A Survey of the Old Testament Law--Sexual sins (Leviticus 18, part 2)

 So now we come to the list of sexual relations that were (and still are) considered to be abominable in the sight of our Lord. And yet, there are some today who look upon one of these perversions with favor, and who do not understand why there are some of us who preach against such perversion. And, I might add, there are some who are growing in their determination to wipe out not just one, not just a couple, but, rather, they seek to wipe out all the lines between man and these sins. First, let us deal with the sins of incest. Leviticus 18:6-20—“‘6 None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness. 9 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover. 10 The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness. 11 The nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is near of kin to your father. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is near of kin to your mother. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son's wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. 18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive. 19 Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity. 20 Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, to defile yourself with her. ’”

So, here is the rundown of the family relations with whom God prohibited His people from having sexual relations:

·         Father and mother (or stepmother)

·         Sister (or stepsister)

·         Granddaughter

·         Your aunt (neither of them)

·         Your uncle (or his wife, who is your aunt)

·         Your daughter-in-law

·         Your sister-in-law

·         And woman and her daughter (or any of her granddaughters)

·         The sister of a woman that you want to make jealous

Now, as I said, I think anyone with a rational mind would not find too much fault with any of these prohibitions. I think we would all agree that it’s yucky to have sex with mom or dad (although Lot's daughters thought they were doing something right in Genesis 19:30-38). Or your children or your grandchildren. There are some, though, who wouldn’t think twice about their stepmother, or their in-laws. And there are some who would be quite emboldened to approach the last two, and would think of it as quite the conquest. But therein lies the corruption of the human heart. It is set solely on the things which gratify it, regardless of the indecency and immorality of the act. Amnon, a son of David, took his own sister Tamar by force in 2^nd Samuel 13:11-14—11 Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." 12 But she answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! 13 And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you." 14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. And for these, God’s wrath was kindled against Israel, and He allowed her to be taken into captivity. And, alas, the princes of Israel would not escape falling into these monstrous deeds. Ezekiel 22:6-11—"6 Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you...10 In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity. 11 One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter."

In the New Testament, we see John the Baptist rebuking Herod for laying with his sister-in-law. Mark 6:17-18—17 Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Later on, Paul would have to rebuke some in the church at Corinth for laying with their stepmothers. 1^st Corinthians 5:1-2—1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. And we could go on even further detailing the sexual atrocities perpetrated by depraved human hearts. But you get the idea.

Now, as I started to say, when we hear about people involved in many of these relations, we would say something like…“Eeeewww.” We would be rightly mortified by them. We would agree that having sex with your parent or your child is a gross act that should be rightly outlawed. But there is one act that God is about to mention, lumped in with all these others and coming on the heels of His warning to not offer their children to Moloch. And that is, Leviticus 18:22—“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” This is, of course, the forbidding of homosexuality. When we hear someone had sexual relations with their child, we shrink in disgust. When we hear of someone mating with an animal, we cannot bear to hear the details. When we hear about a perverted uncle who sodomized his niece, we are outraged. When we think of going in to a woman during her monthly cycle, most men get squeamish. When a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, we are saddened. When a man sleeps with his brother’s wife, we don’t always begrudge the wronged brother from taking the matter up with the guilty brother. And in this country, when a family adopts a child of either gender, they must provide a separate bedroom for any children of the other gender. And we are rightly outraged by these acts.

But let someone stand up and say, publicly, “Homosexuality is a sin” and they get whisked off to “sensitivity training” or they get large fines, or they have to make some “apology” because they “offended” someone. Yet these people will not apologize to the One who is truly offended by their support of homosexuality. They will blindly spit in God’s eye and say He is “mean” or “intolerant” or some other such nonsense. Or, rather, they will direct their bile at those of us who stand up and say homosexuality is a sin. Even though the only One whose opinion really matters lumps it in with adultery, incest and child sacrifice. They will say something like, “Well, that was just the Old Testament. Where does Jesus say anything about homosexuality?” And this question is wrong for two reasons. First, we don’t know everything Jesus ever said or did. John 21:25—And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. But I doubt that there were many people running up to Him and asking, “Teacher, my son is sleeping with another man. What do You say to this?” Because I think they would know the answer. He would say, in whatever way He chose, to tell them to “go forth and sin no more.” I do not dare speak for my Lord, but knowing that He did not tolerate sin, that would have probably been the gist of His response.

However, that question is wrong for another more obvious reason—Jesus DID speak against homosexuality. What is fornication? Is it not sleeping with someone you are not married to? And, contrary to what the spin doctors of the homosexual movement try to say it, marriage is between one man and one woman. Period. The late Walter Martin, one of the most brilliant biblical minds of the 20^th century, said this about the New Testament use of the Greek word that we translate as ‘fornication’:

 

You say, “Where in the New Testament did Jesus ever mention homosexuality?”

 

Open your Bibles and find out; because contrary to what the gay church says, He not only spoke against it—He went out of His way to make it very clear so nobody would misunderstand Him.

 

Of course, you do have to study your Greek New Testament to come up with it. Most homosexual theologians that I have talked to don’t even know the Greek alphabet, much less their Greek exegesis, so they miss it completely – but it’s here in the passage and it should be looked at. Matthew, chapter 15, Christ is speaking, verse 19, “For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders”, notice the differentiation, “adulteries, fornications”, plural, “thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile”

 

You say: “The word homosexual is not there; what are you arguing about?”

 

I’m arguing about the use of the word porneus, which was found written over the wall, and the doorway, and the arches, in excavations by archaeologists of Roman brothels. And the word porneus did not mean “sex before marriage” alone.

 

It meant homosexuality, bestiality, and all forms of degraded sex. And it became well known to everybody in the culture, that porneus referred to “anything goes”.

 

Jesus well knew the Roman brothels. He well knew the culture of His time; and when He said “adulteries and fornications” – plural – He was making a direct reference to the practices of the Romans and the Greeks and the pagans of the time who prostituted themselves to all forms of evil.

 

He knew it; He condemned it. It’s not just the matter of the word, it’s a matter of the culture; and Jesus certainly understood the culture of His time. And therefore, when He used the word “fornications”, He obviously was making reference to all forms – all forms, inclusive forms – of that which was the deviation from the norm of Jewish law. (Source: http://apprising.org/2011/03/21/jesus-does-condemn-homosexuality/)

So, yes, Jesus did speak against homosexuality. And so did Paul. I believe many of us could quote the following by heart, having used it enough times in arguing against the sin of homosexuality. But, let us see it again. Romans 1:24-27—24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And again, another familiar passage, 1^st Corinthians 6:9-10—9 Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. Let’s look at a couple words that are germane to our discussion. First, the words translated homosexuals (‘effeminate’ in the KJV), which is the Greek μαλακός (malakos). Now, you will often hear the (ludicrous) argument that “That word simply means male prostitutes.” Not so fast. Let’s look at the full range of meanings for that word. From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: “1) soft, soft to the touch; 2) metaphorically in a bad sense: a) effeminate, 1) of a catamite; 2) of a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man; 3) of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness; 4) of a male prostitute.” In short, a μαλακός (malakos) was one who played the role of the “woman” in a relationship between two men. These would not inherit the kingdom of God. The second word we will discuss is “sodomites” (or, ‘abusers of themselves with mankind’, KJV), the Greek being ἀρσενοκοίτης (arsenokoites). In short, this is the one who plays the “man” in such a relationship. Paul is not using these two words just for dramatic repetition. He is saying that in a relationship between two men, it does not matter which one plays which role. Both of them will be shut out of the kingdom.

The prohibition against homosexuality is not one that is limited to Old Testament Israel. It carries over into the church under the new covenant as well. Furthermore, this prohibition (like many others) did not simply spring up at Sinai. Perverting the natural order comes with the price of death, and that goes all the way back to the book of Genesis. And what subject do you think we’ll pick up here? Ah yes, the origin of the word ‘sodomite.’ Without going back over the story, we know that the men of Sodom wanted Lot to bring out the two angels who entered his house, “So that we may know them” (Genesis 19:5). And, as you well know, the word “know” does not mean, here, “to get acquainted with.” If that’s what they meant, then why did Lot respond as he did, “Do not do so wickedly!” (Genesis 19:7). Let’s think here: if the men of Sodom only wanted to “get acquainted with” these men, why did Lot call that “wickedness”? And we know that, even after Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city if he could find 10 righteous men—which, by the way, he could not find—that the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens (Genesis 19:24).

And in case you haven’t heard it yet, the argument from the pro-homosexual will say something like this: “God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because they were inhospitable to their guests!” They arrive at this conclusion from Ezekiel 16:48-50—"48 As I live," says the Lord GOD, “neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.” And so they say, “See! It was because of their pride they were destroyed—not for any of that stuff you read in Genesis! In fact, ignore all that; it never happened!” However, their argument fall apart in light of the words of Jude, the brother of our Lord. Jude 1:7—Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. The men of Sodom were destroyed because their cravings for male flesh were so overwhelming that even after they were struck blind, they still groped for it (Genesis 19:11). Matthew Henry—

“To put an end to their attempt, and disable them from pursuing it. Justly were those struck blind who had been deaf to reason. Violent persecutors are often infatuated so that they cannot push on their malicious designs against God's messengers. Yet these Sodomites, after they were struck blind, continued seeking the door, to break it down, till they were tired. No judgments will, of themselves, change the corrupt natures and purposes of wicked men. If their minds had not been blinded as well as their bodies, they would have said, as the magicians, ‘This is the finger of God,’ and would have submitted.”

When men’s hearts are hardened, their eyes blinded to the truth, and when men have not the Holy Spirit stirring their conscience to repentance, they will most gladly and stubbornly grope for that which their flesh desires most, not fearing—not anticipating—and not believing that there will ever come a day when they will face the Judge of the living and the dead.

Next week we will look at the people allowing their children passing through the fire to Molech

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Amen.

A Survey of the Old Testament Law--Exodus

Introduction--Part 1
Introduction--Part 2
Arrival at Sinai
"You shall have no other gods before Me"
"You shall not make a graven image to bow down to it"
"I am a jealous God"
The myth of the "Generational Curse"
"You shall not take My name in vain"
Jesus as the "I AM"
Taking God's name in vain (Part 3)
Making oaths in God's name
"Remember the Sabbath" (Part 1)
"Remember the Sabbath" (Part 2)
"Honor your father and mother"
"You shall not murder"
"You shall not commit adultery"
"You shall not steal" (Part 1)
"You shall not steal" (Part 2)
"You shall not bear false witness"
"You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor's"
"God has come to test you, that you may fear Him"
Treatment of slaves
Statutes concerning murder
Statutes concerning fornication, sorcery, bestiality, and usury
Treatment of Widows and Orphans
Statutes concerning idolatry, obeying authority, perjury
"You shall keep the feast of Passover" (part 1)
"You Shall Keep the Passover" (Part 2)
"You Shall Keep the Passover" (Part 3)
Bear your neighbor's burdens; let your land lay fallow; I send My Angel before you
The First Covenant (part 1)
The First Covenant (part 2)
The First Covenant (part 3)
The Tabernacle, The Priestly Garments
Replicas of the Tabernacle and the Priestly Garments
Consecrating Aaron and His Sons (part 1)
Consecrating Aaron and His Sons (part 2)
Consecrating Aaron and His Sons (part 3)
Ransom Money, Incense, Anointing Oil
The Calling of Bezalel and Aholiab
Picturing the Tabernacle
The Sign of the Sabbath
Aaron's Golden Calf
The Golden Calf (epilogue)
Two New Stones, The Sins of the High Priest
Finishing Exodus

When a nation turns its back on God--Romans 1:18-32

The message I preached this past Sunday, on the heels of the Episcopal church's continued slide into the spiritual abyss.

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When many people think of the restraining hand of God, they think that by holding them back from fulfilling their every desire, God is simply getting in the way of their good time. When in fact, by restraining them, He is actually doing them a favor. Just like when you parents go running after your child so they don’t run out into the road. You're not trying to keep them from having a good time; you are keeping them from getting killed. And when God holds us back from doing all the things we want to do, He is keeping us from doing something that would bring a far greater punishment. But when the people rebel against such restraint, God pulls back His hand and allow those people to fall as deeply as they want. There are stages—it is a downward spiral; some people call it “circling the drain”—that a nation goes through when they tell God they don’t want any part of Him, they want God to go away and leave them alone—and He says, “OK.”

Romans 1:18-32—18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

C.S. Lewis once said, “The last experience of the sinner is the horrible enslavement of the freedom he desired.” Think about that: people become slaves to freedom. In this country, we think slavery was wiped out after the Civil War. Satan would like you to believe that. But whether you know it or not, we are all slaves. And there are really only two masters we can serve. We can serve Christ. Or we can serve Satan. That’s it. We are either a slave to our own desires and wants. Or we devote our lives to serving the Lord Jesus Christ who bought us with His blood. But it’s not just as individuals that we serve our master, whoever it may be. Even a nation, serves one of those two masters. And right now in this country, there is a war being fought over who we as a nation will serve. The real war is not over in Iraq or Afghanistan. The real war is going on right here inside of each and every person. And it will decide the fate of this country. Because sometimes little by little, sometimes by great leaps, this nation is turning towards serving Satan.

And what happens to that nation that decides they no longer want to be servants of Almighty God? What happens to that nation that wants the freedom to indulge in every sin and every vice they can imagine? They become the objects of God’s wrath. And they experience “the horrible enslavement of the freedom they desire.” But you see, when we think of God’s wrath, we think of things being destroyed. And cities being wiped out.

• Not long after God created man, He was sorry He ever created the lot of us.So He sent a flood, and wiped out the whole human race, except for 8 people.
• Not long after that, men built a tower in the land of Babel, to worship angels and stars.So God destroyed the tower, confused their languages, and scattered them abroad.
• Not long after that, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were filled with homosexual lust, and all other kinds of sexual perversion.So God rained down fire on these cities and destroyed them.
• Not long after that, as Moses was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Law that would guide us to Christ, the people at the bottom of the mountain were having a drunken orgy, worshipping their golden calf.So God opened up the earth and swallowed them alive.

I think you get the idea. Time after time, man rebels against God. And time after time, God pours out His wrath and destroys them. If you want to see this pattern displayed over and over again, read the book of Judges. But sometimes, God shows His wrath by giving the people everything they want. In the book of Numbers, in chapter 11, we read about the people of Israel who had been in the desert for forty years. And God had fed them every single day. Every night at sunset, all they had to do was go out, gather up the manna, and they eat for the next day. But, are we humans ever satisfied with what we have? Being the selfish creatures we are, always want more. So the people cried out to Moses, “We miss the onions and the garlic and the melons we enjoyed freely in Egypt!” They had forgotten that in order to “enjoy them freely,” they had to suffer under the yoke of bondage to Pharaoh. So God told Moses to gather the people together; and that day the people gathered. And all of a sudden here come all these quail—all the meat they could want. And in Numbers 11:31-33--And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten bushels…While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague. In other words, while they were still chewing, the meat turned to poison in their mouths, and they died. They got what they wanted. God gave them what they wanted. Be careful what you wish for.

So many times we read about God actively displaying His power and His wrath with fire and destruction and death. But God displays His wrath in an even more severe manner—a manner which brings about consequences that are, eternally speaking, even more devastating and destructive. I'm talking about when a nation turns its back on God…and He turns His back on that nation. In His wrath, God does not always simply wipe people out. Sometimes, He will just let them have what they want. And let IT destroy them. Look at Romans 1:18-20. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. There is nothing living that does not believe there is something greater than they are. There is no living creature that does not believe they were created. But in the foolishness of wisdom, they forget that truth. Isaiah 1:3-4—“The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider…They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.”

We like to think of the human mind as a great thing. But in fact it is also a not-so-good thing. Because it allows us to come up with methods of explaining things in such a way that we can leave Almighty God completely out of it. You young folks may be learning in school—or will learn in school—about a little thing called “evolution.” It’s a fairy tale that says that monkeys turned into men, and that lizards turned into birds. That’s one way that people who are too smart for their own good can explain how we got here without having to believe in God, and without having to think that they will one day be accountable to Him.

And because they do not want to stop living a life filled with ungodliness, they suppress the truth, and they toss it under the couch and forget about it. Or they come up with something else to worship, some other “god” that is more to their liking. Romans 1:22-23. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Many people don’t like the image of God they read about in Scripture, so they make up a “god” that suits their liking. They don’t like to think that God would send people to an eternal, fiery Hell. So, they think of God as being like them, with all their faults, and having a human sense of “fairness.” If you drive down Cumberland, go under Alcoa Hwy, just a little ways down Kingston Pike you can find all kinds of places where people come together to worship the “god” they have created in their own mind. Mormons. Christian Science—which is not Christian, nor is it Science. Seventh-Day Adventists. Unitarian-Universalists. All these cults which ignore the truth of Scripture and invent, a “god” that allows them to live however they want to live—without any eternal consequences.

They say something like, “Well, the god I worship would never send anybody to a fiery Hell.” Yeah, probably not. But that’s because they don’t worship the true God. But when they stand before Him, they can tell Him all about what they don’t believe. It may surprise you to learn that it’s not just these cults that believe such rubbish. It may surprise you to learn that the majority of Americans believe that Jesus sinned, that there is no such thing as Hell, and that we can be “good enough” to “deserve” salvation. It may surprise you to hear such things—then again, it may not. And every day in this country—this country where nearly 90% of people claim to be “born-again Christians” simply because they were born in a Christian nation—every day this country slips closer and closer to incurring the wrath of God.

But God won’t necessarily pour out His wrath by raining fire and brimstone on us. He may simply just let us have what we want. Romans 1:24-25. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. The “creature” that we serve in place of the Creator is our own flesh. We don’t want to be told what to do; we don’t want to live by a bunch of commandments; and He says, “OK. Don’t obey My commandments. See where it gets you.” God takes His hand off, just a bit, and gives us a little more freedom. So we get what we saw in the 1960’s, when so many people threw off any kind of restraint and gave up their bodies to the worship of the flesh. They called it “Free Love.” How many of y’all know it ain't free?

And when you have so much sex, what is the natural result of sex? It’s called “a baby.” But what if you don’t want to be tied down with a baby? What if you don’t want to give up the lifestyle and the partying and all the fun you're having? And what if you don’t want to go through the nine months of gaining weight and stretch marks and labor and all that other stuff that goes along with pregnancy. Well, you have to kill that child. So, directly on the heels of the 1960’s and the sexual revolution, the Supreme Court made it legal to kill your child while that child was still in the womb, and they legalized child murder. And called it “abortion.” And then along came disco, with its emphasis on sleeping with as many people as you could. And all the while, the people in this country grow more and more infatuated with more and more sexual gratification.

And especially today, if someone wants to go into the music business, if they want to sell any records, they have to make music videos. And what do they have to have in their music videos? A lot of sex. So this nation, where so many people claim to be “Christians,” and so many people who say they're going to heaven when they die—even while they are living a life that is filled with all kinds of things that are opposed to God—this nation continues to turn more and more away from God. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness to dishonor their bodies.

But for some people, normal sex won’t do. And so, in Romans 1:26-27—For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. Back around 1981, doctors began to notice a strange condition occurring in some of their patients. A strange new virus was discovered. And this virus was unlike any other that they had ever seen, because this virus reproduced itself using the patient’s own genetic material and weaved itself into the patient’s DNA. Not only that, it also used the body’s own immune system to help it avoid destruction and help it spread. They came up with a name for this virus. They called it the Human Immunodeficiency Virus—HIV for short. And the collection of symptoms that spelled the end for anyone with this virus was being referred to as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome—AIDS.

The militant homosexual crowd blamed the spread of AIDS on the government. It wasn’t the government that caused the spread of AIDS. It was men having unprotected sex with other men they had never met before and knew nothing about that caused the disease to spread. But they didn’t want to hear that. They want to blame somebody else other than themselves. "Oh, it's not our fault we got this disease!! No, that can't be! It has to be somebody else's fault!!" They don’t want to accept the fact that maybe, just maybe, the reason they have such a disease is because it’s their own fault. Nah, can't be. Has to be somebody else’s fault. Because in this country, we have become so numb to sin that we think it’s normal. So we get shows like Will & Grace, Queer Eye For the Straight Guy. All these shows celebrating what God calls an abomination. Even in many so-called “churches,” there is an acceptance of homosexuality as being normal and even celebrated.

I remember Ellen DeGenerate—I mean, DeGeneres—when she “came out,” told the world, “I thank God I'm gay!” God didn’t make her gay. And God certainly is not happy with her being a practicing lesbian. But, in this country, “coming out” as a lesbian is far more acceptable and far more celebrated than “coming out” as a Christian. Just ask Kirk Cameron how many offers he’s gotten since he got saved. A nation’s acceptance and tolerance of homosexuality as being “normal” is one of the hallmarks of a nation that is about to go under. When powerful nations and empires crumbled into dust, one thing they had in common was rampant homosexuality. Jude 7—Sodom and Gomorrah…having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Do you want to know how powerful homosexual lust is? I was listening to a sermon preached by John MacArthur, one of the finest preachers of the last 50 years. He shared the following: “There was a man named Halpern, who was the coroner for the city of New York and he did [between] 26 or 28 thousand autopsies in his day. He said he can look at a corpse that had been murdered and tell you whether a homosexual killed that person by the multiple wounds. [He said] ‘There's something about the passions of that kind of involvement that are not explicable.’” Another example: the night before the city of Sodom was destroyed, the men of Sodom saw two angels, in the shape of men enter into Lot’s house. They called for Lot to bring out the men, “Bring them out so that we may know them!”…sexually. Lot refused, and the men of the city were about to break down the door when the angels grabbed Lot, pulled him into the house, and in Genesis 19:11—they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness…so that they became weary trying to find the door. Even after they were blinded, they were still consumed by their lust to have those men. You might even say they were blinded by their lust.

Bringing that story up to date—even after everybody knows that the number one way that AIDS is spread is by men having sex with men, these men are still driven by their lust to commit what is an abomination. God gave them up to uncleanness to dishonor their bodies. God gave them up to vile passions.

Then verses 28-31. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful... God gives them up to uncleanness. He says, “You want it? There you go! Have at it!” He gives them up to vile passion. He says, “Oh, you want that too? There you go! Have at it!” Finally, He gives them over to a debased mind. The KJV calls it a reprobate mind. The NASB says He gives them over to a depraved mind. It is a mind that is tested and rejected. In the Greek it is a play on words. Even as they tested God and did not approve of Him, God handed them over to a mind which He has tested and rejected. When a nation rejects God, God rejects that nation. When a nation turns its back on God, God turns His back on that nation. Friends, it is truly better to have never known the truth of God, than to know His truth and turn away from it. Because when He turns His back on one nation, He turns His face to another. And He may even cause that second nation to conquer, and rule, and reign over the first.

If you want an example, I give you September 11, 2001. What happened that day was devastatingly tragic. But as tragic as it was, we deserved worse. Because those attacks revealed the true character of this nation. In the weeks following the attacks, you couldn’t find an empty pew anywhere. This nation, that had spent the last 30 or more years indulging their lusts and fulfilling every wickedness they could imagine—and all of a sudden, the cry goes us—“O God, save us!” People started buying American flags and Bibles, and they filled up churches and started taking their kids back to church and doing all these religious things...

But what has happened since then? Romans 1:32. …knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. If anything, this country has gotten even worse. Some people say that 9/11 was a "wake-up call." And it was. Problem is, we hit the snooze button and went back to sleep. The church in America—the church in America—is rapidly rejecting the truth of Scripture. People don’t want to hear truth anymore. So God gives us over to uselessness.

And suddenly, a man like Joel Osteen gains a huge following by preaching a bunch of watered-down nonsense, by not preaching about sin and repentance, by his unwillingness to preach the truth about the cross, and by preaching a name-it-and-claim-it philosophy. We also get someone like Rick Warren, the author of The Purpose-Driven Life, joining his church with Islamic groups, and saying that “Christians and Muslims must work together for the greater good.” I'm sorry. Did I miss something? Is there something greater than the gospel of Jesus Christ? Something greater that requires us to forget what the Bible says about how we are to not be yoked with unbelievers? This same man has also, openly, endorsed a book like “The Shack”—which is one of the most blasphemous books to come out in the last 5 years, but can be found on the shelves of “Christian” bookstores. And now we have elected a president who will do whatever it takes to make sure as many women as possible can kill their child any time during their pregnancy—or even in the days after they give birth. God gave this nation up to uncleanness. He gave this nation up to vile passions. And He has given this nation over to a mind that is useless concerning the things of God.

I shudder to think of the possible consequences. Because when those consequences come, they will make 9/11 look pale in comparison. When lawlessness is the norm; when the police are overwhelmed; when murder and robbery and rape go unpunished and unprosecuted; when the criminal element in this country runs the streets, and there is no one and nothing to protect the innocent—then the people will cry out, “O God, save us!” And He won’t. He won’t even hear their cry. He will have given the people what they want.

So, what can we do to stop this? First, pray. 1st Timothy 2:1-2—Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. Pray that our president would open his eyes and see the truth about abortion. Pray that God would give Him the wisdom and the heart to lead this nation in righteousness. Pray that God would give him the wisdom to see that a nation must be allowed to worship Almighty God without restriction.

Second, respect authority. Romans 13:1-4—Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. One of the most popular shows in the history of cable TV was The Sopranos. The Sopranos. Think about that. A show where the Mafia were the good guys and the police were the bad guys. And as you sat their watching, you were hoping that the Mafia gets away with murder. Of course, in movies, TV shows, music videos, it’s always the police that are the bad guys, and the pimp, the drug dealer, the guy that holds up the bank—they're the good guys. People in this country approve of those who kill and steal and who sell women’s bodies. And they hate those whose job it is to arrest such people. But when somebody does something to them, who do they call first? …knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Once the people throw off the shackles of the laws of men, it isn't long until they throw off any sense of conscience and restraint, and everyone does what is right in their own eyes as they did at the end of the book of Judges.

I'll close with some more words from Dr. MacArthur: “Your prayer and mine has to be that God would raise up faithful preachers and people who would proclaim His Word across this land. Pray for this generation of young men that God will call and shape and send, pray for pastors everywhere. Pray for us Christians to be bold. There's only one solution and that's the truth...the truth by which God saves, by which God sanctifies, and if this nation will respond and listen to His truth, God will open the flood gates. We might be the greatest recovery story in history. But there's no other way than that people listen to God and walk in His ways.”

"For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions"

This Sunday the fellow that preaches at our little church will be headed for Africa, so I will be filling the pulpit. About the middle of last week, I started to feel drawn to a particular text in Romans. Didn't know why.

Now I know why (From Christian News Wire, via Slice of Laodicea):

In a lopsided vote, deputies to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church have effectively repealed a moratorium on the consecration of further gay bishops.

Following initial votes in the church's House of Deputies on Sunday and House of Bishops on Monday, the House of Deputies gave final passage with 72 percent of the vote to an amended version of resolution D025 on Tuesday afternoon. The resolution affirms "that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church."

The newly-adopted resolution essentially counters another resolution passed three years ago, in which dioceses were urged to "exercise restraint" in the consecration of practicing homosexuals as bishops. The effect of that resolution was to tenuously keep the Episcopal Church connected to the broader Anglican Communion for the intervening three years.

The Anglican Communion is divided over hot button issues like homosexuality and scriptural authority, with U.S. Episcopal church leaders being more theologically and politically liberal than their overseas counterparts. IRD supports a conservative perspective that affirms traditional church teachings.

Romans 1:26-27, 32--For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting...knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Fake Translation of the Week--1st Cointhians 6:9-11

(Real Translation Here)

There has been much discussion, over the last few years, about whether homosexuality and Christianity are compatible. In other words, can a person be in a physical, homosexual relationship, and still be saved? Well, they can be--but not while they are in such a relationship.

The same, of course, holde true for adultery, stealing, murder, etc. Sin is sin, and as such a person who is living an unrepentantly sinful life is not saved. They can be saved--it is possible that they may get saved--but they are not saved. See the difference?

1st Corinthians 6:9 is one of the clearest passages concerning the fact that homosexuality is a sin. Forget the whole thing about "That was just Leviticus that said it was an abomination." And as far as the whole "Well, eating shrimp was a sin, too" thing? Check here. Point of fact, homosexuality is a sin. Period, paragraph.

So, how does the New Ager, who wants to have sin and Jesus too, translate this passage? Like this (altered text in bold italics):

1st Corinthians 6:9-11 (Theologically Liberal Translation)--

9 Do you not know that the judgmental who thump their Bibles will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such are some of you. Besides, God doesn't care who you love--that's what He has commanded us to do. So love whoever you want to, live your life however you want to, just do what feels right--because God loves you just the way you are! Don't let those old Pharisees worry you with all their talk of "doctrine" and "damnation." That's just how they scare people.

Robinson excluded from Lambeth Conference

V. Gene Robinson, the biblically-unqualified bishop of the New Hampshire Episcopal diocese, was given an invitation to not attend the once-every-ten-years Lambeth Conference. Or, rather, he was given a ticket that said, "Redeemable for entrance into one event." From the UK Guardian:

Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire, made the remarks after declining to attend the Lambeth conference, the 10-yearly gathering of the world's bishops, because his invitation was a "non-offer".

He told a spring gathering of the US Episcopal Church House of Bishops: "It has been a very difficult 48 hours sitting here and hearing your plans for Lambeth.

"In my most difficult moments it feels as if, instead of leaving the 99 sheep in search of the one, my chief pastor and shepherd, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has cut me out of the herd."

Conservatives and liberals have accused Dr Rowan Williams of being indecisive on the issue of homosexuality and the church. He has also been under fire, from both sides, about the extent of Robinson's participation at Lambeth.

One problem there, Gene. If you are continually living in a homosexual relationship, that is sin, and unless you repent, you cannot be one of Christ's sheep. Now, I am not proclaiming final judgment on the man. And I do not mean to sound like homosexuality is worse than any other sin. But, according to the word of God (the final authority on such things), this man is living a habitually sinful life, and is in danger of incurring God's judgment. And unless Rowan Williams grows a backbone and starts making his decisions according to God's word instead of his mushy-squishy feelings, he will face severe punishment from God for leading his flock astray.

Now, I have what may be, in my humble opinion, a solution for this whole debacle. Let's see what this old, dusty book that some of us call "The Holy Bible" has to say about homosexuality (I know, how dare I use such an archaic manual in this age of unbridled inclusivity!)--

• Leviticus 18:22--You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
• Romans 1:27--Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
• 1st Corinthians 6:9-10--Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

If you're reading this, and you don't like what I've written, and it makes you angry--then your problem is not with me, but with the word of God. I am not one of those people who just skips along with the tide of the times and allows myself to be carried away by everyone who thinks that the Bible doesn't say what it really says.

And when it comes to Gene Robinson, he is not qualified to be a bishop, and I applaud the Nigerian diocese for having the sense to break off from the Anglican Communion, lest they too should be caught up in their sinful deeds.

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