Subject of homosexuality

Let's talk about the subject of homosexuality. There are a number of things for us to look at and what I want to do is I want us to examine the arguments that people make in support of this practice and in particular the arguments people make in support of Christians lowering their defenses and being open to same-sex marriage there are a number of arguments being used out there. I'll refer to what seems to be the most popular one and that's the argument that Jesus never addressed homosexuality they'll say well you're a Christian which means you're a follower of Christ right?

Well yeah, I'm a follower of Christ well as a follower of Christ it seems very strange to me that you're making a big deal out of something that Jesus never mentioned one time in the gospels not one time, and for most Christians they hear that and we're just sort of taken aback and you know our response is usually something along the lines of uh, what, um and so what...we just don't know what to say right?

Well, here's what you say. In fact, Jesus did address homosexuality. He addressed it in Matthew 5 and in Matthew 19, because in Matthew 5 and 19 he addressed the issue of marriage. Moreover, He rooted his understanding of marriage in the teaching in Genesis 2. The teaching in Genesis 2 gives us the message that marriage between a man and a woman for the purposes of procreation, illustration and sanctification. He also made it very clear that what god has joined together man cannot separate. In other words, God is the author of marriage not man therefore God is the one who defines marriage not man...therefore man does not have the right to introduce the concept of same-sex marriage.

Number one, because by definition it's not marriage it's another thing and number two because by definition it goes against what was created in Genesis 2. So, Jesus did address homosexuality...but there's a bigger issue here Jesus is a member of the godhead you see we believe the one God who has existed eternally in three persons the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit you cannot separate Jesus from the Father and the Holy Spirit on the issue of homosexuality. Jesus was there in Sodom and Gomorrah he was raining down fire and brimstone. Jesus is the author of Leviticus. So, you can say that Jesus never addressed the issue of homosexuality unless you're going to argue that Jesus has a different opinion on the issue than the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is hugely problematic because that would mean a breach in the trinity. Thirdly the bible is one story not many, you can no more separate Jesus from Paul or Peter then you can separate Jesus from the Father or the Holy Spirit. The bible is one story not many and what do the apostles teach?

The apostles are whose apostles?

They are Christ's apostles, so the teaching that they give us is the authoritative teaching of the church from the lord Jesus Christ himself. So again, for these three reasons we don't have to panic when someone says well Jesus never addressed the issue of homosexuality because here's another thing Jesus never addressed the issue of pedophilia either. So, now we can point out to the person first of all you're wrong...because he did address it in Matthew 5 and Matthew 19. Second of all Jesus is a member of the godhead you can't separate the Father, from the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, the bible's one story not many you can't separate the teaching of Jesus from the teaching of his apostles and finally if you take that line of argumentation you would have to eventually be okay with pedophilia because Jesus never said anything about that.

Reference scripture

Genesis 2:22-24

Leviticus 18:22-23

Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 19:3-6

The Gospel of Jesus Christ pt.3

 The character of humanity...

     I think to grasp and appreciate the gospel, we must not only understand the character of God...but also our own character. Generally, what the bible has to say about us in often not flattering or pleasant...but it's accurate. Humanity is morally corrupt, but before man fell into sin our original state was noble however that present state is desperate. The bible teaches us that although humankind was created good (Genesis 1:26,31) all humans have fallen into spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1). We are by nature morally corrupt, inclined toward evil and hostile toward the righteous God. The bible teaches us that our inward moral corruption leads us to commit acts against the righteous standard of a holy, just and loving God. All of us without exception are sinners, both by nature and deeds that with have done. All of us stand guilty and condemned without excuse before God...prove of this lies in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". It is comforting to know that God is holy and righteous, because it would be terrifying if the omnipotent ruler of the universe were evil. To most men however the absolute goodness of God may be disturbing...If God is good, what will he do with those of who are not? What will a good and righteous God with a people who are self-centered, inclined to evil and disobedient? If the judge of all the earth deals with us on the basis of justice, shouldn't He condemn us all? How can God be just, yet pardon those who should be justly condemned is probably the greatest of all religious dilemmas. The answer. That's the greatest of dilemmas that can only be found in the gospel. If God acts according to His justice, then the sinner must be condemned. If God pardons the sinner, then His justice is compromised. In justice, God condemned humanity and demanded complete satisfaction for our crimes against Him. In love, God took humanity upon Himself through the Son Jesus Christ...bore our sin, suffered the penalty we deserved and died in our place. The same God whose justice demanded satisfaction for our sin made satisfaction by offering Himself in our place...this is what makes the gospel truly good news. 

     Jesus Christ was our substitute. Upon the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of God offered Himself as a sacrifice for His people's sin. On the cross our sins were put upon Christ for Him to bear...He suffered our curse and was forsaken by God and suffered the wrath of God and died in our place. Not only did Christ die for the sins of His people, but He raised (The Resurrection) on the third day. If he had not been raised then the gospel would have been proven a myth and our faith useless, but since Christ's resurrection is a historical fact, it validates everything that He both claimed to be and to do on our behalf. 

The resurrection is proof that Jesus is the son of God. John 2:18-19

The resurrection is proof that God accepted Christ's death as full payment for our sin. Romans 4:25

The resurrection is proof of the believer's future resurrection. John 11:25

The resurrection is proof that the world has a Lord and a Judge. Acts 2:36 and Acts 17:30-31

     Our response to this good news should be repentance. What is true repentance? It's the spiritual about-face and is an essential piece of saving faith that without Christ we are lost.  It means we must make changes in our thinking (Psalm 51:3-4) It means we must make changes in our emotions (2 Corinthians 7:9) We must make changes in our actions. (Acts 26:20) 

    With repentance comes saving faith. The bible defines faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is more than a belief in the existence of God...it involves a trust, confidence or reliance upon His character and the truthfulness of His word. (James 2:19).  With regard to the gospel, genuine faith involves believing in and relying on what God has revealed about Himself, about us and about His work of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To believe is to be fully assured that what God has promised through Jesus Christ, He is really willing and able to perform. The following verses are a good representation of what God has promised...

John 3:16

John 1:12

John 5:24

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ pt.2

The character of GOD

     To understand the gospel, we must understand something about God.  God is not an impersonal force or energy all around us, but the personal creator and Lord of all (Genesis 1). The bible teaches us that the only true God exists as a Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17). There are 3 distinct persons who are distinguishable from one another and yet they are one being, not three (John 10:30-33). They share the one divine essence with the same divine qualities, because of these qualities, which make God uniquely Himself...the Lord requires a sacrifice for sin if sinners are to be saved. To see the need for Christ's death, therefore, we must know more about the triune God. 

God is love...

     The bible teaches us that God is love (1 John 4:8) and that His love moves Him to freely and selflessly give Himself to others for their good. We must understand that God's love is much more than an attitude, emotion or something He does. Instead that love is an attribute of God, His very being. God not only loves...He is love. He is the essence of what love is, and all true love flows from Him as its ultimate source. Words such as benevolence, mercy, grace and patience are often associated with the love of God. Regardless of what we may think or may be told...the bible is the unwavering testimony that God is love. 

God is holy...

     The bible teaches us that God is holy (Isaiah 6:3). The word holy means holy, sacred, consecrated, set apart as dedicated to God. It has 2 important meanings in regard to God...first it means that God is above all and is distinct from every created being. Regardless of all their magnificence, all other being's whether in heaven or on earth are just creatures. God alone is God...separate, transcendent and incomparable. Second, the holiness of God means that He is above and separated from the moral corruption of His creation and all that immoral and sinful. God cannot sin, cannot take pleasure in sin and cannot have fellowship with sin. 

God is righteous...

     The word "righteous" tells us of the moral excellence of God. According to the bible, God is an absolutely righteous being and always acts perfectly consistent with who He is. His works, decrees and judgments are perfect. The righteousness of God doesn't only describe His character, but also His relationship with His creation...especially humanity. The bible teaches us that He revealed His will to all people through His creation (Romans 1:20, 32) and through their consciences (Romans 2:14-16) Through the bible (His word) He has clearly revealed Himself (Psalm 19:7-11). There will come a day when God passes judgement on everyone according to the strictest standards of justice and fairness, rewarding the good and punishing the evil. We must recognize that God's judgement of man is not unwarranted, but a consequence of His righteous character, moreover a God who would refuse to judge wickedness would not be loving, good or righteous. 

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ....pt.1

     The central message of Christianity is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The word gospel ( εὐαγγέλιον - euangelion means "good news"). Christianity offers the best news of all time. Indeed, it offers the only solution to our most pressing crises. No educational program, political party or psychological therapy is able to address the deepest problem of the human race. Though human wisdom has brought many temporary benefits to us, history has also revealed how bankrupt we are to address the profound guilt and pervasive corruption under which our groans. The gospel reveals what God has come and done for us in winning a victory for us that only he could win. It is good news precisely because it is not what we have done or can do, but what through divine intervention, God has and will do on behalf of His people. It is this divine intervention that declares the gospel to a broken and hopeless world. The gospel announces the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ. 

     Approximately 2,000 years ago, during the height of the Roman Empire...God sent his Son into human history. Through a virgin womb Christ was conceived by the Spirit of God and Jesus of Nazareth the God-man was born. Jesus came to bear the sins of fallen men and women and to offer His life as a sacrifice in our place. His death satisfied the demands of God's justice against sinners and made it possible for God to pardon them...His resurrection 3 days later testified that He is the Son of God and that God had accepted His death as full payment for our sins. Now this made it possible that all people may be forgiven and reconciled to God and to receive eternal life through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

     Through this great work of salvation, God has revealed to us who He is...

to be continued.