Same Sex Marriage, The Response of the Church Part 2
Same-Sex Marriage, The Response of the Church Part 2
On part one of this article, after the supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage, I felt the Lord wanted the ‘dust to settle’-so to speak, before sending it out. Emotions come and go, but His plan is eternal. I really believe He wants America to not only see the everlasting consequences of rejecting the Lord’s direction, but also understand the purpose of the entire Bible. From Genesis to Revelation-it teaches He desires to restore His relationship to man with a love so great it cannot be described with earthly words Ep. 3:14-21. Abiding in His eternal glory is beyond anything we could ever imagine Ep. 1:17-23, Rev. 4:10-11
Recently however I viewed a video on youtube (yes it went viral) about a ‘pastor’ who mentioned that the Bible says homosexuals should receive the death sentence- and he gave a Bible verse for this. After preaching that this verdict should be carried out in present times, he then mocked this group with derogatory remarks and mentioned they could not enter his church. He did not hide his heart, he said he ‘hated’ them and then continued with the mockery.
There was no ‘love the sinner (in whom we are included (Rm. 3:23 ) and hate the sin’, it was simply hate. There was such a poison coming from his heart. To be honest, at the time I really did not have a clear understanding of how we should view this Old Testament verse in light of the church today (Lev. 20:13-given later). Many Christians today think we are in the ‘age of grace’ and thus the Old Testament laws to not apply-this however could not be further from the truth.
Old Testament
Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
New Testament
Luke 10:27“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Which ‘laws’ we follow and which ‘laws’ we exclude for today’s church is not a matter of choice, but of direction from the Lord. When I went to pray about this I felt this time-Part 2- was different than the first. He seemed angry that ‘pastors’ were distorting His divine message of grace-the answers were coming quickly and He wanted the message out now!
The Biblical Foundation
To understand the Lord’s grace and the union between the Old and New Testament, as usual-we start at the beginning with a foundation. Only after realizing what the Lord wants to accomplish as described in His entire Word can see where this false shepherd went wrong. We can also have a greater assurance that what we believe now is correct and pleasing to the Lord.
After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden they discovered their nakedness or sin.
Genesis 3:3-5 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:6-7 and when the woman say that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes….she took the fruit and did eat, and gave to her husband who did eat. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
After eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil...their eyes were truly opened. It appears Jehovah God is the only Being that can have a complete understanding of evil (He created the tree of good and evil) and is not affected by it. God is completely holy Rev.15:4.
Adam and Eve believed the lie satan told them. When they disobeyed God they sinned. Their heart, soul and body entered a realm of darkness and evil. They already had the knowledge of good (The Lord-eternal life), but now they did indeed have a true knowledge of evil. However, they did not become like God as satan said, but like him. Yes, in both the spiritual and physical realm, they will not ‘certainly live but die.’
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (through faith in Him Jn. 3:14-18).
Uniting the Old and New Testament
The ‘Age of Grace’ (grace being Gods provision to restore Himself to man Ep. 2:8) actually started with Adam and Eve. When the Lord made a cover of animal skin for them, this represented the Lords coming sacrifice for sin on the cross for us-Gods grace. Gen. 3:21, Heb. 7-10.
To teach the ‘Age of Grace’ begins in the New Testament is simply not Biblical. Paul starts each of his Epistles with grace and peace from God be given unto you. He ministers through the grace of God, making it clear that grace is a heavenly provision, not an age 1 Cor. 3:10, Eph. 3:7. In Rm. 4 and Gal. 3 Paul mentions the same method of grace (salvation by faith) by Abraham, clearly showing the Lords ‘Age of Grace’ transcends both Old and New Testaments.
Note: The Word teaches 2 ages 1) The age where He is with us in Spirit…waiting for His return Matt. 28:17-20, Mk. 16:15-20. 2) The ‘end of the age’ or the beginning of the new age when He returns Matt. 13:39-43
The best way to see the union between the Old and New Testament (or the relationship between the law and grace) is by what Jesus teaches. He brings these two subjects together beautifully.
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I am continually blown away with the wisdom of the Lord. He is giving us the answer right here. Brothers and sisters, this is where the false shepherd above blew it…this is where those that take big magic markers and divide the Bible into multiple personalities or ages go wrong! Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8.
Jesus is saying, look at My Word as one continual fulfillment. When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord started a fulfillment plan to be completed when the world is restored from the curse of sin at His final reign.
Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Revelation 21:4 and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
From Genesis to Revelation, The Word is to be viewed as one complete continuum-a fulfillment process, not a fragmented system of stoning in the Old Testament and love in the New Testament.
The law in the Old Testament reveals our fallen nature. Jesus who did not sin…is the only man given by God to us who fulfilled the law.
Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Simply, Jesus, being a Divine Son of God from heaven, is the only one that was able not to sin (not born of a sin nature) and thus could ‘fulfill the law’ and be mans true representative before God the Father.
2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
The law then is a legal written statement by God identifying that we sin and need a Human Savior (with a sinless Divine nature-Jesus) to be our representative before God.
Galatians 3:19 Well then, why were the laws given? They were added after the promise (Gen. 3:15, 26:4) was given, to show men how guilty they are of breaking God’s laws. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of Christ, the Child to whom God’s promise was made.
We enter into this relationship with our savior not by force, but by faith…birthed by His love for us 1 Jn. 4:19 .
Galatians 3:23-24 Before this faith came, we were all held prisoners by the law. We had no freedom until God showed us the way of faith that was coming… Christ, so that we could be made right with God through faith.
Thus, the Word states the law brought the verdict of death so we would seek eternal life through faith in Christ Gal. 2: 19-20. As Romans 4 and Galatians 3 make incredibly clear, Abraham and the Old Testament saints needed faith to receive the Lord’s righteous salvation. One perpetual fulfillment process until we spend eternity with Him. Praise God! See Understanding Our God
One Purpose, From Genesis to Revelation
If we continue to follow the teaching of Jesus above, we realize each day brings us closer to achieve the completion of the Lord’s final plan -hallelujah. In this light, we see His directives change (some directions in the Word), but not His eternal purpose of ‘I came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. ‘ Matt. 5:17.
One example of this change is how we Worship Him. We no longer need and animal sacrifice as in the Old Testament, because Jesus is the one the complete sacrifice for all mankind Heb. 7-10. In fact, in every direction given in the Old Testament, the New Testament either confirms this continuation of the Old Testament practice…or discontinues it because the Messiah came to fulfill the law.
Any study in the Word, whether it be about money, marriage, worship, fellowship, food, relationships to believers and the lost etc. is confirmed or revised in New Testament teaching. See Tithing
Now, ‘The Question’
The big question now arises. Does the Bible teach we put to death homosexuals in today’s church…what does the New Testament say about this? We have reviewed the Word. It is not Biblical to teach…the Old Testament is the cruel part of the Bible and the New Testament is all about love. The Lord never changes, His purpose, love and holy character do not alter Heb. 13:8.
Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change
The question is…not if the Lord changes but if His directives have changed. This false shepherd went on television and said the Bible currently teaches
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lies with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
He was not wrong about the scripture in the Word, but about the directions in the New Testament. I sooo wish the TV commentators knew the Word just a little bit…and asked him to repeat not just Lev. 20:13, but also a few verses prior-Lev. 20: 9 & 10 on live TV. They should have asked him, do you also believe the Bible on these verses, anyone who commits adultery should be executed vs. 10, and those who have rebelled against their parents be terminated vs. 9. Do you believe in all the Bible, or do your just pic and choose your part? What sayest thou??
Tragically, sooo many Biblical ‘teachers’ purposefully deny the Word of God. Most are smart, they know these verses, they just refuse to be taught by the Spirit of God to instruct them, their hearts are hard.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Also Mal. 3:18.
We are now realizing how important these New Testament directives really are! Do we execute those that commit adultery, practice homosexuality or completely rebel against their parents? Quite possibly, this false shepherd and many of us would be on death row if all of the above punishments hold true to the church age today. Is this ‘pastor’ now willing to execute a large part of his congregation? Thankfully, Jesus gives us the answer in quite a dramatic way.
John 8:1-11 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Wow…the religious leaders had Jesus, so they thought. No way can He get out of this one. He cannot deny the Word Lev. 20:10. She has to be stoned! Here is this prophet..talking all about Gods love, saying we the teachers have the hard hearts-He either forfeits His belief in Gods Word or she is stoned-case closed.
The Lord, who creates the law has the authority to change the laws or directives Acts 10:9-15. As mentioned above, the New Testament is filled with many new directions. Jesus had the authority to change the law in Lev. 20:10, about stoning a woman caught in adultery. We need to understand why-and does it apply to other cases of capital punishment as with rebellion to parents and homosexuality.
Interesting enough, Jesus does not say… don’t stone her, He says…if you are without sin…stone her. He then writes on the ground…the religious leaders leave in a sequence of age, with hearts convicted of their own sin. Jesus is not just pointing to the ground and writing their individual sins…probably those who committed adultery with her, but He is now pointing the way to us, giving us a different direction. He does not crush her with rocks, but declares-as the Head and leader of the church two new laws or directives –neither do I condemn thee and sin no more. The church direction has changed…it is to teach those from the Lord’s arrival forward ‘do not be condemned by Jesus’ and ‘to sin no more’. See. Ft. 1 bottom, review on how the church now carries out the discipline of the Lord.
What an incredibly powerful message! I truly would have wanted to experience this moment. Arguably the greatest preached sermon ever given. Spoken not with hostile words of condemnation, but with truths about His grace and forgiveness. We shall see later, for her (for anyone) to be condemned by Jesus and to continue in sin-the consequences are horrific, Jesus never denies this. The message to the lost however, to all the lost…including every Christian before our salvation experience is…we need true saving faith in Jesus Christ to inherit eternal life (no condemnation from Jesus). Repent from sins and live a sanctified life pursuing God (sin no more). Acts 20:21, Matt. 21:32, Jn. 3:15-18
Since Jesus is truly the Son of God, He would have had to stone her, or allowed it to happen if He did not change the directions for the sin of adultery Jn. 15:10. The reason given is mentioned in Lev. 20 and other scriptures (mentioned briefly).
The great love of God is just as real in the Old Testament as the New, but the conditions to protect this love were completely different.
In Gen 3:15, the Father says through Eve, the ‘woman’s seed’, satans head will be crushed. In Gen. 6, satan tried to contaminate the women’s seed in order for this not to happen. When the fallen angels (sons of God) ‘mingled’ with the daughters of men, they bore children by them and contaminated earthly population or ‘women’s seed’, all but Noah’s lineage Gen. 6:8. By way of Noah’s offspring, the messiah would come. See Chuck Missler
For a Divine Savior to come through a woman’s seed, or-for mankind to be spared from hell and receive eternal life, the greatest genocide in history took place. The Lord flooded the entire earth so Noah and a future woman could bring us our Redeemer (through Mary and the virgin birth Is. 7:14). As with the promise given to Eve, the Lord was protecting our eternal lives.
The consequences of sin is real, and the severity of punishment from God to protect His plan of salvation is very real also.
Several hundred years later, the Lord declared through the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the Messiah would be born to us Gen. 26:4, Gen. 21: 12,
Hebrews 11:18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
This strict code to protect His people from evil had to be applied also to the nation of Israel. They could not be completely corrupted, thus the Lord set very firm and holy standards. As with the fall of Adam and Eve, or the evil days in Noah’s time and the Lord telling Moses I will wipe all the nation of Israel off the face of the earth except for your family line (Praise God the Lord was merciful when Moses intervened) we can begin to realize that Jehovah was zealous about protecting Israel from corrupting the family line leading to the Divine Messiah. Ex. 32:10
Thus, in the Old Testament, we have the Love of God demonstrated in a very serious manner. He will protect the future of His children at all cost. He will make sure the Messiah will be born from the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (the nation of Israel) and corruption from sin and the influence neighboring nations would not interrupt His Divine lineage. A virgin from Israel will have both the seed of women and the seed of God Is. 7:14, Lk. 1:26-38.
Applying New Testament Directives
The same chapter in Leviticus that calls for the death penalty for homosexuality, Lev. 20:13, also calls for the same punishment for a rebellious child. Lev. 20:9. Deut. 21: 18-21 explains this same punishment in greater detail…
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his 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 die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
The Word says the rebellious son in not just having a temper tantrum. He is completely refusing any correction and after several attempts of discipline, he still is in total rebellion. He is using the family income in gluttony and drunkenness, and thus it is implied he is dangerous to the family and other loved ones. Also, the Lord is fully aware of the consequences when someone is in complete rebellion. There would not be another Nimrod rise up and turn the people against His holy statutes. Through a court process, judgment is reached and carried out.
The most important teaching is at the end, however!
…vs. 21 so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
All the sins of Lav. 20, adultery, homosexuality and rebellion are serious to the Lord and called for capital punishment in the Old Testament. It was to say to ISRAEL, STOP SINNING!!
Through your seed a Messiah will come, a savior for the entire world, I will not allow your seed to be corrupted!
If the punishment of these sins were the same for the church today…the Pharisees would have indeed won the battle with Jesus…stone her! Jesus would have had to obey the Father’s commandment and followed through with Lev. 20:10 Jn. 4:34.
Jesus gave us the new instructions however in Jn. 8 above, saving faith in Christ (no condemnation from Jesus Jn. 3:16, Rm. 8:1) and sin no more. Mk. 1:15, Jn. 17:17.
In summary then, the Lord’s love -character never changes from Old to New Testament. Because He came to fulfill the Law Mt. 5:17 … some directives change (Jesus is our sacrifice Heb. 10, we are the Holy Temple 1 Cor. 3:16-17 etc). Jesus, once He was born, could change the directives of capital punishment for some sins (rebellion, adultery, homosexuality). The Messianic line coming from Israel did not need to be rigorously protected once He arrived. Thus in John 8- Jesus as ‘the Word’ Jn. 1:1,14 had the authority to change the Law ‘neither do I condemn you’ (Jesus saw her saving faith in Him Jn. 3:16 -He knew her heart Jn. 2:24) and sin no more…true repentance Matt. 4:17, Acts 3:19) Jesus is proclaiming the sins of Lev. 20-and now ‘ALL SINS’ are forgiven by faith in Christ Jn. 3:16 and true repentance-above verses.
That is why Jesus ate with the sinners and why the religious leaders hated Him Mk. 2:16-17. Out of love for us, He bore our transgressions, took the horror of our sins- hate, lies, rapes, murders, sexual immorality on Him…there was such distress in Him about the coming torment, His sweat became like blood. This did not stop the Lord however, He still went to the cross and took our darkness upon Him. Lk. 22:44, Heb. 12:2.
Those that preach hatred say we do not teach honestly about the sin of homosexuality, adultery and other sins. We who understand the Lord’s purpose, however, will make this truth very clear. All of those who die without receiving Jesus as their savior and Lord will die in their sins. A righteous God cannot abide with sin, if you reject His provision for your sin, His Son, your sin remains and there is no choice but everlasting punishment for sin.
John 3:15-19
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 15:5-6 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. See Rev. 20:11-15
Yes, all sin has terrible and has eternal consequences.
The sin of adulatory destroys families -for many…a lifetime.
The sin of homosexuality the Bible says perverts the foundation of His family, His example of unity in heaven. On earth, the Lord’s design for a family is displayed in continual generations. Rm. 1:19-32
Other sins have serious results, all needing Gods restoration, His savior and His Son Rm. 3:23
I personally believe the Lord put His article on my heart is to show His love to you. His way to eternal life. Now it is time to turn from your sin. The Lord does not expect you to respond to a false message, one of hate, but of His precious love for you, His plan for your life. Ps. 139:16
You have been given His Word with His true intentions for those He came to save. You also have been given His Word with warnings, they too are very real.
Please see link below, this decision has to be sincere, life-changing. The Lord is real and waiting for you to come to the truth-Life forever with God
SALVATION TO ALL WHO TURN TO HIM-See Link
UNDERSTANDING GOD See Link
How Much Does God Love Us Link
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God bless you as you pursue His truth.
Ft. 1. In 1-2 Timothy as well as the scriptures above, mention numerous verses on how to run the church, which includes church discipline. If we do an honest study on church government, we will find the detailed instructions on when and how to discipline those who sin in the church. As stated by Jesus, He summarized this by saying…church, sin no more.
For those outside the church who sin, we also follow Jesus example. He reached out to them- showed them, preached to them the way of salvation and righteousness. He reached out to the sinners’ world, our former residence. Eph. 2:12-13, Matt. 9:10-13, Matt. 5.
To have the government follow Biblical principles can be fantastic. Each kingdom, state and governing body has to decide which Biblical principles need to be incorporated in their legislation. This is to be done peacefully and not violently-or in hatred. Every country in this world legislates some form of morality; do not let others say this is wrong. Rm. 13:1 See Gods Political View
Serious problems will arise however when the Government ‘forces’ any religion, including Christianity. Constantine tried this in the third century, sending his troops through rivers to be baptized. This started the ‘church-state’ religion, a complete disaster. Like the Pharisees in the Lords day, this ‘church’ was completely void of the Spirit and brought in what historians call the dark ages.
Salvation comes by faith and not by political intervention Eph. 2:8. We have in the US a great system, to protect our religious freedoms…but now it is time to-as Jesus says- Receive Him so Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.
God bless, Bill
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