| Newsletter for Sep 2008
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Dear Friends, I'm sure you are well aware that many people justify their actions by claiming they were "born that way." This is especially true for many men and women who engage in homosexual activity. In fact, some in the biological research field claim to have proof that some people are born with "homosexual genes" which produces that lifestyle. But is this true? Are some people born with some kind of DNA structure which makes it inevitable that they will become homosexuals? Even though I have read the results of these researchers who claim it is true, something inside of me just didn't agree. Then one day God spoke to me and showed me from His word that people are not born with some sort of genetic structure that automatically produces homosexuality. THE SIN NATURE When God created and breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7) he came into existence with the very life and nature of God; in other words, Adam did not have a sin nature. But when he sinned against God (Genesis chapter three) it opened the door for the sin nature and the subsequent spiritual and physical death it produced. Romans 5:12 explains it this way, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; Through Adam's rebellion sin entered the "world" (kosmos - the sum total of the material universe); and death through sin. What this means is that because of the power of sin, everything in the natural universe is in a state of corruption, dying, and death (secular science refers to this as the Second Law of Thermodynamics). The universe we live in is not even a shadow of the perfect environment God originally created in Genesis chapter one. There were no carnivorous animals, hurricanes, tornados, scorching heat waves, sub-zero winters, poisonous plants, cancer, death, and so forth. Science has proven that even our sun is decaying. All of these things and more are a result of the destructive force of sin. GOD'S APPROACH TO THE RESULTS OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF SIN God's original plan was for absolute perfection to exist in all of creation, including humans. When that plan was interrupted by Adam's exercise of free will, God had already developed a plan of redemption for humanity and all of creation. It was not God's will for man to suffer, and this was born out through the ministry of Jesus. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:14-19) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38) And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (Matthew 4:23-24) And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:29-31) All of the sick, lame, blind, halt, maimed, and diseased were suffering because of the corruption imposed on their bodies by the power of sin. This does not mean that they committed sins and these conditions were put upon them as punishment; it means that all of these physical maladies exist because of the corruption released in Genesis chapter three when Adam sinned. Jesus said "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father," (John 14:9). Since Jesus healed all who came to Him, that tells us it is not the Father's will for people to remain in a corrupted physical state. Every person who went to Jesus received healing, regardless of his or her condition. This is especially true for those who were born with a sickness or deformity: they couldn't help it that they were in that condition. GOD'S APPROACH TO CHOICES MADE OUT OF THE SIN NATURE There is another aspect to the Genesis chapter three corruption that I would like to show you from scripture. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. (Leviticus 20:1-2) Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. (Exodus 22:18) A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27) Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 22:19) Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. (Leviticus 18:23) And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:15-16) And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10) And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:11) And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:12) And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. (Leviticus 20:14)
There is one more sin I would like you to read about; another sin that God said was punishable by death, Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus18:22; 20:13) According to God's instructions, those who engaged in homosexual behavior were to be executed. I realize that making such a statement in today's society would be called "hate mongering," "homophobic," and "intolerant," among other things. But those who would accuse me of such need to understand that God is the One who passed this death sentence onto those involved with homosexuality. Also, people who would say, "But that was the Old Testament; things are different now," should take the time to meditate on Romans 1:18-28. But if some people are born with a genetic predisposition toward homosexuality, then why would God be so merciless and order them to be killed? After all, if they were born this way they can't help themselves, just like those who were born blind, lame, or deaf. Commanding that they be executed wouldn't seem at all fair! This is where God clarified it for me. He said, Search My word from Genesis to Revelation. Nowhere will you find where I ordered the stoning, death or execution of someone because of the way they were born. But I did order the death of those who made certain choices of sin out of the sin nature." Jesus went about healing people who were born blind, deaf, deformed and so on. But He never "healed" a person of adultery, bestiality, or homosexuality; these acts, and the others previously listed, are a result of choice, not in-born genetic structure. Do not let the lies of Satan that filter through the world, so-called medical science, and deceived Christians tell you otherwise! Someone might reply, "But Brother Martin, if that's true then why aren't we executing people today who do those things God said are punishable by death?" That is an excellent question and the answer is in scripture. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17) For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22) The Law contained the death penalty for the acts of sin mentioned above. Under the Law, man had the responsibility to carry out the judgments contained in the Law. Jesus fulfilled the Law. As such, He is "the Living Law," if you will. Therefore, God has given to Jesus the responsibility for all judgment. This is why we no longer have the responsibility to execute those who live in adultery or engage in other sexual sins which, under the Law, were punishable by death. Does this mean that God has taken a softer approach toward these acts of sin? Absolutely not! The Law revealed God's attitude toward sin, and He never changes. But the judgment for these acts of sin is now in the hands of Jesus, and this judgment will be carried out on the day those who willingly choose to live in such sin stand before Him. If you would like a New Testament version of the above passages from Exodus and Leviticus, here it is: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) Keep in mind that Galatians was written to Christians. Though this may be difficult for some people to accept, what God is saying here is that Christians who choose such lifestyles will not make it to Heaven. How so? Because the lost are already destined for Hell regardless of the lifestyle they choose! God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die under the penalty for sin. When we accept Him as Savior and become born again, He sets us free from everything associated with the sin nature (John 8:36). This means that we do not have to give in to any temptation to sin, no matter how loudly the emotions are screaming out to "do it." The life of God in us is the strength to say "no." Glory to God, I'm a child of God and He has made me more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)! Yours in His grace, Jim |
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