Today I’m going to discuss Romans 1 and 2. I’m not going to include the scriptures, so feel free to read the chapters before this blog. I am just going to share some of the things Amanda and I picked up from the scriptures. I have also included the video blog Amanda did so you may pick up something different from that as well.
The first thing I noticed in these chapters was how much Paul’s love for God showed in the pages! One of the first things he said, in verse 16, was “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” It is important that we, as Christians, are not ashamed of the word of God, and that we tell others of the word of God. Some of us find that harder than others; you may be shy, or you may not want to offend someone. But it is our job as Christians to tell others about the Lord! The thing that Amanda pointed out, as you’ll see in the video, is that it is also important to go about this in a loving way. If someone thinks that you are attacking or judging them, they are going to close up and stop listening to you. So it is important to witness in a loving way, to show God’s love.
Paul goes on to say that God has shown us right from wrong, yet there are still some who choose to do wrong. In verse 27 he talks about homosexuality. I know this is a touchy subject and I do not want to offend anyone, but I am going to discuss my opinions on the subject based on the bible. Amanda and I disagree about this subject so I am going to tell you what she thinks as well. First off, let me skip ahead to chapter 2 for a minute because chapter 2 makes some very could points about judging. Verse 1 says “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” It goes on to say most of the time when we tell someone they are guilty of a particular sin, we have at one point been guilty of the same sin. It is not my place to judge you! What you do is between you and God, just as what I do is between me and God! I would be a hypocrite if I told you that if you are a Christian you should not sin, because everyone sins! I can tell you what the bible says but it is not up to me to say that you are a sinner, or to judge your beliefs or your relationship with God. I am simply here to tell you what I get from His Word!
Going back to chapter 1, verse 27 says “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” Amanda and I both agree that being gay is a sin. I support that with this verse, as well as others from the bible (Leviticus 10:13 to name one). What we disagree on, however, are the consequences of that sin. Amanda interprets verse 32, which says “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” to mean those who commits those things are worthy of Hell. She says that if you truly ask for forgiveness of your sins you should turn away from those sins. Her point of view is that when God washes you clean of that sin, she does not understand how you can go back to the sin, because wouldn’t that mean you are no longer washed clean? I agree that you should want to turn away from the sins and that if you are a Christian you should want to be Christ-like, but I do not believe that if you turn back to the sin you will go to Hell. I believe that once you ask Jesus into your heart, as long as you are sincere, He is there to stay. Your salvation cannot be taken from you. I believe that we will all have to answer for our sins when we die, and that we will be humiliated and completely full of shame when we are judged by God, but that our sins will not keep us from Heaven. If that were the case none of us would go to Heaven, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) Chapter 1 not only talks of homosexuality as a sin but also lies, greed and gossip, among other sins. So I think that it is lumping all of those sins together, so if we commit any of those sins (I know I am guilty of some of them) then we are worthy of Hell if believe that way. I think the point the scriptures are trying to make is that it is important to admit that you are a sinner. I believe it is saying that if you try to justify a sin, such as homosexuality, that is worse than the sin itself. John 3:16 says “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.” He does not specify who can go to Heaven; He says that anyone who believes shall have everlasting life! Romans 1:32 says that we are worthy of death, and we are! Every single one of us is worthy of death. But because God sent His only son to die on the cross for our sins, we are spared from that death and granted eternal life! Like I said before, I am no expert; I am just here to share my thoughts. Amanda and I have different opinions and you may have a different opinion as well. Feel free to share your thoughts with us; we would love to hear them!
I hope you have enjoyed this for it has been a blessing to write! I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and will see you next time when I discuss Genesis chapters 1-3.
Here is the link to the video in case the one above does not work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3UNcvJ-Eg
The first thing I noticed in these chapters was how much Paul’s love for God showed in the pages! One of the first things he said, in verse 16, was “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” It is important that we, as Christians, are not ashamed of the word of God, and that we tell others of the word of God. Some of us find that harder than others; you may be shy, or you may not want to offend someone. But it is our job as Christians to tell others about the Lord! The thing that Amanda pointed out, as you’ll see in the video, is that it is also important to go about this in a loving way. If someone thinks that you are attacking or judging them, they are going to close up and stop listening to you. So it is important to witness in a loving way, to show God’s love.
Paul goes on to say that God has shown us right from wrong, yet there are still some who choose to do wrong. In verse 27 he talks about homosexuality. I know this is a touchy subject and I do not want to offend anyone, but I am going to discuss my opinions on the subject based on the bible. Amanda and I disagree about this subject so I am going to tell you what she thinks as well. First off, let me skip ahead to chapter 2 for a minute because chapter 2 makes some very could points about judging. Verse 1 says “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” It goes on to say most of the time when we tell someone they are guilty of a particular sin, we have at one point been guilty of the same sin. It is not my place to judge you! What you do is between you and God, just as what I do is between me and God! I would be a hypocrite if I told you that if you are a Christian you should not sin, because everyone sins! I can tell you what the bible says but it is not up to me to say that you are a sinner, or to judge your beliefs or your relationship with God. I am simply here to tell you what I get from His Word!
Going back to chapter 1, verse 27 says “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” Amanda and I both agree that being gay is a sin. I support that with this verse, as well as others from the bible (Leviticus 10:13 to name one). What we disagree on, however, are the consequences of that sin. Amanda interprets verse 32, which says “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” to mean those who commits those things are worthy of Hell. She says that if you truly ask for forgiveness of your sins you should turn away from those sins. Her point of view is that when God washes you clean of that sin, she does not understand how you can go back to the sin, because wouldn’t that mean you are no longer washed clean? I agree that you should want to turn away from the sins and that if you are a Christian you should want to be Christ-like, but I do not believe that if you turn back to the sin you will go to Hell. I believe that once you ask Jesus into your heart, as long as you are sincere, He is there to stay. Your salvation cannot be taken from you. I believe that we will all have to answer for our sins when we die, and that we will be humiliated and completely full of shame when we are judged by God, but that our sins will not keep us from Heaven. If that were the case none of us would go to Heaven, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) Chapter 1 not only talks of homosexuality as a sin but also lies, greed and gossip, among other sins. So I think that it is lumping all of those sins together, so if we commit any of those sins (I know I am guilty of some of them) then we are worthy of Hell if believe that way. I think the point the scriptures are trying to make is that it is important to admit that you are a sinner. I believe it is saying that if you try to justify a sin, such as homosexuality, that is worse than the sin itself. John 3:16 says “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.” He does not specify who can go to Heaven; He says that anyone who believes shall have everlasting life! Romans 1:32 says that we are worthy of death, and we are! Every single one of us is worthy of death. But because God sent His only son to die on the cross for our sins, we are spared from that death and granted eternal life! Like I said before, I am no expert; I am just here to share my thoughts. Amanda and I have different opinions and you may have a different opinion as well. Feel free to share your thoughts with us; we would love to hear them!
I hope you have enjoyed this for it has been a blessing to write! I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and will see you next time when I discuss Genesis chapters 1-3.
Here is the link to the video in case the one above does not work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3UNcvJ-Eg
No comments:
Post a Comment