In the previous lesson, it was presented that God’s love has boundaries and unrighteousness is one of the boundaries. And that those who practice unrighteousness as a deliberate path of life are not going to inherit eternal life.  Needless to say, that truth brings out the worst in the God deniers of all stripes. At one time, name calling was the norm. Now name calling and lawsuits against speakers of truth are the norm now, coupled with the arrest of those who speak in the public arena. When unrighteous behavior is opened to view, the practitioners of it don’t like it. They will go to any length and effort to stop the eternal truth from being spoken and for proof of the desperation to silence the truth, Jesus was hung on the cross.

 Another method the unbelievers employ is a false argument based on the Old Testament. They point out that the OT addresses prohibitions to the Jews, so therefore such laws are not in force and the reason for it is that Jesus didn’t address homosexuality or “marriage” during his time on earth. The other part of the argument is that the OT prohibitions were for the Jews only and that means the laws didn’t apply to the Gentiles then or now. But they are wrong on both counts. People who make such an argument prove absolutely nothing except that they don’t know the Bible. They need to read it carefully.

First, let’s examine the argument about Jesus not speaking out against homosexuality. To gain an understanding of the issue of marriage pertaining to what Jesus said or didn’t say, we will begin with what God told Adam and Eve, Genesis 1:28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. God created male and female, and as the Old Testament reveals, there are rules for marriage as well as the rules against illicit behavior of all types relative to the males and females. Thus, the foundation for the rules of behavior laid down by God began with Adam and Eve in the Garden, and that foundation was incorporated into the laws of Moses.

 Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17) logic and reason must prevail in this matter. Since Jesus said that he didn’t come to destroy the law, he didn’t have to say one word about homosexuality since it was a sin contained in the law, which he followed to the letter or every jot and tittle, verse 18. To speak in favor of it would have been destroying the law. And yet he did speak against homosexuality in the following manner when the Pharisees questioned him about marriage and divorce and the bill of divorcement written by Moses. Jesus said, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Compare verses 6, 7, and 8 with Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. To say that Jesus didn’t address homosexuality is either a denial of God’s truth or it shows a total ignorance of the Word of God. No matter which one it is, God’s word is correct on the matter and those who speak otherwise are wrong. Those of you who contest the truth, ask yourselves, “Why Don’t I Believe God?”   (The Gentile argument is in the next lesson, Part VI)

© 06-28-2008 DEC

            Next Lesson Why Do  I Not Believe God? Part VI