The Day of Atonement is a day of remembering that God forgave the Hebrews of the sin of making and worshipping the Golden-Calf in the wilderness. Just 40 days before they heard the commandment about not having any graven images and then when they thought Moses had died they made an idol. Moses then begged God for the forgiveness of the Hebrews and God granted forgiveness on Tishri 9. On one hand it is a solemn day but it is also a joyous day as people are confident that God will forgive sins. It is also the time to plan for the year ahead, looking towards the future and the changes one may need to make to become better. This day it is believed that your name is written in the book of life, and the gates of heaven are open with you on the inside. For the Christian it is a good time to connect with God. The Jews fast from sundown to sundown, as a way of suffering and humbling before God. We can do the same. If you are a Charismatic Christian you might spend time in your prayer closet, before the altar of God. If you are a Catholic you might go to confession and proceed with the prayers recommended by the Priest. Whatever way you come before God in worship, after confessing your sins from Rosh Hashanah, during the 10 Days of Awe, to the day of Yom Kippur that is what you would do to connect to God. I know that some people would play the grace card in an effort to abstain from traditions and that is fine. It is not a law for Christians, however having a clean heart before God is not a bad thing and just in case we get high minded regarding ourselves let’s look at what Paul tells us about the Kingdom of God.
When Paul writes to the Galatians he lists some things that, if done, will keep one from inheriting the kingdom of God. Galatia was in Asia Minor, where Turkey is today. Their culture was different from that of the Jews. They had not been following Levitical Law as a nation, so therefore these ideas were new to them, and needed to be mentioned. This was probably the first time they were told that their actions were wrong and that there were penalties for behaving in this way.
Gal 5:14-21 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.KJV
Here are the definitions of verses 19-21; take note that the words adultery and the word murders do not appear in the Greek text, but were added to this list. You can draw your own conclusions using the definitions and further research these words. Paul says the Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another and those that do the works of the flesh do not inherit the kingdom of God.
Fornication NT:4202 porneia (por-ni'-ah); from NT:4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry: KJV - fornication.
Uncleanness NT:167 akatharsia (ak-ath-ar-see'-ah); from NT:169; impurity (the quality), physically or morally: KJV - uncleanness.
Lasciviousness NT:766 aselgeia (as-elg'-i-a); from a compound of NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); licentiousness (sometimes including other vices): KJV - filthy, lasciviousness, wantonness.
Idolatry NT:1495 eidololatreia (i-do-lol-at-ri'-ah); from NT:1497 and NT:2999; image-worship (literally or figuratively): KJV - idolatry.
Witchcraft NT:5331 pharmakeia (far-mak-i'-ah); from NT:5332; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively): KJV - sorcery, witchcraft.
Hatred NT:2189 echthra (ekh'-thrah); feminine of NT:2190; hostility; by implication, a reason for opposition: KJV - enmity, hatred.
Variance NT:2054 eris (er'-is); of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling: KJV - contention, debate, strife, variance.
Emulation NT:2205 zelos (dzay'-los); from NT:2204; properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively, of God], or an enemy, malice): KJV - emulation, envy (-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
Wrath NT:2372 thumos (thoo-mos'); from NT:2380; passion (as if breathing hard): KJV - fierceness, indignation, wrath. Compare NT:5590.
Strife NT:2052 eritheia (er-ith-i'-ah); perhaps as the same as NT:2042; properly, intrigue, i.e. (by implication) faction: KJV - contention (-ious), strife.
SeditionsNT:1370 dichostsis (dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah); from a derivative of NT:1364 and NT:4714; disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension:KJV - division, sedition.
Heresies NT:139 hairesis (hah'-ee-res-is); from NT:138; properly, a choice, i.e. (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion: KJV - heresy [which is the Greek word itself], sect.
Envyings NT:5355 phthonos (fthon'-os); probably akin to the base of NT:5351; ill-will (as detraction), i.e. jealousy (spite): KJV - envy.
Drunkenness NT:3178 methe (meth'-ay); apparently a primary word; an intoxicant, i.e. (by implication) intoxication: KJV - drunkenness.
Revellings NT:2970 komos (ko'-mos); from NT:2749; a carousal (as if letting loose): KJV - revelling, rioting.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Next we see that Paul scolds the people of Corinth because they bring their personal fights to the unbelievers in the courts to be judged. He says it would be better to be taken advantage of than to allow the heathen to judge these matters. Corinth was in Greece and the Greeks did not follow the Levitical Law as a nation either. These ideas are a little different compared to the list he gave to the Galatians. Because of the Greek culture we will see a theme here that Paul has to confront.
1 Cor 6:4-11 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.KJV
Fornicators NT:4205 pornos (por'-nos); from pernemi (to sell; akin to the base of NT:4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), i.e. (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): KJV - fornicator, whoremonger.
Idolaters NT:1496 eidololatres (i-do-lol-at'-race); from NT:1497 and the base of NT:3000; an image- servant or) worshipper (literally or figuratively):KJV - idolater.
Adulterer NT:3432 moichos (moy-khos'); perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively, apostate: KJV - adulterer.
Effeminate NT:3120 (mal-ak-os'); of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite: KJV - effeminate, soft. **Catamite young partner of a gay man, a boy kept by a man for sexual intercourse
Abusers of themselves with mankind NT:733 arsenokoites (ar-sen-ok-oy'-tace); from NT:730 and NT:2845; a sodomite: KJV - abuser of (that defileself) with mankind.
Thieves NT:2812 kleptes (klep'-tace); from NT:2813; a stealer (literally or figuratively): KJV - thief. Compare NT:3027.
Covetous NT:4123 pleonektes (pleh-on-ek'-tace); from NT:4119 and NT:2192; holding (desiring) more, i.e. eager for gain (avaricious, hence a defrauder):KJV - covetous.
Drunkards NT:3183methusos (meth'-oo-sos); from NT:3184; tipsy, i.e. (as noun) a sot: KJV - drunkard.
Revilers NT:3060 loidoros (loy'-dor-os); from loidos (mischief); abusive, i.e. a blackguard: KJV - railer, reviler.
Extortioners NT:727 harpax (har'-pax); from NT:726; rapacious: KJV - extortion, ravening.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Before we get the urge to wave our finger at others we have to look at this list from 30,000 miles up. Forty percent of Paul’s list is correcting sexual practices among the people. Paul says that that some of them were among those who did those things but now they are cleaned. The Greek society became dominantly Patriarchal. We looked at this, previously but I want to develop this point further. God intended balance between male and female. In a Patriarchal society men dominate everything from business, to church to home life to government. Eventually the Greeks thought of women to be lower than dogs. Today in some cultures that are highly patriarchal, spousal abuse, rape and pedophilia continue to increase and are hardly punished. We have seen in some countries today that the women who were raped are accused of the wrong doing. The problem with male domination is that once men who have high driving personalities have eliminated women as leaders in society, there is no one left to dominate but other men. Not all men want to dominate men sexually but some do. We see this today in many secret societies in the upper echelons of ruler ship, whether religion or business or government. The Greeks used young boys to fulfill their desires rather than women, hence the effeminate (catamite) as well as the abuser or sodomite. This is intentional homosexuality, people making the decision to live in this way.
We have a group of people that are not intentional in their actions. Hermaphrodites are born with both male and female reproductive organs. It is hard to say that God knit and formed us in our mother’s womb and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, but then we condemn people when they are not right physically. Jesus pointed out that some were born that way. Just as a person who is physically or mentally disabled, we have to understand that Hermaphrodites are loved by God. Something corrupted our genetics; it is not just sinners and unsaved people but everyone. How many good Christians have a disabled child? Are we to suppose that they must have sinned? Endocrinologists’ would explain that our hormones are complex and that they are not the same for all men or all women. How many people need some type of hormone replacement? And when male or female hormones get out of balance what happens then? Do you know any women with polycystic ovarian syndrome or any balding men or women? This means we are to walk in love towards everyone, not point fingers. Some people choose a homosexual lifestyle and some people are born without the correct combination of body parts. However the goal of each person is to deny ourselves and to die to ourselves. Everyone can be made clean. And God has a plan for their lives, we just haven’t taught them about it.
Matt 19:10-12 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. KJV
Isa 56:3-5 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.KJV
If some are born with mixed reproductive organs or some made that way (there are accidents in circumcisions as well as female genital mutilation) there is a great reward if they serve God celibate. That is impressive. In Levitical times eunuchs were not allowed to serve in the congregation because they were not whole.(Deut 23:1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.KJV) The same was true of the blind, lame, or someone with scabs; they were not allowed to serve in the priesthood. However Jesus says some want to become eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake, so that they can serve. We cannot help how our bodies formed in utero, or how they might have become, therefore how can we condemn those whose reproductive organs were not properly developed or who were made deformed. Solomon writes:
Wisdom 3:14-15 And blessed is the eunuch, which with his hands hath wrought no iniquity, nor imagined wicked things against God: for unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord more acceptable to his mind.15 For glorious is the fruit of good labours: and the root of wisdom shall never fall away.KJV
I am not speaking of those who choose homosexual practices without the physical issues as having great rewards, only those who are born or have become as such. Romans tells us that God gave people over to depravity when they denied him as creator, that is all of us. For two hundred years we have allowed the idea of evolution, from monkeys to man, to infiltrate our society and we have forgotten our creator. We are all to blame as we have allowed Darwinism into our schools as fact when we know there is only evolution within a species not from monkeys to man or apples to oranges. Here is something we need to think about. If someone who was born or became a eunuch or hermaphrodite has never heard about the rich rewards God gives to them if they live according to his plan, can we condemn them for living in homosexuality? We can’t ask people to drop their drawers, have an ultra sound and some blood tests before we decide if we can love them (agape). I think if the church was not homophobic we would simply love and help everyone, and if we had read what Jesus and Paul teach then we could explain that everyone can be washed clean. So what does one do that has both male and female reproductive organs? I don’t have an answer other then living as a eunuch. That is where the reward is. But I do know that God loves them as much as anyone else and it would seem that they have special rewards for the hardships of this life. If you know of someone in this type of situation, love them, hug them and show them that God has not forgotten them. They have a reward with God if they so choose.
Jesus and Paul both dealt with the idea of the disciples leaving their wives to be celibate so they could preach, but both Jesus and Paul said that that is not for everyone. Self control is the issue whether food or sex, controlling our bodies is the key.
1 Cor 7:6-9 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.KJV
Mark 10:13-15 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.KJV
With innocence of heart we are to receive the kingdom of God. The Day of Atonement is almost upon us. After reading over who does not enter the kingdom we can see if any of these negative things are in our lives and repent of them. We can also see if we have any hardness of heart towards others who may be living after the flesh. This is our chance to get it right with God. Have we thought evil of others when we have no knowledge as to how they might have been born? It is a hard question to face, but facing it before God, in humility is what Yom Kippur is for. After repenting we set our sights on the year ahead, changing our behaviors as needed. I’m pretty sure this topic has struck a nerve in everyone. That is because we have never really dealt with this issue in the church. Instead we have acted like the towns people in Frankenstein, with torches and pitchforks ready to attack the monster. Yet Jesus said some are born without the right body parts and some have become that way. This is not an excuse for abusive behavior; we are to die to self, every one of us. And when people don’t die to self they abuse themselves and sometimes others. It is revealing as to what is in our hearts, the hardness we may have and the opportunity to forgive, to be forgiven, and to get clean before God.
Peter tells us to be holy.
1 Peter 1:13-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.KJV
It must be possible if he tells us to do it. We can start in our minds. Paul tells us how.
2 Cor 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.KJV
This is how we look to the year ahead and make changes to our lives. Every day we cast down any thought that butts up against the knowledge of God. Then we make sure we don’t act on any thoughts that are against the knowledge of God. We get cleaned up on the inside and pursue a direct path to keep clean the entire year. Asceticism is a call to all of us with everything and not just for the really bad things; cookies can be as bad as anything else. Has this stirred up enough emotion to chuck the grace card for today and to make a valiant attempt at reconciling our hearts and lives to God? How about a year ahead of walking in agape? May your name be written in the Book of Life.
