The Passion of the Christ & Same-Sex Marriage

Fred R. Coulter—March 28, 2004

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Delores and I went to see the movie, The Passion of the Christ, and it was pretty packed for a 1 o'clock matinee. Since Mel Gibson is a Catholic, I took my little notepad and I was going to note all the Catholicism that came up in it. I had received many reports from different people, even those condemning it, who vowed not even to see it. If you see it 'you're watching an idol' and God says don't make an idol. I didn't see anyone bow down in the theater and worship the screen. And to whom an idol is nothing, it is nothing! And if you're going to portray something in a movie, then you have to have live, living figures.

The way it opened was Isaiah 53, that 'He was bruised for our sins and our iniquities and it pleased God to lay upon Him the iniquity of us all.' That was the way it started—just read it. Then it opens up in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is praying. I thought Mel Gibson did an excellent job with the whole movie. On a scale of ten you'd have to give it an 8-1/2 to 9, maybe 9-plus. He did stick very close to the Gospels. Of course, whenever you stick close to the Gospels, Truth is truth because it comes from God. It doesn't matter who puts it out, because even God says that if the 'false prophets would speak His words and make His people stand by His words,' that He would acknowledge that.

Jesus is praying, and as He's praying it shows Him in the agony, all of this sort of thing. Then all of a sudden appears Satan. Even though the Scriptures don't say that he appeared, when you go back to Psa. 22 about the crucifixion of Christ it says that 'bulls of Bashan and dogs have compassed Me.' That's referring to the demons.

I thought Gibson had accomplished something very profound right at the beginning with the image of Satan—which is a woman by the way, and some people say it has a man's voice; Delores says it has a lower woman's voice—needless to say there's a maggot hanging out of one of the nostrils. Satan is saying that these people aren't worth it and 'no man can take upon himself the sins of the whole world. Why would You do this? Why would You go through it?'

When Satan is done—you probably saw this if you watched some of the reviews on television—a serpent comes out from underneath Satan's garment and while Jesus is praying He's on His hands and knees with His hands down on the ground and His face touching the ground, and the serpent comes up on His wrist. Then Jesus stands up and He stomps the serpent on the head and kills it. What he's in effect saying is, this whole movie is about the sins which began with Adam and Eve. The prophecy back there in Gen. 3:15 that the Seed of Eve would 'bruise the head' of the serpent and the serpent would 'bruise His heel.'

I'd have to say the long hair was not a detraction because the one who played Jesus, Jim Caviezel—who is half Jew by the way—is very masculine. He went to the University of Washington and played football. He was very masculine, quite strong looking and so forth. From that point on everything stuck pretty much with the Scriptures. As you go through it—and I would recommend if you want to see it, go see it, you will get a lot out of it—there were only just a few places where you could really say it was Catholic. But even there, it was way, way toned down, because all the focus was on Christ, even though Mary, His mother, was close at hand in many different things. She was in the background.

I would have to say this, Mel Gibson did a very good job in casting for Mary—who was half Jew by the way, from Romania—very plain, very simple, not ugly, but not beautiful. I thought everything was done in good taste that way. It shows the supportiveness of Mary and not the superior position that the Catholic Church puts her in. So, he did stick to the Scriptures there. In the different things that took place, I thought the only place where you could say it was truly Catholic was where Peter, when he repented and was weeping, Mary was there in the crowd and he came up to her and got on his knees and said, 'Forgive me, mother.' That was about the only one that I would say that would be truly Catholic—but it wasn't out of hand.

A lot of the critics have said, 'It doesn't say that Jesus fell down three times with the cross.' Well, it doesn't say He didn't, either. There were places where He stopped, he talked to the women who were saying, 'Blessed are You,' and He said, 'You'd better worry about yourself and your children and not about Me.'

I'll just have to reflect on one comment by a fellow named Christopher Hitchens, who writes for Vanity Fair. It was very interesting, he said that in order to give his critique of it, he read the four Gospels. And Delores brought this up, which I think is very profound and very important, why does this movie have such notoriety and conflict? When you go through it and you see it—and many people have experienced it—it is something that you experience. It's not a movie that you watch intellectually. It is something that goes through you, because of what was done.

It takes away everybody's excuse! It takes away the excuse from the Catholics, from the Protestants, from the Churches of God. All of the social Churches of God better listen up and pay attention and realize what Christ has done. It also takes away the excuse of the Jews, even though they're vociferously protesting it. A lot of things were accomplished in it, which I'm sure were well past what Mel Gibson ever had in mind or figured. There are some things which are taken from some tradition by a nun and someone else on a couple of things, but it did not take away from the movie. All the flashbacks had a purpose in it, and they were good.

The long hair was not a problem because it was either covered with blood, or sweat and blood, so it was all up close to the head anyway. The scenes where it flashed back and showed where He was at the last Passover and then the Sermon on the Mount, He was very masculine looking and the long hair was not a problem. Actually, I think Mel Gibson was going against traditional Catholicism: Mary was not beautiful and Jesus was masculine.

The other night they had Ben Hur on, so we were watching Ben Hur, and in Ben Hur's edition of it they had people more well-dressed, which was probably more the way that it should have been than they were in The Passion, but that's neither here nor there. Jesus in Ben Hur had a crown of thorns and a little bit of blood dripping down and that was it.

The subscripts were easy to read. It was in Aramaic and old Latin, and I was surprised that I was able to pick up quite a few words from the Aramaic and more from the Latin than I figured. Everyone ought to be able to pick this up—'idioto'—stupid! The truth is they probably spoke Greek more than Aramaic. It took an awful lot of work to do the makeup. They started at two in the morning so he could get on the set by ten. When they were doing the crucifixion scene, it was in the winter in southern Italy and the temperatures got down to about 400 with 30 mph winds, so you really had wind-chill.

I heard an interview with Jim Caviezel and he said that everybody that was on the set that was not in the movie had gloves and parkas and here he was up on the cross with a loincloth and he was really cold and shivering and everything. He was struck with lightning while he was on the cross and there was someone else who was also struck with lightning. They didn't die. Also, he had his shoulder dislocated when he fell with the cross, so he was actually suffering some pain. The scene with scourging: this Christopher Hutchins said, 'The Bible just says that He was scourged; it wasn't anything like Mel Gibson had in the movie.' Well, the truth is, all you have to do is put the words He was scourged and everybody knew what that was. Just like it was depicted in the movie.

So, showing where he was beaten with rods and scourged was very profound and everyone is complaining about the violence and everything like that. Remember, Isaiah said that 'His visage was more marred than any man.' When people are scourged with a cat-o-nine-tail, it literally not only cuts the flesh open, it rips it off. It says in Psa. 22—the prophecy of Christ on the cross, that He could look down and see His bones. It literally ripped it off the ribcage. It was something! Everybody who complains about the scourging being too violent, it wasn't even half of what it really was.

Interesting sidelight on the scourging: They had on his back a wooden protection, made just like his back, colored just like his back, so when they beat him and scourged him, obviously they had to do it with the real scourges and the real rods—which they did—he wouldn't be hurt. One of the scourgers missed twice, and the second time it took 14 stitches to close it up. That's ONE—ONE WHIP! Everyone likes to sanitize it, but no one wants to take responsibility. Now they have no place to hide, because everyone who sees this has had a witness to the Truth. It's interesting how many people ran home and got their Bibles and looked it up in the Bible.

Let's answer the question: Who killed Christ? I think it starts out with—as Mel Gibson did—in the Garden of Eden with Satan and having Christ stomp on the head of the serpent after He was done praying really proved the point! Let's go to Colossians, the second chapter, and let's see about the crucifixion. What was nailed to the cross? Christ! Everyone—because all are sinners—had his or her part in killing Christ. Every human being from Adam clear on down to the last human being that will be.

Colossians 2:13: "For you, who were once dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has now made alive with Him, having forgiven all your trespasses…. [When Jesus on the cross said, 'Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.' That is also the beginning of forgiveness for everybody else who repents.] …He has blotted out the note of debt against us with the decrees of our sins… [That's what that verse means] …which was contrary to us… [Are not sins contrary to us? Yes!] …and He has taken it away, having nailed it to the cross…. [He represented sin, the sin of the whole world, which means the sin of all human beings.] …After stripping the principalities and the powers… [all the demons; that is Satan. Read Psa. 22, they were all compassing about Him.] …He made a public spectacle of them, and has triumphed over them in it" (vs 13-15)—meaning the crucifixion!

Right at the end [of the movie], Satan is pictured: it's one of these things that you start up close and then you go clear up into the universe. Only in this case, it's not the universe, it's total blackness where Satan is reduced to a screaming being and counted as nothing in the blackness of darkness. That was very affective. Here's the verse that did it. When you're focusing on the last 12 hours, you can't bring in great sections of other Scriptures and all of that. He had various and different flashbacks with it.

Isn't it interesting that John is the one who says Who Jesus was, John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Word was 'made flesh and tabernacled among us.' Yet, even some ministers in the Church of God say, 'Oh no, He was not God.' There's no place to hide anymore!

Let's see Who Jesus was, v 29: "On the next day, John sees Jesus coming to him, and he says, 'Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.'" So, who killed Christ? Every human being in the world, that's who killed Him! We know in Rev. 13:8 that it says that 'He was slain from the foundation of the world.' This tells us it was planned.

Now, let's see something else about it, 2-Corinthians 5:20—Paul is talking to whom? Gentiles! "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; and God, as it were, is exhorting you through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, 'Be reconciled to God.' For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (vs 20-21). That's why He did it. Who forced Him to do it?

John 10:14: "I am the good Shepherd, and I know those who are Mine, and am known of those who are Mine. Just as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" (vs 14-15). Mel Gibson had that in the movie. He didn't have this:

Verse 16: "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold…. [showing that it's going to go to the whole world, not only just to the Israelites] …I must bring those also, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd….. [How are they going to hear His voice? Through the written word!] …On account of this, the Father loves Me: because I lay down My life, that I may receive it back again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down and authority to receive it back again. This commandment I received from My Father" (vs 16-18). So, who killed Christ? All human beings!

What you need to do, if you haven't done it recently, get out The Christian Passover book and read the section in there about The Nature of God and The Nature of Man; Sacrifice of Christ and why He did what He did. The long and short of it: God is just! God lives by His own laws, because the laws He's given to human beings reflect His character. And since we are to become the sons of God, He has given us a Godly standard to live by.

Because of sin and giving within human beings the law of sin and death in order to justify all men—that was the sentence of Adam and Eve's sin, and remember it says that 'death passed on to all of those who did not sin after the similitude or after the likeness of Adam's sin. No one has sinned directly in the face of God like Adam and Eve! People need to understand that. He sentenced them to death because of what they did. All human beings from then on are subject to sin and death—correct?

So, what Christ did—which is very profound, very important—the Father sent Christ in the likeness of sin of flesh—that's literal Greek. Christ took upon Him the law of sin and death and lived a life without sinning. He took the same sentence that He gave to all human beings and took it upon Himself and then justified all who repent by His sacrifice. That's what we need to understand that happened before we start placing blame on who killed Christ.

One Pentecostal minister made a big deal of this, and I think that he wanted attention to himself. He did get attention to himself because he appeared on Fox News. He's a Pentecostal minister who doesn't believe in going to movies. What he did was put on his church sign: 'The Jews killed Christ (1-Thess. 2).'

I think Mel Gibson handled this very well. Who were those in Judea during Jesus' day? Jews and Romans! Who were involved in killing Christ? Jews and Romans! And I'll add one other thing: The Chinese were not there! Eskimos were not there! The Jews then conspired to kill Christ, but remember, God offered them repentance first beginning on the Day of Pentecost.

1-Thessalonians 2:14: "For, brethren, you became imitators of the Churches of God in Judea which are in Christ Jesus; because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they also suffered from the Jews." Now, what are you going to do with Jews killing Jews because they believe in Christ? How are you going to handle that? Like I said, no one can hide any longer; the comfort zone has been removed. Atheists can't hide; Protestants can't hide; Catholics can't hide; Orthodox can't hide; Jews cannot hide. It's out there in the middle of the whole world as never before. That's got to be something beyond human endeavors.

Verse 15: "Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove you out… [They didn't want the Thessalonians to know the Truth. When Paul came and preached in the synagogue, what did they do? They drove them out! What is the whole purpose and the agenda of the Jewish community today? To kill the story of Christ! Now they cannot!] …and do not please God, and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved in order to fill up their sins always. But the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost" (vs 15-16). We'll see how it came upon them to the uttermost in just a minute.

We need to understand the things that are going on. All human beings had their part in killing Christ. God prophesied that the Messiah would come through them; that it would be of the tribe of Judah, the house of David. Therefore, it couldn't come through Ishmael—it had to come through the Jews. No denying the fact.

Here on the first sermon given, Peter stands up and he says, Acts 2:21: "And it shall come to pass that everyone… [including those Jews who were there condemning Christ on the Passover Day] …who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." So, right after the Jews killed Jesus Christ—which they did with the assistance of the Romans—God opened the way for forgiveness immediately for those people who had their first hands in it. How fair can you be? How merciful and kind can you be? God gave them many chances!

Verse 22: "Men, Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarean, a man sent forth to you by God, as demonstrated by works of power and wonders and signs, which God performed by Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; Him, having been delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God… [God delivered Him up!] …you have seized by lawless hands and have crucified and killed. But…" (vs 22-24). What Peter is saying here is very important.

• in spite of all this
• in spite of the fact that you killed Him
• in spite of the fact that you have this sin on you

"…God has raised Him up, having loosed the throes of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it" (v 24).

Verse 36: "Therefore, let all the house of Israel… [Of course, He's to take away the sin of the world] …know with full assurance that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' Now, after hearing this, they were cut to the heart; and they said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (vs 36-38).

Who are those who would receive it if they repented? The very ones who stood there in the crowd and said, 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him!' They were the ones. The very first ones offered. That is missed by a lot of people. If anyone stands up and says 'The Jews did it! They killed God alone, they are guilty.' NO! They were only the instrumentality in the plan of God to do it, and they represented before God all of humanity.

In reference to Judas Iscariot about the 'Son of man' must be lifted up, but woe to the man who betrays Him.' Even though it is destined to happen, there still has to be punishment for sin. Let's come to this famous verse that no one wants to read that was left in Aramaic, but the English subtitle was taken out, Matt. 27:24. I think that Pilate was portrayed just about right.

Matthew 27:20: "But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to demand Barabbas… [and I liked the caricature of Barabbas. Some complained that he looked too evil and toothless, but I thought it showed how human nature will choose the basest of things and men over God. They did a good job with that.] …and to destroy Jesus. Then the governor answered and said to them, 'Which of the two do you desire that I release to you?' And they said, 'Barabbas.' Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus Who is called Christ?' They all said to him, 'Let Him be crucified!'" (vs 20-22). It was the whole of the people there.

Let's understand something: The whole of the people that were there at that time were not all the Jews that lived in Judea. Had nothing to do with the Jews who were in Diaspora. They represented all the Jews and the evil of human nature of every human being.

Verse 23: "And the governor said, 'Why? What evil did He commit?' But they shouted all the more, saying, 'Let Him be crucified!'…. [that means repeated] …Now Pilate, seeing that he was accomplishing nothing, but that a riot was developing instead, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, 'I am guiltless of the blood of this righteous man. You see to it.' And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children'" (vs 23-25).

When you say something to God, He'll take you up on it. Instead of repenting, the Jews developed such anti-Christian polemics and defamation—if you don't believe that, read any of their Talmuds and any of their Kabalas and you will see their reaction to Christ. God has taken them up on this. Remember, anytime a Jew anywhere—as well as a Gentile anywhere—repents of sin, this will be lifted from them. Who sentenced them? They did! God only took them up on their request.

If anybody is getting all sensitive with this, I've got at home a Jewish publication: The Christian Jew. I save it for this very reason, because a Jew wrote to other Jews—not Christian Jews—saying that 'we are suffering because our ancestors said, 'Let His blood be on us and on our children.' He says you can come out from underneath that if you repent.

Since these represent all people, what is this also saying? The blood of Christ is upon all people until the time that they repent! Is that not true? What is it that forgives your sins? The blood of Christ! If you don't have your sins forgiven and you don't repent, what is on you? The blood of Christ!

Paul is talking about the Jews, and the Jews have always said, 'We're superior. We are the chosen people,' etc., etc., etc. But Paul levels the playing field here. Romans 3:9: "What then? Are we of ourselves better? Not at all! For we have already charged both Jews and Gentiles—ALL—with being under sin…. [Which means they ALL are guilty of the blood of Christ until they repent—correct? Have to be!] …Exactly as it is written: 'For there is not a righteous one—not even one!'" (vs 9-10). Then he lists all the things about human nature.

Verse 19: "Now then, we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law… [meaning every human being is under the condemnation of the penalty of the law] …so that every mouth… [Does that exclude anybody? No!] …may be stopped, and all the world… [Is that just against Jews? No!] …may become guilty before God."

Verse 23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God… [ALL—every human being. That's why I thought it was very fitting in the opening of the movie of The Passion where Christ stands up and stomps on the head of the serpent, showing that this goes clear back to Adam and Eve.] (but here's what God is willing to do): …but are being justified freely… [upon repentance] …by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God has openly manifested to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, in respect to the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; yes, to publicly declare His righteousness in the present time…" (vs 23-26).

Now we have another public declaration around the world of an unheard of magnitude. Interesting, we'll see where this goes. We'll see what happens with this.

"…that He might be just, and the one Who justifies the one who is of the faith of Jesus. Therefore, where is boasting?…. [Can the Jews boast? Nope! Can the Gentiles boast? Nope!] …It is excluded. Through what law? The law of works? By no means! Rather, it is through a law of faith" (vs 26-27). That law of faith is what?

• Believe!
• Repent!
• Be baptized!
• And you'll receive the forgiveness and the remission of sins!
• And the gift of the Holy Spirit besides!

Quite something—isn't it?

Verse 29: "Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? YES! He is also God of the Gentiles, since it is indeed one God Who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Are we, then, abolishing law through faith? MAY IT NEVER BE! Rather, we are establishing law" (vs 29-31).

How is that established? You have your sins forgiven, you receive the Holy Spirit of God and now the laws and commandments of God are being written in your heart and your mind—in your inward parts—and you become converted and grow in grace and knowledge!

Once you get past all of the things that human beings look to, and all the controversy pro and con concerning the movie, and you understand the Truth, there's a whole lot more to it than meets the eye.

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I want to cover a couple of things before we get to the cultural wars or same-sex marriage. During the movie there were different flashbacks. Some people have had criticisms of the flashbacks—especially the one where Jesus fell with the cross there was a flashback to when Jesus fell as a young boy and Mary went to try and help Him and all that sort of thing. I think all the flashbacks—if you see the movie—are timed just about right to relieve the intensity of what was going on. The comment was made that on History Channel so many terrible things have been on there concerning Christ and the Bible. I would have to say this undoes an awful lot of that.

One thing they always say, 'Well, this was written many years after.' That's why the commentary in the New Testament shows it was written immediately, not many years after. Then the question comes up about the Holocaust. The Jews get all offended when someone says that 29-million Russians were killed; 12-million Germans were killed—as if those deaths are not on the same scale as the death of the Jews who died in the Holocaust. For someone to say that 6-million didn't die, they get all bent out of shape. Well, it's time to quit hiding behind the Holocaust, understand history, understand the Truth and to accept the repentance and forgiveness that Jesus extended from the time that He expired His last breath. That's what needs to be done.

All human works and religions and self-righteousnesses are all going to come to an end! I can understand one point of the Jews, which is this: Catholicism cannot be a religion from God in its practices and idols and Sunday-keeping and holidays; that they are true. However, there are many, many Christian Jewish groups who keep the Holy Days, the Sabbath and there are many what you would call 'Gentile Christian Sabbath-keeping groups'—which we would be referred to—who keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days and things like this.

Let's just see where all of this falls. Let's see what happens with it. Never before in the history since Christ died has there ever been this much notoriety about Jesus Christ, the crucifixion and what happened and so forth. It's going to have a profound affect down the road.

Comment from a newspaper: There's a woman who said she's read the Gospels over and over again, but she didn't realize what it was like until she saw the movie. For all who are horrified at the violence there, please understand it was far worse than what was depicted. The audience when we attended was very quiet, very still, no noise. I'm sure there were people who were crying, but no sobbing. When we left the movie nobody said a word. One man started talking and everybody looked at him and he shut-up right away. Everybody was profoundly moved by seeing the movie because they experience it, and you would have to say that that's probably the closest that people will come to experiencing what those who saw the crucifixion, or who have seen crucifixions, experienced back then. It's going to have an everlasting affect in this generation.

I also find very interesting that they're also talking about cultural wars in this society. You've got The Passion of the Christ—in spite of all the efforts of all of those who didn't want it to be shown—was shown on more movie screens than people have ever imagine that it would be. They were hoping to try and restrict it and make it a bust and condemn it because it wasn't successful. That didn't work. Now, all of those who said that Mel Gibson will never work again—unnamed sources—are coming back and saying, 'This is making a lot of money, let us in on the action.' There was a lot back-peddling and that's what they meant.

Quite a few things have been coming down now and I mention about Judge Moore and his stand. I mention about some others and so forth. It's very fitting and appropriate because I mention the cultural wars. You look at what's coming down at the same time: You have

• The Passion of Christ
• the Judge Moore situation
• all of the Catholic Church now admitting to—I would say to the tip of the iceberg—all of their sexual crimes, sins and pedophilia and so forth.
• the media taking a hit
• the worst devastating thing happening to the Democrat Party—same sex marriage!

Let's talk about that, because I think when juxtaposition all of these things together, you can see not only is there a cultural war, not only are these things happening, but there's a reason that they are done. What this is going to do is it's going to do something that we, as human beings, cannot do. That is we as human beings in the Church of God cannot do. God can do it. He's setting the table in this society for whatever He's going to do.

It says there in Rev. 3, the Church at Philadelphia, 'I open doors, I shut doors, no man can open it, no man can close it.' Then He commends those who faithfully and patiently keep the Word of God. However all of this going to come together we don't know.

Let's look at something here concerning same-sex marriages. First of all, what is marriage? Marriage is a God-created relationship between a man and a woman for the very purpose oflove and bringing forth children into the world, to have the blessing of reproducing themselves after their kind and their likeness. God is going to increase His plan through conversion, etc., and according to the way that He is going to do it.

Who established marriage that it is between man and woman? God did! That is higher than any law of the land; that is higher than any church in the land. That is the Creator God Who made us, established it and that's the way that it is, and He did it for our good and our blessing and for His plan to eventually bring billions and billions of spiritual sons and daughters into the Kingdom of God.

Right here in the very beginning, there was not a mate for Adam, so here's what God did. In Gen. 1 it says that God created us male and female in His image.

Genesis 2:20: "And Adam gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field, but there was not found a helper compatible for Adam. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall over Adam, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs, and afterward closed up the flesh underneath. Then the LORD God made the rib (which He had taken out of the man) into a woman, and He brought her to the man" (vs 20-22).

This ought to solve the problem of women's lib. God did not take another lump of clay and make a woman. What has women's lib done for us? God did not expect men to be brute beasts toward their wives! But not all men down through history have been brute beasts toward their wives.

I had a woman call me at the office the other day and she said, 'I don't know what these women are up to, because they can't understand that every time women take over the society falls apart.' What's happening today?

Verse 23: "And Adam said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.' For this reason [God says] shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife—and they shall become one flesh" (vs 23-24). That's what God has created and decreed. Anything other than that is sin! Plain and simple!

The Pharisees came and said, 'Can you have divorce for any cause,' and even some people in the Church still ask the same question. Read what Jesus said! Matthew 19:4: "But He answered them, saying, 'Have you not read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh"? So then, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate'" (vs 4-6).

To protect the institution of marriage, God gave a specific command. We know the account of the sinfulness of the world that 'every man's imagination was only evil continually' and violence 'filled the earth.' We are told that as it was 'in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of man.' Therefore, you are seeing all of these things, and you can be guaranteed for sure, absolutely on the Word of God, that back then they were doing exactly the same thing as they're doing today—and probably even worse!

Let's come to the commandment that God gave to protect the family, first of all the fifth commandment, Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother… [It doesn't say honor your step-father and his live-in lover; or her live-in lover. It's an absolute contradiction for same-sex to be married! It is total stupidity, it is completely against God, and is thumbing licentiousness and lawlessness not only to the society but also to God! They are tempting God to execute His judgment against them.] …so that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery" (vs 12-14).

Under that thing of committing adultery comes all of the other laws which give the prohibition against unlawful sexual activity. God created us as sexual beings. God gave us all the feelings and everything that there are

• for sex
• for love
• for pro-creation
• for building and bonding a marriage so that they become one flesh

Let's look at some of the other Scriptures which prohibit the things beyond that. Some of the things I'm going to read here, some people are going to get very angry if they come on the website and hear this sermon. I say to you: too bad! The Word of God is the Word of God, and I have the right to read it, and I have the right to preach it, and I have the right to uphold the laws of God, and I have the right given by the Word of God to condemn all sin and licentiousness that is against God which

• destroys people
• destroys their minds
• destroys their lives

You show me one case of venereal disease between a husband and wife who have remained faithful their whole lives and then I'll throw away the Bible. You can't do it because those diseases are a result of SIN! In spite of all the medicines and things that people are able to use today, it only delays the inevitable death sentence!

Leviticus 18:1: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, "I am the LORD your God. As they do in the land of Egypt where you dwelt, you shall not do. And you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Neither shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall do My judgments and keep My ordinances, and walk in them"'" (vs 1-4).

All the laws of God are good, spiritual and Holy. Whoever keeps them is blessed to the extent that they keep them. Whoever breaks them is cursed to the extent that they break them. A living law, all the laws of God are

• living and active
• all the time
• everywhere
• in every society
• in every generation

from the beginning of Adam until the end of the earth! God is God and God is a living God! His Word is 'sharper than a two-edged sword.' If it cuts a little deep and you don't like it, then God requires you to repent. Let's read what He says:

"I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am the LORD…. [then He lists all the things]: …None of you shall approach to any who are near of kin to him to uncover their nakedness…. [to engage in sexual activity] …I am the LORD" (vs 5-6).

•  "…of your father or the nakedness of your mother…." (v 7)
• "…of your father's wife…." (v 8)
• "…of your sister, the daughter… (v 9)
• "…of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter…" (v 10)
• "…of the daughter of your father's wife…." (v 11).
• "…of your father's sister [your aunt]. She is your father's near kinswoman" (v 12)

and all the way down including all the rest of the sexually prohibited activities. Why? Because these activities destroy the heart, the mind, love and understanding! There is no such thing as a private act behind closed doors—which is sin—that does not affect the society. Have not all of the sins of the homosexuals affected our society? YES! Not only through their perversion, but also through all the cost of the medical things because of their sins and their diseases and their uncleannesses which they have! There is no way that anyone can deny it, and God said you shall not do it!

Verse 22: "You shall not… [the homosexuals do not like this]: …lie with mankind as with womankind. It is an abomination to God." That's what God says! A lot of people don't like that, because 'we have fun and we love each other.' You can put in there a woman should not lay with a woman as with mankind. It is an abomination! All of these same-sex marriages that are taking place today are an abomination before God! And every one that takes place is just building up the judgment of God and the wrath of God against the society that will do it and will allow it. That's exactly what's happening.

Verse 23: "And you shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. And a woman shall not stand before an animal to lie down to it. It is a perversion. Do not defile yourselves in any of these things… [Every one of these things that are listed here in Lev. 18 are defilement against your mind, your heart, your body, society and God!] …for in all these the nations which I cast out before you are defiled" (vs 23-24). Why are nations rooted out? Because of God's judgment!

Verse 25: "And the land is defiled. Therefore I visit its wickedness against it, and the land itself vomits out those who live in it. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, neither the native, nor any stranger that lives among you; for the men of the land who were before you have done all these abominations, and the land is defiled. You shall not do these so that the land may not spew you out also when you defile it, as it spewed out the nations that were before you; for whoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls who commit them shall be cut off from among their people" (vs 25-29).

That's the judgment of God! Please understand this: The judgment of God is on everyone all the time everywhere in the world! All are under law! All are under sin! The freedom that God gives us is the freedom from sin through repentance and obedience. There are two kinds of freedom:

• God's freedom for love, law-abiding
• Satan's freedom of lawlessness and hatred and vitriolics against God!

Those are the two ways. We are in a cultural war that is almost unreal! All of this stems from this philosophy, which was espoused by Aldous Huxley—he and his brothers were founders of the United Nations. He put out this philosophy of meaningless for his reasons and motives for the denial of special creation and his rejection of God's rule in his life:

I had motives for not wanting the world to have a meaning. Consequently, I assumed that it had none and was able without difficulty to find satisfying reasons for this assumption…. For myself, as no doubt for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation….

That's exactly what's going on today. All of these same-sex marriages are instruments of the philosophy of meaninglessness, so we can choose what we want to do, and be as lawless as we want to be—and everybody 'stick it in your ear.'

…from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom; we objected to the political and economic system because it was unjust…. There was one admirably simple method of…justifying ourselves in our politically erotic revolt.

That's exactly what's going on today!

We could deny that the world had any meaning whatsoever. Similar tactics had been adopted during the 18th century and for the same reasons…. The chief reason for being 'philosophical' was that one might be free from prejudices—above all, prejudices of a sexual nature. It was the manifestly poisonous nature of the fruits… [the commandments of God] …that forced me to reconsider the philosophical tree on which they had grown (Aldous Huxley, Ends and Means, [ 312, 315, 316, 318).

So, he did just like Adam and Eve and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Those who try to do good and keep the laws of God are called immoral. I tell you what, God has set before this country a choice that has never been thrown down in the gauntlet that it has.

I tell you one thing, that if the Democrats get in it is going to be such a corrupt perversion like nothing we have ever seen, and the punishment will be terrorist attacks and destruction of America on our own soil! It doesn't matter if they're in the Church or know God or not, they better stand up for Truth or the beginning of the end has started. That's my opinion, because it's not going to stop! Let me just say this: God has given a clear choice. Not that Bush is a saint or that the Republicans are saints, but God has thrown the judgment down on who is going to stand for even the Truth that you know and understand.

Proverbs 5:1: "My son, attend to my wisdom; bow your ear to my understanding; that you may keep discretion, and that your lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a wanton woman… [or a strange man, as well] …drip as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but her end is as bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword" (vs 1-4). If any doctor would be honest about it, they will tell you that 50% of American young people are destined to have sexually transmitted diseases. Those who die of AIDS and various of the other 60 sexually transmitted diseases live miserable and horrible and panic-filled, desperate lives, because they are reaping the penalty that God has put there to automatically happen. There are 32-million American women hooked on pornography online! To say nothing of how many men! God has thrown down the gauntlet and the challenge and there better be a whole lot of people listening to it!

Verse 5: "Her feet go down to death… [Same-sex marriage is death!] …her steps take hold on the grave. She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable—you cannot know them…. [There are all these deceptions here so that people get deceived and won't find the Truth and do it.] …Now therefore, hear me, O you children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Remove your ways far from her [or him], and do not come near the door of her [or his] house, lest you give your honor unto others and your years unto the cruel; lest strangers be filled with your wealth, and your labors be in the house of a stranger; and you moan when your end comes, when your flesh and your body are consumed" (vs 5-11). And doctors and medicine no longer help. You rot and stink and die in your sins!

Verse 12: "And say, 'How I hated instruction, and my heart despised correction; and I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ears to those who taught me!'" (vs 12-13).

Proverbs 6:23—on the other hand: "For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." God has set before you life and death; good and evil. He commands you to choose life that you may live. If you choose evil, you will suffer the penalties. If you choose evil and do not repent, it will be even worse. God guarantees it, because God will not be mocked by anybody!

Verse 24: "To keep you from the evil woman [or man], from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman [or man]. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart; nor let her seduce you with her eyelids, for by means of a harlot [or a man] a man [or woman] is vanquished to a piece of bread; and the adulteress [or adulterer] will hunt for the precious life" (vs 24-26). That's what they do with all this sex-education in school. The homosexuals are creating new young flesh for their way of death so they will always have sex-partners.

Verse 27: "Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife… [or any other woman, or any other man] …whoever touches her shall not be innocent" (vs 27-29).
Verse 32: "But whoever commits adultery with a woman… [or with a man; a perversion or homosexuality] …lacks understanding… [and they're touted in the world as being wise—we'll see what that wisdom does to society] …he who does it destroys his own soul. He shall get a wound and dishonor; and his shame shall not be wiped away" (vs 32-33).

Now, let's see what this does to the society; Romans 1. This is not the first time there were cultural wars. But all through history, whenever homosexuals have gotten the upper hand, in any society, it is doomed because of God's judgment. In western civilization—and in particularly America—it stands at the door! God says that what they do today is call 'evil' good and 'good' evil. (Isa. 5). They cast the law of God behind them and then try and proclaim God's blessing upon themselves. Never happen!

Here's what happens to a society, and here's where we are right now, and you can see the progression of this, Romans 1:18: "Indeed, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the Truth in unrighteousness… [and that's why The Passion of the Christ is such an important thing in this cultural war. They weren't able to suppress it!] …because that which may be known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them; for the invisible things of Him are perceived from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made—both His eternal power and Godhead—so that they are without excuse" (vs 18-20).

They have no excuse! How many Bibles are there? Anyone can step out and see the sun, the moon, the stars. Anybody can now go online and look up NASA Hubble telescope and see the wonders that God has created so that they can be humbled and convicted in heart and mind that God is great!

Verse 21: "Because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but they became vain in their own reasonings… [All you have to do is just watch the news and listen to the vain reasonings!] …and their foolish hearts were darkened…. [They lose understanding! It perverts the mind! It perverts the thinking!] …While professing themselves to be the wise ones… [and liberated] …they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things. For this cause… [God acts and brings His judgment with cause!] …God also abandoned them…" (vs 21-24).

Here's the state of homosexuals today and homosexual marriages, v 24: "God also abandoned them to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to disgrace their own bodies between themselves." And if people really knew or understood the depths of depravity of homosexual behavior of male and female, bestiality behavior—male and female—it is an absolute vomit-turning abomination! All of these simple-minded do-gooders who think: 'Oh, it's all the same. They love each other. It's fine' are nothing but empty airheads who know nothing!

Verse 25: "Who exchanged the Truth of God for the lie… [They throw out the Bible!] …and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the one Who is Creator, Who is blessed into the ages. Amen." What do they worship and serve more than anything else? The lust and passions of the human body and perverted sex! They don't worship God!

Verse 26: "For this cause… [here's the second cause] …God abandoned them… [Yet, what happens? This society exalts them!] …to disgraceful passions; for even their women changed the natural use of sex into that which is contrary to nature; and in the same manner also the men, having left the natural use of sex with the woman, were inflamed in their lustful passions toward one another—men with men shamelessly committing lewd acts, and receiving back within themselves a fitting penalty for their error. And in exact proportion as they did not consent to have God in their knowledge, God abandoned them to a reprobate mind [void of judgment; a perverted mind]…" (vs 26-28). When you hear some of these people speak on the news and justify their sin and abominable, unclean, wretched behavior, know that you are listening to a reprobate mind!

"…to practice those things that are immoral; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, guile, evil dispositions; whisperers, slanderers, God-haters…" (vs 28-30). That's what we are up against today, and that's what the cultural war is all about. All of those who profess to know God, who take the name of Christ, take the name of God and go out and keep Sunday and Christmas and Easter and all of these things, you are religious hypocrites when you come back and try and take the laws of God and say that you're doing the will of God when you reject Him!

And for that very cause those who are self-righteous in this society also need to repent of their self-righteousness and their wickedness and things, because the lawless grace of Protestantism and the indulgences of Catholicism have laid the groundwork and paved the way for where we are today! And make no doubt about that.

"…insolent, proud… [as they stroll down the stairs of San Francisco's City Hall.] …boasters, inventors of evil things and practices; disobedient to parents, void of understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable and unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only practice these things themselves, but also approve of those who commit them" (vs 30-32). That's where we are in this society!

I know that even in the Church of God there are going to be some people upset at what I'm saying. I'm too harsh, too intolerant, to reactionary! Let me just say one thing: There's going to come a day when everyone is going to stand before God! Let's see what's going to happen—all of those who hate God, all of those in this society are going to have to bow the knee to Christ one day. All of those in the Church of God who are soft and comfortable who treat the Truth of God as a social club, your day has arrived! Your time has come!

Whether you're a Catholic or Protestant or Church of God, you'd better stop and think! You'd better do like a lot of these news commentators, in order to give their opinion concerning the movie The Passion of the Christ they had to go read the Gospels. Well, maybe you'd better do the same thing. Get out your Bible and read it!

I'm very happy and thankful that, at this juncture, that we are able to produce this Bible—The Holy Bible in Its Original Order—to help and serve people. That's what it's for. It's not for self. It's not for aggrandizement anymore than anything that the apostles and those who served Christ down through the ages served themselves. NO!

• This is done so that you may hear!
• This is done so that you may repent!
• This is done so that you may come to God!

God says that He will forgive. Just like we saw earlier, the very first ones He forgave were the ones who killed Him! But they didn't want to take that forgiveness, so God had to judge them.

• What will God's judgment be upon us?
• Upon you?

We are in a desperate battle for Truth!

Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version by Fred. R. Coulter

Scriptural References:

• Colossians 2:12-15
• John 1:1, 29
• 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
• John 10:14-16
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
• Acts 2:21-24, 36-38
• Matthew 27:20-25
• Romans 3:9-10, 19, 23-27, 29-31
• Genesis 2:20-24
• Matthew 19:4-6
• Exodus 20:12-14
• Leviticus 18:1-12, 22-29
• Proverbs 5:1-13
• Proverbs 6:23-29, 32-33
• Romans 1:18-32

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Isaiah 53
• Psalm 22
• Genesis 3:15
• Revelation 13:8; 3
• Genesis 1
• Isaiah 5

Also referenced: Books

• The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter
• The Christian Jew (no author cited)

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7-22-11