Heterosexuality versus Homosexuality

Heterosexuality versus Homosexuality
God’s Design and Purpose in the Creation of Man and the Marital Union
by: Rebecca R. Brown

Humanity’s sexuality was designed by God. It is an intricate part of each human being. It will not be ignored, nor should it be. However, it should be understood in light of God’s purpose and design.
God is not haphazard in the things that He does. He acts with purpose and is meticulously detailed in His design, leaving nothing to chance. He never threw a bunch of stars or planets into the sky to see where they would go. He made certain things for specific purposes, to fulfill a plan which He had before He began the creation of our world. What He did do is utterly amazing. Our solar system is an incredible system created by an extraordinarily loving God, who saw to it that everything was in perfect order before there was life on planet Earth before He created man in His own image and placed him here to live in peace.
What is peace?
According to Webster's 1913 Dictionary, it is –
Peace =... to make an agreement …
A state of quiet or tranquility, freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; …

God’s divine plan for all things is for all to work in harmony – the absence of war for
1. mind and will
2. body and soul
3. physical body as opposed to sickness
4. man and life
5 family
6. man and God
7. God and man
The peace that God intended for His man would be for all things to function after His intended order or arrangement. Man has caused himself many discomforts and problems by not following God’s plan or obeying His voice. Consider how beautifully He set our world in order. Before man sinned against God, the atmosphere was perfect and the vegetation on earth did not even need rain in order to receive the moisture it needed to live and grow.

Genesis 2:5+6 … for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

mist - ( in the sense of enveloping); a fog:– mist, vapor (Strong’s Exhaustive Con.)
from - prop. a part of; hence (prep.) from out of in many senses … (Strong’s Exhaustive Con.)

One can imagine that with mist, or moisture coming up out of the earth, that the roots of the plants would receive moisture even before it was seen on the surface of the land. Today farmers depend on rain to fall from the sky and hope and pray there will be enough to soak down far enough into the earth to reach the roots so that the plants will be able to live and grow. Imagine what a difference there would be if all things worked according to the original design of Father God!
What of the creation of man? Would not man function best if he too functioned according to his maker’s original design and purpose?
Man was created to be the image of God; a reflection of Him. Scripture tells us that man is the glory of God.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
1 Cor. 11:7 – For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: …

So, in the beginning, God set out to create man in His own image; man who would be the glory of God.
But what is God like?
In what way is man His reflection?
The word ‘God’ in Genesis 1:26 is the word elohiym; el-o-heem.’ It is the plural of the word elowahh, which means ‘God.’ Elohiym then, shows the plurality of God.

Deut. 6:4 Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.

If we look at the original Hebrew words that these were translated from, we can better see the plurality of the one and only, true and living God. The word, 'Lord' comes from the word Yehovah, which originally was without vowels and was most sacred. It means – (the) self-Existent or Eternal: Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord. (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
The word ‘God’ here, is - the word Elohiym. (Strong’s)
The word ‘one’ is - echad; a numeral from achad, prop. united, that is, one; or (as an
ordinal) first …. (Strong’s)
Considering the meanings of the words in this verse, we might see it as saying - Hear O Israel, our self-Existent, plural God, is united (one), Yehovah.
While such a God may be hard to fathom, can you imagine what it would be like to create a reflection of this God? But He did so when He created man!

Genesis 1:27 So God created man (a human being [Strong’s]) in his own image, in the image of God (elohiym [plural]) created he him, male and female created he them.

Now go with me to look at how God did this.

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

First, God formed man out of the dust of the ground. Before He breathed into his nostrils, he was man! But he was a man without life. He was an amazing body consisting of everything he needed but with no life with which to activate or motivate him. Look at the awesomeness of the human body with a heart only slightly larger than a human fist that beats some 80,000 - 100,000 times a day and pumps about 2,000 gallons every day. There is a small intestine, coiled in the center of the abdominal cavity that is approx. 20 feet long, not to mention the large intestine.
We are told - https://www.fi.edu/heart/its-alive  that – “Each drop of blood is full of living red and white blood cells that deliver essential elements and remove harmful waste.”
There is the brain, that is like a magnificent computer. There are many essential organs and so much more. We understand that every organ has its own significant role to play in the health and well-being of the body. If any organ is misused or abused it can be harmful to the body and in some cases can bring about death.
Yet we understand that none of the internal organs would have operated without the breath of God bringing Adam’s body to life and setting it in motion.
When God breathed His very own breath, the breath of life, into Adam, this man became a living soul. Notice it does not say that he was not a man before God breathed into him. It does not say that the soul was the real person and the body just a house for him to live in. It does not say that there was a soul waiting for a body to live in. Though many such ideas have been considered and some believed, it is not what the Word of God says. We are told here in Genesis that when God breathed into the man’s nostrils, he became a living soul.
living - chay; alive, hence raw (flesh; flesh …) (Strong’s)
soul - nephesh; prop. a breathing creature (Strong’s)
The man that God had created became a living, breathing creature, the moment he received God’s breath of life! His flesh came to life as well as his mind. This first human, Adam, was created in the image of Father God, in that he was created with the ability to ‘father.’ But - the image of Elohiym was not yet complete!
The Word of God went on to say, “male and female created he them.” God, is a composite. That is to say -
1: made up of distinct parts or elements - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composite

This being so, His image would also require the same. This is reflected in the human body which, as has been said, is made up of various parts all making up one complete body. But let us look at how God made His image and what this has to do with sexuality.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him
Genesis 2:20 … but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.

Verse 18 is a key verse of great importance. It tells us that it was not good for the man to be alone and it tells us specifically God did to remedy the situation. It tells us that God said he was going to make an aid or help for Adam. The steps He took to do this had great purpose and significance.
There has been great misunderstanding based on this word ‘found.’ It was translated from the Hebrew – matsa; mean. prop. to come forth to, that is, appear or exist …. It is not suggesting that God and Adam looked all over the place and just couldn’t find a help meet that was suitable or that would please and satisfy Adam. It is telling us that a help mate for Adam did not yet exist. She had not yet ‘come forth,’ for God had a plan to create her from Adam’s own body. God already knew what He had planned to do even before He began creating the Earth.

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Heb. 4:3 … although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Keep in mind that God’s intention was to create His own image. So, He began the process which He had planned from the beginning 

Genesis 2:21 - 24 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and He slept: and he  took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man made he a woman, and brought her to the man.
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.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother. and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The first thing we are told that God did, was to put the man to sleep. Adam had to submit himself into the hands of God, trusting himself and his life to God, in order to receive his bride. One day, in the future, Jesus would submit himself into the hands of His Father and be put to death, in order to receive His bride.
We can see many representations of the work of our Lord and Savior, in the process of creating the woman, including Adam’s sleep. Adam was put to sleep and interestingly, in the New Testament, Christians who died were referred to as being asleep; those who sleep in Christ. When a child of God dies, it is known that he will get up again, so sleep is a good description of his condition.
So, Adam being put to sleep is representative of the death Christ would suffer in order to receive a bride. While Adam slept God opened his side and took out a rib. It does not say a piece of a rib, but a rib.
While Jesus was on the cross His side was opened, and he shed blood. Not one of His bones were broken. As far as we know not one of Adam’s bones were broken in the process of the creation of his bride, but one was removed. Adam would say, after he was awakened, that the woman was both bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. Apparently, some of Adam’s flesh was taken to be used in making the woman.
Verse 21 tells us that God “closed up the flesh instead thereof.” In Hebrew, the words ‘closed up” is the word - ‘cagar,’ meaning to shut up; figuratively - to surrender: close up, deliver (up) … The meaning suggests that God actually opened Adam’s flesh. He did not supernaturally remove it without an operation. Rather He put him to sleep and opened him up. If we took the meaning “to surrender up or to deliver up,” He might then be saying that Adam surrendered a piece of his flesh to the Lord to be used in creating his bride. The blood is in the flesh. The life of the flesh is in the blood.

Leviticus 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof:... for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof:...

So, Adam shed blood in order to receive a bride that would truly be a part of himself. He gave lifeblood, or flesh with life in it. And the reason Adam’s flesh had life in it is because God had breathed that life into him.
Jesus would one day shed His blood in order to receive a bride for himself. Adam shed blood to receive his wife. After this, women would shed blood when the hymen was broken in intercourse. She would shed blood in order to receive her husband. Intercourse was never to happen without the covenant of marriage. I believe we can this to be a serious blood covenant.
Now here is something to consider.
Genesis 2:21 - …he  took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

flesh 1320 basar; flesh (from it’s freshness); by exten. body, person; also (by euphemism) the pudenda of a man: – …
Pudenda n. pl. ["., from pudendus that which one ought to be ashamed.] (anat.) the external organs of generation. [1913 Webster]
instead 8478 – tachath; the bottom (as depressed); only adv. below (often with prep. pref. underneath), in lieu of, etc:- as, beneath, …
If the words ‘closed up,’ means to ‘surrender up’ - could we be being told that Adam surrendered up flesh (‘instead thereof’ or from beneath) from the pudenda or genitals? Might this be the foreskin since one of the meanings for ‘flesh’ can be a euphemism, for the pudenda, or the genitals? If it was, then Adam would have shed blood from that which would be joined to his wife, as woman later would shed blood when first receiving her husband in sexual intercourse. If so, this could also be a clue as to why circumcision was chosen as the sign of the covenant between God and His people, Israel. This could be a symbol of two becoming one flesh.  It would also mean that woman was made from that which covered the most intimate part of the man. (Something to consider!)
When Adam saw his wife for the first time, he was looking at his own rib, his own flesh, and his own blood likely flowed through that flesh, - Adam’s blood. While woman was indeed an individual, yet at the same time, she was a very real part of her husband. They truly were one flesh.
Now Adam, being created by God, had never seen a marriage before. He had never seen a human father and mother together nor witnessed human birth. Yet with knowledge and understanding, he made this statement, upon seeing the woman “… This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
When Adam first saw Eve, he knew what had taken place while he slept. He also knew that after this, God would not be putting every individual male to sleep to perform the same operation on them in order to receive a wife. He knew that children would come by means of the marital union of man and wife and that in due time a man should leave his parents and, by choice, join himself to one woman. He was to cleave to his wife and the two of them were to be considered literally one flesh.
To cleave, according to the Hebrew, is to – impinge, that is, cling or adhere …. There was a reason for this. Adam said “… Therefore shall a man …” Therefore - or because of the way God had taken Eve out of Adam and created her out of his own bone and flesh, that is to say, because God made the two of them to be one, which is in the likeness and image of God, every man after this is to view himself and his wife in the same manner.
God could have simply taken some dirt and created the woman in the way he had created Adam. But he chose to go through this intricate process in making the woman, for a reason. This reason had to do with the image of Himself that he was creating. If this is not understood and/or is overlooked or cast aside as unimportant, something of great importance is lost.
God had said that it was not good for the man to be alone, or that is, incomplete.
Now, we need to back and take a closer look at what God said about it not being good for man to be alone. The word ‘Alone,’ in the Greek, means something quite different than it does in the English language. ‘Alone’ - (Greek, Strong’s) – bad; prop. separation; by impl. a part of the body …. It was not good for Adam to be only a part of the body, but not yet completed, so what did God do? He created something to solve this problem. He created the thing that would complete the man and thus complete the image of God which man was meant to be. He created a woman to accomplish this!

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

In the creation of Adam is the evidence that God knew before he created him, that he would be creating a help that was suitable for him, who would complete him and the image of God. Adam was in the image of Father God, in that he was made with the ability to ‘father.’ He had all of his reproduction organs and was wired to respond to a woman before he had even laid eyes on one.
How do we know that it was woman he was meant to respond to? Because it was specifically a woman who God created to be his help meet, to complete him and receive his seed. There is no place provided in the male body, to receive seed. There was no other creation that was created to fulfill this purpose. Adam had the ability to unite with one other being who would complete him. This physical connection was to be through the physical union of two parts that when coming together would make one whole.
Adam had the ability to give seed, but there was no one to receive it and no garden for it to be planted in. He had all of his reproduction organs. The muscles, nerves, and blood vessels were all in working order to produce penile erection and the giving of seeds, capable of beginning new life when absorbed by a female ovum. All this was a part of Adam before his help mate appeared on the scene, because God had His plan set before he made Adam. He had known the end from the beginning. When Adam did see the mate that God had created for him, out of his own body, he saw the vessel for which these things were created; the vessel to carry his seed; in whom was the garden for it to be planted in; the incubator to hold it, and the vessel to nurture and protect it until it came forth as new life! He saw his counterpart; that which completed him.

1 Thes. 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife … that your prayers be not hindered.

Not only did God create this vessel for a specific purpose, but the scriptures tell us that every man – not only some men – but every man – was to know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor and to live with them according to knowledge. He does not suggest that there may be alternatives to God's plan and design, but there was a need for knowledge and understanding, which is greatly lacking in our society today.
God prepared this vessel perfectly, including every minute detail. Even the entrance to man’s garden was prepared with specific care and honor for both the man and the woman, who were one. The woman was created with a vagina that is self-cleansing, which will self-lubricate during sexual arousal, in order to reduce friction, when she receives the male penis. It cleanses itself to receive the man and his seed.
According to www.atihealth.net.com – “During sexual excitement, droplets of fluid appear along the vaginal walls and eventually cover the sides of the vagina completely. The vaginal tissue does not contain any secretory glands itself, but is loaded with blood vessels, which when engorged as a result of sexual arousal, press against the tissue, forcing natural tissue fluids through the walls of the vagina.”
What amazing design by a loving and perfect God! Yes, every detail was planned and set in order for the union of the male and female, when God created man! Adam’s help mate was created perfectly to receive and unite with him! Nothing was left to chance! When Adam woke from sleep and saw his help mate, he knew what God had done, the purpose of what had been done, and what it was to mean in the future.

Genesis 2:23+24 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.
24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Notice that there was no question in Adam’s mind as to what was to take place from that time on. He stated as fact, that after this a man ‘shall’ - not might want to, or might make the choice to, or might like the idea of, or find this to be one option of many - but ‘SHALL’ leave his father and mother and cleave, or that is, glue to or attach himself to his wife and the two; the man and his wife, the male and the female, would be one flesh. It was not necessary for God to tell us that He does not mean for animal and man, male and male or female and female to become one flesh, for He clearly stated what was to be. He was very clear when he stated that a man and his wife were to be joined together and become one flesh.
IF GOD HAS SAID HOW IT IS TO BE – IT IS ENOUGH!

Matt. 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

What did God join together? Male and female, man and wife!
Notice it says, “no more” and these are not hard words to understand - not ever again! Do you notice that the union of the man and woman is said here to be something that God has done? It was He who joined them together. Again, it is shown, that this was God’s own design and plan and that He takes it very seriously. Why? Well for one very good reason, this was HIS image; HIS reflection on the earth. When God created man in his own image, male and female created he them! He was not going to approve a breaking up or distortion of His own image! Take a look at Genesis 5:1+2 –

1 This is the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God
(Elohiym) made he him. 2 Male and female created he them, and blessed them and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

On the day that God created man, he created them male and female and called both of them by one name – Adam! Some Bible translations have left out the words “called their name” and just said something like “called them man, or human, or mankind. But I consider this a dangerous error. In the Hebrew, the word for ‘name’ is shem; … through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; ...]; an appellation, as a mark of individuality; by impl. honor, …
According to the dictionary, appellation is – 1. The act of appealing; appeal 2. the act of calling by name 3. the word by which a particular person or thing is called and known; name; title; designation. [1913 Webster] It seems that God was not just speaking of humankind in general but was calling the man and the woman by a particular name that would identify them, and that name was Adam. In other words, God called them both, who were one flesh, by only one name in the beginning.
It was a mark of individuality, as God saw them as one. This word ‘name’ is the same word used in Genesis 16:15, when Abram called his son’s name Ishmael. It is important to see the truth of this and to understand the extent that God considered the man and his wife to be one. I am not making too much of too little. Too often people have made too little of much. It is not wise to always skim over what is written in the Word of God. We need to take time to look closely at what is being said.
It was after the woman sinned that we read that Adam called his wife by a name separate from his own. Indeed because of sin, even today, husbands and wives often seek more for individual recognition, than the joining together as one, and self-denial for the love of their spouse.

Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Again, in Mark, God’s intention is made known.

Mark 10:8 And they twain (two) shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

This agrees with what is written in Ephesians chapter 5.

Eph. 5:28+29 – “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh …”

Again, we see how serious God takes the marital union. Remember the marriage was to reflect the image of God.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee.
Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one.
John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

First God created man in His image, the two to be one, as God the Father and Jesus Christ are one. Later, after salvation was brought by Jesus Christ, God called all those who were redeemed, his body and called for a oneness, or that is, to be unified; - each member as being part of the body of Christ; individual members a part of each other in Christ. Both were to have the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The truth of the Godhead; who is a composite yet singular God, who is the one and only true and living God, can be seen reflected in all of creation, but especially in the way He created man; male and female created He them!
Am I saying then, that God is both male and female? Not in the sense that we know it. Remember we are a reflection, not an exact duplicate. There are things in the make-up of feminine man that reflect certain aspects of God and His character to a greater degree and things in the make-up of the male that reflects other aspects of God to a greater degree. One alone is an incomplete image. But when the two are joined together there is a more complete whole and reflection of God.
There is blessing and there is peace in following God, honoring Him, His Word and His will. His will is seen when we look at what He did in the beginning; how and what He created. Walking in His Spirit, and his will, according to His plan and design, brings peace, for we are not at war with how He set things in motion.
Can you imagine, however, how Satan must have felt upon seeing God create an image of Himself and then to give them dominion over all the earth? Satan had tried to lift himself above God but failed. Now a position of authority and power is handed to the man without any effort on his part. Satan desires to rule, without seeing the image of God at every turn; having to watch him have what he wants for himself! It is no wonder he set about quickly to put a stop to both the image and the dominion! He is still working hard to keep mankind from understanding God or man’s purpose and power in Christ. Many have turned from God’s plan to live their own way, rejecting God and His design. Some do not even understand what they are doing, why it is wrong, nor the insult it is to God to pervert His image. But consider what happens when a man goes against the plan of God. This is vital information that Satan has hidden from multitudes.

Romans 1:7, 16-28 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You may not be in Rome, but are you beloved of God? Are you called to be a saint of God? Grace to you! Peace to you! This grace is, in the Greek, charis; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit. or fig. or especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude. May you have the peace of God and His divine influence upon your heart and may His influence be reflected in your life!

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and to the Greek.
17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith. (Note; - The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ!)
18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

The wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness and ungodliness.
Wrath = (Greek) orge, or-gay’; prop desire (as reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, (by anal.) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by impl. punishment:- anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.
ungodliness = asebeia, as-eb’-i-a; impiety, that is, (by impl.) wickedness: – ungodly (-ness).
impiety = 1. The quality of being impious; irreverence toward the Supreme Being; ungodliness; wickedness. [1913 Webster]
hold = katecho, kat-ekh’-o; to hold down (fast), in various applications (lit. or fig.): – … possess, retain, … withhold.

WHY?

19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them.
20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

manifest = (Greek) phaneroo, fan-er-o’-o; to render apparent (lit. or fig.):- appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
When a person does not show reverence and respect to God, this is ungodliness. Such an attitude and behavior result in the wrath of God. Wrath is more than being a little displeased but bespeaks of violent passion, abhorrence, vengeance, and punishment. What is it that stirs God so? It is the fact that man has the evidence of God and His power manifest or made known ‘in’ him and yet lives ungodly and unrighteously.
The evidence of how the human body is to function can be seen and understood. God's design is there, and the purpose is known. A physician can affirm the purposes of our body, whether Christian or not. Yes, the truth of God is right there inside of each of us! It is in our make-up. God and His eternal power; the things of God that we cannot see with our eyes, can be clearly seen and understood by the very things God has made; even the things from the creation of the world! So, there is no excuse to be irreverent toward God and to live with disrespect toward Him!
The invisible things of God are clearly seen and understood by the things that He made! We have already seen how God made man in His image in the beginning, and now we are told that what may be known of God is ‘in’ man. God wrote a story of himself in us!

Romans 1:21-27Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
23. And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Notice it does not say that they had no understanding from the start, but contrariwise, they did know, but their heart became darkened. The truth of God is written within us, even if we have been told a lie that seemed very persuasive! Even if we search for reasons to believe something contrary to His truth.

24 Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:

uncleanness = (Greek) akatharsia, ak-ath-ar-see’-ah; impurity (the quality) phys. or mor.: uncleaness.
Where did this lust come from? Their own hearts.
Man changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like unto corruptible man.
We have seen in 1 Cor. 11:7 that man is the glory of God. The eternal power and Godhead is to be seen in what God has made and He has made man in His image! Man is a reflection, an image, not an exact duplicate. When man is seen, a reflection of God is to be seen. If you change the image, you cause a distorted and untrue picture to be seen. But man took it upon himself to change the glory of the incorruptible God.
What foolish pride to try to change the glory of the incorruptible God  - into something on man’s level and of his own making, rather than to recognize the image of God that He has placed in us and to glorify Him for the magnificence of what He has done and for WHO HE IS!

25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Who changed the truth of God into a lie! Do you hear the scriptures? This is exactly what perversion is! Pervert = To change something from its correct use or original purpose: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/pervert

Do you hear the scripture? Some may say that homosexual behavior is a private matter and hurts no one - or - no one but the participants. But this is a matter between God and the man He
created. These actions are calling God a liar! It is serving-self - man creating his own gods; worshiping what was created rather than God himself! When a person says, “God may have made it that way, but I want to go another way,” he is rebelling against God Himself.
Of course, the truth will always be the truth. We have heard it said that someone has twisted our words or changed what we have said. What was said, was said. This cannot really be changed. But it can be misrepresented or lied about. Man has taken it upon himself to turn away from the true image of God as is to be seen in the marital union of man and woman and to proclaim that it is just as acceptable; that it is justifiable to have union, man with man or woman with woman, thus changing the truth; perverting the image, - changing the truth of who? Changing the truth of God into a lie!
This is giving oneself a position above God, His divine plan, will, and purpose! If you had a beautiful portrait of your late mother, who was a refined, modest lady, hanging in your house; a picture that expressed, not only her physical beauty but also seemed to reflect the loving, caring person she had been, you would not appreciate someone coming in and altering the picture. If someone were to paint a bottle of whiskey in her hand, a cigarette hanging from her lip, rips in her dress and hair in her face, you would likely be furious! Not only had the picture been destroyed, but the character and heart of your mother slandered. Her image was perverted!
But for man, the image of God is to be reflected in himself. To pervert that image is serving-self over God. We find that in the worship of other gods, that are not Jehovah God, often homosexual activities have been involved. As they chose not to honor the creator, they defiled His image in their heathen worship. An article on connelodonovan.com says this – The worship of Horned Apollo includes ecstatic naked dancing and feats of acrobatics (including an early form of two-man ritual volleyball with a bright purple ball!) followed by sex performed by young men.
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, concerning homosexuality in ancient Greece – in classic antiquity writers such as Herodotus, Plato, Xenophon, Athenaeus, and many others explored aspects of same-sex love in ancient Greece. The wide-spread and socially significant form of same-sex sexual relations in ancient Greece were between adult men and pubescent or adolescent boys, known as pederasty. (However, marriages in Ancient Greece between men and women were also age structured, with men in their 30s commonly taking wives in their early teens.) Though homosexual relationships between adult men did exist, at least one member of each of these relationships flouted social conventions by assuming a passive sexual role. It is unclear how such relations between women were regarded in general society, but examples do exist as far back as the time of Sappho.

Rom. 1:26. For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

change = (Greek) - , met-al-las’-so; to exchange: – change.
natural = (Greek) - phusikos, foo-see-kos’; “physical”, that is (by impl.) instinctive: – natural.
use = (Greek) - cabak; chersis, Khray’-sis; employment, that is (specially) sexual intercourse (as an occupation of the body): – use
nature = (Greek) - phusis, foo’-sis; growth (by germination or expansion), that is, (by impl.) natural production (lineal descent); by extens. a genus or sort; fig. native disposition, constitution or usage: – ([man-]) kind, nature ([-al]).
Here a person might be quick to say that natural use would be that which is natural or instinctive to an individual. So then, if homosexuality is natural to a person, it is acceptable. But in truth, the scripture is saying quite the opposite, for it is speaking of women – exchanging - a natural use for something that is against nature. What should have been natural to them is rejected and they have embraced an alternative lifestyle.
It must always be accepted when speaking of ‘nature’ - scripturally speaking - that God is the basis for all truth. Nature must be understood to be (as seen in the definition) the natural, or that is, God-given production: what God himself produced, that is, designed and created. Otherwise, there is no foundation for truth at all.
A serial rapist can say that raping victims comes naturally to him. Whatever a person gives himself over to and makes a habit of doing may come to seem natural to him. This can be especially so if it was developed as a child. If a tiny child learns to lie and gets by with it, after he is grown, he may never remember a time when he did not lie and so say that it is natural to him. But God did not create us to lie.
If a person is abused at a very young age, when he is older, he may not be able to remember what he was like before this happened to him. Though he may become shy and fearful, he may have once been light-hearted and confident before the abuse took place. However, he may not be able to remember ever feeling joyful or confident.
God is obviously speaking of an exchange. There was something that was natural, or according to the design of God in the woman’s very body, but she decided to exchange that for something that was not. God created the woman to receive the man physically and the seed of the man. He stated that her union was to be with man; that they were to cease being two and become one. Her body naturally produces ovum that are ready to unite with the sperm of the man, then be planted in her womb, thus treasuring and valuing the seed of man and life itself. This is the design of God and so it is natural and fitting to her design.
If she exchanges this natural use, for something else, turning away from the male to find sexual pleasure in another way, she is going against nature, or, that is to say, against God’s own design and purpose. There are Lesbians who desire to carry a child in their womb and have children of their own, even though they have rejected the natural use of the man. It is a part of their natural makeup to desire children. Some will get with a man just for the purpose of receiving his seed and having a child. Others will adopt a child. While she rejects the male as a partner, she cannot altogether ignore the design of the creator, for without the man she cannot bear a child! The result of women leaving the natural use of the man was that God gave them up to vile affections. A lesbian may want the seed of the man so that she can become pregnant and bear a child, but her affection is not for him. Her affections have become vile. God gave them over = (Greek) paradidomi; to surrender, that is, yield up, ….
What did he yield them up to? Vile affections. Vile = (Greek) atimia; infamy, that is comparative indignity, (obj.) disgrace: – dishonour, reproach, shame, vile.
Affections = (Greek) pathos; prop. suffering, (“pathos”), that is (subj.) a passion (espec. concupiscence): – (inordinate) affection, lust.
God surrendered them over to passions, lust, suffering, and inordinate affections, that were vile, or that is, shameful.
Inordinate In-or-di-nate.  … Not limited to rules prescribed, or to usual bounds; irregular; excessive; immoderate; as, an inordinate love of the world. [1913 Webster]
Merriam-Webster – definition of inordinate = 1. archaic: disorderly, unregulated 2. exceeding reasonable limits: immoderate
These affections that God gave them up to were ‘inordinate,’ that is, they were not limited to prescribed rules or bounds, which God himself had put in place. They did not honor God or respect His image; the reflection of himself on earth! They were irregular, excessive and immoderate, all of which are opposite of God. Doesn’t this sound like the belief system of our day and age? How many proclaim that they should have no rules or boundaries, but only do as they please, without having to concern themselves with God?

27. And likewise also their men, leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust one toward another: men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was meet.

Here again, we have the leaving of the God-given, natural use, designed into man’s being, for something other than God’s intention. “Likewise,” or that is, similarly to what the women did, men (Greek arrhen= male) were leaving (Greek aphiemi= … forsake, to lay aside, leave) the natural use of the woman.
It would seem that a person must have a strong need to change the truth of God, or a fear of facing their own true condition, to deny what is clearly written in Genesis about the natural use of the woman, or to deny nature; that which her body is clearly designed for.
No reasoning will change the fact of the woman’s body including her hormones. Any medical doctor can tell us what the womb, vagina, and ovaries etc. are for. To deny these facts is to let your foolish heart be darkened.
But the men being spoken of in these scriptures had chosen to forsake the God-given use of the woman and do something else instead, something of their own choosing. They burned in their lust, man for man.
Burned (Greek) = to inflame deeply: – burn.
Lust (Greek) = excitement of the mind, that is, longing after: lust.
If this was not God’s intended use, then it is an idea that comes from His adversary, who surely must hate the idea of seeing the image of God spread across the earth. Whether through divorce, heterosexual, or homosexual fornication, or worse, he has worked hard at destroying that image; keeping it from ever being seen or understood, and/or perverting it completely. Through assaults on children that confuse their understanding of who they are and what their bodies are meant for, through lies and deception, by pornography and its shocking effect on the human psyche, playing havoc with the emotions, hormones, and mental understanding etc. He has worked diligently to keep the image of God from being known and God himself from being honored.
These men burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly and not glorifying God in their bodies, which are supposed to belong to the Lord.
working (Greek) = to work fully, that is, accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion: – cause, do (deed), perform, work (out).
unseemly (Greek) aschemosune = an indecency; by implication the pudenda: – shame, that which is unseemly.
Merriam-Webster – definition of - pudendum - the external genital organs as a human being and especially of a woman – usually used in plural pudenda.
It is interesting to see that in the definition of the word ‘unseemly’ includes the word pudenda, which is the external genital organs, or organs of generation. They performed, with their pudenda, that which was indeed indecent; that which was against ‘nature;' the design of God.
There is no valuable use for the sperm, in the homosexual act. God’s purpose is set aside, forsaken, left. The life-giving sperm that should be appreciated and respected, for which God had prepared a place, a garden in which to be planted, is, in the homosexual act, discarded as so much waste.
God prepared a self-cleansing place for the male penis to enter and give his seed, but in the homosexual act, again and again, it is thrust into a place God prepared for dung to pass through and be discarded. What a fitting insult to God the creator. It is as if to say, I reject the image that was to be reflected in me, your image. I reject my ability to father. I reject your purpose. I not only disrespect and disregard the life-giving flow you supplied my body with, but I cast it into the place of uncleanness made for dung! I will never honor you or your image with it! No! I will not retain the knowledge of my creator and reflect Him in my body or be the image he created me to be!
Having worked that which is unseemly, or that is, shameful with the pudenda, these men receive in themselves the recompense (compensation) of their error which was meet. They received the compensation that is as it should be.
God’s Word tell us that our body is for the Lord and He is for our body

1Cor. 6:13, 18 +20 … Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
18 Flee fornication …
20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Yet their bodies, which were for the Lord, in which they were to glorify Him and in which his Spirit was to live, were not used for this purpose. They claimed ownership of their bodies, making themselves their own Gods, honoring their own vile lusts and seeking whatever pleasure they could find. They used their bodies to pervert the image of God while glorifying themselves. The result was -

Romans 1:28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

Notice it does not say that God gave them a reprobate mind. Rather that He surrendered them
to, or yielded them up, to that which they had chosen.
What is a reprobate mind? reprobate = (Greek) unapproved, that is, rejected; by impl. worthless (lit. or moral): – cast away, rejected, reprobate.
The word ‘mind’ here is = (Greek) nous; the intellect, that is, mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication meaning – mind, understanding.
They did not like to retain God in their knowledge. The word ‘knowledge; here means (Gr.); recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgment: – (ac) knowledge (-ing – ment). They did not like to retain God in their full discernment or their understanding. Remember that the invisible things of God can be clearly seen by that which is made, and God is manifest ‘in’ us. But these did not like to retain a clear image of God, who and what He is, as represented in the creation of His image – MAN. So, He yielded them up to those things that are not convenient.
There are those who desire to be Christian and to praise and worship God in various ways, while retaining a homosexual identity, or while living in heterosexual fornication. But those who believe they are doing so are deceived. We cannot truly worship and honor a creator, who we refuse to acknowledge for who and what He is.
He is light and light has no fellowship with darkness. Those who have done and lived in the actions described in Romans chapter one, have dishonored God and not been willing, and/or not known how to fully retain Him in their knowledge and have dishonored themselves as well.
It is no wonder that it may be hard for a homosexual to grasp and fully accept the words of scripture as given here, if they have been given over to a mind that is separated from God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They have a mind that on the one hand, is determined to have its own way and be a God unto itself, while still wanting to honor the God of the universe and it cannot be done.

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

These are double-minded people who are unstable in all their ways.

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

They are blind because they refuse to perceive God as He is.

Matthew 15:14 … And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Yet anyone who will come into agreement with the Word of God, whether fully understood or not; who will say “Let God be truth and every man a liar” has the opportunity of being healed from unnatural ways they have gone against God.
First, they must agree with God, acknowledge the error of their ways and repent. Then and only then can they be delivered and healed.
This is not to say that all who have lived in error have done so with a conscious intention to go against God, or that they even know how their condition came about. Still, it is vital to come into agreement with God and His Word and humble one’s self before Him, in order to receive forgiveness and deliverance.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come in the presence of the Lord;

The lifestyle a person has lived may have been the result of things done to them at such a young age, they cannot even clearly recall the immediate effect of the act; including the fear, confusion, and pain. When Satan attacks a person, he desires to hurt and win a victory over God. He knows how God loves His creation, and he wants to keep them from comprehending God as He is, or seeing God’s
reflection in themselves and others on the earth.
But God is a supernatural God. It doesn’t matter how much you think you have tried to change, or to the contrary, how much you have attempted to convince yourself that the thoughts and lusts you have, that go against the Word of God, are really acceptable to Him. God remains unchanged, and His Word will endure forever. He is still able to heal, change, and deliver you; to help you become the person you were meant to be. He will help you come to know the real you, you have never yet known. Many have never known who they were really meant to be or how to live free from the bondages which they cannot shake and that have been there for as long as they can remember. Still, God’s ability to restore you has never diminished. He is willing and able to save to the uttermost and to give you the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Heb. 7:25 Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

AMEN! SO BE IT! PRAISE GOD FOR ALL TIME!

Boundaries of Love - Being a fool is not a requirement of love.

Boundaries of Love - Being a fool is not a requirement of love.

There is a difference in caring for everyone, going out into the highways and byways to tell the good news of salvation to one and all, and in taking everyone into your company. There are boundaries of love. God not only knew this but insisted upon these boundaries. Although Jesus sent disciples to spread the gospel, God told His people to separate themselves from those involved in sinful behaviors because of the influence of ungodly living. He made clear that light and dark have no fellowship (partnership). It is one thing to love every person of every persuasion, to be willing to assist anyone in need and another thing to embrace them as though their lifestyles are acceptable and do not bother you.

Parents who love their children know this only too well. While they may not want their children to be rude or unkind to anyone, neither do they want their children to hang out with those who are defiant to their teachers and who are troublemakers, involved in drugs, or illegal activities. It's easy to understand. A parent loves his child and knows that if he spends too much time with the wrong sort, he may be influenced to try things that are not good for him or to be used and abused. Love makes a parent want to protect his child from harmful influences. So he sets boundaries of love.

You may say you're not afraid of snakes. Good for you. But if you are wise, you will know which ones are poisonous and how to avoid their bite. You will not lie down to sleep with a venomous snake.

But there is a push today to not even acknowledge that there is any behavior that we can see as 'bad.' It is called 'unloving,' or 'judgmental' to recognize anything as evil. Except that the one thing we can call evil is recognizing evil to be evil. If you recognize it and stand against it, then that is what we are told is evil. This 'love all,' 'accept all' philosophy is convenient to those who want to push an agenda. It is also convenient for those who would proselytize and subjugate the minds of others. And it is convenient for those who want to get by with their evil works without suffering consequences.

Even for a Christian to make a stand to agree with God, he is considered judgmental and condemning. Scriptures are thrown out there that tell us not to judge, by those who do not understand that this has nothing to do with agreeing with God's judgment.

God has already judged what is right and what is wrong and He has laid it out for all who will receive the truth. The world is already condemned because of its sin.

We are not to play God and impose our own judgments that are outside of what God has brought forth. We are to show others how they can, through Jesus Christ, come out from under the condemnation they are already living with.

But Satan has played a cunning mind-game to immobilize the true children of God, to desensitize them to his poison and to bring them into bondage.

A parent knows instinctively that love causes him to want to protect his child from dangerous influences and a wise parent teaches his child how to avoid those influence. But how soon is that simple, natural instinct, born out of love, shamed and cut off from adult understanding in so many areas of life?!

Protection of our country from enemies who want to come in and defile it, abuse it, and change it into a place where the government it has is replaced with one that pleases the selfish and those who wish to rule others, is now called unloving! How can such idiotic thinking be understood? People are even trying to find scriptures to justify this mindset.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter five, shamed the church for keeping an individual in their congregation who claimed to be a 'brother' but was practicing a despicable sin. He told them that a little leaven (yeast) would leaven the whole lump. In other words, the person practicing this ungodliness would affect the whole church. He made it clear they were to turn him out of the church. This may be shocking to those who think and spread the idea, that love in Christianity could never do such a thing but must be ooshy gooshy sweetness at all times. No! This was a boundary of love. The one practicing his sin could continue it elsewhere without the pretense that he was okay. The rest of the church could pray for him, love him and even be kind to him, but not pretend his actions were acceptable nor allow it to influence their children. Sometimes love must be tough.

Now we are supposed to believe that if we are Christians, our love will keep us from protecting our country from those who might come here intent on resisting our laws and even trafficking our children. It is said that if we want such protection, we are scared and acting out of fear. Fear, lack of love, unfeeling, selfishness, etc. are convenient labels to be put on those who wish to live in wisdom.

Be that as it may, the very idea of vetting well each immigrant and not letting anyone come into our country who does not do so legally and well vetted is cried out against. It is as though the person who wants to enter our country is more important than individual families, including our children who live here, and as though our wanting to maintain safety and peace for our children is somehow wrong, or worse is only senseless fear. It is amazing when good sense and wisdom are redefined as foolish fear.

The Bible says to love your enemies. It does not say to pretend they are not your enemies. They are, in fact, recognized as enemies. How do you know you are loving your enemy, if you do not know who your enemy is? Love him, but do not be a fool. An enemy is someone who works against you and/or to destroy you. Pray for him. Do not return evil for evil. But neither allow him to destroy you. Seek God that your enemy become your friend. But until he does, you do not let your enemy destroy you! God has given us weapons of spiritual warfare for a reason. Being a fool is not a requirement of love. And drawing of a line in the sand that is based on wisdom and understanding does not mean you are afraid. As a matter of fact, you may well be unafraid, because you know that you have placed boundaries of safety and love firmly in place. A fool, however, has many reasons to be afraid.

Come, Let Us Reason

Where's the Respect For the Adult, Professional, Psychologist, Woman, Christine Ford is Said to Be?
Why Treat an Accomplished, Overcoming, Adult Woman, Who is a Professor, Like a Child?
Where is Reason?
I am an adult woman. I am not cold-hearted. I am a sensitive person. This, however does not mean that I did not have the ability to grow in maturity and wisdom from my youth until now. We are hearing all sorts of emotional rants concerning Christine Ford and what she may be going through since her allegations against Brett Kavanaugh were made public. Now as a thinking, reasoning adult, it only stands to reason to me, that between the age of approximately 15 (approximate since she does not know the year her assault was supposed to have taken place) and now, 36 years later, Mrs. Ford has also had time to grow and mature. Which seems apparent as she is a psychologist and professor of statistics at Palo Alto University. And she has worked as a research psychologist for Stanford University's Department of Psychiatry (https://en.wikipedia.org/)
Psychology is - (Dictionary.com) - 1. the science of the mind or of mental states and processes. 2. the science of human and animal behavior
In other words. Mrs Ford has had training in the human psyche. Of course, this does not mean that she is exempt from suffering herself. But it does suggest that as an adult and a professor who has studied in this field, and also with the political climate at this time, she would be well aware of what the consequences of making public such an allegation could be. I am not saying any of this to make light of her pain and suffering, or to suggest it does not still affect her life, if indeed it did take place, but simply to say that 36 years after the fact and with all of her knowledge of the human psyche, she would have a good idea of what to expect.
Some may say they understand why a victim of such abuse will put off reporting the matter. And I would imagine that if anyone understands the psychology of this, it should be Christine Ford, the psychologist.
However, while understanding the psychology and the result of emotional trauma on the victim, it is also reasonable that Mrs. Ford would have an idea of the psychological response and political reaction that would likely take place once she spoke out.
So then, it stands to reason that she would know beforehand that there would be a demand for proof of her allegations and that she would be expected to be asked to face the accused and state her accusation. Being a woman, having suffered emotional and psychological pain, will not eliminate the process to be expected when you make such an allegation. A woman of her age and stature would know this. She would also know that making an allegation against such a public figure would stir empathy and sympathy, but also anger and outrage. None of this would be a surprise to her.
It is not as though she is making this allegation a few days after the supposed incident, while she is only fifteen and the whole emotional, terrifying event is fresh on her mind and she is not thinking straight. No, it is 36 years later, after she has had time to seek mental and emotional help, get training in the field of the mind and emotions and to think things through and have a pretty good idea what she is going to face when she speaks out.
Brett Kavanaugh has been in public office for many years. At any time in the 36 years since Mrs. Ford says Mr. Kavanaugh was supposed to have molested her, she could have reported him or brought up charges against him.
As the knowledgeable professor that she is, she would know ahead of time, that she could not expect to simply throw out this serious accusation, go into hiding, and expect to be able to manipulate the legal process to suit her. She would know that without full proof of her claim, her charge would not hold. She would know that she would be expected to have to state her case and let the accused know clearly what the accusations against him were.
So why the game? Why state that she wants to come public, then say she is not ready? I give her too much credit as an intelligent psychologist and reasoning adult to not have already expected to have to face the music as soon as she made her allegations. To cry that she is being bullied, or mistreated, when she is offered a fair hearing, I find to be ridiculous. To expect the whole country to be put on hold while you try to prepare yourself to tell the only truth you know and that you should have known to be prepared for before you opened your mouth is not reasonable. I choose to give her credit for being a professional woman. She has been offered a private hearing. She has been told they will come to her in a private place. She has been treated respectfully and delicately. She has not claimed rape. She claims to not know when the incident occurred, or where it occurred. She has given no serious evidence that can be examined. She has made her claim and then been uncooperative.
She is not a child. Respecting her as a mature, educated, professional woman, trained in psychology, means to me, to expect her to behave as such. To expect her to act as a frail, young, unknowing, unexpecting teenager who had no idea what she was about to face, is, in my view, not treating her as she ought to be treated.
Certainly, once she made her move, she may have been flooded with unexpected emotions. But as a psychologist, I would think she should have known this was a possibility. She had 36 years to come to the decision to speak out and had enough knowledge and understanding to know she would have to buck up and do what was needed. It is time to stop the games. If you are going to go to battle, even knowing you are in the right, you know you will have to fight the fight. So take a deep breath, go out there and cooperate and get the job done, or make it clear once and for all you have changed your mind. No more talk of her needing more time. She has had 36 years.

Equality of the sexes? What Does it Mean To You?

Equality of the sexes? What Does it Mean To You?

1 Corinthians 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

Of course, I take a Biblical view, so I see men and women of equal value. I also take into account what God did and said on the day of creation and find that he created the male and female with physical differences and gave them specific roles; their differences making no difference in value and each needing the other. But I understand that this is not the worldview. What is? The push for equality of women has been hard and loud to say the least. Women have considered such gestures as opening a car door for them, assisting them, etc. as gestures of condescension. Movies portray women out fighting on an equal basis as men in martial arts etc. Women now speak as coarse, and dirty as men, if not more so. Women present themselves in immoral ways in protests in the streets. And women claim the right to sexual freedom as well as the right to kill any baby that is conceived as a result. But then, when a woman claims to be mistreated sexually, it is expected that she should automatically be believed - because - she is a woman. Suddenly, she is to be perceived as quite different from men, more vulnerable, more fragile and so on. Suddenly, to be seen in such a light is no longer offensive and in fact, if you do not see her as the weaker sex, in this instance, you better watch out! Should you say that women are sometimes sexually aggressive, cross into men's personal space, give 'come ons' that might encourage a man to think she is wanting a sexual encounter, or tease men, you may face an onslaught of insults and vicious anger. But if women are to be seen as being on a level playing field with men, and we are to believe that it is common for the male of the species to behave in such manners, why should we not think women would to?
The fact is, no woman should be misused or abused. Neither should any man be manipulated, misused or abused by a woman. How wonderful it would be if the differences in the sexes would be appreciated and respected without one sex thinking it had to be just like the opposite sex in order to be of equal value. But as wrong as it is, this seems to be the mindset of many to their own detriment.
I am tired of hearing men put down, insulted, and expected to be some inferior, inconsiderate creature to be lorded over by women. I am tired of rude, gruff women who are an insult to their own sex. I hate the idea of women using their sexuality to manipulate men, then after getting the attention they sought after, blaming the men for their reactions. I hate the idea of men pretending to be caring and considerate of a woman's needs only until they get what they want. And in this day and age, that all can probably also be reversed.
There are moral, considerate, selfless men and women in this world. There are abusers and victims. But in this crazy, ungodly world, when you hear someone cry 'wolf,' it is wise to be sure if there is a wolf and who the wolf really is before trying to destroy it.
Women if you want to act like men on a daily basis, don't be surprised if you are judged like them too. If you want to act vulgar, do not be surprised to be treated in the same manner as you disrespect yourself. It will not make it alright for you to be abused. But let me put it this way, if you put yourself in an unsafe place, do not expect to be safe. Again - this does not excuse abusers in any way! I only say do not be surprised if something unsafe happens in an unsafe place.
What is sad, is that as men and women so blatantly and consistently disrespect themselves, those women who are true 'ladies,' honorable ladies, who do respect themselves and the opposite sex, sometimes suffer the consequences of those who do not and the effect they have had on our society.
Sadly men who are true men, and comfortable in their masculinity, respectful of the opposite sex and godly, sometimes suffer the consequences of those men who are not, and the effect those men are having on our society.
Woman, if you are in a situation where you are being disrespected and mistreated - leave! Go to a safe place! You are valuable and deserve to be treated as precious.
Man if you are being looked down on and insulted for your masculinity, stand up and be an honorable, masculine man nonetheless.
But I warn you, the present worldview may be very unkind to you, if you are ever falsely accused. If you are a man, you may be expected to be guilty by reason of your sex. If you are a woman who is molested, you may not be heard when you ought to be, and may not be above suspicion. Because that is what the world's mixed up, uncertain, ideas of equality has brought us to.
When men try to fix their issues without listening to God and following His ways, the results are what we see in our world today. But it is not too late to learn a better way. And if and when you do go God's way, He will sustain you. He will bring you through all the muck and mire of the world. Because no matter what mess is in the world - HE - has overcome the world!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.









What is true equality? It is when each of us become God's child and we take, as our own, the value He who gave His life for us, has placed on us - just as we are -! It will then be alright to be all female or all male, different but of equal value and importance, each needing and appreciating the other and each living in the love oh his or her heavenly Father.


But what does equality of the sexes really mean to you? Do you want to find out what God intended for you as a male or a female? If so, you might start in Genesis, read slowly, and ask God to reveal His truth and His mystery to you. It is worth knowing, fo His way is the way of peace and blesing.

Jewelry and Makeup

 Jewelry and Make-up

Proverbs 25:12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

Jewels and jewelry are mentioned in the Bible more than some people may realize. Before considering the verses of scripture that people think teach against women wearing jewelry, let us look at those that speak of jewelry in a positive way. We know the Bible never contradicts itself, so let's see what we find.

The verse above compares an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold to someone who is a wise reprover and also to an obedient ear. A reprover can be one who chastens, rebukes or even judges etc. An obedient ear would be the one who hears and obeys.

So it is apparent that the jewelry mentioned in this verse is not being considered as a bad thing, rather something that is, in fact, very good.

Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

When the question is asked here as to whether or not a maid can forget her ornaments or a bride her attire, it suggests that a maid's ornaments and a brides attire are very normal and expected things, not something that reflects sin or unholy behavior in any way. A 'maid' here, according to the Greek, is bthuwlah, (beth-oo-law') - a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state:--maid, virgin.

So it suggest that an unmarried woman or one who has not yet had a marriage consumated, would not likely be without her ornaments. Ornaments, in this case, are not necessarily necklaces and earrings but could include them, since the word here is, in the Greek - `adiy, (ad-ee') - from '`adah' (5710) in the sense of trappings; finery; generally an outfit; specifically, a headstall:--X excellent, mouth, ornament.

Since a bride's attire is mentioned here, let us look at what the Bible indicates that might have been like in Bible times.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

When John saw the New Jerusalem it was as a bride adorned for her husband. Would John have been saying that the New Jerusalem looked to be adorned in a sinful way in which a woman should never adorn herself on her wedding day? Why do I ask this? Because when we see the description John gives of the New Jerusalem it is very informative.

Revelation 21:10 + 18-21And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass

So the New Jerusalem, which was adorned as a bride might be for her husband, contained many jewels. The foundations were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The gates were twelve pearls and the streets were of such pure gold that they looked like transparent glass.

While Christians may read these scriptures and become excited at the thought that a place of such splendor will one day be their new home, how often do they notice that this description is compared to a bride who is adorned for her husband In other words, it could be expected for a bride to adorn herself with jewels and this was not sinful. If it were, the writer might have said, 'as a bride who is adorned sinfully for her husband.' Which would be to say that John saw the city of God adorned like a sinful person.

See how God spoke to Jerusalem in the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 16;8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

Before anyone protests and says that this is only symbolic, let me ask a question. Would God use something sinful as a way of symbolizing what He did out of His love for His people? I think not! If God considered it sinful for a woman to wear jewelry, these scriptures would not make sense.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

He hath clothed me, how? With garments of salvation. He hath covered me, how? With a robe of righteousness. And how did He deck himself? As a bride adorns herself with jewels! Again we see that it was expected of a bride to deck herself in jewels. It was expected and not sinful!

Let us look further.

Isaiah 49:18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

You shall surely clothe yourself how? As with an ornament - and - bind them on thee as a bride does. Here it is again. Women wearing ornaments and this fact being used an example of something good that is to happen.

When Abraham's servant went to get a wife for Isaac, he took jewelry with him to give to the woman who would become Isaac's wife. Remember that Abraham was a man of faith.

Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

1 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels

Here we are told some specifics concerning the jewelry that was brought from Abraham's house, by his servant and given to the young woman who he wanted to take to Isaac to be his wife. Notice though, that Rebekah was not yet engaged or married to Isaac when these gifts were given. What did the servant give her? An earring made of half a shekel of gold and two bracelets made of ten shekels of gold.

This was before the Law of Moses was given and shows that jewelry was not considered sinful at that time. The scriptures about the New Jerusalem speak of the future. And show that in the future jewelry is not considered sinful.

When God sent Moses to rescue the children of Israel, look at what He had them to do.

God said - Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

So, not only did God say for the children of Israel to borrow jewels of silver and gold from the Egyptians, but He also told them to put them on their sons and daughters.

In the New Testament story of the prodigal son, the father put a ring on his son's hand when he returned home to his father.

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

So then, if jewelry was accepted and even expected in Abraham's day. If it accepted and even a blessing in the future when we receive our new eternal home, why would it be unacceptable and even sinful for a woman to wear jewelry now?

I suggest that it is not and that the mind of God has not changed on the issue. But if that is so, what do we do with the two portions of scripture in the New Testament that many believe teach it to be sin? Let's look and see.

1 Peter 3:1 1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands ....

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price

That outward (Greek) - exothen, (ex'-o-then) - ... external(-ly):--out(-side, -ward, - wardly), (from) without.

Let her adornment be things that are not corruptible. The decoration that she can put on is a meek and quiet spirit.

I think most readers see the words 'outward adorning' but overlook the word 'that.' The writer is not saying there is to be no outward adorning such as he goes on to describe, but do not let her adorning be 'that.' Now before you think I am picking things out to create my own meaning, pay attention to all that is said in these verses. It also says in verse 3 not to let her adorning be the putting on of apparel (clothes)

The writer is speaking to wives here and not just women in general. He addresses her subjection to her 'own' husband, and not to men in general. And he addresses how she should adorn herself.

Now, let us be honest. If the writer is telling women not to plait their hair - at all - at any time - and never to wear gold, or jewelry (if that is how you interpret it) at all - at any time - then he is also telling them not to put on apparel, which is clothes - at all - at any time. While some will pick out the part about hair and gold, I have never heard anyone say that women are to go naked. Yet, if the writer is teaching abstinence from the things listed here, then he definitely included 'the putting on of apparel.

Since we know better than to think wives cannot wear clothes, we are forced to take a closer look at what the writer's meaning is. Look at the definitions of 'adorning and 'apparel.'

Adorning in the Greek is - kosmos, (kos'-mos) - ... 2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):--adorning, world.

Apparel in the Greek is himation, ( him-at'-ee-on) - ... (to put on); a dress (inner or outer):--apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture.

Notice that one of the meanings of the word 'adorning' is decoration, I believe the writer is telling women not to let their beauty be that which is superficial as in the things we wear and decorate ourselves with, physically, but let our true beauty, the beauty our husbands see above all else, be our inward beauty. Women are allowed to wear gold, plait or braid their hair and wear clothes, but do not let 'that' be her true adornment. Let her true adornment be that which is inside her and shows forth on the outside in her everyday life - such - as "a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

God puts greater value on the inward man than on the outer trappings.

A physically beautiful woman can become very unattractive if evil flows from her inner being. And a woman with less physical beauty can become more beautiful if her inner beauty shines out.

The next portion of scripture used to teach against jewelry is in 1 Timothy. What is less often, if ever, spoken of, is that the writer was addressing the issue of prayer.

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

If this scripture is to be taken in context, we must acknowledge that the writer is speaking first of prayer. He wants men - (meaning 'male' here and not mankind) - to 'pray' everywhere, lifting hands that are 'holy.' He wants them to do this without wrath or doubting.

When they pray this is how it should be. The hands they lift should be holy and they should do their praying without wrath and without doubting.

He goes on to say - "in like manner." Do not suddenly forget that he was speaking of 'praying.' If you lose sight of the subject or the writer's point, you may be able to come up with all sorts of ideas and man-made doctrines.

But the writer says "In like manner ...." In the Greek this is - hosautos, (ho-sow'-toce) - ... as thus, i.e. in the same way:--even so, likewise, after the same (in like) manner.

In the same way that men are to pray everywhere, lifting holy hands, without wrath and doubting, let the women pray adorned in a way that becomes women who profess godliness.

9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

She should come to public prayer adorned in modest apparel, shamefacedness, sobriety and good works.

Again be honest. Can a woman actually wear shamefacedness, sobriety and good works?

Why do I say this is speaking of public prayer? Because if she were alone in her room, where no one could see, then what she was or was not wearing would not give a message to anyone. It would not be important for her to be 'modest,' as is spoken of here or in a way that denotes 'shamefacedness.'

Shamefacedness, here is (Greek) - aidos, (ahee-doce') - ... (through the idea of downcast eyes); bashfulness, i.e. (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe:--reverence, shamefacedness.

Sobriety (Greek) - sophrosune, (so-fros-oo'-nay) - ... soundness of mind, i.e. (literally) sanity or (figuratively) self-control:--soberness, sobriety.

Godliness here is (Greek) - theosebeia, (theh-os-eb'-i-ah) - ... devoutness, i.e. piety:--godliness.

When women pray publicly, they are not to be trying to draw attention to themselves by their outward appearance. The focus of prayer is to be God.

Understand that God does not teach that women must be bashful around men at all times and in all ways. As a matter of fact, when the apostle Paul was speaking to the church about what their behavior should be when they were congregated together, he explained that when a person is prophesying he is speaking to men (meaning humankind here, which could be both male and female, as it was in the congregation). When a person is prophesying he is speaking to others for the purpose of edification, exhortation, and comfort. ANd women were, indeed, used of God to prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

And in Acts we are told that God was going to pour out His Spirit on both sons and daughters and both would prophesy.

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

If then, prophecy is for the church and is spoken openly for the purpose of edification, exhortation, and comfort, we can see that women were not required to be too bashful or subdued to be used of God in this way.

Now, exhortation in the Greek is - paraklesis, (par-ak'-lay-sis) - imploration, hortation, solace:--comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.

So then, from the mouths of women, God would speak words that intreated, implored, built up (edification) and comforted others and this took place in the church. We know this because Paul said that after a prophecy was given others were to judge. The prophecy could not be judged by others if no one else was there.

1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge

So then, the bashfulness toward men, was not so much as if to hide away, but in the sense of modesty. When it came to prayer, women were not to be flaunting themselves before men or drawing their attention to them in an ungodly manner. They were to be representative of godly women when they prayed publicly and the focus was to be God.

What was to be seen was modesty. They were not to be decked out in a way that would distract their brothers from prayer to the women's ungodly appearance. They were to show sobriety which is self-control, godliness (or piety) and good works.

Read scriptures in context. I Timothy 2:8-10 has to do with the issue of prayer in the presence of others, or perhaps in unity with others, so that the prayers will be answered.

Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

So, men are told what their attitudes should be when they pray and in actuality so are the women. Though specifics are named, the purpose is the same. When two or three of us are gathered in the name of Jesus, we should come in the unity of the faith and purpose. We should not come for self-glory but to glorify the Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We need to be of one mind and one accord, having compassion for one another, loving each other and courteous to one another, that our prayers may go up before the Lord in unity and be answered.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Let neither man or woman do anything that would cause their brother to stumble. Paul, speaking of eating meat offered to idols spoke of the importance of caring about our brother's needs. He said -

1Corinthians 8: 11-12 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Let not a man wound his brother's and sister's consciences through his wrath or discourage him by doubting (lacking faith). Let not the women wound their brother's consciences through seductive dress, rudeness or lack of self-control. When we come together for prayer, let it be for the right reasons.

Now as to make-up in the Bible, I know of no scriptures actually addressing the issue. Some might say that for a woman to wear make-up it would have to be a sin, because Jezebel, who was a wicked woman, wore it. They may even say that she did so to be seductive.

But the truth of the matter is, that the Bible does not state why Jezebel painted her face. It does not say that she did it in a manner so as to seduce men, or that she painted her face to look like a witch or in some evil looking way. Read what it says.

2 Kings 9:30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

How did she paint her face? It does not say. For all we know, this could have just been her morning routine.

Was it seductive? It does not say.

Was it demonic? It does not say.

What did she make her face look like? It does not say.

What does the Bible say Jezebel did that was wrong? Does it say it was the wearing of make-up?

2 Kings 9:7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.

2 Kings 9 22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

What evil did Jezabel do?

1 She shed the blood of the servants of the Lord.

2 She committed whoredoms

3 She committed witchcraft

Never does it say she was punished for painting her face. That the painting of her face was connected to her evil deeds is only assumed. It may have been, but we do not know. She may have painted her face in a seductive way, or to give the look of evil or something frightening. While either is possible, the Bible does not actually state that there was anything evil in the way she painted her face It could have said that she arose, dressed herself, had breakfast, then went to the window, and we would not have connected any of those actions to the evil she was punished for.

I know of no scriptures either forbidding make-up or shaming women for wearing it.

Someone might attempt to use Jeremiah 4:30, where God was speaking to Israel to say make-up is wrong because He said -

Jeremiah 4:30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.

Again there is no suggestion that making themselves fair was in and of itself evil or sinful. Their reason for doing it, however, was sinful. The point being made is that making themselves fair by all these means, would not change the fact that their lovers were going to despise them and seek to kill them.

The chapter just before this tells of the condition of Israel at this time.

Jeremiah 3:25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

They had sinned against the Lord and disobeyed Him from their youth. They laid down in shame and were covered with confusion. All the fancy clothing and face paint in the world was not going to keep their lovers from despising them. Notice we are also told that they clothed themselves with crimson.

The virtuous woman, spoken of in Proverbs 31, wore silk and purple, which is the color of royalty, and she clothed her entire household in scarlet. Yet the Bible says her value is more than that of rubies,

Proverbs 31:21- 22 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

So the fact that in Jeremiah, God speaks of Israel, wearing crimson and painting their faces does not mean that the use of either is wrong when not used for evil. They did it to look fair for lovers. It was their purpose that was evil.

However, The virtuous woman could wear purple and her household could wear scarlet and she was highly praised. Had she worn a little make-up, I do not believe this would have been referred to as evil, for never once does the Bible say that it is bad or forbid it.

Satan loves to take things that are good and use them for sinful, perverted purposes. God gave us children, but Satan would have some of them sacrificed to idols. We do not give him our children but dedicate them to God.

We wear clothes and can enjoy wearing nice clothes that are beautiful. But Satan will see to it that clothes are worn in seductive manners to seduce men and women into sinful affairs. All clothes are not sinful. It is up to us what we do with them.

God made jewels and refers to the wearing of them in a good way. Make-up is not something He says to do nor forbids to do. But if we use it, how we use it is what matters. Face paint can be used to make a face look demonic. But make-up itself is not the problem. It is up to us what we do with it.

Let This Cup Pass - Which Cup?

Let This Cup Pass - Which Cup?

Good Friday

John 1:29 ... John seeth Jesus ... and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 2: 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

That such a one who was one with the Father - and was God with the Father - pure, Holy and completely good, would take on human flesh and blood, lower himself and be placed in a womb is already beyond comprehension. That he would submit to human parents and be obedient to people who were His own creation, letting them have authority in His life is amazing. That He would love us enough to confine Himself to a human body, while still being God, in order to bring about the work of salvation is enough to leave us in awe.
But then on top of all of this, He who was pure and guiltless, who had never committed sin or felt the guilt and shame of it, allowed all the sins that had ever been, or ever would be committed, to be placed in His innocent body!
Can you imagine the shock it would have been for Him to take on Himself even one sin, and to feel what it was like to be contaminated by it, feel the uncleanness of it, and have that thing recorded in His pure and holy mind?
But to have all the sins of the entire human race, past, present and future, loaded into His innocent body must have been an extreme shock to His entire being, His mind, His Spirit, and His body! Surely there are no words that can describe the horror of that moment!
And yet it did happen. It had to happen if He were to destroy the works of Satan and destroy the body of sin. Always keep in mind that man had sinned in his body and death had come to our bodies, thus bringing death to our spirit as well. Remember how Eve sewed leaves together to cover her body after she sinned. Before that, she and her husband were naked and not ashamed, as it should be, but after they sinned in their bodies, they were ashamed.
But when - at what point - were the sins of the world put in Jesus' body? The Bible does not say specifically. But I believe that we may have a clue when we read what is recorded.
I believe that it is highly likely that this took place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let me show you why. We are told this in Isaiah, chapter 53

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The word 'bruised' here, in the Hebrew is the word - Daka, ('daw-kaw') - a primitive root ... to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively):--beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.
From this, we see that the beating Jesus received after leaving the Garden of Gethsemane, was for our iniquities. He was chastised for the sins we committed in order to bring us peace. This being the case, then we understand that it is likely that at the time the Roman soldiers were beating Him, our sins would have been in His body, for that is what He was being beaten for.
It stands to reason then, that the sins of the world would have been in His body when He left the Garden of Gethsemane and was taken to Pilot for He went from Pilot to the soldiers to be beaten. It also stands to reason that if He did not enter the Garden of Gethsemane with the sins of the world in His body, that the transfer of our sins to His body would have taken place there in the Garden.
When we look at some of the things that we are told took place there, some things may become clear, that perhaps were not seen or understood before.
Let us go to the book of Luke and read of what took place.

Luke 22:37-44 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

These words were spoken before Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane and they had not yet taken place.

Reckoned in the Hebrew is - logizomai (log-id'-zom-ahee) - ... estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).

Isaiah 53:12 12 ... and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many ….

Numbered - (Hebrew) – manah, (maw-naw') - a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll:--appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.

This verse lets us know that Jesus knew what was about to happen and was determined to see it accomplished. He said that it “... must yet be accomplished in me...” Noticed He did not just say that it must be accomplished, but rather that it had to be accomplished 'in' Him.
This word 'in' – in the Hebrew is the word – en, (en) - a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state) ....
Where is the place that this must be accomplished? Jesus said, “in me”!
And what had to be accomplished? He had to be reckoned with the transgressors.
Although the Jews looked to find some way of accusing Jesus of breaking the law, they could find nothing. There were false accusations, but nothing true or worthy of death, until He confessed to being Christ, the Son of the Blessed.
This was not against the civil law. Yet, when He was crucified, He was treated officially as one who had transgressed the law. And in ages to come, He could still be looked on as a transgressor for the mere fact that he was crucified as though He were one. (Mark 14:53-64)
Though not a civil crime, blasphemy was against the Law of Moses that was in force at the time of Christ and it was punishable by death. (Leviticus 24:16) Also, when He took the sins of the world on Himself, God could then count Him as a sinner or lawbreaker. Not that He had committed sin, but that He had become sin and taken our sin on Himself. And as such, He had to pay the price of a lawbreaker.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
He had not yet been reckoned with the transgressors when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane.
Now let us go back to Luke 22 and continue.

38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

WHAT CUP WAS HE ASKING HIS FATHER TO REMOVE? WAS HE SPEAKING OF THE CROSS?

I suggest that He was not asking God to keep Him from going to the cross, as is so often assumed.
To die on the cross, was the purpose for which He had come into the world. Jesus said that this had to be accomplished in Him. He knew and understood this and fully intended to see it carried to completion.
He had always known His purpose.

1 John 3:8 ... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

He had already told His disciples of His upcoming death. And He had already known that His body had been prepared for the purpose of taking on the sin of the world and being sacrificed.

Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Jesus wanted to do the work He had come to earth to do. Still, as a man, the thought of the pain and suffering He was about to face could have caused great stress. Yet, I highly doubt that He would have asked His Father to keep Him from going to the cross. He understood that without sacrificing Himself there would be no redemption for mankind; all would die.
I do not believe for one moment, that Jesus would have asked the Father to not make Him go through with what He came to do for those He loved so dearly. This He was determined to do. He was no coward, no weakling. He had lived with the knowledge of His purpose and would not be inclined to back out now.
But if that is not what he was referring to, what might it have been?
Let me suggest that the cup he was referring to, was the one he was having to drink in that very moment, the very moment in which He was praying. “if thou be willing, remove this cup from me”
And what was that?
I believe that in that moment the sins of the world were transferred to His body and that the shock and weight of it was almost too much for Him to physically bear. Had he died under the weight of it, there in the Garden, He would not have made it to the cross. He was determined to get there, and I believe His cry concerning His cup, was a cry for help.
We see that as soon as He prayed for the cup to be removed - if possible, - that an angel came and strengthened him. I believe what he was suffering in that moment was so excruciating and so overwhelming to his body, mind and spirit that it might have taken his life had God not sent the angel to strengthen him
I doubt He was even asking for the removal of the sin He was now having to bear, for He knew He had to carry it to the cross, bear it there, and let the body of sin die, so that the world could be forgiven. But, I think it to be more likely that He was asking to be relieved of what that awful burden was doing to His mind, spirit, and body.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Take a look, for a moment, and what is said of this condition of sweating blood.

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-g…/hematidrosis-hematohidrosis… - Hematidrosis, or hematohidrosis, is a very rare medical condition that causes you to ooze or sweat blood from your skin when you're not cut or injured.
Only a few handfuls of hematidrosis cases were confirmed in medical studies in the 20th century.
People who have hematidrosis may sweat blood from their skin. It usually happens on or around the face, but the skin might be lining the inside of your body, too, like in your nose, mouth, or stomach. The skin around the bloody area may swell temporarily.
Hematidrosis can look like blood, bloody sweat, or sweat with droplets of blood in it.
The bleeding usually stops on its own, and it's not serious, although it can make you dehydrated. And, of course, it can be disturbing.
What Happens
Doctors don't know exactly what triggers hematidrosis, in part because it's so rare. They think it could be related to your body's "fight or flight" response.
Tiny blood vessels in the skin break open. The blood inside them may get squeezed out through sweat glands, or there might be unusual little pockets within the structure of your skin. These could collect the blood and let it leak into follicles (where the hair grows) or on to the skin's surface.
Sometimes it seems to be caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture, or severe ongoing abuse. It's probably where the term "sweating blood," meaning a great effort, comes from.

Notice a 'fight or flight' response is mentioned in the description of this condition above.

Dictionary.com defines 'fight or flight' this way - the response of the sympathetic nervous system to a stressful event, preparing the body to fight or flee, associated with the adrenal secretion of epinephrine and characterized by increased heart rate, increased blood flow to the brain and muscles, raised sugar levels, sweaty palms and soles, dilated pupils, and erect hairs.
When the sins of the world were put into the body of Jesus, it was an intrusion that went against everything that He was. It was repulsive to the Holy Savior. We can see how that His body could have went into the 'fight or flight' response. It would have been natural for Jesus to instantly want to cast off the unclean thing attacking His body and mind. And yet He could not do so and still save the world!
I truly believe that our Lord, in His human state, had taken on more than He, humanly, was able to bear without help. His cry to His Father, then, may have been concerning the suffering He was going through - that is - the pressure and assault on His body and Spirit. In other words, He may have been asking God to take away the weakness and physical affect of what He was now having to bear. To save Him from the awful, overpowering feeling of shame, guilt, and horror over all of the repulsive, wickedness and uncleanness assaulting Him.
Remember too, that these sins would have separated Him from the Father!
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you ….
It is no wonder that while on the cross He cried out - “...My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
He had to go through the assault of sin while separated from the Father for the first time. This alone would have been devastating. This in itself could have caused tremendous grief, sense of loss and agony. All of this at one time surely must have caused Him to be physically weakened and be so overwhelmed that it was making it hard for Him to even think straight or retain consciousness. Surely His heart would have been breaking over the sins of the world that were imposed on Him and the separation from His Father! It would make sense for Him to ask His Father to relieve Him so He could make it to the cross and not faint or die first.
As we have seen, this condition of bloody sweat is a reaction of the body to extreme stress and He certainly would have been under extreme stress. Think of the guilt you feel when you commit one sin, how it weighs on your mind, and can even make it hard for you to sleep or have peace But Jesus had the sin of every rapist, child molester, murderer etc. put in His body all at once! And He had to bear it without the Father or Holy Spirit dwelling in Him.
We see that the condition causing bloody sweat can cause dehydration. According to -
https://www.mayoclinic.org/…/d…/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086 – (quote) -
Low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock). This is one of the most serious, and sometimes life-threatening, complications of dehydration. It occurs when low blood volume causes a drop in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body.
Now if Jesus actually sweat blood, then there may have been enough of a drop in His blood pressure and oxygen level, to have caused Him to faint or to become ill if He did not receive help.
In such a condition, it would make sense for Him to ask the Father to relieve Him of this physical suffering of blood and oxygen loss, perhaps even headache and nausea, agony of the sin and darkness filling Him, bringing with it overwhelming sorrow, guilt and shame, plus the pain of separation from the Father and Holy Spirit!
“Let this cup pass.” In other words, rather than asking God not to make Him have to go to the cross, I believe He was asking God to intervene in His physical, mental, and emotional condition so that He could, in fact, make it to the cross.
And we do see that when He asked God to let that cup pass, the angel came to His aide and strengthened Him. This was the answer to His prayer. He was strengthened.
Can you imagine after having suffered this onslaught of sin and the tremendous physical reaction to the excessive stress of wanting to resist the horrid sin and yet knowing you must bear it, until the pressure was so great you sweat blood and perhaps become weak and dehydrated, to have to go on to trial before Pilot and then be tortured? Surely Jesus did need supernatural intervention to be able to bear it without total collapse!
He was not rescued from feeling the pain and evidently, God did not make him totally physically immune to the effects of his ordeal, but He was strengthened enough to make it through. Still, He had to bear it, because it was the punishment for the sins that were in His body, that had been committed by all of mankind - except for Him!
On the way to the cross, Jesus carried His cross part of the way and then a man named Simon carried it. Most believe this is because Jesus fell under the weight of the cross, though scripture doesn't state this clearly. It is doubtful, though, that they would have gotten someone to carry it for him unless they saw that he was having too much difficulty carrying it Himself, or actually fell, whether from the weight alone, or from fainting. Such a cross would be heavy and His body had already suffered much.
Indeed, Jesus did bear in Himself the sins of the world. Indeed, He was beaten, spit on, had hair pulled from His precious face, and more, as punishment for what we had done and what He was innocent of!
HE BORE MORE THAN OUR SIN- He bore the effect our sin had on our bodies.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Now take a look at what is said here. I have already spoken of the effects that having the sins of the world put in Jesus' body would have caused. Now here we find scripture saying that He did, in fact, bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. When we look at the meaning of this word 'griefs' we learn much.

Griefs - Hebrew - choliy, (khol-ee') - from 'chalah' (2470); malady, anxiety, calamity:--disease, grief, (is) sick(-ness).

So griefs can include maladies, anxieties, calamities, even disease and sickness.

According to (http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/malady) - a malady is – 1 [n] impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism - 2 - [n] any unwholesome or desperate condition;
Malady relates to the physiological or that is - ttps://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/physiological) - 1.1 Relating to the way in which a living organism or bodily part functions.
Sin in the body affects the functioning of the entire body. It definitely causes an unwholesome or desperate condition. We were not created to carry sin in our body, but when we do, it has a very negative impact on us mentally, spiritually and physically. In the meaning of griefs that He bore for us, is included - calamity, which is -
Calamity is (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/…/dictio…/english/calamity) - A calamity is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress.
We know that sin is the root cause of much of the calamities that are suffered in our world Sin causes a great deal of damage, destruction and personal distress to our own mind, spirit, and body, but also results in many distressing things that happen worldwide. Jesus bore our griefs which can include all of this and also anxiety, disease, and sick(-ness).
But there is more. He carried our sorrows too! Now consider what is in the meaning of this word - sorrows.
Sorrows - Hebrew - mak'ob, (mak-obe') - ... anguish or (figuratively) affliction:--grief, pain, sorrow.
According to - http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/ - Anguish is - n. 1.Extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress.- v. t. 1.To distress with extreme pain or grief.
Sorrow is - a feeling of great sadness or regret, or something that causes this feeling: (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/…/dictionary/english/sorrow)
Now we can see that our salvation includes so much more than many people ever realize or ever trust God for! Jesus saves us from sin and the effect of sin on every part of us. God is concerned about even our emotions. If Jesus bore all of this for us, we should understand that we can go to Him when we begin to suffer from any of these things. He is able to comfort us and relieve us, by His Spirit. He is able to speak peace to us in any and every situation.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

But let us go on to the following verse -

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Transgressions - Hebrew – pesha,` (peh'-shah) ... (6586); a revolt (national, moral or religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
Our Savior was wounded for our transgressions – our rebellion, revolt and sin.
In the Hebrew, this word 'wounded' is – chalal, (khaw-lal') - ... properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), ….
Because of our transgressions, our rebellion and sin, He was physically wounded and was profaned! According to http://www.dictionary.com/browse/, - to be profaned is - characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.
Indeed, our Savior was physically wounded but He was also treated with disrespect, irreverence and contempt. And why? Because of our transgressions, not His own!

“he was bruised for our iniquities:

Bruised – Hebrew – daka,' (daw-kaw') - a primitive root ... to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively):--beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.
Iniquities – Hebrew - `avon, (aw-vone') - ... perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

Jesus was beaten to the point of flesh most likely having been ripped from His body by Roman soldiers with a cat o' nine tails. He was humbled. They probably stripped Him of all or most of His clothes and He was beaten like a slave or a person of utmost contempt, worthy of such horrid treatment. And all of this bruising was suffered for our iniquities.
Our iniquities include our perversity (Perverse - 1. Contrary to what is right or good; wicked or depraved: 2. a. Characterized by or resulting from willful opposition or resistance to what is right, expected, or reasonable: b. Willfully opposing or resisting what is right, expected, or reasonable:)
Because we willfully resisted what was right, because we willfully disobeyed God, because of the evil in us, our innocent, pure and holy God was bruised, or, that is, beaten and tortured, taking our punishment!

the chastisement of our peace was upon him”

Chastisement – Hebrew – muwcar, (moo-sawr') - ... properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, … bond, chastening ((-eth)), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
The reproof, rebuke, correction, and discipline for what we had done was put on Christ and He bore it so that He could bring us the peace He always wanted us to have, from the beginning of our creation.

John 14:. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

“and with his stripes we are healed”

Stripes - Hebrew - chabbuwrah, (khab-boo-raw') - ... properly, bound (with stripes), i.e. a weal (or black-and-blue mark itself):--blueness, bruise, hurt, stripe, wound.
Healed – Hebrew – rapha,' (raw-faw') - ... properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure:--cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole
So then, by the stripes from the whip that struck His body, from the pain and bruising that He suffered in His body, which likely wounded His spirit and mind, we, the guilty, are cured, mended and thoroughly made whole!

Hallelujah! All Glory Be To God Our Savior!!!