Post by Cindy on Apr 11, 2019 10:51:35 GMT -5
Leviticus 18 identifies certain sexual liaisons as “detestable things” which defile not only individuals but the society (“the land,” Lev 18:27). Included are sexual relations with blood relations and in-laws, sexual relations with animals, and homosexuality (Lev 18:7–23). This last practice, which the Old Testament text calls “detestable,” is an issue today as gay men and women demand not just civil rights but to be recognized by society as persons who practice an acceptable “alternative lifestyle.” There are even openly homosexual clergy, who demand that their denominations affirm them as ministers of God and give congregations into their care.
The prohibition against homosexuality is not found solely in this one passage. Leviticus 20 expands on the sin and decrees the death penalty “if a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman” for “both of them have done what is detestable” (Lev 20:13). The New Testament Book of Romans speaks of homosexual acts as a “degrading of their bodies with one another” and calls such passions “shameful lusts” that lead to “indecent acts” (Rom. 1:24–27). Whatever moderns say about homosexuality, the Bible clearly identifies this sexual practice as sin.
As Christians, living in a secular society rather than in Israel’s “society under God,” we can take a moral stand on what is right. But probably we will not be able to criminalize homosexuality. As for those outside the Christian community who practice it, their real spiritual need is for Jesus Christ. With them, we need to keep the focus not so much on this sin as on the message of forgiveness for all sins that comes with personal faith in the Saviour. But those who claim to be Christians and still demand a right to be homosexual must be challenged with a vision of our Holy God, who insists that all who have a relationship with Him depart from their iniquity, to live a holy and godly life.
“How are we to relate to homosexual persons?” Look in 1 Corinthians 5 for guidelines. This passage teaches that immorality outside the church is not to be judged, but that immoral people within the church are to be judged, and if they do not repent are to be expelled from fellowship. The teacher’s commentary
Homosexuality is not a legitimate alternative life style, it is a sin which in Israel merited the death penalty. In the NT it is a sin the practice of which disqualifies the individual from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9, 10. Ga 5:21. Ephesians 5:5). No saved individuals practice this sin. Believers are to hate the sin, but love the sinner, and exercise compassion toward such lost individuals, seeking to win them to a saving knowledge of Christ (1 Cor 6:11. James 5:20. Jude 22-23). The passage of human laws in an attempt to legitimatize the practice as a life style are directly contrary to the word of God, and will subject the offending nation to the wrath of God (Lev 18:24. Ps 9:17). Under no circumstances are Bible believing Christians to support financially or otherwise the activities of groups which support the practice of homosexuality or lesbianism, or which otherwise advocate the “rights” of those who practice these sins. The new treasury of scripture knowledge
Besides blurring the distinction between the believer and the world, indulgence in such immoralities leads to a life that denies all moral boundaries. It makes personal desires supreme, and rejects God’s will as irrelevant. The Open Bible
“Detestable” (Lev 18:22). The word used here to describe homosexual acts is ʿebah. It expresses strong revulsion, and is used of practices that are morally rather than ritually disgusting to God. Prov. 6:17–19 lists 7 other ʿebahs, including “hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes,” and “feet that are quick to rush into evil.” To God, homosexuality is hardly an “alternative lifestyle.” The Bible reader’s companion
““ ‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.” (Leviticus 18:24–25)
“And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you. “ ‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people.” (Leviticus 18:28–29)
Consequences (Lev 18:24–30). The picture here isn’t a pretty one. Sexual perversions are like disease germs; they make a society and a nation sick. Then the land itself becomes sick and must vomit out its filthy people the way a human body vomits out poison. How tragic that people made in God’s image should end up as vomit! Please note that these were Gentile nations that were judged—peoples with whom God had not made any covenants, but He still held them accountable for their filthy deeds against nature (Rom. 1:18ff). If God so dealt with Gentile nations, to whom He’d never given His law, how much more will He hold accountable those who claim to know Him and possess His Word? There are dire consequences to sexual sins, and the judgment is greatest where the light has been the brightest. Alas, the nation of Israel disobeyed God, defiled their land, and were vomited out into captivity. Today, there are both secular and religious organizations that openly espouse an immoral lifestyle contrary to God’s Word; in God’s eyes, they’re making society sick. Be Holy.
All the sexual perversions discussed in this chapter were worthy of death, indicating their loathsomeness before God. The MacArthur study Bible
The graphic personification, the land vomited out its inhabitants (Lev 18:25, Lev 18:28) shows how detestable (Lev 18:26, Lev 18:29–30) these practices are in God’s sight. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Sexuality. Sex is a wonderful gift of God to the human family. When it is used according to His will, it is creative and brings rich blessing. Used apart from His will, sex is destructive and brings tragic consequences. Illicit sex defiles the persons involved (Lev 18:20–30), whole nations (Lev 18:24) and the land itself (Lev 18:25, Lev 18:27). Sickness. Sexual perversions are abominable to God and make a nation sick. The nations in Canaan were devoted to such practices, and the land “vomited them out” to make room for God’s people. God can forgive sexual sins (1 Cor. 6:9–11), but God warns His people not to practice them (1 Thessalonians 4:1–8; Hebrews 13:4). With the Word
The prohibition against homosexuality is not found solely in this one passage. Leviticus 20 expands on the sin and decrees the death penalty “if a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman” for “both of them have done what is detestable” (Lev 20:13). The New Testament Book of Romans speaks of homosexual acts as a “degrading of their bodies with one another” and calls such passions “shameful lusts” that lead to “indecent acts” (Rom. 1:24–27). Whatever moderns say about homosexuality, the Bible clearly identifies this sexual practice as sin.
As Christians, living in a secular society rather than in Israel’s “society under God,” we can take a moral stand on what is right. But probably we will not be able to criminalize homosexuality. As for those outside the Christian community who practice it, their real spiritual need is for Jesus Christ. With them, we need to keep the focus not so much on this sin as on the message of forgiveness for all sins that comes with personal faith in the Saviour. But those who claim to be Christians and still demand a right to be homosexual must be challenged with a vision of our Holy God, who insists that all who have a relationship with Him depart from their iniquity, to live a holy and godly life.
“How are we to relate to homosexual persons?” Look in 1 Corinthians 5 for guidelines. This passage teaches that immorality outside the church is not to be judged, but that immoral people within the church are to be judged, and if they do not repent are to be expelled from fellowship. The teacher’s commentary
Homosexuality is not a legitimate alternative life style, it is a sin which in Israel merited the death penalty. In the NT it is a sin the practice of which disqualifies the individual from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9, 10. Ga 5:21. Ephesians 5:5). No saved individuals practice this sin. Believers are to hate the sin, but love the sinner, and exercise compassion toward such lost individuals, seeking to win them to a saving knowledge of Christ (1 Cor 6:11. James 5:20. Jude 22-23). The passage of human laws in an attempt to legitimatize the practice as a life style are directly contrary to the word of God, and will subject the offending nation to the wrath of God (Lev 18:24. Ps 9:17). Under no circumstances are Bible believing Christians to support financially or otherwise the activities of groups which support the practice of homosexuality or lesbianism, or which otherwise advocate the “rights” of those who practice these sins. The new treasury of scripture knowledge
Besides blurring the distinction between the believer and the world, indulgence in such immoralities leads to a life that denies all moral boundaries. It makes personal desires supreme, and rejects God’s will as irrelevant. The Open Bible
“Detestable” (Lev 18:22). The word used here to describe homosexual acts is ʿebah. It expresses strong revulsion, and is used of practices that are morally rather than ritually disgusting to God. Prov. 6:17–19 lists 7 other ʿebahs, including “hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes,” and “feet that are quick to rush into evil.” To God, homosexuality is hardly an “alternative lifestyle.” The Bible reader’s companion
““ ‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.” (Leviticus 18:24–25)
“And if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it vomited out the nations that were before you. “ ‘Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people.” (Leviticus 18:28–29)
Consequences (Lev 18:24–30). The picture here isn’t a pretty one. Sexual perversions are like disease germs; they make a society and a nation sick. Then the land itself becomes sick and must vomit out its filthy people the way a human body vomits out poison. How tragic that people made in God’s image should end up as vomit! Please note that these were Gentile nations that were judged—peoples with whom God had not made any covenants, but He still held them accountable for their filthy deeds against nature (Rom. 1:18ff). If God so dealt with Gentile nations, to whom He’d never given His law, how much more will He hold accountable those who claim to know Him and possess His Word? There are dire consequences to sexual sins, and the judgment is greatest where the light has been the brightest. Alas, the nation of Israel disobeyed God, defiled their land, and were vomited out into captivity. Today, there are both secular and religious organizations that openly espouse an immoral lifestyle contrary to God’s Word; in God’s eyes, they’re making society sick. Be Holy.
All the sexual perversions discussed in this chapter were worthy of death, indicating their loathsomeness before God. The MacArthur study Bible
The graphic personification, the land vomited out its inhabitants (Lev 18:25, Lev 18:28) shows how detestable (Lev 18:26, Lev 18:29–30) these practices are in God’s sight. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Sexuality. Sex is a wonderful gift of God to the human family. When it is used according to His will, it is creative and brings rich blessing. Used apart from His will, sex is destructive and brings tragic consequences. Illicit sex defiles the persons involved (Lev 18:20–30), whole nations (Lev 18:24) and the land itself (Lev 18:25, Lev 18:27). Sickness. Sexual perversions are abominable to God and make a nation sick. The nations in Canaan were devoted to such practices, and the land “vomited them out” to make room for God’s people. God can forgive sexual sins (1 Cor. 6:9–11), but God warns His people not to practice them (1 Thessalonians 4:1–8; Hebrews 13:4). With the Word
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