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I do not want to write about homosexual marriage, even though the topic started on this subject. The issue is not homosexuality or homosexual marriage. If you want specific points of view on homosexuality check the verses at the end of this essay.

So if the issue is not homosexuality what is the issue? As anyone who read the Givens in an earlier post my point of view is that sin is the issue.

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Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

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What is sin? In its simplest form sin is

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James 4:17, Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesnt do it, sins.

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The context of chapter 4 is submitting to God (v. 7-8, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.)

Within the context the good [one] ought to do is to do good through submitting to God through the means described in vs. 7-10.

At the same time one needs to understand that the ability to submit and flee is not something one can do on his/her own. One cannot do this because there is nothing perfect within a person that allows him/her to submit and flee. There is an inherent ill will toward good. Only rules and laws create order. Remove laws and rules and society will in fact crumble because of societies nature.

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Romans 3:10, There is no one righteous, not even one.
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Galatians 3:22, But the scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin.

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In the Galatians verse I see the comment that the whole world is a prisoner of sin. What exactly does this mean? It means that everything in the world is corrupted by mankinds sin. The world is cursed by God in Genesis 3:14-19 because of Adam and Eves disobedience You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17). Death in this verse touches on two themes in scripture (a) physical death and (b) spiritual death.

Another evidence of the whole world being a prisoner of sin can be found in

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Isaiah 65:25, The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpents food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain.

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The context refers to a New Heaven and New Earth that will occur when (if youve seen the Passion will provide additional frame of reference) Jesus returns. Once again all will be perfect as it was in the Garden.

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Genesis 1:31, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good

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Death was not a product of Gods creation. There were no carnivores because death would be the result. Creation was not meant to die. This is why the New heaven and earth will allow what are currently carnivores and herbivores to lay down next to each other.

Though scripture does not specifically say this, I believe that God has the power and used his power to curse the world in a way that turned everything upside down. Animals killed and ate other animals for example. I imagine massive earthquake and volcanic activity ripping the planet apart. If I believe that God created out of nothing by his love, then I can easily believe Gods righteous wrath ripping the earth to pieces in his judgment. The curse is only the first instance of Gods wrath. There is also the flood and the ultimate destruction of all that is as detailed in the book of Revelation.

What is the bottom line?

The bottom line is that everyone is a sinner. It is not an issue of the acts of the sinning. Sin reaches deep into the very soil of the earth and into every pore of the human body, mind, and heart. This is something mankind chooses.

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18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of 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 over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and 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. 28 And 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, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

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So where is the hope?

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Luke 23:34, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

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Context is Jesus Christ on the cross. The blood of Christ is a substitute for the penalty we should all pay for our sins. Christ took it upon himself on our behalf out of his love for us. John 3:16 is an oft over used verse seen at every athletic event but the fact it is oft used does not negate its truth. Jesus is saying this, For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The perishing in this verse refers back to the two forms of death (a) physical and (b) spiritual.

To many this is utter foolishness and scripture speaks on this as well.

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1 Corinthians 1:27, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

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John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.

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The issue with Jesus and Sin needs to be addressed by each person. Is Jesus who he claimed to be? Is he a lunatic or a liar? Someone who speaks with such authority demands the audience to decide, but the decision does not replace the facts.

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Ephesians 5:5, For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

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Matthew 7:26, "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

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This is a hard hard thing to comprehend and believe. Believing goes against the sinful nature and the "wisdom" of the sinful nature. But one should not think this is easy for a Christian. Any real Christian struggles with the sin nature and the forgiven soul every single day of his/her life. It is a struggle not to speed on the highway (but this essay is not about little sins). At the same time, the Christian should not live in fear. Living in fear negates Jesus' sacrifice.

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Hebrews 14:12, For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

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This refers to the Word of God which is the scripture. Anyone reading this needs to understand (or not understand as the case may be) that I am writing in faith that the Word of God is the perfect testimony of His will to man and that he has chosen to use the repentant sinful man to accomplish his work of salvation, teaching and testimony. To this end he gave to men the Holy Spirit to lead them through the writing of scripture as well as the determination of what should and should not be included as scripture.

But, I am not perfect and my views may not be correct. Even though I sign off on them and believe that this is an accurate doctrinal view of scripture and sin the Bible is clear

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1 John 4:1, Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

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Sotest, read for yourselves and look at things with an open heart. A closed heart determined to remain in its hardened state and with a refusal to search for truth will not find it.

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Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

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Is homosexuality a sin? Is pornography a sin? Is murder a sin? Is lying a sin? Is adultery a sin? Is speeding above the speed limit a sin? Is giving someone a mental middle finger a sin? Is beating ones children a sin? Is continuing to do anything that is a sin a sin?

What does a person who is a Christian do about these 'temptations'? No doubt it is a struggle. One persons temptation is another persons vice and one persons vice is another persons temptation. God works with each of his believers in an individual way to bring out of that person the greatest acts of worship. The way God works in the life of a Christian is not a "one size fits all approach", even if the only way to become a Christian is a "one death, and resurrection, for all" approach.

There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit will give help to a person who struggles. This is why the Holy Spirit is so often referred to as "The Helper". On the other hand there is no doubt that a person with an unbelieving heart will continue sinning in defiance of God's commands. Even a Christian will ignore the Holy Spirit throughout his/her life and sin over and over and over again. A Christian may spend a lifetime in a battle over a personal sin....but it should be a battle and not a surrender.

Is this all foolishness? It is a matter of faith and truth. The earth is round. There is no question the earth is round. The earth has been round and forever will be round. The fact that the historical church had faith the earth was flat did not change the fact that the earth was round.

Likewise, Jesus is stating some amazing things. He is claiming to be God, the same God who created the world and issued the Commandments, died on the cross and will one day return to judge all mankind. Are these facts? In faith I say "yes". Ignoring it may bring comfort in this life. Testing it and making an informed decision based on an open heart and mind could bring comfort in the afterlife. I'm not God so I cannot claim a stake over could or would.

In Conclusion:

Is there a point in debating this essay? Yes. Debate away. I'll comment where I can but will always come back to the same verse used earlier...

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Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

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Topical Verses Relevant to this thread:

Homosexuality
Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1Timothy 1:9-11

Faith
Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 119:65-72; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 3:21-5:11; Hebrews 11