Ray Boltz question ?Gay?

[uncleC]

Thought I'd make a comment or two. I agree with Rusty about hating the sin and loving the sinner. Last thing I want to do is argue, but GOD has not changed his opinion about homosexuality. It was an abomination to Him in the OT and since my Bible teaches that GOD never changes I must believe He feels the same about it today. Why GOD lets things go the way they do and does not wreak destruction today like he did on Sodom and Gommorah is His business. He's GOD, He can do as He pleases. Maybe we are witnessing "the great falling away" spoken of in Scripture. We have become a nation of "liberal, anything is OK people." Don't hurt anyone's feelings by telling the truth, that just won't do. I don't know where Mr. Boltz is going to spend eternity. I do know that if he chooses to live a homosexual lifestyle, he is living in outright rebellion against GOD and will suffer the consequences. One comment about the woman taken in adultry that I believe needs to be made, Jesus did forgive her but He also said "go and sin no more. " Or to paraphrase, don't continue on the path of adultry. Living a perfect, sinless life is not possible for us to do. However after a person accepts Christ as personal Savior he is supposed to strive to live as Christ-like as is possible. He is not supposed to continue in or turn back to the sin-filled lifestyle he lived in the past. My final thought, I believe we are very close to the Rapture of the Church. No, I am not predicting a date, but the signs are everywhere. The world as a whole has turned it's back on GOD. He is being mocked and ridiculed on a daily basis the world over. Thanks to Bill Maher we even have a movie that makes fun of GOD. I will probably be slammed for my comments and accused of being a religious fanatic. That's okay with me because my Bible says that I'll be ridiculed if I truly follow Christ. And I ain't being holier than thou, either. The Truth, Way and the Life is the only way to Heaven. Keep the Son in your eyes, Chip

[duckhunterdoc]

well said, i just think that "go and sin no more " applies to more than just homosexuality/adultry

[uncleC]

Absolutely doc, to me it means we are to do our best to abstain from all sin.....Keep the Son in your eyes, Chip

[hencutter]

I never stated that smoking was not a sin. It is a sin just as it is a sin when I eat too much ice cream,when I already know that I need to lose weight.
However, The Word of God does not list these things alongside adultry,homosexuality,murder,etc.as it does in more than 1 scripture. My original question was this " I,and many of you,have been taught that all sins are equal. But does the Word of God teach this ? If so, I can't think of scriptures that would apply." A repentent sinner,whether that person used to have a relationship with God or not,is different than the prideful,un-repentent sinner. And Boltz, in making a statement that pretty much states that God made him that way-is ,so far,unrepentent. I didn't say that one is or isn't going to heaven- it is The Word of The Living God that stated that.
And uncle c, you are correct sir, we are living very near the time of the Rapture! No,you didn't name a date,nor would I, because He told us that no man knows the hour. However, He did say the we would know the season !

[rustypjr]

My opinion on sins being equal is this. YES! For it don't matter if you killed and raped an innocent girl or if you told a lie it is still a sin. Now I am not saying that telling a lie is as bad as killing and raping but either one is enough to keep you from heaven. That is what is so great about the saving power of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 5:21-28, Jesus talks of committing adultery with having lust in your heart, and committing murder with having hatred in your heart being a sin. However, this does not mean the sins are equal. What Jesus was trying to get across to the Pharisees was that it is still sin even if you only think about or want to do the act. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day taught people that it was okay to think about anything you wanted to, as long as you did not act on those desires. Jesus is forcing them to realize that God judges a person’s thoughts as well as their actions. Jesus proclaimed that our actions are the results of what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34).

So, although Jesus said that lust and adultery are both sins – that does not mean they are equal. It is much worse to actually murder a person than it is to simply hate them – even though they are both sinful in God’s sight. There are degrees to sin. Some sins are worse than others. At the same time, in regards to both eternal consequences and salvation, all sins are the same. Each and every sin will lead to eternal condemnation (Romans 6:23). All sin, no matter how “small,” is against an infinite and eternal God, and is therefore worthy of an infinite and eternal penalty. Further, this is no sin too “big” that God cannot forgive it. Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin (1 John 2:2). Jesus died for ALL of our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). Are all sins equal to God? Yes and no. In severity? No. In penalty? Yes. In forgivability? Yes.

[duckhunterdoc]

good stuff

[hencutter]

I agree, no sin is too big for God's forgiveness. I just believe that when the backslider goes to certain points that are mentioned in the Bible, then they must seek forgiveness. As the Prodigal son story tells us ( and I have expierenced in my own walk) He will "run " to us as soon as we turn to Him again.

[StraightUp]

Here's link--

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=250538