hunger can be a

chastisement for sin is apparent from these scriptures:

(Leviticus 26:24-26) "I ... will punish you seven times for your sins ... you shall eat, but

not be satisfied."

(Hosea 4:10) "they shall eat and not have enough: ... because they have left off to take

heed to the LORD."

(Micah 6:13-14) "because of your sins ... You shall eat, but not be satisfied;"

(Proverbs 13:25) "the belly of the wicked shall want."

Although these scriptures make it clear that lusting after food is a chastisement for sin,

not all temptation with food can be put down to this. Before the fall of man, before Evehad sinned, she was tempted by the serpent and yielded to it (Genesis 3:1-7). Jesus was

also tempted with food and overcame it (Matthew 4:1-4; Luke 4:1-4), and he never

sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). Thus being temptedis not a sin, but yielding to it is, and if we are continually being drawn away by our own

lust (James 1:14-15) then we need to do some serious repenting to remove the lust from

our heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11), and sort out our differences with

God.

#1.42 BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE FULL CAN FORSAKE GOD

DEUTERONOMY 8:11-12

11 Beware that you do not forsake the LORD your God, in not keeping his

commandments, and his judgements, and his statutes, which I command you this day:12 Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and dwelt in

them;

DEUTERONOMY 32:15 (Moses)

15 But Jeshrun grew fat, and kicked: you have grown fat, you have grown thick, you


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are covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed

the Rock of his salvation.

Note: Forsaking God can mean serving other Gods (Judges 2:11-13; 10:6; 1 Kings 9:9; 2

Kings 21:20-22), not serving God (Judges 10:6), or not walking in God's ways (2 Kings

21:22), and could be summarised simply as Moses stated it, "Beware that you do notforsake the LORD your God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgements, and

his statutes, which I command you this day:" (Deuteronomy 8:11). Forsaking God is

simply disobedience to him, or sin. If forsaking God is a consequence of having toomuch, then it is something for sincere Christians to avoid, because the consequences of it

are serious:

(Joshua 24:20) "If you forsake the LORD ... then he will turn and do you hurt, andconsume you,"

(Ezra 8:22) "his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him."

(2 Chronicles 15:2) "if you forsake him, he will forsake you."

(1 Chronicles 28:9) "If you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."

(Isaiah 65:11-12) "But you are those who forsake the LORD, ... Therefore will I number

you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter:"

#1.44 BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE FULL CAN FORGET GOD

DEUTERONOMY 6:11-12

11 And houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, and wells dug, which you

did not dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you did not plant; when you shall have

eaten and are full;

12 Then beware lest you forget the LORD, who brought you forth out of the land of

Egypt, from the house of bondage.

DEUTERONOMY 8:11-14

11 Beware that you do not forsake the LORD your God, in not keeping his

commandments, and his judgements, and his statutes, which I command you this day:12 Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and dwelt in

them;

13 And when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold is multiplied,and all that you have is multiplied;

14 Then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought youforth out of the land of Egypt, and from the house of bondage;

HOSEA 13:6 (God)6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was

exalted; therefore they have forgotten me.

Note: The fate of those who forget God is to be turned into hell (Psalm 9:17), so it is

important for us to know what is meant by forgetting God. Forgetting God means toforget his word, to fail to do what he says in all areas of our lives, and is essentially

similar to forsaking God. The one difference is that forgetting God comes from a lack of


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serious study of the word of God, leading us into error through ignorance, while it is

possible that forsaking God could be a deliberate act at times. These scriptures seem to

indicate that it is a likely outcome, that if we over indulge in food we will also fall inother areas of our lives: sin leads to more sin (Genesis 4:7; Psalm 69:27; Proverbs 5:20-

21; John 8:34; Romans 6:19; Romans 7:15-20). Thus it is wise to avoid over indulging in

food.

#1.46 BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE FULL CAN DENY GOD

PROVERBS 30:8-9 (Agur)

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with

food convenient for me:9 Lest I be full, and deny you, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal,

and take the name of my God in vain.

TITUS 1:16 (Paul)16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable,

and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate.

Note: Denying God is far more widespread among Christians than most of us would be

prepared to admit. In the New Testament, the word translated "I confess" (Gtr.

homologeo) is made up of two words, "homos" meaning "same", and "lego" meaning "Ispeak". Thus "to confess" literally means "to speak the same" or "to agree with", and

when we confess God, we simply speak the same things as him, or agree with what he

has said. Denying God is the opposite of confessing him, so every time we make a

statement which contradicts what God has said in his word, we are literally denying him.Through ignorance of God's word, many Christians today are denying God and Jesus

without even knowing it. As well as that, we can deny God by our works (Titus 1:16),

when we sin for example, because "He who commits sin is of the devil:" (1 John 3:8).Jesus explained the fate of those who deny him:

(Matthew 10:33) "whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before myFather who is in heaven."

(Luke 12:9) "he who denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God."

So if this is one of the consequences of eating too much, then we aught to sincerely seek

to avoid it.

#1.48 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS A FAILURE TO PRESENT OUR

BODIES AS A HOLY LIVING SACRIFICEROMANS 12:1 (Paul)1 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodiesa living sacrifice, holy1, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Note: We are asked here to present our bodies "a holy living sacrifice", but holiness and

fornication are contrary to one another, as shown by Paul when he said, "For this is the

will of God, even your sanctification2, that you should abstain from fornication:" (1


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Thessalonians 4:3). There is no difference between being sanctified or being holy,

because the same Greek words are used to translate both. The word translated

sanctification2 (Gtr. hagiasmos) (1 Thessalonians 4:3), is also translated "sanctification"(1 Thessalonians 4:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2), but is translated "holiness"

(Romans 6:19; 6:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14), and the word

translated holy1

(Gtr. hagios) (Romans 12:1) is often translated "saints" (Acts 9:13;Romans 8:27; 2 Corinthians 1:1 etc.), which in the plural form means "sanctified ones" or

"holy ones". We have already seen that lusting after food is spiritual fornication, the

opposite of holiness, so it is impossible for any one of us to present our bodies as a "holyliving sacrifice" when we are indulging ourselves by overeating. A sanctified person has

been "perfected for ever" (Hebrews 10:14), and a perfect man is able "to bridle the whole

body." (James 3:2).

#1.49 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS BAD STEWARDSHIP

LUKE 16:1-2, 10-12 (Jesus)1 And he said to his disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the

same was accused to him that he had wasted his goods.2 And he called him, and said to him, How is it that I hear this of you? give an account

of your stewardship; for you may no longer be steward.

10 He who is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he who isunjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit

to your trust the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you

that which is your own?

ROMANS 14:10-12 (Paul)

10 But why do you judge your brother? or why do you despise your brother? forwe shallall stand before the judgement seat of Christ.

11 For it is written,As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every

tongue shall confess to God.12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 (Paul)10 For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may

receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it is good

or bad.

Note: In the parable that Jesus told about the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13), the stewardwas told, "give an account of your stewardship;" (Luke 16:2), because he had wasted that

which he had been entrusted with (v1). So it is with us, as stewards of everything thatGod has entrusted us with, including time, and money, one day we will all stand before

the judgement seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10) to give an account of

ourselves. The question is, will we be accounted faithful? The word of God teaches usconsistently against waste; it refers to the devil as "the waster" (Isaiah 54:16), compares a

waster with a slothful worker (Proverbs 18:9), and Jesus himself taught us by example


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against waste. After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sent his disciples to gather up

the scraps of food (John 6:12), and they collected twelve baskets full (Mark 6:43; Luke

9:17; John 6:13). Similarly, after the feeding of the four thousand, they collected sevenbaskets full (Matthew 15:37; Mark 8:8), showing that even though this food had been

easily produced, nothing should be wasted. Nobody could really deny that gluttony is a

waste; it is bad stewardship not only of time, but also of the money that is used to buyexcess food which we do not really need. Some may consider this a small offence, but

unless we repent, one day we will all have to give an account for it.

#1.50 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS CONTRARY TO CARRYING THE

CHRISTIAN "CROSS"

MATTHEW 16:24

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny1

himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

MARK 8:34 (Jesus)

34 And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them,

Whoever will come after me, let him deny1 himself, and take up his cross, and follow

me.

MARK 10:2121 Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go your

way, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven:

and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

LUKE 9:23 (Jesus)

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny1 himself, and

take up the cross daily, and follow me.

LUKE 14:27 (Jesus)

27 And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

MATTHEW 10:38 (Jesus)

38 And he who does not take his cross, and follow after me is not worthy of me.

PHILIPPIANS 3:17-19 (Paul)

17 Brethren, be followers of me, and mark those who walk so as you have us for an

example.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, thatthey are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in theirshame, who mind earthly things.)

Note: All Christians have been called to follow Jesus (Matthew 8:22; 10:38; 19:21; Mark8:34; 10:21; Luke 9:23; 9:59; 18:22), which means taking up our crosses (Matthew

10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:34; 10:21; Luke 9:23; 14:27), by totally denying ourselves


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(Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). There is a Greek word "arneomai" which means

to deny, such as Peter denied Jesus (Matthew 26:70-72; Mark 14:68-70; Luke 22:57;

John 18:25-27), but that is not the word used in these scriptures. The word deny1 (Gtr.aparneomai) used here is a strengthened form and means "utterly deny". It is used by

Jesus in the passages predicting Peters denial of him (Matthew 26:34; 26:75; Mark 14:30;

14:72; Luke 22:34; 22:61; John 13:38), and by Peter in his assurance of fidelity (Matthew26:35; Mark 14:31). Compare Peters actual denials, "But he denied (Gtr. arneomai),

saying, I do not know nor understand what you say," (Mark 14:68), "And he denied (Gtr.

arneomai) it again." (Mark 14:70), with his assurance of fidelity, "But he spoke the morevehemently, If I should die with you, I will not deny (Gtr. aparneomai) you in any wise."

(Mark 14:31). This helps to clarify the difference between the two words, and shows that

if we wish to follow Jesus, then we must "utterly deny" ourselves. Self indulgence and

self denial are opposites, so if we are indulging ourselves in the area of food, we are "theenemies of the cross of Christ:" (Philippians 3:18), and can expect our end to be

destruction (Philippians 3:19).

#1.51 BECAUSE SIN GIVES THE ENEMIES OF GOD THE OPPORTUNITY TO

BLASPHEME HIM AND HIS WORD

2 SAMUEL 12:14 (Nathan)

14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of theLORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.


26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a

corrupt spring.

ISAIAH 52:5

5 Now therefore, what have I here, says the LORD, that my people are taken away fornothing? those who rule over them make them howl, says the LORD; and my name

continually every day is blasphemed.

EZEKIEL 36:20

20 And when they entered into the heathen, wither they went, they profaned my holyname, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone

forth out of his land.

ROMANS 2:24 (Paul)

24 Forthe name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is

written.

Note: Any dominating sin in our lives is a submission to the devil, which gives the worldan excuse to blaspheme the name of God, and to deny that his word is true; something

which many are only too keen to do if we give them the opportunity. The centre of

Christian teaching should be the crucified life, the denial of self for the sake of others,and being conformed to the image of Jesus, but how can any gluttonous person teach this

without being a hypocrite? There are many unsaved people, who are not sinful in this


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particular area, who could easily laugh and mock if a fat Christian tried to preach to them

about self denial. The fact that God does not wish his name to be blasphemed is sufficient

reason for anyone who loves God to forsake this sin.

#1.52 BECAUSE GLUTTONY IS A FAILURE TO BE CONFORMED

TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS#1.521 We are all called to be like Jesus

MATTHEW 10:25 (Jesus)

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they callthem of his household?

ROMANS 8:29 (Paul)

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of

his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:47-49 (Paul)47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such arethey also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the

heavenly.

1 PETER 2:21-22

21 For even to this you were called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an

example, that you should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth:

1 JOHN 2:6

6 He who says he abides in him aught himself also to walk, even as he walked.

1 JOHN 4:17

17 In this is our love made perfect, that we might have boldness in the day of Judgement:because as he is, so are we in this world.

Note: This is the calling of all Christians; to be as Jesus was (Matthew 10:25), to be

conformed to his image (Romans 8:29), to walk as he walked (1 John 2:6), and to follow

his steps (1 Peter 2:21), so that we can be as he is in this world (1 John 4:17). There is noway that we can fulfil this calling while we are over indulging ourselves with food,

because Jesus' attitude to food was very different to that of a glutton (See #1.522 below).

#1.522 Jesus' attitude to food was not gluttonous

PSALMS 35:11-14

11 False witnesses rose up; they laid to my charge things that I did not know.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.


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13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soulwith fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend orbrother: I bowed down heavily,as one who mournsfor his mother.

PSALMS 69:9-119 For the zeal of your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of those who

reproached you are fallen upon me.

10 When I wept, and chastenedmy soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

MATTHEW 4:1-4

1 Then Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards hungry.3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that

these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by everyword that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

LUKE 4:1-4

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit

into the wilderness,2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he ate nothing: and when

they were ended, he afterward hungered.3 And the devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, command this stone that it be

made bread.4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word of God.

JOHN 4:31-34

31 In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

32 But he said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know of.33 Therefore his disciples said one to another, Has any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus says to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish hiswork.

Note: Jesus' attitude to food is revealed clearly by these scriptures. The psalmist said that

he humbled his soul with fasting (Psalm 35:13), and chastenedhis soul with fasting

(Psalm 69:10). Apart from this he fasted forty days and nights in the wilderness (Matthew4:2; Luke 4:2), and afterwards refused to turn stones into bread when he was hungry

(Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). His priority was to do the will of God, which was his true food

(John 4:34), and as long as he did that, he knew that his Father would not let him die ofhunger. Even though he refused to turn stones into bread in the wilderness, the angels

were afterwards sent to minister to him (Matthew 4:11). If only we could adopt this same

attitude toward food, the devil would never be able to draw us into sin by tempting us

with it.


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#1.54 BECAUSE GLUTTONS CANNOT BE SAVED?

EXODUS 32:3333 And the LORD said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot outof my book.

DEUTERONOMY 21:20-21

20 And they shall say to the elders of this city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he

will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he dies: so shall you

put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

PSALMS 78:29-31 (Asaph)

29 So they ate, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their

mouths,

31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote downthe chosen men of Israel.


2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: forthatis the end of all men; and the living will lay itto his heart.

EZEKIEL 34:16

16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, I will

bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will

destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgement.

LUKE 6:25 (Jesus)25 Woe to you who are full! for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! for you

shall mourn and weep.

LUKE 12:45-46 (Jesus)

45 But and if that servant says in his heart, My Lord delays his coming; and shall beginto beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink and to be drunken;46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not look for him, and at an

hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two, and will appoint him his portionwith the unbelievers.

ROMANS 8:13 (Paul)

13 Forif you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do

mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10 (Paul)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do

not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor

abusers of themselves with mankind,


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10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inheritthe kingdom of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:27 (Paul)

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means,

when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

GALATIANS 5:24 (Paul)

24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

GALATIANS 6:7-8 (Paul)

7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also

reap.8 Forhe who sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to

the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

PHILIPPIANS 3:18-19 (Paul)18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that

they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their

shame, who mind earthly things.)

HEBREWS 12:16-17

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel offood sold his birthright.

17 For you know that afterwards, when he would have inherited the blessing, he wasrejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Note: It is true that some of these scriptures can be interpreted in a spiritual sense, but itwould be foolish to deny that they can also be interpreted literally. Such statements as "I

will destroy the fat ... I will feed them with judgement." (Ezekiel 34:16), "Woe to you

who are full! for you shall hunger." (Luke 6:25), "if you live according to the flesh, youshall die:" (Romans 8:13), "neither fornicators ... shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1

Corinthians 6:10), "he who sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;"

(Galatians 6:8), and "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly," (Philippians

3:19), all indicate the difficulty that any gluttonous person will have to enter heaven. Togo to heaven we need the Spirit of Christ to dwell in us, Paul's statements "if any man

have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9), and "Do you not know ...

that Jesus Christ is in you, except you are reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5), show thatthis is so. "And if Christ is in you the body is dead because of sin;" (Romans 8:10), shows

that when Christ lives in us "the body is dead". Here "the body" does not refer to the

physical body, but refers to "the body of sin" (Romans 6:6). It is the same as "the body ofthe sins of the flesh" (Colossians 2:11), and "the body of this death" (Romans 7:24). They

all refer to the spiritual body of "our old man" (Romans 6:6), elsewhere called "the old

man" (Ephesians 4:22), which has to be crucified by self denial in order to free us from

sin (Romans 6:7). So when "the body" is dead, all of our fleshly desires, including over


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indulgent desires for food or drink, are brought into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27). We

may preach God's word, prophesy, cast out demons, work miracles, and still be lost

(Matthew 7:21-23). So professing to be a Christian is no guarantee of our salvationwithout also denying the lusts of the flesh, because "those who are Christ's have crucified

the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:24). Notice the past tense!

The Sin of Gluttony

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Transcript of The Sin of Gluttony