God’s salvation means deliverance from sin.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is the power of God to deliver us from the power of sin. Sin is the transgression of the law of God, which ends in death. Sadly, many fail to realize that they are choosing to yield to Satan by practicing idolatry in various commonly accepted ways.
For instance, jewelry wearing is idolatry to God. (Read Genesis 35:1-5; Isaiah 3:16-26; Ezekiel 16 and 23; and 1 Peter 3:3-5.) Frequently, however, you will hear: ”No matter! I am not worshipping it.” “I don’t have to wear it.” “It is not salvational.” The wearing of jewelry (gold, silver, brass, and pearls)—even makeup, tattoos, etc.—is idolatry. And it is associated with godless idolatrous women, like Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30; Revelation 17:4-6). The very act is worshiping Satan, who sees you as belonging to him, because it’s of his character (Ezekiel 28:13-19). In God’s eyes it is idolatry; it is serving another god.
If you are not intending to worship Satan by wearing symbols of idolatry, if you can do without them and you don’t need to wear them, then ask yourself Why am I wearing it? Self is the answer. It draws attention to self. When self is dead and one hundred percent surrendered to the will of God, you will not feel compelled to wear any of it.
You will acknowledge your body as the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17). Our bodies belong to Him. We have no permission from God to do this. No one will deface the temple of God with tattoos—markings as unto the dead—or to put piercings in God’s temple. For ”what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16).
Earth’s first sin was immediately associated with nakedness (Genesis 3:7-21). In Genesis, we see God completely covering the nakedness of Adam and Eve with coats. The aprons of fig leaves they had sewn and were wearing still left them naked. And to God it was unacceptable. They must be fully clothed. Even Christ’s righteousness indicates the full-length covering of a robe from the shoulders down to the feet, as was Christ in Revelation 1:13. And John the Revelator saw the righteous stand before the throne, ”clothed in white robes” (Revelation 7:9). Thus, the clothes Christians wear must fully cover the body.
Since idolatry is a devotion to anything above our devotion to God, idolatry can also extend your children, relatives, spouse, anyone, job, career, cars, homes, money, animals. In fact, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence [the longing especially for what is forbidden], and covetousness: all are labeled idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Also, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23).
Self-sacrifice and a complete and total surrender to the will of God, therefore, allows His love to perfect in us obedience to Him.
We will be new creatures.
This is the work of the Holy Ghost in us. But we must relinquish reign of self to God. This is a daily—moment by moment—work. Choosing to obey God becomes a cherished lifestyle. It is actually loving God, because He has given us His Salvation. We live it by His Holy Spirit because we are saved—not to be saved.