In my opinion,1 Corinthians 7:2 rules out polygamy and Same Sex marriage 535-1 - 6 - 6

1 Corinthians 7:2, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

Fornication, G4202, harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication. to act the harlot, that is, indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or practise idolatry.

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

"In the beginning God" are first four words of the Bible and are the very foundation for the Judeo-Christian faith. The Bible is not a buffet that you can pick and choose from, either you accept it as the Word of God or you reject it.

Christians often quote John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

However wonderful John 3:16 is, many people failed to internalize the following verses.

John 3:17-18, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Either one believes the first four words of the Bible and that Jesus came to be our propitiation or one is in disbelief. The believer is justified before our righteous God but the serious implication of John 3:18 is that he who believes not is condemned already.

But I digress, so back to the book of Genesis.

Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” 

There is a well-worn joke on the Internet that God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. I don’t know how it could be any clearer, God meant for there to be two sexes, a man and a woman. Obama seemed to be obsessed with the LGTB agenda and promoted transgender bathrooms and more. After the Supreme Court’s decision regarding same-sex marriage, Obama lit up the White House with the LGBT colors of the rainbow, co-opted from God’s rainbow.

The rainbow of Genesis 6 was God’s commitment that he would not destroy the world with water again. Interestingly enough, the next time would be by fire. 2018 has been a year of major wildfires and is continuing in California today.

After the flood, Noah his wife and their three sons and daughter-in-law’s left the ark to repopulate the world. Not only were the humans in pairs, a man and a woman, the animals saved in the ark were also male and female.

Again I don’t see how it could be any plainer. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed not just because of their homosexual population but because of their acceptance of homosexuality. Some writers have speculated that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they did not help the poor, a more politically correct interpretation.

In my opinion, 1 Corinthians 7:2 rules out polygamy as well as homosexual marriage, again, a man and a woman.

John 8 and Psalm 69 provide insight into the life of Jesus from childhood on.

John 8 and Psalm 69 provide insight into the life of Jesus from childhood on. The legibility of Jesus’ was questioned by the Pharisees throughout his ministry and His siblings seem to have rejected Him.

John 8:18, “ I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”

The Pharisees next question, John 8:19 “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Again, the legibility of Jesus’ was questioned by the Pharisees throughout his ministry. Jesus was very politically incorrect when speaking to those Pharisees. John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

This disbelief in the deity of Jesus was of the anti-Christ then as it is today.

Psalm 69 not only deals with the crucifixion, it provides insight into the childhood of Jesus. Prior to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus there is no record of his siblings considering him other than mortal. Read his emotional pain of rejection as He cries out in verses 8 and 10.

Psalm 69:4, “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.”

As it was in the time of Jesus, as it is now, it is very difficult to understand the hatred directed at Jesus by the very people He came to offer eternal life. Jesus being without sin was our propitiation, our justification before a righteous God.

Psalm 69:6, “Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.”

Jesus prayed that His death would not be an obstacle to His believers. With the exception of John, all disciples deserted Him while on the cross. After the resurrection a 180 degree turnaround as the disciples proudly proclaimed The Good News.

Psalm 69:8, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.” Psalm 69:10, “When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.”

Jesus siblings likely rejected and ridiculed Him. After the resurrection, another 180 degree turnaround of at least two of his siblings as James and Jude wrote two books of the Bible.

How serious are sexual sins in our society today? 535-1 - 1 - 5

In the past America has committed a trifecta of sins, two dealing with sexual sin:

1. Abortion for convenience after sexual promiscuity.

2. Acceptance of homosexuality/ Same sex marriage.

3. Throwing Israel under the bus, being rectified in part by President Trump’s moving of our embassy to Jerusalem

From a KI post I made days before the Presidential election of 2016:

 “Trump not only is standing against the Democratic Party and their immoral candidate, he’s facing the elitists many of whom are promoting the one world order. Add to that the majority of the mainstream media who denigrate Trump for locker room trash talk. A flawed candidate, indeed. However flawed a number of leading religious leaders are encouraging voters to cast their ballot for Trump as the candidate who better reflects Christian values. It has been said that millions of Christians didn’t vote in the last election as Mitt Romney is a Mormon. So instead we got four more years of President Obama. 

So what will it be? Which candidate is more likely to follow 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

As it was with Israel, are we standing on the precipice or are we being offered more years to bring more into the Kingdom?”

Now two years and a mid-term election later, where are we? Today we have a warrior of the type of Jehu fighting to overcome the scheming not only of the left but also the RINOs and the Elite. Was/ is President Trump our King Cyrus, the king God dictated a letter to through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 44:28, “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”

As prophesied, Cyrus’ military was unopposed, Isaiah 45:1.

 Unlike Cyrus and for nearly two years President Trump has met with great opposition, opposition from Liberals, from Obama, the RINO including past Republican presidents and members of Congress, a bias often lying media, voter fraud, the Elicits both from without and within his own party and more. The more would certainly include Satan.

We now have a more conservative Supreme Court, hopefully not too late. However, if we push Israel into a two state solution including giving up part of Jerusalem, God forgive us.

As for the question, “How serious are sexual sins in our society today?” In my opinion. getting worse. Abortion is still murdering thousands of babies a day. Degenerates are inventing new genders, rather than just those ordained by God, a man and a woman.

The three views as to the identity of the “Elect Lady.” 545-2-3

There are three views as to the identity of the “Elect Lady.”

1. The Christian Church.

2. An individual, probably a prominent lady in the Church.

3. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the most “Elect Lady” in the entire Bible.

In 2 John refers to the “elect lady and her children.” Mary, the elect lady, who John is warning to be on guard against those who will come in her name with false teachings to lead her children, the Church, astray.

As an aside, in Genesis God foretold the virgin birth 3:15, “and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Mary was of the house of David through Nathan, the son of King David thus circumventing the blood curse of Jeconiah.

The angel Gabriel had a message for Mary. Luke 1:31, “And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Mary humbly answered, Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

Mary’s reaction to to Gabriel’s message from God was her Song of Praise, often called The Magnificat

Luke 1:46-47, “46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour (G4990).”

Saviour, G4990, a deliverer, that is, God or Christ. Mary made no claim of being a co-creator. Rather she was humbly in need of a deliverer.

Luke 1:48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

Mary would be called blessed, however, nowhere does the Bible say that she would bestow blessings. Catholics pray to Mary “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women." Does the Catholic hierarchy consider this as an out-flowing of grace that Mary can infer on those praying to her? I think not.

Luke 1:49-50, “49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.”

Mary is not in a proactive role, rather, she is in a in a passive role and the receiver of great things. She recognized the holiness of God and that the fear of God is rewarded with mercy.

Luke 1:51-53, “51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.”

As Paul put it in Romans 2:11, “For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Luke 1:54-55, “54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”

Mary speaks with gratitude for the eternal faithfulness God has for His chosen people.

So who is the Elect Lady John was referring to in 1 John 2? Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

The book of Malachi applies to Christians today. 526-2 -6 - 1

Malachi 4:1-2. “1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

Are we professing Christians Stubble, or do we really fear God? In my opinion, Norma McCorvey was stubble who came to fear God.

Norma McCorvey was far more known as Jane Roe of the infamous Roe v. Wade abortion decision. Norma was “The Shadow Plaintiff” in the Roe v. Wade decision and it was many hours old before she heard about the decision. In her own words “I came home from work—the first day I had been able to work in years, due to depression—and picked up the evening paper.” At the same time as this important decision the Watergate scandal had captured most of the media attention.

Again, to quote Norma, “but in the lower right-hand corner of the Dallas Times Herald I noticed a news item announcing a Supreme Court decision about abortion. Could this be me? I thought. The words announcing the Court’s decision gripped me. It was me! I had won! And yet it seemed so strange. I had already delivered my baby and placed her for adoption, so it really wasn’t relevant to me—I couldn’t abort a child who had already been born. In the article, I was referred to only through my pseudonym, Jane Roe, so even though they were talking about me, it felt like they were talking about someone else.”

[Mccorvey, Norma. Won by Love]

Norma worked at promoting abortion and worked in at least two abortion centers. In 1995 the prolife group Operation Rescue moved next door to the abortion clinic where she was working. This had to be a God thing as Norma was “Won by Love” by those in Operation Rescue. Norma became a proactive Christian and joined the prolife until she passed in 2017.

Now what does this have to do with Malachi? While Norma was still actively involved with the abortion center, a few of the Operation Rescue workers lead by Ronda were able to bring a jar of aborted baby parts to their prolife center. Among the aborted baby parts was a nearly perfect baby boy.

Ronda said she always wanted a boy and would have named him Malachi. The head of Operation Rescue told her “You need a better reason than that. Go through the Bible and find a reason you think we should name this boy Malachi, and we’ll go with that.” Ronda learned that Malachi means “God’s messenger.” The aborted Malachi could provide a visual of the truth of abortion, to be “God’s messenger.”

Malachi 4:5-6, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Sadly, the message of the aborted Malachi of the last century has not been heeded. Nearly 60 million potential humans have been aborted since Roe v Wade.  

We read in Proverbs 6:17 that among the things that God hates, “is hands that shed innocent blood.”  Not only is innocent blood being shed, baby parts are being sold. Thankfully God has been patience, however, is the day of Malachi 4:1 not growing ever closer?

Why, when we constantly offend Him and are so unlovable, does God persist in loving us? 526-2 - 5 - 3

The following are just a few versus that speak to God’s promise to love us even when we constantly offend him.

Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Conversation figuratively has to do with deportment or character and covetousness with greed. Our character should be without greed. As born-again Christians we should be very content because we have the promise of an eternity with the Lord. “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” includes two negatives which implies a very strong statement. What a wonderful statement that we will never be forsaken by God. Family and friends may forsake us or discount us but not our heavenly father.

Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Jesus always was, always is and always will be. Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” From old to everlasting…

A few verses from Deuteronomy serve as witness to God as an oath keeper, a faithful God, who keeps His covenants.

Deuteronomy 7:8, “But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” 

Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” 

However, there is a warning, Deuteronomy 7:10, “And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” 

God values His Word above all else, we have Hebrews 13:5 as Israel had God’s Word. Not for Israeli sake, rather for “the sake of my holy name.”

Ezekiel 36:22, “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. 23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.”

Tthe eight woes of Matthew 23 are relevant today 529-2 - 16 - 2

Matthew 23:13, “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

The Good News is so simple and available to those of us who place our faith in Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “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; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Jesus seeks a personal relationship, not ritual.

The Roman Catholic Church “shuts up the kingdom of heaven against men” unless rituals such as confession are observed. In indulgences are sold, masses are set for the dead and holding the correct the correct icon…:

“Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular Shall not suffer eternal fire!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel to Simon Stock

July 16, 1251”

[http://www.philomena.org/scapular.asp]

By encouraging their congregants into these rituals that have nothing to do with Jesus leads one into Matthew 23:15, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

And then we have the prosperity, name it and claim it tele-evangelists. Matthew 23:14, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

These tele-evangelists use a hard-sell prosperity message if only you will support their ministries. Jesus traveled the earth for 3 1/2 years in sandals and homespun and made the comment, Matthew 8:20, “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Now we have a prosperity form of Christianity spread by televangelists who live in multi-million-dollar mansions and insist on having their private jets.

They promote false teachings, Matthew 23:16, “Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!”

There are several more woes in the 23 chapter of Matthew, subject for another time. Suffice to say that the woes enumerated by Jesus nearly 2000 years ago are relevant today.