I will not at this time go through all
the OT Scripture about all the laws, covenants, and practices that were
"set in blood."
For now we will focus on what the Blood
of Christ secured for us and what it secures from us.
God's Word required that all sin be
absolved by the spilling of blood by an innocent, spotless beast which was
ended by God giving His own Son, Jesus Christ at Calvary, offering His life's
blood for the purest atonement. With this singular act of sacrifice He
"set free" all of mankind, "especially those who
believe" for all created time, to the sinless condition that was once
enjoyed by Adam and Eve. Bringing mankind back into perfect relationship with
God the Father. With this sacrifice, (and the victory over death by raising Christ
from the dead), man once again is given the ability to "walk with
God", "talk with God", and be "taught by God". Our
intimacy with the Father was once again restored and because of His design we
are put in a position to serve Him. For surely when one is "bought with a
price" and confessing "Jesus is Lord" then that one becomes
servitude to his Lord and all his Lord's commands, laws and rules coming
"to account."
Scriptures are very specific about what
"believers" are to do "after" they are "saved by grace
through faith."
Upon "confessing with your lips
Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart God raised Him from the dead"
you enter into the "Blood Covenant" with God the Father through Jesus
Christ. If you have done this under conviction of the Holy Spirit then you are
"born again." You have made Jesus Christ Lord over your life. Your
whole life from henceforth to forever more.
Along with your guarantee of eternal life
you also have a "Blood Covenant" responsibility to fulfill. Do you
think that there can be gain without commitment? Did the Father in Heaven
purchase you with a price and set you free from sin and the deserved hell
without expectation of you afterwards? If that is what you thought then you
are absolutely wrong. When anything is purchased by anyone there is an
expectation of advantage that is to be gained from the purchaser by that
purchase. Food they eat, minerals they ingest/invest, animals they profit from,
vegetables they sell and use, men they use for labor. This is God's design for
purchase and use of anything.
So "those who believe" exchange
their sin, hell, and future through the sacrifice of Christ for the certainty
of eternal life with God the Father in Heaven, then agree and submit to His
conditions of cooperation for the "benefit" of the Covenant.
The confession of Jesus is Lord means
just that! You entered into the Blood Covenant by confessing Jesus is Lord.
Confessing is professing. By saying Jesus is Lord you admit, agree to, and
acknowledge to His complete authority over every part of your life. Your
thoughts, words, actions, decisions, every instance of your life. Every!
So right here lets replace everything
you've been taught and see how what you do compares to what your owner (God)
expects of you.
To make things very clear lets start with
this:
"Every good and perfect gift comes
from God". Jesus is that most perfect gift and in Him God the Father put
for our acquisition all promises, blessings, and commands, not as benefit's
only but also as expectations for us to preform for His glory and as proof that we
are His, bought with "a price."
Let me assure you that the acquiring of
these "benefits" ARE NOT OPTIONAL. They are placed there in Christ to
prove our obedience to God and thereby prove our Love for Him.
John 14:15
"If you Love me, keep my
commandments."
When you "believe on the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ" you become a soldier in His army warring against evil
both in heaven and on earth.
We know we are soldiers because the
Scriptures tell us to "put ye on the whole armor of God."
Ephesians 6:11-17
Put on the full armor of God, so that you
will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of
wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore,
take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil
day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand firm
therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT
ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15and having
shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16in addition
to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And
take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God.
Sure sounds like a soldier to me. You?
Confession to conscription. That's the way it works. Regardless of being Taught
it, believing it, or even wanting it that's what He wrote. And soldiering
demands obedience, but this soldiering demands obedience because of Love. "If
you Love me" it starts out, "You will obey My commands". Because
of His Love payment for us, our thanksgiving for our complete salvation, should
prove itself faithful through sincere Love in obedience.
Lets look at John 14:15 again: "If
you Love me, keep my commands." Love and keeping proves the "if
you" part. So I guess it's safe to say that "if you don't Love and
keep His commands" then we can ask the question "how great is your
Love for Him?"
Now lets look deeper into a few of the
seldom mentioned nomenclatures of Christ to make this clear:
1. He is the Word that became flesh.
2. That Word dwelt amongst us for a
while.
3. God's written Word is the entire
revelation of Him that He wants mankind to have.
4. His Word is Spirit.
5. His Word can only be understood by His
Spirit's instructing us.
6. Everything that God has in place for
man comes to us through Jesus Christ (His Word) that includes all promises, blessings, and
commands.
7. These can only be received by those
who are "filled with the Spirit" and "walking in the
Spirit."
Scripture says "all things are by
Him and come through Him, without Him nothing was made." Also "He
sustains all things."
He is Lord of all especially those who
believe.
God saved you and because you agreed with
the Covenant for salvation you then Love Him and show that Love through
"obeying His commands" by the way which "are not grievous."
So lets list just what His
"commands" are after that we believe:
Be Baptized:
I believe that Scripture shows two kinds
of baptisms, water baptism, and Spirit baptism. Both are necessary. Not
optional. Most importantly of the two is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. That
is the key to all maturity of faith, instruction in Christ, and walking by
faith. He (the Holy Spirit) "teaches us and reminds us of all things
Christ said and did." Once Christ is "Lord" the Holy Spirit
takes over from there to "conform us to His image and likeness" and
endues us with power to serve our Father and glorify His name. Without Him (the
Holy Spirit) we can do nothing but struggle with our faith and live a
frustrating and fruitless life. Being without the Holy Spirit can only be our
fault as God has secured His presence by His Word to "come along
side" and "indwell" us. If you don't believe that He still indwells,
fills, or empowers us then you have been lied to or just chosen "not to
tarry" putting little faith in Gods promise of the Comforter. This is one
of His Love Commands. Not optional. If you think that you don't have to obey
this command, you are a rebellious soldier and not honoring your part of the
"Blood Covenant"! By the way you cannot only be filled with the
Spirit part way, He is either completely filling you or your are not letting
Him do His work fully in you, if you are truly filled.
Spiritual Gifts:
Mark 16:14-18
Afterward he appeared unto the
eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness
of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was
risen. 15And he said unto
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17And these signs shall follow
them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with
new tongues; 18They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
This clearly lays it out! There are signs
given by the Holy Spirit to all those who believe whether or not they
"receive" is up to them but surely these signs are there for the
receiving. One qualification is "And these "signs" SHALL follow
them that believe" again NOT OPTIONAL. If you believe and are baptized (in
the Holy Spirit as that is where the signs are given from) then you will
receive of these signs severally as the Spirit gives them to prove the Word
preached is True. God's Word has power not like other "religions"
that are just words. That's why the signs are not optional. No power no
difference than any other words/religions. I must be emphatic about signs not
being optional. "My people perish for lack of vision", lack of vision
on who backs their Word, their ownership of the land and all that God would
have them battle after in prayer. These signs can only be owned by those who
believe as stated in Mark. So "do you believe? or are you ignorant as Paul
states in 1 Corinthians 12:1
"Now concerning spiritual gifts,
brethren, I would not have you ignorant." Go ye into is a command. Are you
showing your Love for Him by obeying His commands or are you grieved by them so
you claim ignorance?
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4Now there are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are
differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are
diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in
all. 7But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by
the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same
Spirit; 9To
another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same
Spirit; 10To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of
spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh
that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Here are not only promised gifts but also
administrations, diversities of operations and manifestations shown forth in
God's unchanging Word. Seems like God has prepared all
"believers" for service so I would say that these are not optional
too.
More commands:
Pray without ceasing.........Not
optional.
Pray in the Spirit................Not
optional
Pray with understanding....Not optional
Pray with thanksgiving.......Not optional
In everything give thanks...Not optional
Put ye on the whole armor.Not optional
Walk in the Spirit................Nor
optional
Lay hands on the sick........Not optional
Tongues by the Holy Spirit.Not optional
Pray to raise the dead.......Not
optional
Word of wisdom.................Not
optional
Word of Knowledge...........Not optional
Working of miracles...........Not
optional
Discernment of spirits........Not
optional
"But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit withal." And "But all these worketh
that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will."
This is God's Word not my interpretation.
These are commands to obey because we Love Him. These are not optional.
Scripture says "God spoke the
Word", "the Word became flesh", "Jesus is the Word",
the Bible is that written Word, therefor the written Word of God became flesh
(Jesus) and dwelt amongst us. The record/description of Jesus (the Bible)
became the physical Body of Christ our Savior.
With this in mind we have to say that
everything that is set in the Word is also part of the Body that Christ
inhabited. So we do not have the right to eliminate anything that the Word
(Bible, Scripture, Christ) says or compromise it in any fashion. No matter how
much it makes things easier on us or how emotional we feel about it. God's Word
is unchangeable and True and let every man be a liar, thus says the Lord.
So what other areas have we strayed from
the "Truth that sets free" or not shown love through obedience? Sorry
to say there are many, maybe too many to put to post.
Due to the low or lack of maturity, many
denominations set doctrines to try to rule their congregations away from sin.
Some think that by setting limits or standards that they can control believers
hearts and limit or eliminate sin. This does not work as we have already shown
by Scripture that obedience is supposed to be prompted by Love not doctrine.
There was a time when doctrine was taught that those under it would respond
because it was right, Biblical. Now there seems to be a hardness of heart that
has prevailed in the church that brings most Biblical doctrine under excuse
instead of practice. The longer that the Body of Christ has existed the further
from Biblical standards it has drifted. Being that Christ is the "Word
that became flesh" it is actually Christ whom we have drifted away from.
We don't have the passion or desire to "Love Him" and obey Him the
way we used to. Even if we go back just a few decades we notice a resounding
difference. Remember that Love never fails? Like anything else it fades over
time until it reaches the present state it's in and finally "the great
falling away" which is prophesied to come, maybe very soon.
Love should bind us to obey all the
precepts of God and His Christ our Savior. His Holy Spirit should
"fill" us to the point that His we small voice is a resounding guide
in our hearts. Due to the lack of the presence of the Mind of Christ in the
majority of "believers" our passion to please God has taken on a
spirit of resistance to "Truth that sets free" to excuses to
"make it work" and look righteous. I fear that we are close to repeating
the efforts of the Pharisees "worshiping God with our mouths and our
hearts are far from Him." "Setting grievous rules over man
and not lifting a finger to help them." Doctrines of man, wives tales,
vain imaginations.
Lets look at some of these
"Doctrines of man." Those unholy practices that seem to emanate Truth
but doesn't set free. These all have one thing in common: they eliminate the
need for "growing in Christ, faith, and the Holy Spirit." A sure sign
of a "doctrine of man" is that it only partly has it's roots in
Scripture but is presented as being rooted and founded in the Word. Many of
these exist only to give the denomination the "we're better because"
comparison brag. Needless to say Christ is our Salvation, Holiness, and
Righteousness. Only in Him are we complete, made whole, able to stand before
God. Man has added nothing to God's Word that can make it better, Christ is the
finished work alone for us.
So lets get on with:
Doctrines of man!
As we start this next section lets first
say that you have the freedom in Christ to do anything that does not go against
Scripture. Plain and simple! If Scripture says "thou shalt not" then
it's safe to say that whatever it is there is no excuse for it. Period. If
Scripture "warns" then be warned, and if Scripture says "use
moderation" then use moderation. Spiritual maturity makes the difference
in all these points that will be mentioned.
Here is what I previously posted on this
subject:
Use of alcohol.
Much is said about the use of alcohol in
Scripture and many warnings posted. "Do not be drunk on wine but be filled
with the Holy Spirit." This is probably one of the most inclusive
Scriptures to start with. Most people see this as a warning or a reason to stay
away from it all together but they miss the point. In reverse it states that if
your "filled with the Spirit" then you won't have the reason to be
drunk on wine (or any alcohol product.)
This issue is an issue that addresses
"the maturity" of each individual believer and whether or not he is
"filled with the Holy Spirit". Everything in Scripture is there to
"set free" from the bondage of sin not to oppress. When approached
with the "maturity" brought by the presence of the Holy Spirit there
is no danger of sinning by the Scriptural use of wine. Most holiness churches
use the avoidance of this application as a "better than thou" retort.
They would be better off preaching their congregations into spiritual maturity
then binding them with laws that have no power because they are not Biblical in
origin.
A Biblical look at the "use" of
Wine, not the abuse of Wine.
What's gained from a glass of wine?
A merry heart which brings about, (next)
Medicinal value, (then)
A deeper reflective state, (plus)
Much needed relaxation.
It's important enough, (in moderation), that Jesus wouldn't let it run out at a
wedding, making it's replication His first miracle.
Scripture suggest that it's given to those who are,
Suffering,
Hurting,
Weary,
Sick with stomach problems
To those who are perishing, and those with heavy hearts,
Used for feasting
For giving of thanks,
For representing the Blood of Christ as a covenant.
Wine, in moderation bears no evil or sin within these guidelines. Yes there is
much warning about it's overindulgence as with anything that is used with
gluttonous proportions including food and hard drink. Of course there are other
abused areas that can be mentioned here but we will stick with wine for now.
Many churches maintain that one cannot be Holy with the use of wine at any
application. Of course this is a "doctrine of man" and not the Word
of God. Lending it's viability for control and wresting the freedoms we have in
Christ.
Anyone filled with the Holy Spirit will not be "drunk on wine" and
will approach all uses of food and drink with the same piety. Moderation and
prayer is key to all that we partake in here on earth. Whether food, drink,
riches, or any other thing that is given us to subsist with.
"Let God be true and every man a liar."
Better that we address the use of soda than wine.
Gluttony is next:
This sin is seldom addressed within the church do to the reaction of most
participants. Again this is a "maturity" problem. We are what we do,
and what we neglect to do. Some physical problems having to do with weight are
founded in afflictions, poor body functions that have taken over and become a
problem, but this is not what I'm addressing here, (there is the laying on of
hand for that).
What I am addressing is the endless "food fellowships" that are
indulged in with little or no moderation by both preacher and worshiper. A note
here to state that "we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God" so I am not pointing any fingers here just stating that Scripture
says one thing and we do another making excuse for it's existence. Again a
maturity problem. Having said this I confess that I could stand to loose 60 lbs
or more and eating, sometimes to excess has been a passion of mine.
Tobacco:
Scripture says "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are." 1 Corinthians 3:17
There is nothing good about the use of tobacco in any form. It wasn't around
then and it's been proven a health hazard in any form. There is no freedom to
"destroy His temple."
Adultery and fornication:
Adultery is being unfaithful to a spouse through intimacy, and fornication is
premarital intimacy. To oft we only allow for the physical side of these two
indulged in sins but Jesus also tagged the "heart side" which
includes lusting after thereby.
1 Corinthians 13-17
13 The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and
the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the
dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies
are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and
unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who
unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The
two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.c
To a certain application these two moral sins are accepted in the Body of
Christ by man because of the "modern" application of accepting
divorce. There is no excuse for this and no reason to accept it.
Divorce:
So many people are divorced and remarried now that I don't think that most churches
even address this subject with any Biblical application whatsoever. In fact
many of our pastors and leaders have been divorced and remarried.
So what is the "back to the Bible" teaching on divorce? Let’s lay it
out with scripture so there is no "condemnation" blamed on me and no
"fits" about it. Again
maturity is the key here. Who's right? God or man? God's Word or your emotions?
Here we go:
Matthew 19:3-9
3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it
lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at
all?” 4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who
created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND
FEMALE, 5 and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND
MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE
FLESH’? 6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God
has joined together, let no man separate.” 7 They said to Him, “Why then
did Moses command to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY?” 8
He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to
divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. 9
“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and
marries another woman commits adultery.”
Clear enough but what happens with the exception "immorality"?
Remember this has to do with only the reason for the divorce not the outcome of
what happens after. Read again "and marries another commits
adultery." If you find it acceptable to divorce for immorality it doesn't
change what the Word says about remarriage and adultery.
Mark 10:2-12
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him
by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 “What did Moses command
you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man
to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard
that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the
beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this
reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two,
but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one
separate.”
10 When they were in the house
again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He
answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits
adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries
another man, she commits adultery.”
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
10But to
the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not
leave her husband 11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else
be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his
wife.
According to Scripture if you are
divorced you can only remarry (be reconciled) with your husband or wife,
anything else causes adultery. This again calls for being "filled with the
Spirit" and having Spiritual maturity. Don't get mad at me I didn't write
it. Remember "If you Love me, obey my commands and my commands are not
grievous".
If this Scriptural presentation of
divorce irritates you then it's time to "get before God to make it right”.
Let’s set some hearts at ease here. God
is against divorce because marriage is the only established command of God that
represents Christ and His Church (His Body).
Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives, submit
yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is
the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject
unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own
husbands in every thing.
25Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So aught men to
love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife
loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh;
but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members
of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause
shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and
they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great
mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let
every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the
wife see that she reverence her husband.
Even as Christ also Loved the church, and gave
Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
and the word, that He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having
spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even
as the Lord the church.
Christ and His
body is in the same relationship as man and wife in marriage. Christ will not
lay aside His church/body for any reason so then by example and command neither
should the man or woman “set aside” their spouse. When you look at how much sin
we bring into our marriage with Jesus our Husband, even after we are “saved”
then you can begin to grasp how much God wants us to “forgive” our spouses when
they sin against us. There is no end to the Love that God shows us through
Christ and there should be no end to the “Unconditional Love” that we show our
spouses. Also remember that “forgive us our trespasses even as we forgive those
who trespass against us.” All divorces have bitterness and malice involved to
some point, otherwise why the divorce? There has to be some conflict to cause
the breach in the relationship. When we advocate divorce we make the “body”
less than glorious for Christ to present to Himself. Anyone who divorces and
remarries outside of being reconciled to their original spouse commits
adultery. The way to avoid adultery is simply just to not remarry at all until
the other spouse dies. That is the only way remarriage can be justified by
Scripture. If there is a situation of violence you can divorce or separate but
you still cannot remarry. Once you say I do, you did and its till “death do us
part.” “Death do us part” is the only release from the vow made before God,
ever. Anything else doesn’t show “Unconditional Love”. So what happens if your
already divorced and remarried? What if when this took placed you didn’t know the
Scriptures or was advised by clergy that it was ok and no big deal? Not a
problem.
John 1:9
“If we confess our sins He is faithful forgive us our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
This stands for all sin except “blaspheming the Holy
Spirit”. There is no forgiveness for that ever.
The practice of divorce in the Body of Christ needs
to be openly preached against in the pulpits and taught against so there is no
doubt that it is not to be tolerated. Allowing for the practice of divorce in
the Body of Christ is akin to saying that continuing sin in our lives would
allow Christ to separate us from His great salvation. If we can set asunder
what God has joined together then couldn’t He set asunder us from His salvation?
Both are God ordained and both are under His design that they cannot end. If
God is bound by His Word to “forgive” and we are His then we are bound by the
command to “forgive” to the same degree. Unconditional Love is the same in both
God and us. Again, spiritual maturity is the key to show Love by obedience to
His commands. There are more scenarios than can be posted here but I think that
this should cover the basics.
Sodomy:
Sodomy consists of homosexuality, bestiality, and
physical defilement. Please read these verses in Romans several times to get
the full and complete details of what caused this behavior, what elements does
it entail, and what the end result is by those who practice sodomy.
Romans 1:18-32
The wrath of God is being revealed from
heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the
truth by their wickedness, 19
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it
plain to them. 20 For
since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and
divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,
so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither
glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile
and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools 23 and
exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal
human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over
in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of
their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth
about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do
what ought not to be done. 29
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and
depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are
gossips, 30 slanderers,
God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil;
they disobey their parents; 31
they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s
righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only
continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Can that be anymore clearer from beginning
to end? Everything is answered in these verses, everything, the who, what, why,
when, where, and how. God’s Word makes it very clear with no stones unturned
what a vulgar sin this is. As throughout Scripture we are taught to Love the
sinner and hate the sin. This is where once again spiritual maturity comes in.
We must be able to show God’s Love to all sinners (both in the church and in
the world), but still make it clear that these practices aren’t acceptable,
sinful, needing forgiveness by the Blood of Christ. I must mention here that to
disobey God’s Word, through these condemned practices, being a Christian, would
to be showing a rebellion to His will and thereby a lack of Love for Him. To
defend these actions would be the same as denying the Word of God. Note that it
all started with denying who God really is. Even becoming blinded by the proof
of creation that He exists. Sounds a little like history repeating itself today
the same as in Sodom and Gomora. When our disobedience is rampant and everything
about God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, insults us then we are turned over by
Him, to a reprobate heart and the beginning of our personal and societal decline
has started. That decline then becomes so rampant that there is no stopping it.
In fact to make sure that it doesn’t stop we even legislate it’s perversion
into law so that no one can act out against it. This Scripture (as all
Scripture) is prophetic, and calls out the perverted abuses by actions so that
regardless of the name it’s given throughout time it’s still clearly the same.
Verse 26 “Even their women exchanged
natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also
abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one
another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves
the due penalty for their error.”
I don’t know how this could be any
clearer? It certainly points out lesbianism and homosexuality. This above is
called “being given over to a depraved mind”. No interpretation needed.
Bestiality is also represented here with “their woman exchanged natural sexual
relations for unnatural ones”, the downward debacle starts irreversibly in
verse 29.
Do you notice that in all these obviously wicked practices one of
them is “disobedient to parents”? Wow how far has that one matured in this
present society? The normal progression is once disobedient to parents sets in
then it’s not a far reach to the next step “disobedience to authority.” This
whole Scriptural passage in Romans 1 contains the why: “just as they did not
think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God”.
No true personal
revelation of God, no fear of God, no honor of His precepts, all lead to
debauchery. Look around and say it’s not true. Scripture has been written so we
can avoid these pitfalls, as a witness against this kind of decline, so why do
we stand on the precipice of total depravity? Because it’s our nature and
desire to rebel against authority “from the beginning”. We think we have the
right to push against God’s wisdom and grab that “fruit”, always thinking that
we know better than God and taking the “forbidden bite.” These acts:
homosexuality, lesbianism, or bestiality are clearly shown to be vulgar sin and
a practice that is in rebellion to God’s design and creation. Those who support
them, especially Christians, are not showing the “Love of Christ by obedience
to His commands”. Again, because of the lack of maturity amongst believers and
lack of the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, many will judge the Word of
God to be in error and condemn those who agree with Scripture on this matter
when in fact they are Loving the sinner while speaking out against the sin.
Continuing on with “little preached Truths
in Scripture”.
Child bearing:
God’s design has always been to “fill up
the earth” for the specific purpose of multiplying those who believe and
worship Him. This also has the direct implication that they are to be “redeemed
by the Blood of the Lamb” and have eternal fellowship with Him in heaven. It
couldn’t be more obvious this was to happen as God created He them man and
woman and told them to do so.
Genesis 1:27-28
27 “So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them. 28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it”.
God is the one that opens and closes the
womb as shown throughout Scripture. Added to that God’s design for man “in the
beginning” was that there was no means to stop conception. Man “went into his
wife” and God (fore knowing before
creation) open or closed the womb “according to His will” for that time. Some
wombs in the OT and the NT were closed until the time came to “bring forth”
that notable person that was “meet for that time”.
To mention a few but not all: Hannah,
Rachael, Sarah, and Elizabeth.
God closed the womb then opened it to
accomplish His will in the lives of these families and also in the “meeting of
the needs” of that time. We as Christians should all put “childbearing” in the
hands of the “Creator”. Because He:
"Did not He who made me in the womb
make him, And the same one fashion us in the womb?"
"Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, and before you were born I
consecrated you;"
"Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved,
and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."
"Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave
heed to her and opened her womb."
"He will love you and bless you and
multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb"
"Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within
your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table."
"For You formed my inward parts; You wove
me in my mother's womb."
God being Omniscience knowing all men for
all mankind and having their countenances also known before the creation can be
trusted to supply all your needs for every child born into your family and also
stop the birthing process when that time comes to.
One of the very first things that God
impressed on us after we agreed to both follow His Word was to commit the
number of children into His hands. We started out wanting 3 and ended up having
9 out of 13 pregnancies. Doctors told my wife after the first 3 that it wasn’t
a good idea to have more, she was too old. We agreed with God and He gave us
those that He wanted us to have. To take this into our own hands only defines
where or who our faith is in. “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
My wife was 45 when she birthed our last child. She was 54 when we picked up
our last pregnancy test.
If we Love Him we will obey His commands.
Yes, one of them is “be fruitful and multiply”. Not just a suggestion.
This last (but not at all complete)
Biblical teaching that is just about totally ignored in the pulpit or in
practice is:
Women usurping authority over man:
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
|
"But I want you to understand
that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is
the head of Christ"
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In today’s church we see all too many
times that women lead in areas where they have no authority and the main one
being over man. Man meaning a mature male. A boy becomes a man and mature at
puberty at which time he is to be under male tutors.
The role of the woman is to fulfil the
teaching and preaching to other women and children, boys and girls. Women
teaching and preaching to a mixed congregation of both mature men and women
also violate the practice that Paul warns about in:
1 Corinthians 14:34
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"Let your women keep
silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded to be submissive, as also says the law."
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1 Corinthians 14:35
God had His Word written when He did so
that man or time or social practices couldn’t change it. There have been many
perverted editions of the Bible written to satisfy the despot desires of man
but God’s hand has been on His True Word to keep is pure.
Back to woman and usurping authority:
One of the little presented Truths of
Scripture is God’s use of women when man won’t muster up to the call. Deborah
was one of those women. She was a prophetess that prophesied the victory in
battle over Sisera, but when Barak wouldn’t go into battle without her she then
prophesied that a woman would claim the victory by killing the king.
Judges 4:21
21 "Then
Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and
went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into
the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died."
When man doesn’t honor God by serving Him
then God will use woman to fulfill His plans. This in no way means that woman
are second rate but that the first responsibility goes to man. When man doesn’t
listen God will raise up whatever is necessary to get the job done.
1 Kings 2:3-4
3“Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,
4 so that the LORD
may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons
are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and
with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel."
Throne of Israel or head of Christs
church man is the chosen vessel to first do the work of God. The OT priest
hood, all the OT service to God, the NT Apostles, Church leaders, and Bishops and Deacons were
all men. There is a marked division here in the definition of Deacon and Bishop
as these definitions mention that the “men” be ……….describing the attributes
and that they must be “husbands of one wife.” This shows that the wife isn’t
the Deacon or Bishop but a part of the outline of what the Deacon or Bishop
must have. Having one wife. Many an emotional outcry comes from both men and
women having to do with these “ancient” decrees somehow belittling women as
“second class” when compared to man. This is utter nonsense. God’s design for
men is different than God’s design for woman. These are both physical and
spiritual in application. You hear woman talk about not being equal in position
but you never hear man verbalizing not being able to bear children. Paul
reminds us that we are not to compare ourselves one to another:
2 Corinthians 10:12
12"For we dare not make
ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend
themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Regardless where the comparison is being
made or about what it’s being made it’s “not wise” to do.
All who believe have a calling to “preach
the Gospel” and the Scriptures show that a woman under a husband can support
his preaching and teaching as in the Book of Acts
Acts 18:26
26 "And
he (Apollo’s) began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and
Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of
God more perfectly."
I know that there are spiritual “hackles”
up on the backs of both man and woman’s heads right now and due to the “pick
and choose” nature of Western Christianity some will even feel justified. But
let’s make it clear that “in the beginning” man was first, man was given charge
of all care of creation, man named all the created species, and it was man that
sin rested upon. Woman came second from man’s rib, woman sinned and brought the
sin to Adam, and it was woman’s curse to “usurp” or “desire” to have authority
over man. This is why the division of authority by God’s design was set forth
in the NT.
No need for some theological explanation
that changes things. God’s Word was written so that no one, over any amount of
time, as long as creation lasts that can change this. Theology much like
science is full of theory’s that relegate the thoughts of man with the Words of
God. In the beginning science started out to prove God’s existence and ended up
on the opposite side of the fence in saying that we have all the explanations
without God. What’s so hard about reading the Scriptures by the Holy Spirits
leading and understanding them in accordance with His will at the proper time?
Many Christians leaders have lost the gift of “discernment of spirit” and need
to have an answer to offer whether or not they actually have any knowledge or
revelation on the matter. Better off to say nothing if you don’t know than to
make up a half truth and lie to the congregation.
As already pointed out with sodomy,
divorce, woman’s position in the church ect. God is Omniscient and knew that we
would twist His Words before He called Creation out of nothing.
Romans 3:4
“God forbid:
yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is
written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest
overcome when thou art judged.”
God’s Word is True, every man a liar, and
those that stick with the Truth of God’s Word will overcome when judged when
pointing out said Truth.
I believe that the Word of God needs no
interpretation outside the Holy Spirit because His Word is spirit, and it takes
the Holy Spirit to render understanding. That Divine Intervention by His Spirit
to each believer is called personal revelation. If more people would wait on
the teaching of the Holy Spirit instead of rush into “studies or doctrines of
man” then we would all receive knowledge and wisdom in “God’s time”. Instead we
are running helter scelter to try to “show” some fashion of pride thinking and
teaching like we know all things.
1 Timothy 6:3-5
3 "If
any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He
is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words,
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."
Then we also have a strong warning from
James:
James 3:1
3 "My brethren, be not many masters,
knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."
A master has been set forth in Scripture
as a teacher, preacher and the warning is that we “be not many masters” because
of the greater condemnation that we will receive at judgement for what we
preached and taught. God knew/knows that His Word wielded power and that sinful
man would abuse it. It’s better to say nothing than ignorantly say something
wrong making the Word of Truth “that sets free” falsely represented. We are
always supposed to “walk in the Spirit” not satisfying the lust of the flesh.
We are supposed to be led by the Spirit, and taught by the Spirit. Now does
that mean that we all rely on our own personal revelation and that the teachers
and pastors that we employ in the churches aren’t needed. No! Teachers and
Pastors are part of the ministerial positions. But what it does mean is that
the congregation brings their revelations to the meeting and the “Spirit” led
teachers/pastors bring their “Spirit” instructed revelations and the one will
bear witness to the other and thereby fulfilling the “witness” of two or three
so that Truth can be established in Scriptural context. As Jesus (who is the
Truth) said “if I bear witness of myself it is not valid, but I am not alone,
my Father also bears witness of me”. Witness is by two or three and that by the
Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19
“18 For
first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be
divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For
there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you.”
When you come together there must be
heresies among you to show which of you has God’s approval on them. This is the
divine sorting out that God has set up to keep His followers in the Truth. Like
it or not. If the congregation has no participation in the teaching/learning
process and are counted invalid in what is to be taught then we don’t have
equal value in the Body of Christ. Every member must participate in order to
have the full power of the body under the Headship of Christ to manifest God’s
glory in all the earth. This promotes immaturity among the congregation as
there is no encouragement for each member to grow in their spiritual gifts.
That is one reason that we have pastors that need to fill all the other “ministry”
areas to make the church complete. That is why so many pastors are wore out and
give up because they are spread too thin.
Like it or not almost all failure in
Western Christianity comes from the lack of the presence and activity of the
Holy Spirit in Christ’s body. His believers. All shortcomings in the church can
be eliminated with this one renewed application. If you don’t believe in this necessity,
don’t teach and promote His presence and guidance, then you are bound to fail
for the Holy Spirit was the One that Jesus sent to “teach us and remind us of
all things He did and said.” Only He has that authority and He can’t be
replaced by the “doctrines of man.” Without Him we will only inherit lies and
half truths.
God’s Word is Truth.
It is not optional.
It cannot be changed, as it became flesh as
a body for Christ. And he cannot change.
Every precious promise and command is
presented to us through Christ.
His commands are not grievous.
If we love Him we will obey them.
Not believing all the Scriptures proves a
lack of faith.
Everything outside of faith is sin.
This is not a complete expose’ by far but
a good start to some soul searching about what you believe in the Scriptures. Your
health depends on it.
3 John 2
2 "Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy
soul prospereth."
Jesus is Lord!
Love
J&E