Seeking for Jesus

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Sexuality - IV

It has been written that whoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. Truly, truly I say unto you that whoever shall divorce his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32)

One of the false precepts of our day is divorce.

And the Pharisees came to him and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? This they said, thinking to test him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement and to divorce her. Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this precept, but from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. So then they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder. (Mark 10:1-9)

A more modern translation would be as follows:

It has been written that whoever leaves his wife, let him giver her a written divorce. But I say, unless it's because of unfaithfulness, whoever leaves his wife causes her to be unfaithful. Whoever marries her after such a divorce also betrays the marriage covenant.

What God has put together God can put asunder if he judges such to be appropriate. How are you to know whether or not He permits your divorce? Done wrong, is it not adultery? Recall what I said about adultery. How many in our day divorce for a reason not due to unfaithfulness? Be careful. Don't do this. If you have, repent.

Sexuality - I

Behold, it is written by them of old time that you shall not commit adultery. But I say unto you that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Behold, I give unto you a commandment that you suffer none of these things to enter into your heart; for it is better that you should deny yourselves of these things, wherein you will take up your cross, than that you should be cast into hell.

Wherefore, if your right eye offend you, pluck it out and cast it from yourself; for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. Or if your right hand offend you, cut it off and cast it from yourself; for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell. And now this I speak, a parable concerning your sins; wherefore, cast them from you that you may not be hewn down and cast into the fire.

A more correct translation of this verse would be as follows:

Remember also, it was written since ancient time that you shall not commit adultery; but I say to you that anyone who engages in deliberate planning to seduce a woman to sin sexually has already omitted adultery in his heart. Hear now: I command you to not let any of these things enter your heart, for it's better to stop doing any of these things, and carry your own cross, rather than be cast into hell.

To look on a woman to lust after her means the actual scheming or mental planning to engage or seduce. It is not just a passing biological attraction that is subdued by one’s will to obey God, nor is it a whispered temptation from a mischievous spirit. Subduing and rejecting that temptation is part of living righteously.

Adultery is a serious transgression of God's will and commandments. It is second only to murder and denying the holy ghost. Members of Christ's church can repent of adultery but not endlessly. Those that commit adultery but repent with all their hearts who are forgiven but then do so again are not forgiven and are cut off from Christ's church.

So serious is this topic that God gave a commandment to subdue such thoughts in our heart so that it never results in the action. The consequence of looking on a woman to lust after them serious as well. Those that do this will not have Christ's spirit and will deny the faith and shall fear.

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man commits is against the body of Christ, and he who commits fornication sins against his own body. What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy ghost which is in you, which you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:13-20)

God delights in the chastity of men and women prior to marriage and in fidelity to their spouse after marriage. Sexual relations outside of marriage are contrary to God's commandments. Looking at someone with the intent to sexually engage or seduce them prior to marriage is contrary to God's commandments. Subdue such thoughts and desires in your heart and mind.

An Oath

Again, it has been written by them of old time: You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform unto the Lord your oaths. But I say unto you, swear not at all, neither by Heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatever is more than these comes of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37)

For this commandment I would like to recall to your mind the story of Jephthah and his oath as found in the book of Judges within the Old Testament.

And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If you shall without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, then it shall be that whatever comes forth of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. And he smote them from Aroer even until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus, the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. And Jephthah came to Mizpeh, unto his house, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances, and she was his only child. Besides her, he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass when he saw her that he rent his clothes and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord and I cannot go back. (Judges 11:29-40)

Under the Law of Moses you were capable of making an oath with God as your witness such that you were calling on God to smite you should you fail to keep your oath. I sincerely believe God does not want to do that. Instead he wants you to repent when you mess up.

How might this commandment factor into our day? Well what about in the court of law where you are called to make an oath with God as your witness to tell the truth? Isn't that an exact example of what he says to not do?

It may or may not work but if I were in that position I would try to resolve it by giving “asseveration” and hope it would be accepted instead of an oath. Asseveration is a legal word meaning:

The proof which a man gives of the truth of what he says, by appealing to his conscience as a witness. It differs from an oath in this, that by the latter he appeals to God as a witness of the truth of what he says, and invokes him as the avenger of falsehood and perfidy, to punish him if he speak not the truth. (The Free Dictionary By Farlex)

Do you want to promise to do something? Why not simply say you will or won't and then prove your word true by your actions rather than by an oath that you “swear” to fulfill. Don't bind yourself by an oath in a moment of passion to do something you will later regret. We all commit to things that we later wish we hadn't. God would rather Jephthah had repented of his rash oath rather than slay his daughter.

Thank God we get to repent!

Do my teachings entice you to take more seriously Christ's commandments? Do you recognize the need to spend time sincerely pondering what they mean and how to obey? I hope so. Moving on.

Perfection

You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who falsely accuse you and persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven; for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love only them who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans the same? You are therefore commanded to be perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

It is impossible for us while mortal to be as perfect in all things as God is. We don't know enough. We're not intelligent enough. But I believe that this type of perfection is possible with His help. That we ought to strive to elevate our obedience to this standard.

Do you want to be a child of your Father who is in Heaven? Don't allow your enemy to stir you up to angry conflict with them. Don't revile or seek vengeance but instead, as Christ endured the whip of the Romans, endure. Trust God to bring your enemies to judgment should they not repent. Pray for God to have what mercy on them He can while asking God to remove from your heart all your enmity, malice, hatred, anger, and thirst for vengeance.

I believe sincerely praying for your enemy in this manner to be an act of love towards your enemy wherein you are doing good to them and blessing them.

At the start of this I bore witness that as part of a larger revelation Jesus Christ in 2017 spoke the following:

… Cry peace. Proclaim my words. Invite those who will repent to be baptized and forgiven, and they shall obtain my spirit to guide them. The time is short and I come quickly, therefore open your mouths and warn others to flee the wrath which is to come as men in anger destroy one another. The wicked shall destroy the wicked, and I will hold the peacemakers in the palm of my hand and none can take them from me. …

So far, I've been expanding upon my understanding of Christ's Law found in the Sermon on the Mount. If you haven't done so already, I hope you'll go and get and then read the book containing a message from Jesus Christ given in our day.

If you do, your task will be to discern whether I speak the truth when I say that I am a messenger sent by Christ to proclaim His word and that the book I mention contains it.

Even if you don't, I hope you're beginning to see the scriptures in a whole new light and that you're beginning to recognize that you need to take them a whole lot more seriously than you may currently be doing.

One way or the other, you'll need to know if I'm speaking the truth. If I am, eternity hangs in the balance.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed; for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. (James 1:5-7)

Having said that, there is still more of the Sermon on the Mount to go through so – onward.

Eye & Tooth - II

You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you that you resist not evil, but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law and take away your coat, let him have it. And if he sue you again, let him have your cloak also. And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him a mile, and whoever shall compel you to go with him two, you shall go with him two. Give to him that asks of you; and from him that would borrow of you, turn not away. (Matthew 5:38-42)

I divide these verses into two parts. How to react when someone trespasses against you. The response is that you don't revile, contend or seek vengeance but suffer it gracefully, forgive and then take it to the Lord.

The second part is what to do when someone asks of you or seeks to borrow from you. I talked about the beggar previously and these words also address this topic.

Christians will not suffer the beggar to put up their request in vain. Some will say that the beggar has brought upon themselves their misery and that their suffering is therefore just. If you do this you need to repent.

We are all beggars. We all rely on God for all that we have, both food and clothing, both money and any riches that we have. We are all beggars pleading with God to forgive us and grant us a remission of sins.

God grants to us whatsoever we ask that is right, in faith, believing that we will receive. Therefore we should give of our substance to those who stand in need. If we judge someone who asks of us and condemn them and they perish? Then just will be our condemnation for withholding our substance which belongs to God and not us.

In this I'm talking about those who are rich as to thing things of this world. Those who are poor, who don't have but enough for themselves are not required to give. That said, we should still in our hearts say, “I give not because I have not. If I had, I would give.” Those who do this remain guiltless but are otherwise condemned for coveting that which they have not received.

It is possible to obtain a remission of sins day to day from God and walk guiltless before him. Doing so requires us to impart of our riches or excess to the poor by satisfying both their needs and wants. To love our neighbor as yourself. To lay up treasures in Heaven.

But in doing so we are to be wise and orderly for it isn't appropriate or requires for us to run faster than we have strength. Only our excess is to be purposed to this end. Therefore take care remember the poor and take care how you respond to the petition of the beggar.

Eye & Tooth - IV

Give to him that asks of you; and from him that would borrow of you, turn not away. (Matthew 5:42)

In the Law of Moses it was forbidden to require interest on any loan between members of the house of Israel. Also, lenders were forbidden from not lending on account of the year of the jubilee being near wherein all debts would be forgiven.

And as you desire that men should do to you, do also to them likewise. For if you love only those who love you, what reward have you? For sinners also do even the same. And if you do good to them who only do good to you, what reward have you? For sinners also do even the same. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what reward have you? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest. For he is kind unto the unthankful and the evil. Be therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful. Judge not and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Give and it shall be given unto you — good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:31-38)

Here Christ is saying you are to lend to those who would borrow of you expecting nothing in return. If they pay you back? Great! You weren't expecting it in the first place.

Karma is a true principal. It may function in a length of time longer than most desire but it is still a true principal. How you measure to your fellow man is how God will in turn measure you.

What profit is it, my brethren, for a man to say he has faith, and has not works? Can faith save him? Yea, a man may say, I will show you I have faith without works. But I say, show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. … Even so faith, if it has not works, it is dead, being alone. Therefore will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead and cannot save you. (James 2:14,17-18)

There are those who teach that we are saved by the Grace of Christ without consideration for whether or not we do good works by obeying his commandments. The scriptures teach a different standard. Christ can forgive you of all your sins but you must do something to merit the reward in heaven that you desire. The concept is “grace for grace”. By showing grace to others you merit in return a reward of grace from God.

… [F]or all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, therefore being justified only by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ... (Romans 3:23-24)

No matter how much of a reward we may merit through obedience to Christ's commandments we nevertheless will still fall short. God will make up the lack for the faithful. Therefore trust in Him and rely on Him for he is mighty to save.

Eye & Tooth - III

In Christ's day Roman soldiers could legally compel you to “go a mile” with them. The question is how this applies to us in our day.

Do you believe the commandment is to be taken literally? By this I mean, are we to not resist if they compel us to go two miles but resisting is fine if they compel us to go three? What does it mean for someone to “compel” you to do something? Are we really to “give to him that asks of you” and not turn away “him that would borrow of you”? What if someone asks to borrow something you need for yourself. Are you still to lend?

What happens if someone steals your vehicle or robs you of your bank balance at gunpoint? What happens if someone compels you to allow yourself to be raped? To allow your children or spouse to be raped or even slain? Is this commandment requiring the believer to endure endless abuses?

People do some very evil things to one another. Is the command to resist not evil all encompassing? Is it endless? Christ says God will bring your enemy to judgment if you do not revile or contend. Is this quick? How long must we endure before God will act? Do we just endure endless evil until he does?

To me the answer is a resounding NO. Problem is that the context of when you are instructed to “not forgive” your enemy and when God will justify you in taking vengeance requires the acceptance of revelation beyond the Bible. If someone who has read this blog wants to learn more about this subject they can reach out to me directly. For now, I'm trying to limit myself to the Bible.

And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29)

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and he who takes not his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who seeks to save his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)

For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Therefore, deny yourselves of these, and be not ashamed of me. (Mark 8:34-38)

I am not ashamed of Christ or in living his teachings. I wish to be the child of my Father who is in Heaven and to inherit the kingdom of Heaven and everlasting life.

This is my commandment: That you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:12-14)

If I do what Christ has commanded then I am His friend. If I am willing to lay down my life for Him should He call me to do such then in dying I will have obeyed the first great commandment.

Each of us should love the Lord this much. To love Him more than our parents or children. To be willing to keep His commandments even if it means our death or the loss of a loved one.

Are you willing to do so?