Attending a marriage ceremony is an invitation to come and witness and celebrate the union of two people in marriage. For the Christian from Genesis to the teachings of Jesus marriage has always been about the joining together of one man and one woman. Same sex marriages have never been acceptable by God. It is very challenging when a culture accepts practices that are contrary to the Judeo-Christian teaching that has existed for thousands of years. Whether it is this sin or any other sin, we are told to love the person but to not condone or excuse the sin. Tell them you love them, God loves them but you can’t endorse or celebrate this decision that they have made. They will probably get married anyway and you then show them the same love just like anyone else who chooses to not obey God.
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When I read this question immediately dozens of verses began to race through my mind. There has been different many different verses that have been my favorite depending on what was happening in my life. If I had to choose only one it would be hard but I guess I will go with John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." This verse tells me that God wants to save us and not condemn us. The following verse 18, tells us that without Christ we are already condemned because of sin. Every person needs to hear that God has provided the only way to be saved from sin. The only way to be saved is to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. This one verse tells the gospel story pretty well. It gives me hope for today and hope for tomorrow. God wants you and I to not be condemned but to be saved. There is a series of events that are yet to take place according to the Bible. At any moment we could experience what is called the Rapture. This is when Jesus returns and all the believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Next, the 7-year Great Tribulation will happen on earth, in which the judgment of God will come to all those still here. At the conclusion of this 7-year period Satan is bound, the earth is judged and a 1000 year reign of peace will take place. Next there will be a Great White Throne Judgment and anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. God will then cause this earth to pass away and He will create a new heaven and a new earth. All sin, sorrow, death, pain will not be a part of this new earth. This is where God will dwell with man for all eternity. Pentecost Sunday is always celebrated 50 days after Passover. Passover was the Jewish feast that was happening when Jesus was crucified. The next major Jewish feast was the one called Pentecost or Feast of First Fruits. Both of these feasts have a Jewish significance but they also have a clear Christian significance. The Passover required an innocent lamb to die and the blood was applied so that the wrath of God would "Passover". For the Christian, Jesus was the lamb that was slain to take our sins upon himself. Pentecost was the Jewish celebration of the "First Fruits" of the harvest. For the Christian, it was during the feast of Pentecost, that the Holy Spirit was poured out on all the believers. Many scholars call this the birthday of the church. This was the celebration of the first fruits of those who would come to believe and receive Jesus as their Savior and be filled with the Holy Spirit. On that day 3000 were added to the church. Today for the Christian church, Pentecost is the celebration of the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit being given on all those who will believe. To this day it is the Holy Spirit that is working in and through the lives of those who will accept Christ as their Savior. There are more Holy Spirit filled believers on the earth today than at any time in Christian history. |
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