Bible Studies

Moral And Immoral Degeneration Part 2

by Doug Laird 
07/26/26
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Moral degeneration, as opposed to immoral degeneration, is much harder to discern, as it is intended to appear to be what pleases God and to be the means to secure His blessings, in this world and in the world to come.

Most of Satan’s deceptions contain half-truths. It is true that the activities associated with moral degeneration reflect what God would have us do, but it is a lie that they are the means to accomplish the spiritual objetcives that God has in mind.

Such things as good behavior, good deeds, feeding, sheltering, clothing the poor and needy, etc., can all suggest that the ones doing so are putting their faith into action. But such thing cross the line and enter into moral degeneracy when such things are perceived to be the means through which one is born again!

There are many atheists and non-Christian folks out there who do the same good things, but are not Heaven bound.

Moral degeneration is in view when one is doing what he thinks, or has been led to believe, that God requires of him or her in order to be saved, when in reality, such things do not, and will not, produce one second of eternal life.

Human good has its own rewards and compensation, here on Earth, for both Christians and non-Christians that produce it. It is the means through which many of us “make a living,” as we provide goods and services to others. The “evil” of moral degeneration is that it can lead one astray from “pure devotion” to Christ (2Cor. 11: 3), based on a misunderstanding of what the unadulterated Gospel Message is all about.

To whatever extent that one perceives the need to add ANYTHING to faith in the atoning work that Jesus finished on the cross to obtain or to retain salvation, is equivalent to the extent that one perceives that faith alone in Christ alone was/is not enough!

If one really believes that faith and faith alone in the Person and the atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ were enough, then why then would they see the need to add to it.

This perceived need to add-to faith in what He accomplished for us (1John 2: 2) amounts to insulting blasphemy, as it is an attack on the integrity of the Person and the efficacy of the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Either He and His work was ALL that He claimed Himself and His work to be, or He and it was not. Either it is faith and faith alone (John 3: 16, 18), as Jesus claimed (John 14: 6), or it is not. Eternal security is either the greatest truth or the greatest lie that was ever told.

Part of the problem is the failure to distinguish the one single requirement for salvation (John 3: 16) and the many, many requirements there are required for one to successfully identify and execute the post (after) salvation spiritual life of discipleship.

Another part of the problem is the failure to learn what is NOT the purpose of post salvation spiritual life. The post salvation spiritual life is NOT for the purpose of retaining or regaining something (eternal life) that cannot be lost, as many religions would have us believe.

The ”religious” life that has been designed by Man has requirements from the cradle to the grave, but the post salvation spiritual life spoken of in Scripture does not even begin until the issue of one’s salvation has already been permanently resolved.

Just as a physically dead person cannot do anything in the natural realm, a spiritually dead person cannot do anything in the spiritual realm. One can go through (or be put through) all the requirements of Man-made religion, and still be spiritually dead, rendering all of his or her “religious” activity meaningless (Matt. 15: 9).

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The post salvation spiritual life is for the already saved, born again believer to glorify God by engaging in discipleship. Discipleship calls for study and application of the Word of God to ALL thinks, says, and does, with the long term objective of participating in the Great Commission, involved in evangelizing and edifying others.

Moral degeneracy is the classic example of what Scripture (Luke 16: 15) is referring to when it says there are some things that are held in high esteem by (religious) Man, but are actually detestable in the eyes of God, if and when such things are seen as the means to secure, retain, or regain salvation through human effort.

The truth is, that if all such teachings, practices, apparatus, and means facilitating such things were to be removed from many of the houses of worship, “Church” would be hardly recognizable for many who attend and take part in such activity on a regular basis.
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Jesus taught that the type of faith that saves is likened to the undoubting, unquestioning, faith of a child. “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child (with undoubting faith) will not enter it at all (Luke 18: 17 NASB2020).”

The devil, the fallen angels, and all the demons believe in the existence of the One true God. They support and promote all religions, as long as the religion does not identify the one true God, and or the one and only way (John 14:6) to establish a permallnent relationship with Him.

Most folks do not dispute there has been a 1st Century “man” names Jesus. Some will go as far as to say that this “man” had been a prophet (spokesman for God), and a teacher. A few more will go as far as to say that several miracles had been performed by Him, but stop short of acknowledging His deity and equality with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and or faith in His atoning Work, as the one and only  means of obtaining eternal life (John 14: 6).

Until the John 20: 26-29 event, Thomas (who had been an eye witness to much of what Jesus taught and accoomplished) had his doubts, even though he and the others had been told beforehand exactly what was going to take place, up to, including, and after the crucifixion. Being informed, and placing one’s faith (trust and confidence) in what one has been told, are two VERY different things, and produce very different results.

The same Gospel Message that assures believers of eternal life, assures unbelievers of eternal damnation.

End of Part 2