Do not love the world

Jesus and His teaching are the cure for what ails us.  The move toward a post Christian society with lack of respect for laws and borders is missing the mark.  Those who follow Jesus with a good conscience must respect the rights of others, and will not use anarchy as their weapon of choice. 

1 John 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The New Commandment

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b]there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Whoever does the will of God abides forever.  Temporary vs Eternal.  The rabid focus on the temporary, and rejection of eternal values, is the hallmark of the modern post Christian culture.  America is hated by the radical leftists because it has not given equal treatment to all people.  

But the story begins with an explanation of how this situation developed.  The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was beautiful to see, seemed it would be delightful to taste, and promised to make the one who ate wise. 

YHWH had pronounced all things good, and provided all that was needed for the good life. But He had placed that tree in the very middle of the Garden.  And He had forbidden to eat the fruit, on the penalty of death. 

Gen 2:15 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat[d] of it you shall surely die.”

But Satan gave a different slant.  He appealed to the human nature, the desire for temporary things, the desire to feel good, the desire to do as we please. 

Genesis 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Fall

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Therefore Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, separated from the tree of life, and separated from God by their quilt. They hid from God, and tried to cover their shame with some clothing made from leaves.  They needed a savior.

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2013/03/pictures-of-salvation.html

Paul says that these things happened for a purpose, so that the children of God can be revealed by personal choice. The creation, mankind, was subjected to personal choice, so that those who desire to come to God may be given the power to come to Him by faith in Jesus the Christ. 

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Those who are wise will choose life over death.  Jesus died for all, and is not a respecter of persons.  People of all races and all economic circumstances have the opportunity to have eternal life in Jesus Christ, by their own choice. 

But the poor have an advantage over the rich on the road to eternal life.  The rich tend to trust themselves, while the poor are more likely to come to Jesus for life.  

Apostle James said it plainly,  

Testing of Your Faith

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds,3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass[c] he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[d] 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 2:5 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Those who are wise will understand that faith in Jesus as Savior is the ultimate value.  All the plotting about dividing the earthly wealth fairly will bring nothing of lasting value.  Disregard of eternal values, and misstatement of present values, will end in death.  

This earth and physical life are temporary.  Eternal life is what matters.  George Floyd believes in Jesus.  He is blessed.  

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html


https://christianchronicle.org/after-floyds-death-petition-to-rename-harding-auditorium-gains-support/

Assembly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illGPgICkJ8

Church assembly has become an issue with the draconian lock down measures passed by many States, and by many nations around the world, to attempt to limit the spread of Corvid-19.  Now that things are beginning to calm down, we wonder when people will feel comfortable meeting together in Christian assembly?

It seems that many church goers do not have a great enthusiasm for assembly.  Maybe this is a good time to ask, why is assembly important?

Actually, the word that "church" attempts to translate means assembly.  Ekklesia is an assembly called together for a certain purpose.

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1500-what-is-the-meaning-of-ekklesia 

Many people seem to think that getting together is not that important.  Maybe being at home with the family and having private devotions is just as good?

But Jesus gave importance to people gathering together in His Name.  

Matt 18:19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

And Apostle Paul enjoyed gathering with the assembly of believers as he traveled through the region and visited Troas. 

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

So believers had the tradition of meeting together on the first day of the week, teaching and encouraging each other, and partaking of the Lord's supper together.  Paul reported that Jesus had told him personally of the importance of the observance of the memorial feast in memory of the Lord Jesus.

The Lord's Supper

1 Cor 11:17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[e] 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[f]you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[g] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[h] 31 But if we judged[i]ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[j] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Jesus told Paul how important is our attitude when gathering together to take the memorial feast, the Lord's supper, the bread and the wine. We must have a true heart, that honors Jesus and His sacrifice. 

The writer of Hebrews warns against forsaking our gathering together.   He does not give fear of death as an excuse for forsaking, but warns about the second death that is reserved for unbelievers.  

The Full Assurance of Faith

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers,[c] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

So we have clear instructions that we should not neglect meeting together.  Fear of death is not a viable excuse for missing the assembly, as many believers in the first century faced death by meeting together, because of persecution of believers. 

It would be very dangerous for us to let the fear of physical death cause us to miss eternal life.  Love casts out fear.  We have no reason to fear that which can take away our physical life, for our objective is eternal life through faith in Jesus our Savior.  Let's get back to assembly.  Our constitution guarantees our right to assemble.  

"When we meet in sweet communion, where the feast divine is spread, hearts are brought in closer union, while partaking of the bread."

What is Righteousness??

Righteousness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia8p-rWUNgs?R

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p4OrSEPGvI


The righteousness of which I speak is not attained by humanistic efforts and values. It transcends human wisdom, and points to a higher plane of existence. Being righteous means to follow the right path, and that path is ordained and ordered by the Creator of the Universe. That righteousness is in Jesus the Christ (Yeshua the Messiah).


The writer of the second chapter of Proverbs connects wisdom and righteousness. The wise person practices righteousness, and follows God.

The Value of Wisdom

Prov 2:1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden[a] woman,
from the adulteress[b] with her smooth words,
17 who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;[c]
19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

But the foolish person does not believe in God. The unbeliever goes about trying to establish his/her/their own standards of righteousness. They may turn to Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism, and other isms to explore and find something that they agree with in their own understanding, so that their inner desires become the master of their life principles. They learn to do what they want to do based upon their feelings. But the way that seems right to them will be the way to destruction. When will we ever learn?? When will we ever learn!

Psalm 53 English Standard Version (ESV)
There Is None Who Does Good
To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil[a] of David.

53:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,[b]
who seek after God.

3 They have all fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.

4 Have those who work evil no knowledge,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon God?

5 There they are, in great terror,
where there is no terror!
For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Because mankind in our human nature rejects truth and our creator, we need mercy and pardon. We cannot earn our righteousness because of our self centered feeling ruled nature. So our Creator provided a way for us through a man who shared our same nature, but He never gave in to His feelings. He walked the path of righteousness for us, and offers us righteousness in Him.

Psalm 32 English Standard Version (ESV)
Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil[a] of David.

32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!


The righteousness of God demands the penalty of death for sin. But in His love He provided the One to die in our place. Jesus bore our sins on the cross. The blood that poured from the thorns on his head, and from the wounds on his back, and from the spear thrust in His side, offers forgiveness and perfect righteousness to all who will believe in Jesus and truly determine to follow Him. But each person must decide if they will love and follow Him.


Peter, powered by the Holy Spirit, explains simply how this must be in the sermon on Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus.

Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[c]delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 

40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Apostle Paul put his confidence in being faithful in Jesus, and looked forward to receiving the reward of eternal life with God, his resurrection and glorification.

Philippians 3:9 “And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” .

2 Timothy 4:7-8. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”   

What about you.   Are you looking forward to seeing Jesus on Judgment day?  Let me know if you want to talk.

Randolph Gonce
276 County Road 56
Stevenson, AL 35772
256 437 2687

  

Is Pete a believer?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Buttigieg#Abortion

Jesus will decide who is a believer, and reward all those who trust in Him.  We are saved by grace through faith, not by being perfect.  

However, is it not a bit strange for the Democrats to be frothing at the mouth about Trump's morality, while they applaud something the Bible clearly condemns?

Those who support homosexual marriage have clearly decided to move beyond Biblical moral standards.  They do it by claims to human sexuality being determined by feelings and hormones, instead of the standard of male or female based upon physical sexual development.

Sure, there are some people who are born sexually indeterminate.  There is a group in India, the Hijra, 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijra_(South_Asia), 
who claim as their community all who are born indeterminate, and males who have been castrated. 

They dress as women, practice sexual immorality, and are very aggressive beggars.  We are blessed to have taught and encouraged a community from the Hijra to become believers in Jesus in the great city of Mumbai, India.  These believers stop practicing sexual immorality, and learn to live productive lives. 

The Bible teaches sexual abstinence for all except man married to woman.  We (believers) are not to be led by feelings, nor by popular opinions, but by Bible teaching we believe has been given us by the Power of YHWH, by the Holy Spirit who inspired the writings of the scriptures accepted by first century believers as being inspired. 

This understanding produces a clear divide between those who believe that the Scriptures in the original languages were given by God and are our guide for today's moral teaching, and those who discount the authenticity and authority of the Bible. 

We (who believe the Bible) refuse to compromise moral instruction clearly revealed in the Bible. The rejection of the practice of homosexuality is clearly established in scripture.  Beginning with Lot at Sodom and Gomorrah, continuing with the story of the man and his concubine, and clear teaching by Apostle Paul in his letters to believers, the practice of homosexual intercourse is condemned. 

Gibeah's Crime Judges 18

Judges 18:22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.”

The history of homosexual practice as part of pagan worship is well established, and contributed to the corruption of Greek and Roman society.  

From the beginning, the Creator intended for man and woman to join together in a union that would produce righteous offspring, so that the family becomes the foundation of useful society.  

Adam's Descendants to Noah

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man[a] when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief[d] from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

After the flood, there is a sexual immorality problem with Ham, son of Noah.  From the language used, it is likely that Ham sexually assaulted his drunk father.  

Gen 9:20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.[c] 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed be Canaan;
a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

The Law of Moses condemned homosexual intercourse. 

Lev 18:20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them[b] to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.

Apostle Paul made it very clear in his letters that homosexual intercourse is not to be practiced by believers who are actually following Jesus.  

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

Romans 1:18 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.

Paul instructed believers at Corinth to avoid sexual immorality, specifically mentioning men who practice homosexuality. 

1 Cor 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[b] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[c] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

So Pete claims to be a Christian, and openly practices homosexual marriage.  And he won the Iowa caucuses for Democratic candidate for President of the USA. 

Yet radical Democrats take pleasure in attacking Evangelical Christians who support Donald Trump, because Trump is rude, crude, and unattractive.  Yes, Trump has moral baggage, but at least he is married to a woman.  And he is against killing babies. 

Time for a wake up call.  Whose side are you on???  The choice is between respect for God's moral laws given through the Bible, and respected by true believers as God's Word, or humanity's support of feel good society which rejects God's authority and pushes the political correct agenda, while promoting abortion and killing of babies.  

Is it "He's impeached forever" or "I have been acquitted!"

Surely it is time to do some more  things that are useful to society.  

Let's bury hatred and give life to good will.  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any  people. 

We are in a battle  

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-peaceful-visa-of-front-porch-of.html

Democracy and personal liberty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_Marxism

My grandmother Nancy Wynne Gonce owned 249 acre farm in Little Crow Creek Valley.  My father, Ollie A. Gonce, farmed that land on share crop rental when I was growing up.  Later he purchased the land from his siblings, and even later it was owned by me and my brother Terrill.  

During the farm crisis of the 1980's, thanks to Jimmy Carter, we had a foreclosure sale of the farm at the Jackson County Court House, and my sister Wenda and Ron Lovelace purchased the part of the farm that included most of the home place.  

My wife Linda retained ownership of our house place and the old home place because they were on separate mortgages, and we owed more than the market value on each place. 

Yesterday, while visiting with Randy Summers in Sinking Cove, he pointed out "Ol' Randolph", the ancient John Deere tractor that he purchased with permission from Bunn Lovelady when we were doing the voluntary liquidation of Gonce Brother's Farm. 

1981 I began mission work in India.  Bunn Lovelady told me several times that I needed to stay home and take care of the farming operation.  Common sense would say so, but I was under what I believed was a higher calling.  Charles Scott had invited Lyle Starnes to travel with him to India, 1980, and Lyle was working with me in the Gonce Brother's Farm Drainage business at the time.  I paid Lyle's regular salary while he was gone to India. 

We planned to go to India together in 1981, but Lyle was hindered from making the trip, and I went on alone until meeting Ken Shoop in New York where our flight to India had been delayed. 

https://rgonce.blogspot.com/2017/05/mixed-bag.html

Our voluntary liquidation of Gonce Brother's Farm assets was in 1985, or thereabouts.  But I digress.  I want to talk about democracy and personal liberty. 

My life has been about personal faith, personal decisions, and the liberty that has been provided in our nation.  Liberty to make personal decisions, and to fail and to succeed.

Growing up as son of a tenant farmer,
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenant_farmer
I have never suffered from white guilt. In fact, I have enjoyed reverse discrimination as youth in Ghana called me Obruni (white man).  The work I did as a youngster, hoeing weeds with crook necked hoe, picking cotton, plowing with mules, gathering ear corn by hand, and so forth, were the same work that slaves did. 

And many former slaves chose to work as sharecroppers after their release from slavery.  But the call of the north was strong, and many moved to the big cities.  For many, this move resulted in dependency on government for survival. Dependency on government is a great killer of personal freedom.  One big problem with Democratic Socialism is that mankind does a very poor job of managing things.  Personal liberty requires the freedom to fail as well as succeed.  The Bible calls it sowing and reaping.  When we do well we will be blessed, and when we do ill we will be cursed. 

History is replete with examples of the fact that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. What is a nation?  Why do we have nations?

A nation is a community of people who have some common heritage, with recognized territory boundary and laws.  Their heritage accumulates the choices made by people over generations.. The Bible says that God visits the sins of the fathers upon the offspring to the third or fourth generation.  


Exodus 34:6-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a] forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

The modern move to end national boundaries is a reflection of the liberal belief that mankind should be free to do as he/she/it pleases.  The post Christian agnostic/atheistic society does not believe in personal responsibility, but rather promotes feel good irresponsibility.  They do not want law and order, but prefer a system that supplies needs without regard to work or personal accountability.  They are promoting mob rule with selfish motives.  

Apostle Paul suggested the need for individual accountability within the community.  

Warning Against Idleness

2 Thes 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[d]

But we do not have and do not want a state controlled "Christian" community.  We have been there and done that in Europe during the time of the so called "Holy Roman Empire".

When the nation of immigrants were gathering in what is now the United States of America, great effort was given to head off the establishment of state controlled religion.  They did not want either Roman Catholic or Anglican bishops controlling things in the new settlements.  Yes, the Puritans were making things hard for the Baptists and Quakers.  So the founding fathers adopted the separation clause, that the state is not to establish any religious institution.  And we have reaped the benefit of that for many generations, not just 3 or 4.  

That rule is enforced within our territorial boundaries.  Outside there are Roman Catholic nations, Islamic nations, Hindu nations, and so forth.  Our nation has laws that reflect our Bible heritage.  These laws in support of Biblical morality are a blessing.  

But the modern post Christian movement wants to move beyond Biblical moral law to progressive  principles derived from privileged paranormal paradigm.  And right in the middle of that muddle is the longing to rob the rich and give to the mob.  French Revolution revisited.  USSR, Cuba, and China.  Hiding under our desks in classrooms in the fifties, for Nuclear War drill.   Digging underground shelters for protection from Nuclear Bomb blasts. More than 100 million lives squandered in one century.

But Bernie loves democratic socialism, and our young folks like Bernie.  Forgive your debts, free education, free medical care, and do not listen to the old folks who lived through the fifties.  We are just not enlightened about how it is up to humans to save ourselves.  

No need for a savior in a world that can save itself. No need for God in a culture that mocks Him.  And all our blessings are going down the drain if we do not honor our Maker.  

Yes, righteousness exalts a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people.  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus, for all who believe. 

Yes, salvation is a gift purchased by the blood of Jesus at Calvary.  But that gift is given to and received by those who seek it.  It is not given to those who refuse personal responsibility.  As Jesus said, 

The Final Judgment

Matt 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[f] you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Waiting for the Rapture??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture

The topic Rapture came up during a discussion with a Jewish friend about the evidence of history.  He told me "Wait for the Rapture, then come back and tell me about it."

The teaching of the pre-tribulation Rapture is part of the doctrine of Premillennialism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism

But the reign of Jesus in His Kingdom was announced by Him personally on Mount Herman when Jesus gave the great commission to his disciples, 

The Great Commission

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

All authority in heaven and on earth! His reign is established, and He will send the Holy Spirit to help get things going on the day of Pentecost, at Jerusalem. 

Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[c] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,


“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,


“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

That day about three thousand were born again into the Kingdom of Messiah.  Shortly there were more than ten thousand disciples of Yeshua, encouraging each other daily in Jerusalem.

But most of the Jews were looking for a different kind of Messiah.  They expected Him to be more like David, and lead the warriors of Israel to overthrow the Roman dominion.  

Jesus taught them to love their enemies, and to turn the other cheek.  This did not suit the Zealots at all.  So they rebelled against Rome, and the Temple was destroyed in AD 70.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70_CE)#Destruction_of_Jerusalem

The conflict with Rome continued until 132 CE, when the Zealots thought they had found their militant Messiah in Bar Kokhba. This final Jewish Roman war lasted until 136 CE and resulted in Rome's final solution, changing the name of the province and expelling Jews from the region.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_Kokhba_revolt

But Daniel had prophesied that Messiah's Kingdom would be set up in the days of the Roman Kings, and that this Kingdom would break into pieces and destroy the existing world kingdoms.

Daniel 2:36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage,[c] but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

So the Kingdom was set up on schedule, during the reign of the Roman Kings, Augustus being the first Emperor, reigning at the time of Jesus' birth.

The conflict between the kingdoms of the earth, and the Kingdom of God, was set in motion, and worked out over time. The temporary kingdoms against the Eternal Kingdom.  But humankind played an important role. The Eternal Kingdom can only be entered by faith in the sacrificial offering of Yeshua, the Son of YHWH.  Believers are built up into a temple for the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

But humans always want to do things the human way.  We want to be in charge.  Soon the Great Apostasy was under way, with the Bishops of large cities using their positions to exercise power and collect money.  Rome surpassed them all, and the great harlot became mother to the Holy Roman Empire. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Apostasy

But Jesus had promised  that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Kingdom.  From the day of Pentecost until today, there have been faithful believers who followed Jesus and His teaching.  They were always persecuted by the kingdoms of the world.  To find them, search the pages of history and see who it was that proclaimed personal faith in Jesus Christ, believer baptism, and organization of believers in local communities.  The true believers refused to submit their personal faith to the world powers who demanded obedience to the rulers of this world.  These stalwarts of personal faith are the trace of the Kingdom which never passed away, and which is being developed in our own time.

America became a launching pad for restoring first century believer community.  People were sick of all the religious fighting in Europe, and wanted personal freedom. But it is a difficult journey.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement

How do we restore first century believer community?  Perhaps going back to Jerusalem will help us better understand what that community is.  Jerusalem sets the context for Jesus and His teaching.  Time to go back to the beginning. 

What did Jesus teach about His second coming?  He said His Kingdom is not of this world. 

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

John 18:33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus is coming back for resurrection and judgement.  Apostle Paul wrote about this in 1 Cor 15.

1 Cor 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God[c] has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Christ is reigning, and will continue His reign until He destroys every rule and every authority and power of this world.

When Christ comes back, we will be caught up to meet Him in the air.  He has gone to prepare a place for us, and will come again to take us home with Him.  

The Coming of the Lord

1 Thes 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[d] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

When is Jesus coming back?  After the lies of this world have been defeated.  There is still work to do.  It is a battle.

How do we smell?

2 Cor 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Believers are being accused, by liberals, of being unkind for teaching that salvation is only in Jesus Christ. They, the purveyors of universal human based righteousness, are convinced that the way forward is to rob the rich as to this world, and to share it with the disadvantaged.  And they seek to add to their clout by bringing more votes to their side by appealing to selfishness..

These liberals teach that a loving God will not punish people.  But both history and the Bible teach otherwise. The Bible teaches that righteousness exalts a nation, and that sin is a reproach to any people. 

And Jesus (Yeshua) said that He is the way to Eternal Life.

John 14 English Standard Version (ESV)
I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

When we share a message about salvation in Jesus Christ, we must first teach about sin and failure on our part that required the bloody sacrifice of Jesus.  Until a person understands that they have separated themselves from God by their own sins, they see no need for a savior.  

And if we can be righteous by our own doing, we have no need of a savior.  If there are many ways to God, and we can choose from many ways, we have no need of Jesus.

And believers are not being arrogant when we insist that salvation is only in Jesus.  We are humbly admitting that we cannot save ourselves, but we need Jesus.

Yes, we believers in Jesus are accused of believing fairy tales by the secular elites. They, the secular elites, choose false science and feelings to attack what the Bible teaches about human sexuality.  

Yes, those of us who believe the Bible teaches instruction from God, are ridiculed as being hopelessly old fashioned and uninformed.  Our calls for personal responsibility are called unloving.  If we really loved poor people, we would join the rush to rob the rich and distribute to the poor, the liberals say.

But Jesus and the Bible teach voluntary sharing by individuals. Handing over personal responsibility to the government causes unbelievable confusion and corruption. John F. Kennedy nailed it with his challenge,  “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,”.

Socialism and communism fail because of human weakness, human sinfulness.  The wages of sin is death.  Death and destruction are coming upon people because of their missing the mark of righteousness in Jesus.  More than 100 million died last century because of socialism and communism.  When will we ever learn?

Believers are not acting arrogantly by insisting that all need to come to Jesus.  This is the only way to God, as proven by the teaching of the Bible and the evidence of history.  The prophets of the Bible have proven true. 

Unitarianism is a popular idea, but it simply is not true, and those who profess it are putting themselves against the teaching of the Bible.  https://www.uua.org/

If I smell bad to you, maybe it is because of the tilt of your nose.  I smell good to believers. John 3:16