“4 You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit Who dwells in us lusts to envy?” James 4:4-5
Adulterers and adulteresses are not those of the world who claim the title “Christian” but are no more born again than the devil himself. Adulterers and adulteresses are Believers who are faithless toward God, reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life when their faith is placed upon Jesus and His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross, and follow the ways of the world for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. They are a “friend of the world” and an enemy of God.
“Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
2 For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the Body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to Him Who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Romans 7:1-4
Through the Body of Christ, the Believer is dead to the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). We are buried with Christ by baptism into His death, HIS finished work…not our own or our part (Romans 6:4) once we are born again. Sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14).
An adulterer or adulteress no longer lives by faith in the Son of God to “maintain” they’re victory but will follow the ways of the world to “gain” their victory…they are “friends of the world”. Many of these ways seem religious, good and sometimes Scriptural but none are God’s way for victory over our fallen nature. God’s answer to sin is the finished work of Christ and our faith placed solely and exclusively in HIS finished work gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He desires to do…free us from the law of sin and death.
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2
The Holy Spirit is envious over any control our fallen nature may have over our lives. He is desirous to have the Believer depend upon Him for daily living. However, the Holy Spirit cannot discharge His responsibility when we are friends of the world and look to other methods for dominion over sin. We must repent of our spiritual adultery. Even the “good” works that we once depended on for victory are evil in the eyes of God.
“17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18.
Don’t mistake the Believer being called out from among the unbelievers and being separate, as all Believers are called to do, with Believers who are adulterers and adulteresses. Often times the adulterers and adulteresses will indeed be separated from the world yet fail to seek the Lord for anything. They depend upon other sources for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. Once again…they are a friend of the world.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
This is not a “slogan” for Christians, it is a fact. Spiritual adultery is rampant in the modern church as methods of man are lifted up for deliverance. Sadly, many are faithless toward God and don’t even realize…the church is full of adulterers and adulteresses who truly love God but are friends of the world.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 