Searching For The Perfect Gift

1. The Bible is Under constant Attack

a. distort and destroy

b. making it relevant to modern man

NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE - Our Mutual Joy

“Opponents of gay marriage often cite Scripture. But what the Bible teaches about love argues for the other side. - Lisa Miller

We cannot look to the Bible as a marriage manual, but we can read it for universal truths as we struggle toward a more just future. The Bible offers inspiration and warning on the subjects of love, marriage, family and community. It speaks eloquently of the crucial role of families in a fair society and the risks we incur to ourselves and our children should we cease trying to bind ourselves together in loving pairs. Gay men like to point to the story of passionate King David and his friend Jonathan, with whom he was "one spirit" and whom he "loved as he loved himself." Conservatives say this is a story about a platonic friendship, but it is also a story about two men who stand up for each other in turbulent times, through violent war and the disapproval of a powerful parent. David rends his clothes at Jonathan’s death and, in grieving, writes a song:

I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;

You were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful,

More wonderful than that of women.

Here, the Bible praises enduring love between men. What Jonathan and David did or did not do in privacy is perhaps best left to history and our own imaginations.

More basic than theology, though, is human need. We want, as Abraham did, to grow old surrounded by friends and family and to be buried at last peacefully among them. We want, as Jesus taught, to love one another for our own good—and, not to be too grandiose about it, for the good of the world. We want our children to grow up in stable homes. What happens in the bedroom, really, has nothing to do with any of this. My friend the priest James Martin says his favorite Scripture relating to the question of homosexuality is Psalm 139, a song that praises the beauty and imperfection in all of us and that glorifies God’s knowledge of our most secret selves: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." And then he adds that in his heart he believes that if Jesus were alive today, he would reach out especially to the gays and lesbians among us, for ‘Jesus does not want people to be lonely and sad.’ Let the priest’s prayer be our own…”

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1. SHOCKING TRUTH Vs. 6

A. Powerful Reaction – I marvel

1. tense shows continual action

a. I am continually shocked, dumbfounded

2. Realize that this is God speaking thru Paul

a. Even stronger amazement

B. Caused by a Personal Action that you

1. Decision on the individuals part

2. Can’t be ascribed to the devil or weakness

3. When we decide to move from God’s truth

a. make us stay

b. take us home

c. let us go- Father of Prodigal

C. Caused - Progressive Action are so soon removed

1. Jesus warned – little leaven affected whole 2. Can’t take a little poison & not be poisoned

D. Caused by a Pitiful Substitution

1. Person – from Him

a. whose love called them from judgment

into grace

2. Position –to another gospel

a. rules & regulations to insure salvation

b. from doing in love to doing in fear

c. things I don’t do for fear of hurting Him

2. DEFINING STATEMENT Vs. 7

A. Exposure of Error

1. Always a greater revelation/vision

a. supersedes or adds to the Gospel

2. Always causes trouble in believer’s heart

a. HS speaking

3. Always involves satisfying fleshly desires

a. here or hearafter

B. Exclusiveness of the Gospel

1. Gospel of Christ is a Declaration of Facts

a. facts cannot be changed or do not vary

b. truth & truth is intolerant of error

2. Gospel of Christ is our Satisfaction

a. of our needs – separation from God

b forgiveness of sin & freedom from death

c. another Gospel nothing better than this!

3. Gospel of Christ is God’s Provision

a. If there were any other way God would not have sacrificed His only Son!!

b. No other way to be saved!!!

3. STAGGERING CURSE Vs. 8-9

A. Deliberately Stated

1. Twice – put out of the body

a. no exemptions – no matter how sincere

2. 2 John vs. 6-11

B. Danger It Presents

1. Salvation based on anything else not salv.

2. Perhaps a believer duped can go to heaven

C. Damage It Produces