There’s an idea from Star Trek that I’ve always appreciated: “Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.”
What this means to me is that, whether out in space or here on Earth, there’s no set prescription for how to live our lives. We are all unique, and we should celebrate our differences.
Now, some folks may disagree. They may shake their heads in disapproval or discomfort at all of the beautiful diversity that makes this country great. But when I’m confronted with that kind of close-mindedness, I just look at the incredible progress we’ve made together. Decades of hard work and passion have brought us where I always knew we could go — to a place where love is love, and marriage equality is the law of the land.
My husband Brad and I are going to join the Democratic National Committee — and President Barack Obama! — in New York City later this month for its annual LGBT Gala, and I want you to come, too.
After the Supreme Court’s landmark marriage equality ruling in June, we have a lot to celebrate. And I don’t know about you, but I want to thank the President in person for his continued support of the LGBT community.
If you chip in $3 or whatever you can to the DNC right now, you’ll be automatically entered to win a free trip to NYC to join President Obama and me at the LGBT Gala.
QUICK DONATE: $3
QUICK DONATE: $10
QUICK DONATE: $25
QUICK DONATE: $50
QUICK DONATE: $100
Or donate another amount:
https://my.democrats.org/You-and-President-Obama
I really hope to see you there!
George Takei
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bible is clear on the sin of homosexuality. We may be labeled as haters for believing in morality but the Lord knows the truth. So no, I will not donate any financial support for this evil government or sin.
David DeGerolamo
Gee Mr. DeGerolamo I was hoping to sit next to you there. I guess I’ll save my $3.00 and put it towards my lobotomy or a bottle of Thunderbird. Remember it’s better to have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.
Why do these sodomite queers always have to take pictures in some compromising display?
“Why do these sodomite queers always have to take pictures in some compromising display?”
They are looking for your approval. And if you disapprove, you are considered to be a hater. Public disapproval is still a powerful motivation to uphold morality: we must never condone sin.
he is a sodomite and he will die as a sodomite by aids or some other ungodly diseases. its amazing, you never hear the media speak about these freaks and the perverted things they do in there filthy bedrooms. The narrative readers in the media wont say anything because they know it would severely hurt there vile cause with the American People. I will only give you one of the things they do because it’s to shameful to list all of them. They love performing the deviated act of MUD SLINGING let that sink in and think about exactly what this means, I will leave that to you, I believe no definition is required here.it would make one sick over the things they perform and its abnormal brute beast depraved behavior
Need to find more appropriate punishment …
27and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,…
God is not mocked and as difficult as it may be, that it may yet fall upon deaf ears both earthly and Heavenly, let us pray that their eyes may be opened and their souls redeemed knowing many will perish in their sin choosing false pride over humility to God.
“The Bible is clear on the sin of homosexuality.”
The Bible is clear regarding sin. Is one sin worse than another? Be careful of false pride in this regard too.
Romans 3:9-12… “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Romans 5:8… “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Amen. Grace and peace…
you cannot commit the same sin over and over again and believe you are saved. When Christ was confronting the crowds over Mary and related to them about there own sins he let me Mary know that her sins were forgiven , but he told her to sin no more. He did not tell Mary to keep sinning and stay in your lifestyle and since I love I will overlook it. that is false conversion and God is coming for the churches that have false prophets leading them. this is a filthy vile sin in the eyes of the Lord and is most vile, yes there are other sins that are vile but not like the sin of the sodomites. Preach that from your pulpit, if you are a true child of God and one of his elect.
Phil writes: “you cannot commit the same sin over and over again and believe you are saved.”
What, so then I can commit different ones and “remain” saved? As long as I do not repeat the same sin I can “remain” saved? Is this literally what you are saying? It is in fact exactly what you are implying. What must a man DO to “remain” saved Phil? Enlighten us, please…
Can a man “stop” sinning?
Let me ask; when did you stop sinning Phil?
“When Christ was confronting the crowds over Mary and related to them about there own sins he let me Mary know that her sins were forgiven , but he told her to sin no more.”
Well, it was not Mary that Jesus was making the example of but He did say to the woman “taken” in adultery “in the very act”; “go and sin no more”. I must here ask, where was the man, obviously present “in the act”, who also deserved to be stoned to death? Is that what Christ was writing on the ground? Could it have been one of the “religious” men present and condemning the woman?
So where is the scripture that says she went and sinned no more? You know why it doesn’t exist? Because she went and sinned again. You know how I know that? It is because she was a human being, a sinner, cursed by sin just like you and me.
“He did not tell Mary to keep sinning and stay in your lifestyle and since I love I will overlook it. that is false conversion and God is coming for the churches that have false prophets leading them. ”
You insinuate that I am some false prophet Phil. You see things in my words that simply are not there. You want them to be there because seeing them makes you feel that you are better than other people. I have a few things to say to you…
God is coming for no one today Phil; though someday, maybe even soon, He will be coming FOR people like you, just like He came TO those religious men in John 8. You ought to see yourself in those verses. You know how I know that? Because the whole of the Bible demonstrates clearly that we live in the dispensation of Gods grace to mankind. His just wrath has been suspended. It is what the book of Acts is about. You know why His wrath was suspended? That He could demonstrate His Divine Love to His creation, the creatures which voluntarily left Him, by providing a pathway by which salvation and reconciliation was opened for unjust men just like you. This was an act of love kept secret since the world began. Had the devil known it, Christ would never had been crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8… “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
Why will He be coming for you? Because clearly you have no idea what God is doing in the world today. Gods grace is foreign to you. You are a religious man praying for Gods wrath to come upon “those awful disgusting sinners” of which you believe you are somehow superior to… after all, your sin is not as bad as theirs, is it? You are better than they.
You don’t realize that YOU are in fact the target of Gods just wrath because God has concluded ALL men to be in unbelief and thus under sin (Rom 11:32). God today sees you as worse than a mere sodomite Phil… He sees you as hopeless and deserving of eternal damnation.
It is the ungodly whom God justifies Phil, not those who believe themselves to be somehow “godly” or “more godly than others” due to and through their actions. It is the saved man who KNOWS he is ungodly and thus requires God to make him something other than what he actually is.
Romans 4:5… “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
You continue on, Phil: “Dave, this country preacher needs to re-examine himself to see where he truly stands with the Lord.”
Here is what I KNOW Phil. I KNOW that I am in no better or worse a position than Mr. Sulu or even you. I KNOW that I deserve an eternity in hell because I am a sinner. I KNOW that Christ died for MY sinful condition Phil. I therefore KNOW that I am justified by the faith OF Christ to the cross-work His Father set Him to; as Christs faith is far and away more important than my own. I simply believe what God says to me.
Galatians 2:16… “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Allow me to turn that last boastful statement directly back and right into your face Phil; you self righteous sanctimonious sad sorry pathetic lost believer. Why don’t you get on your own knees and thank God for the forgiveness and salvation He FREELY offers ALL mankind, the longsuffering salvation that has patience with such as the likes of you and me, and finally accept that most precious gift as I have; instead of condemning others whom you know absolutely zero about, regarding a topic wherein you know even less.
Romans 1
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a 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 dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Stop appeasing sin and obey the Lord. Talk about false pride.
Dave, this country preacher needs to re-examine himself to see where he truly stands with the Lord. sometimes these people take my breathe away.
So you think the rainbow white house was a good thing to display because it “celebrates” the whole gay marriage thing? Your right one sin is the same as another but when God call something an abomination it’s just not the same as lying on your taxes. When God has destroyed two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, I think he doesn’t like the sodom thing. When He says it’s against the natural affections on man then I get the feeling he’s not glad there is a “gay pride parade”. You can change the Bible to suit your sick fantasy about how God “feels” but I wouldn’t want to stand in judgement on that one. So Grace you country preacher, I don’t know what country you’re in but the country I’m in thinks it disgusting and goes against our God and family values. Try defending that from your pulpit or don’t you defend the gay view because you’ll loose your congregation. Oops there goes your j-o-b.
It is pride, sins origin, which truly takes the breath away. Pride that you are superior to any other in that you somehow sin less than another. God has concluded ALL in sin. You, me and Mr. Sulu.
Allow me to ask each one of you: where in my post do I condone any sin whatsoever? I simply replied that God does not condone sin period. A lie will separate you from him as quickly as a homosexual act. He had to give His Son to crush sins influence on mankind.
Did Christ NOT die that ALL sin could be forgiven?
Colossians 2:13… “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”
2 Corinthians 5:19-21… “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to BE sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
Rethink sin y’all.
*****We are not sinners because we sin… we sin because we are sinners.*****
You read into things the things your prideful selves wish to see there. Fed Up asks:
“So you think the rainbow white house was a good thing to display because it “celebrates” the whole gay marriage thing?”
Where did I even come close to saying this? What I think about homosexuality personally matters not one bit. If it makes YOU feel better about me (because, after all, its all about you) I find it to be repulsive. What God has done about ALL sin in this dispensation of grace does matter.
Romans 11:32… “For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.”
Mr. Sulu might spit in Gods face daily with his actions and attitudes. God still died for him. Instead of berating the mans behavior in an attempt to shame him (which will only worsen the situation and cause greater division between him and Christ -- deal with THAT at the judgement seat) why not instead tell him that Christ died that he might live and allow that knowledge to work in the man toward “rehabilitating” the behavior in question.
1 Corinthians 15:3… “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
Your own ignorance of what God has done through Christ on mankind’s behalf is displayed clearly.
Rethink grace y’all.
Sin corrupts the soul, and breaches the relationship between the soul and God; but Abomination corrupts the community, and particularly the youth of the community -- turning them away from God’s truth before they are spiritually mature (and thus accountable for their own actions).
Thereby, abomination is more grievous than simple sin because it scandalizes the entire society and perverts His children in their spiritual infancy.
Agree LT. In God’s word we find here, on earth, that sins are treated differently. For example, bearing false witness is treated far differently than murder, lying with beasts, and homosexuality. In fact homosexuality is particularly egregious for we are warned that the land will vomit out it’s inhabitants for allowing it.
pure conjecture… written only to somehow lessen the perceived effect of your own sin nature upon yourself. Why not just write… “I’m not as bad as that guy.”
Guess what? Yea, you are. So am I.
Allow me to ask; do you believe you are a sinner in desperate need of Christ’s saving grace? Or, do you, being more righteous than Mr. Sulu, somehow need “less” of Christ than he?
“Did Christ NOT die that ALL sin could be forgiven?”
For those who believe on HIS name. Only the sins of those who accept Jesus as Savior will be covered. It is worth noting that the letters of Paul you quote are letters to FELLOW CHRISITANS and not the public in general. I see no evidence that this sodomite accepts Jesus as Savior, God’s word, and is plainly thumbing his nose at the Almighty by celebrating his abomination. May God open his eyes! before it is to late.
Our Lord Himself stated that some who call His name will be sent away. Is it more or less likely one will be sent away if the refuse to acknowledge their sin, reject the will of the Father who sent Him, and also reject the salvation offered through Christ?
Your point about pride is quite appropriate for many will reject God’s laws, doing what is right in their own minds, and as sad as it is, in the end, will choose Hell over Heaven. Choose wisely for eternity is a long time.
Joe writes… “Only the sins of those who accept Jesus as Savior will be covered.”
While I believe I understand your meaning, this is not a correct statement. Christ died for the collective sin of all mankind. He died for us While We Were YET Sinners (Rom 5:8). While we were actively sinning Christ died for us. He died when we were still His enemies (Col 1:21). We exist in sinful flesh and therefore cannot “stop” sinning as we ARE sinners. Sin is not an “activity” but a “nature”. There is a huge difference. Christ has “put sin away” for those in Him (Romans 6). HIS (not our own by way of earned favor) righteousness is made available to us “at this time”.
Romans 3:26… “To declare, I say, at this time HIS Righteousness: that He might be just, AND the justifier of him which beleiveth in Jesus.”
God has not turned a blind eye to our sin nature -- that would be unjust. He forsook His own Son upon the cross by making His Son to BE SIN for us. He is therefore Just AND the Justifier of him who accepts His free gift.
“It is worth noting that the letters of Paul you quote are letters to FELLOW CHRISITANS and not the public in general.”
How does this alter the point of free grace at all? Re-read 2 Cor 5 in your KJB. What does “reconciling the world unto Himself” mean? God either reconciled the world (the whole world) unto Himself by way of the cross, or He did not. The verse says He did, I believe the verse. Whether Sulu reconciles himself back to God is Sulu’s choice.
“I see no evidence that this sodomite accepts Jesus as Savior, God’s word, and is plainly thumbing his nose at the Almighty by celebrating his abomination. ”
Again, so what? Christ died to make him free from sin regardless of his response to that action. Should we, as Christ’s ambassadors on earth, therefore reject the man because of his actions, or tell him that Christ died for his sins?
“May God open his eyes! before it is to late.”
Indeed, that is the proper response to Mr. Sulu. Someone should tell him that he is a sinner in need of a Savior and that Christ died to pay his sin penalty. Allow that Divine Grace to work in his soul and see if his behavior does not change.
Changed behavior is not a requirement to salvation. If we could change our own behavior, for what reason did Christ have to die? We cannot be acceptable to God through our own actions as they are inherently sinful. In our current sinful condition, we are NOT acceptable unto Him. No amount of behavior modification will remedy that.
Grace works from the inside of a man, out.
“Is it more or less likely one will be sent away if the refuse to acknowledge their sin, reject the will of the Father who sent Him, and also reject the salvation offered through Christ?”
We must be careful here not to confuse dispensations as is all to common. Make no mistake; the man who refuses to acknowledge his inherent sinful condition and does not see his need of Jesus Christ our Savior is choosing an eternity of damnation in hell.
*****Not because God did not remedy the situation, He DID through Christ; but because the man did not respond to that remedy.*****
God has freely offered, to the entire world, a world comprised of sinners only, as ALL are concluded under sin; salvation through His Son. This is the essence of free grace in the dispensation of free grace.
Colossians 1:25-26… “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:”
This was not true back when the twelve were preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. Christ was not dying for His enemies (you and I) back then.
John 15:13-14… “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
Note the big “if’s” in these verses. He was dying for His friends and His friends were only those who kept His commandments. No man keeps the commandments as the commandments (the Law) was not given that man should keep them (break one and you have broken them all -- Gal 5:3, James 2:10); the law was given but to convict him of his sinful condition.
Romans 3:20… “Therefore by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
The law works from the outside of a man, in.
If you are trying to follow the law you are only convicting yourself of sin because you cannot keep it no matter how proud you are. If you believe that you can keep it, even a small part of it, you are under a curse and not under grace.
Galatians 3:10-13… “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
Galatians 5:4… “Christ has become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
To Paul alone was the gospel of the free grace of God revealed, where the enemies of Christ (far off Gentiles -- you and I, Christ’s enemies, even Mr. Sulu) were given the chance at salvation through His atoning death on the cross, exclusive of the nation Israel.
Romans 5:15-18… “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
In these verses the “many” are those who have received the free gift, those to whom Paul is speaking; but clearly the free gift is available to all men everywhere as he currently exists in his sinful condition. As death reigned by one TO ALL, so too life reigns by one TO ALL.
God offers the gift of His son freely to the whole world and everyone in it no matter their condition, the world must choose to accept that gift on an individual basis.
I hope this helps to clarify.
gcp”While I believe I understand your meaning, this is not a correct statement.”
How so? I find nothing in your response that points to an error but rather find you in basic agreement looking for minutia with which to find disagreement.
gcp:”God has not turned a blind eye to our sin nature — that would be unjust. He forsook His own Son upon the cross by making His Son to BE SIN for us. He is therefore Just AND the Justifier of him who accepts His free gift.”
Did I not say the same thing in my post….
AJ…”For those who believe on HIS name. Only the sins of those who accept Jesus as Savior will be covered.”
Isn’t it plain my statement was based in part on your own post quoting from Romans?
gcp “This was not true back when the twelve were preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. Christ was not dying for His enemies (you and I) back then.”
Yes he came for the jews but the Old Testament and Jesus Himself stated he would be rejected and therefore HIs death and resurrection was offered to the world. The wedding feast if you will.
But what does that have to do with condemning sin and specifically sodomy and sodomites who celebrate their sin and continue to reject God’s word, His will, and His Son?
gcp “How does this alter the point of free grace at all? Re-read 2 Cor 5 in your KJB. What does “reconciling the world unto Himself” mean? God either reconciled the world (the whole world) unto Himself by way of the cross, or He did not. The verse says He did, I believe the verse. Whether Sulu reconciles himself back to God is Sulu’s choice.”
To answer your question….BECAUSE THEY REJECT IT. And again you are making my point for me when you point to Sulu making a choice. Paul was talking to his fellow Christians who had accepted Christ, repented of their sin, and were seeking to serve Him.
The grace of our Lord is not forced upon everyone. We have free will and a choice. So while the death, burial, is sufficient to cover all sin it is not efficient that all will be covered by it.
Once again you are quoting from letting them know their sins are indeed forgiven if they believe and call upon the name of Christ as Savior. I noticed you point to “reconciling the world unto Himself”, asking what it means but fail to quote the previous verses which explains it…”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” So those who have NOT reconciled themselves through Jesus the Christ are not included bringing us back to my original point you question regarding why I pointed out Paul was writing to FELLOW CHRISTIANS.
I could go on but at this point am not convinced you actually read my entire post and therefore find little point or profit in continued effort.
I certainly wish you well and may God bless you and yours.
AJ
PS Maybe part of the problem people are having here is the grief you offer them for expressing disgust for this sodomite and his celebration of his perversions. While I and others pray God open his eyes, if he continues to keep them shut his sin would be upon us if we do not point out the error of his ways. Not for myself, but for the sake of God’s word and those whom he IS misleading. I don’t expect agreement from you but your opinion will not silence me anymore than that of the sodomites, it’s just one would expect better from the former. I will not allow a basket to be placed over the light God has put into me.
“PS Maybe part of the problem people are having here is the grief you offer them for expressing disgust for this sodomite and his celebration of his perversions.”
I offered no “grief” with my original thought, just my 2 cents. The articles author stated that the Bible was clear on the sin of homosexuality. My response was that the Bible was clear on all sin. There is no need whatsoever to single out one “sin activity” over another as inherently more or less evil. Sin is sin. I personally find pride to be the most disgusting sin, in me and in others… what does that matter to a Creator God who despises ALL sin? Express all the disgust you want. Will anything positive come from it? I tend to doubt it.
The responses I received… “Stop appeasing sin and obey the Lord. Talk about false pride.” and “Dave, this country preacher needs to re-examine himself to see where he truly stands with the Lord.”… were taken as rude. Where am I “appeasing” sin? I replied as I replied (perhaps my pride is showing…).
Again, we are not sinners BECAUSE we sin, we commit sin because we ARE sinners. There is an enormous difference here which is a dispensational issue that, by what you wrote, I am not convinced you understand. If I am wrong and you do understand, then I am wrong. This is what I am trying to flesh out with you.
Should you like to continue, I was and am still very willing to spend the time to read what you have to say. You seem to have some idea as to what dispensational grace is.
“I don’t expect agreement from you but your opinion will not silence me anymore than that of the sodomites, it’s just one would expect better from the former. I will not allow a basket to be placed over the light God has put into me.”
I am not attempting to silence anyone. Not sure where you got that either.
I’ll leave you with a last thought. You write… “But what does that have to do with condemning sin and specifically sodomy and sodomites who celebrate their sin and continue to reject God’s word, His will, and His Son?”
I ask; what business is it of us who ARE sinners to “condemn” another mans sin? It is not our place to do the condemning. That is hypocrisy at its height. It is God which eventually condemns.
Peter and the 11 HAD the Holy Spirit power and authority to condemn, but we today should not follow their gospel message as it has been temporarily brought to a halt by God the Father. The vast majority of churches are not aware of this.
What is our place?
2 Corinthians 5:20… “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
We are simply to spread the gospel of the free grace of God (NOT the “if/then” gospel of the Kingdom which “earthly” Jesus and Peter preached) to a world which desperately needs it. A world which God has temporarily spared through grace by way of the Apostle Paul. A message Paul received from the “risen and glorified” Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). A message very different than any message God ever before gave in all of human history. The mystery revealed to Paul alone. Are you familiar with this?
Feel free to peruse my own site linked above on this very topic.
Peace
gcp “I offered no “grief” with my original thought, just my 2 cents”
“Original thought” aside…maybe it’s easier to see the speck in someone else’s eye?
gcp “There is no need whatsoever to single out one “sin activity” over another as inherently more or less evil. Sin is sin.”
While sin is sin some are treated more harshly than others. Is theft treated the same as murder or homosexuality in the Bible? Obviously it is.
Clearly the Bible states that the land will vomit out those who accept the sin of homosexuality. In fact we can see this happening in our own country this very day….God is not mocked!
We have people who, as I pointed out earlier, are misleading many, should we simply remain silent and not point out their folly? How is it we who believe can remain silent? It is also worth pointing out that quoting God’s word on the matter is just that, quoting God’s word.
Further, quoting God’s word doesn’t mean that the person delivering the message is anything other than the messenger. Unless somehow the one who attacks the messenger claims the power of Christ to look into the heart of a man. When I read the Bible it is only Christ that can look into a man’s heart, are you aware of another?
gcp”I am not attempting to silence anyone. Not sure where you got that either.”
Am I confused? Am I to believe your comments posted here are meant to do what exactly, encourage discussion?
Forgive me if I am wrong but it appears plain that you are, shall we say, less than pleased when people making posts pointing out these sodomites are violating the will of God.
While cannot find a post that attempts to excuse any other sin or sins, I mention this again because of your concern over the mentioning of homosexuality, nor do I find anyone excusing their own sin yet your posts goes so far as to suggest it is God Himself who is coming after someone who has presented himself as a fellow believer in Christ.
You cry hypocrisy so let us look at the correct definition of the word…..
“Hypocrisy is the claim or pretense of holding beliefs, feelings, standards, qualities, opinions, behaviors, virtues, motivations, or other characteristics that one does not actually hold. Hypocrisy is NOT simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches.”
So unless and until you can show where anyone has claimed themselves to be sinless I hope you will stop using the word as a slander. Before a response if offer please re-read the last sentence in the definition of the word.
gcp “Again, we are not sinners BECAUSE we sin, we commit sin because we ARE sinners.”
So a child in it’s mother’s womb is what?
Unless I have misread the Bible we have a “sinful nature.” So while we are natured that way we were not created as sinners but choose sin because of that sinful nature.
That point made we need to keep In mind this has little to do with the sodomites that were the entire point of the original post. They are not only sodomites but sodomites who celebrate their sin and then point the finger at Christians claiming we are the problem because we offer them the word of God pointing out their sin and calling them to repentance and salvation.
“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”
gcp” I ask; what business is it of us who ARE sinners to “condemn” another mans sin? It is not our place to do the condemning. That is hypocrisy at its height. It is God which eventually condemns.”
Again you claim to know a man’s heart? You are certain those quoting God’s own word on sodomites to by hypocrites? Tell me again exactly what you think hypocrite means?
Of course it is our place to spread the word of God. Who else but His servant will carry the words to the lost? If God’s word condemns how are we to blame?
We can agree that our motivations should be pure when we use God’s word but beyond that it is in God’s hands. So, I can understand concern over motivations but still do not understand how it is you claim to judge another mans’ heart
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gvcp “Peter and the 11 HAD the Holy Spirit power and authority to condemn, but we today should not follow their gospel message as it has been temporarily brought to a halt by God the Father. The vast majority of churches are not aware of this.”
So you believe the Great Comforter was only sent to the 12? If so we are in disagreement regarding the Holy Spirit.
gcp “We are simply to spread the gospel of the free grace of God (NOT the “if/then” gospel of the Kingdom which “earthly” Jesus and Peter preached) to a world which desperately needs it. A world which God has temporarily spared through grace by way of the Apostle Paul. A message Paul received from the “risen and glorified” Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). A message very different than any message God ever before gave in all of human history. The mystery revealed to Paul alone. Are you familiar with this?”
Paul was a great servant of the Lord by he is not my Lord.
I am familiar with my Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ and His Father who sent Him. It is His words and the words of His Father to whom I owe my entire being.
So when it comes to God’s word I cannot separate what Christ did not separate………..
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Amen
You are sounding more and more like a progressive Christian of the Joel Olsten types. the Prophet Job was chastised by God, because Job thought his righteousness and humility accounted him more worthy before the Lord , there in not one righteous , no not one. be careful where you step Pastor with your sanctimonious humility because it will get you into a place where you don’t want to go. Job thought the same thing and God chastised him for being to righteous and humble. this is where I see you heading, you quote many scriptures but I believe you are totally deceived as to where you stand as a so called preacher. be careful where you put your trust. You also only quote the Love of God while cleverly leaving out the wrath of God. you are like the majority of preachers out there who wont bring the entire counsel of the Lord , you cleverly omit passages that speak of wrath and only focus on the Love of God, that my friend is dangerous road you are walking. And yes there is a purging taking place in the Church right now, read Daniel 11: 31-37, This, Pastor is speaking of our time and concerning the churches ,and Satan rules in those churches as the most high and the Lord Purges his people out of these places of demon infested activity ruled by Satan. Wake up Pastor the hour is almost upon us. I am also a watchman as related in the Book of Ezekiel and you have been warned, flee from the wrath that is coming upon the churches and flee now.
The columns were getting thin so I’ve posted here.
“While sin is sin some are treated more harshly than others. Is theft treated the same as murder or homosexuality in the Bible? Obviously it is.”
The key is to ask, where in the Bible is one sin treated differently than another?
Has God always dealt with mankind in the same ways? Clearly, the answer is no. When God first spoke with Abram, was the Law in effect? No. The Law only came into being hundreds of years later. My premise is that in the dispensation to which we belong, one sin is NO different than another as God has declared us all under complete and total sin. God, in making Christ to BE sin for us, destroyed sin on the cross. There is no Law as the Law and the punishment thereof has been fulfilled by and through Christ. You can’t learn this in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John as these books are of the dispensation of the Law; meaning, the Law was still in effect. Christ even amplified it greatly in the sermon on the mount.
“Clearly the Bible states that the land will vomit out those who accept the sin of homosexuality.”
What “land” are we speaking about here? It is Gods own Israel. Israel is the only land God ever promised to anyone and He didn’t promise it to us! This is part of the Levitical Law of which we are not and have never been a part. The Levitical Law was an entirely separate dispensation than the one we currently exist in. If God is no longer honoring the Levitical Law today (and He is not) why on earth should we be trying to honor the same? God has moved on, so too should we.
You continue in regard to the land vomiting out its inhabitants… “In fact we can see this happening in our own country this very day….God is not mocked! ”
Of course God is not mocked. However, God has made absolutely ZERO physical promises to the land we call America or to the people we call Americans. There is no vomiting occurring here. Just the effects of a depraved and sin cursed population running its natural course, the course of this world.
Herein lies the biggest problem with “Christianity”… we are not Israel, nor are we “spiritual Israel”. What God promised to His own, Israel, He does not promise to believers today. Something different is occurring today which was revealed only to Paul by Christ. God has promised believers today NEW things, indeed, even better things than can be found in the old and new covenants that He made with Israel.
“Paul was a great servant of the Lord by he is not my Lord.”
Indeed. Paul is not God, he is a sinner just like you and me, but he was used by God in a way that mainstream Christianity does not recognize. It is this of which I am speaking, to which you keep overlooking. You think I am picking nits for the sake of picking when nothing could be further from the truth.
Off topic question to make my point. Would you today build an Ark? Of course not. Why? Answer: because clearly God was speaking directly to Noah and not to you.
God speaks to the Jews and the Gentiles under them in time past. He gave the Jews the Law and instructed the Gentile nations to bless them in order to receive blessing. God “created” Israel to be the channel of blessing from God to the rest of the world (Gen 12:3). The books of Genesis through Acts cover this period.
He also speaks to the church the body of Christ of which we saved are members today.
While Paul is clearly not my God, he is my (and your, whether you choose to believe it or not) specific apostle. It is through the 13 epistles of Paul ALONE that God is speaking directly to and instructing believers today. While all the Bible is FOR our learning, clearly not all the Bible is written as if it is speaking directly TO us. The key of right division is learning which is which. This is what I am showing you. The books of Romans through Philemon are written directly to believers today.
“The Great Commission”
The great commission was given to Israel. It is the culmination of Gods intent for the world through them. It is suspended in favor of free grace. Read very carefully Galatians chapter 2 (KJB). In it you will see that Peter agreed with Paul that he would stay in Jerusalem (where the Kingdom gospel was concluded) and that Paul would take the gospel of the uncircumcision, a separate gospel (set of good news), the gospel of grace (as opposed to the gospel of the circumcision, kingdom) to the outside world.
Paul did not preach what Peter did… “repent and be baptized for the remission of sin.” Not even close. Peter in Acts 2 and 3 preached a murder indictment to those gathered in Jerusalem. They were to repent of killing their Messiah. Paul absolutely glories in the cross of Christ throughout 13 entire books! To the twelve it was a shame. To Paul the cross was the most incredible thing in the universe. Indeed, the universe itself pivots upon the cross of Christ.
The great commission will once again re-commence with the 144,000 (you can see this group being formed in early Acts -- the Jerusalem church) after God is finished with the current grace dispensation. The books of Hebrews through Revelation cover this period of time. The grace dispensation will conclude with the “rapture” or translation of Christ’s body, the church today.
During the great commission, signs and wonders were to follow the disciples, and they did. Mark 16:15-18 are the corresponding verses to what you quote… “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They 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.”
Since you are trying to claim the great commission as your own, do you also lay claim to these gifts? I have met people who do. They are absolutely deceived and deluded.
“Unless I have misread the Bible we have a “sinful nature.” So while we are natured that way we were not created as sinners but choose sin because of that sinful nature.”
I believe you have misread the Bible. Re-read Romans 3. You do not have a “sinful nature” meaning your nature “tends toward sin”. No… you (and I) are sinners period. What is a baby in mom’s womb? A sinner. All human beings have been concluded under sin in this dispensation that God could offer freely salvation to all in the same way.
God created Adam in his own perfect image (Gen 1:26). Adam fell. Adams offspring were thereafter created in Adams fallen image (Gen 5:3).
“So you believe the Great Comforter was only sent to the 12?”
What the Bible shows is that the Holy Spirit empowered the 12 (and Paul too for a time) in ways that no man is empowered today. Can you raise the dead? Cause the lame to walk; the blind to see? These men could for very good reasons (great commission -- impending wrath – battling demons -- Kingdom at hand). We cannot for equally good reasons (we are under grace, not impending wrath). Israel requires a sign. We walk by faith. Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17).
These men were baptized BY Christ WITH the Holy Ghost. We today are baptized BY the Holy Ghost into the body of Christ. There is a huge difference! But people today mainly refuse to even begin to examine the possibility. This is however exactly what Christ through Paul teaches men today.
Most “modern” Christianity paradoxically lives in “time past”, in the dispensation of the Law. This was put away over 2,000 years ago for the dispensation of grace. This dispensation will not last forever and Gods wrath will eventually be poured out upon a most deserving world.
“Forgive me if I am wrong but it appears plain that you are, shall we say, less than pleased when people making posts pointing out these sodomites are violating the will of God.”
Sodomites are violating the will of God. I am NOT standing up for them or their behavior. So too are you and I violating Gods Perfect will every day in some way. What displeases me is the way men are so pridefully quick to show that others sins are worse than their own when in this current dispensation they are not. However disgusting we may find homosexuality, its result is the same as telling a lie. Imperfection. And therefore separation from Perfect God. Not sure how else can I say this… God is not judging mans sins today as Christ was made to BE sin for us. How dare we condemn sin in another when we ourselves are condemned by the same? God judged and punished His Son thus destroying sin on mans behalf for this dispensation.
Sin today is NOT man’s issue. Sin was killed, destroyed on the cross. The issue today is man’s belief in the gospel of his salvation. Sin today does not send a man to hell. Lack of belief that Christ died for his sin does. Read that again until it sinks in.
Our judicial standing in Christ IS perfection. We have been made perfect in Him. Our physical state in this world is that we still reside in sinful flesh. If God is not judging man based on his sin nature, how dare we judge sin in others?
“They are not only sodomites but sodomites who celebrate their sin and then point the finger at Christians claiming we are the problem because we offer them the word of God pointing out their sin and calling them to repentance and salvation.”
Of course that’s what they do. Yes it horrible! They (along with the majority of mankind) have no idea what God has done on their behalf. They are completely and totally ignorant of the grace God has ALREADY shown them. I point out to you here and now in no uncertain terms that if you are calling them to repentance of their sins you are offering them the WRONG word of God. Today there IS NO SIN to repent of. God has destroyed sin in Christ on the cross. The correct word of God to offer them is that Christ died for their sins and was raised again for their justification. Period. Their individual sins are NOT our business nor our concern. God is NOT imputing mans trespasses unto man (2 Cor 5:19). How can we? Should they choose not to hear those Words of God, the gospel of grace, that then is their business and we leave them alone thereafter, knowing that we planted a seed. Perhaps someone else at a later date will water that seed, perhaps not.
What man thinks of sin is different from what God thinks of sin. In time past man was on a performance based program with God. Man had things to DO in order to be right with God. Man is NO LONGER involved in that program (the Law). Man is now under the grace of God. No sin is condoned, yet we all sin. Why does God not destroy us all as He immediately should? Because we are under grace! Wrap your mind around that. God OUGHT to destroy each and every one of us, yet He does not! We ought to show the sodomite, and every other sinner we meet, the same level of grace we have been shown. This is understandably hard to do, however, God has shown us infinite grace (we are still alive to prove it) and the more we understand how undeserving we ALL are of such grace, the more likely we will be able to show such to others.
The Bible is a book of progressive revelation. To some were given the “who” and “what”. To others were given the “when”, “where” and “how”. To Paul alone was given the “why”. If you do not see these most essential elements of truth, you will never be able to completely understand what the will of God is for man today and therefore will be outside the will of God.
2 Tim 2:15… “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
We do not divide between the old and new testaments as both are for Israel (Jer 31:31, Heb 8). We divide between prophesy and mystery. We divide between “time past” (prophesy), “but now” (mystery) and “ages to come” (prophesy) (see Eph 2).
At this point you will either consider me crazy (as most religious men do) or you will dig more deeply into my claims. I do highly suggest that you examine the first several posts on my own site before replying. I write there in far more detail.
Peace