It's fairly long, I did add in alot of scripture in full and then got lazy near the end and just gave the referenced for you to look up. As usual, If you are easily offended, oh well. I don't care, read on and get offend. The cross of Jesus is offensive to many.
BLOOD COVENANT - MARRIAGE - HOMOSEXUALS UNIONS
A quote from a pro gay marriage lobbyist: "No one dies from two men or two women getting married".......
My reply: No one is born either.
Marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman that results (in most cases) in procreation.
Marriage is the ONLY covenant ceremony that God instituted before the fall. This union between one man and one woman is sacred and blessed by God. It is a blood covenant.
There are 7 Covenants mentioned in the Bible 4 of which are Abrahamic, Palestinian, Mosaic and Davidic. God made these covenants with Nation of Israel. Of those four, three are unconditional in nature; that is, regardless of Israel's obedience or disobedience, God still will fulfill these covenants with Israel. One of the covenants, the Mosaic Covenant, is conditional in nature. That is, this covenant will bring either blessing or cursing depending on Israel's obedience or disobedience. Three of the covenants (Adamic, Noahic, New) are made between God and mankind in general, and are not limited to the nation of Israel.
Western People today, even churched people, have little to no understanding at the sacredness of covenants. In 30 yrs of going to church, I can literally count on one hand how many time the churches I have attended taught on covenants.
FACTS ABOUT BLOOD COVENANTS
(This is just a brief explanation of blood covenants, there is so much more but I just wanted to give a solid understanding of blood covenants)
The two participants in the cutting of the covenant are called "covenant heads." The covenant remains in effect until both covenant heads die. If one covenant head dies, the other will extend the benefits and blessings of the covenant to the family of the deceased covenant head. In essence, a blood covenant not only joins the two covenant heads together but also joins the families as well. These facts should be kept firmly in mind as we explore the reality of our redemption in the new covenant in Christ’s blood.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the two covenant heads are called "friends." The word "friend" is a covenant term that has completely lost its meaning in today's English language. We say, "I think I'll have a friend over for dinner tonight," or "I want you to meet a good friend of mine." The original meaning of "friend" carried with it the union of a blood covenant. It means very little in our culture. The same thing is true of the handshake. This blood covenant act has lost its true meaning. In our culture, it has become nothing more than a gesture that communicates courtesy or greeting. If we took seriously the true meaning behind the handshake, we would be very careful in using it.
With these facts in mind, we can better understand what Jesus was saying in
John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father, I have made known to you.
The disciples were excited about the words Jesus used here. In that part of the world and at that time, the blood covenant was a respected institution. When Jesus used the word "friend" to define his relationship with these men, it had a tremendous impact on their lives. The word "friend" as Jesus used it did not mean some kind of "Jesus is my buddy, my pal" mentality—that is found in some parts of the church today. The word "friend" as used in this verse meant "covenant friend" or "blood brother." It implied the union of two people in a blood covenant. Religious teaching and the erosion of the true meaning of covenant terms like "friend" by our modern culture causes us to gloss over the importance of this section of scripture. The "friendship" Jesus was talking about in this scripture was not limited to the disciples but to all those who receive salvation through their testimony—this includes us.
Literally every culture has practiced "blood covenanting" at some point in their past and many still do today except in North America.
A Covenant with YHWH is a divine and spiritual contract, agreement, or testament between the Creator of the Universe and man. You as a Christian, a member of the spiritual, mystical Body of Christ are in a Blood Covenant with the Creator of the Universe.
Covenants can not be broken on penalty of death.
Man is responsible to uphold his end of the covenant. Each person in a contract with YHWH is responsible before YHWH for their OWN ACTIONS as they pertain to their covenant with Him. Even though the Old Covenant was cut with the nation of Israel, God dealt with the individuals, not just the nation as a whole. It is the same with the Body of Christ, although the New Covenant is with the entire Body of Christ, we personally are responsible before YHWH for how we walk as it pertains to our covenant with God.
God's covenants are eternal even if the human partner is weak.
1 Corinthians 11:23-31GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
23 After all, I passed on to you what I had received from the Lord.
On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread 24 and spoke a prayer of thanksgiving. He broke the bread and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 When supper was over, he did the same with the cup. He said, “This cup is the new promise[ testament or covenant] made with my blood. Every time you drink from it, do it to remember me.” 26 Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the Lord’s cup in an improper way will be held responsible for the Lord’s body and blood. 28 With this in mind, individuals must determine whether what they are doing is proper when they eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29 Anyone who eats and drinks is eating and drinking a judgment against himself when he doesn’t recognize the Lord’s body.
30 This is the reason why many of you are weak and sick and quite a number of you have died. 31 If we were judging ourselves correctly, we would not be judged.
Time and time again in scripture you find the human who is in covenant relationship with YHWH breaking his covenant with God, deserving of the death penalty, also, time and time again you find YHWH being merciful to their unrighteousness and forgiving their sins as soon as they once again approach Him with blood for the atonement of their sins.
The word blood appears 434 times in the Bible. Specific to this topic 85 times in Leviticus (law) 22 times in Hebrews (Priesthood) and 19 times in the Book of Revelation (Overcame by the blood)
Our relationship with God depends on blood. God has no other way of dealing with sin, or the sinner except through the blood.
Leviticus 17:10-11GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Eating Blood
10 “If Israelites or foreigners eat any blood, I will condemn them and exclude them from the people, 11 because blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me.This belief that the life is in the blood seems to be universal. All ancient peoples and tribes considered blood to be the representative of life.
Shedding of blood was considered to be the giving of life. Transference of blood was considered the transference of life. That is why there have been so many perversions down through history, drinking blood, cannibalism, scalping etc.
The life is in the blood, therefor the value of the blood corresponds to the life that is in it. The life of YHWH and His blood are of more value than anything else's. Jesus' blood is powerful because it is Gods' blood! The life of YHWH is carried in that blood!
The blood of Jesus is the Centre of our redemption! It is the theme of the Old and New Covenants.
1 Peter 1:18-19GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
18 Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed. 19 Rather, the payment that freed you was the precious blood of Christ, the lamb with no defects or imperfections.
Both Testaments tell the same story, that God has entered into a Blood Covenant with man, through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Christianity is the only religion where YHWH reaches down to mankind. In all others, man reaches up to god. Our Heavenly Father loves us and desires to bless us. He took the initiative to enter into an eternal covenant with us, and it's available to all who would enter it.
BREAKDOWN OF HOW A COVENANT IS CUT
A Covenant is a a binding agreement between 2 parties. The Hebrew word for covenant is "berith", the greek is "diatheke', both mean to 'cut covenant' suggesting an incision that causes blood to flow.
Covenant - Hebrew - 'berith'
1. Something which is eaten
2. From a root which has a sense of 'cutting'
3. A compact, contract, agreement which was usually made and sealed by passing between two pieces of flesh which has been divided.
A covenant is more than a contract, it is an unbreakable agreement. The punishment for breaking a blood covenant is always death.
REASONS FOR ENTERING A BLOOD COVENANT
1. BUSINESS
2. SURVIVAL - A weak tribe would seek a stronger tribe
3. LOVE - A mutual love for one another, not your regular man/woman relationship that leads to the marriage covenant.
A BLOOD COVENANT COULD BE DONE BY PROXY
Someone else could stand in for you in the cutting of a blood Covenant. (Jesus in His great love, stood in proxy for me)
SIGNIFICANCE OF A BLOOD COVENANTING
IT IS A sacred union, a blood Covenant has never been known to be broken other than by individuals, never by tribes or nations.
Two natures become One nature
Two lives become One life
Two souls become One soul
All that belongs to one belongs to the other if needed.
COMMON PRINCIPLES OF PROCEDURE OF A BLOOD COVENANT
1. Parley - Bargaining, they agree on the terms.
2. Witnesses - They gather witnesses and swear to the agreement
3. Gifts - this symbolizes that everything they have belongs to the other IF needed.
4. Eating - sharing a meal in honour of the Blood Covenant
5. Actual sharing of blood - done by drink or transfusion
6. Pronouncing of Blessings and Curses
7. Memorial - something by which to remember the Blood Covenant - a physical sign
THE MARRIAGE COVENANT
PRINCIPLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Genesis 15:6GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
6 Then Abram believed the Lord, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abram’s approval by the Lord.
Ephesians 5:31-32GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
31 That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will be one. 32 This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s relationship to the church.)
If both parties have a proper covenant relationship with YHWH through Jesus, then the marriage will automatically work well and will have a proper covenant relationship, both husband and wife.
To break the marriage covenant is to break relationship before God.
VOWS
Your marriage vows or promises to each other were sworn before God who was a witness to your marriage covenant. YHWH always KEEPS His Word and He expects you to keep yours also.
Psalm 15:4GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
4 The one who despises those rejected by God
but honors those who fear the Lord.
but honors those who fear the Lord.
The one who makes a promise and does not break it,
even though he is hurt by it.
even though he is hurt by it.
Gods Instructions for husband wife:
Ephesians 5:25-30GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words. 27 Then he could present it to himself as a glorious church, without any kind of stain or wrinkle—holy and without faults. 28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 No one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds and takes care of it, as Christ takes care of the church. 30 We are parts of his body.
Instructions for our covenant relationship to each other within the Body of Christ.
Philippians 2:1-11GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Have the Same Attitude as Christ
2 So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? 2 Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. 3 Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. 4 Don’t be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. 5 Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Although he was in the form of God and equal with God,
he did not take advantage of this equality.
7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant,
by becoming like other humans,
by having a human appearance.
8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
death on a cross.
9 This is why God has given him an exceptional honor—
the name honored above all other names—
and in the world below will kneel
to the glory of God the Father.
he did not take advantage of this equality.
7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant,
by becoming like other humans,
by having a human appearance.
8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
death on a cross.
9 This is why God has given him an exceptional honor—
the name honored above all other names—
and in the world below will kneel
to the glory of God the Father.
The same principles apply to the Marriage Covenant as they do to the Blood Covenant or in other words, the New Christian Covenant you're in with YHWH. Your marriage should be built on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Your marriage will only be as good as your word and your relationship with God. You may have sacrifice your desires for the good of your spouse and marriage. Jesus laid down His life for His bride, the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 5: 25-27 - Husbands may have to put their wife's feelings and needs ahead of their own sometimes. This is agape love, sacrificial love, and it will produce unity and responsive love from your spouse.
Philippians 2:5GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
5 Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Ephesians 5:22GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
22 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority as you have placed yourselves under the Lord’s authority.
For a husband to be the head of his wife, does not mean he lords it over her. Jesus said, to be great in the kingdom of God you must learn to be a servant of all. wife is to submit to her husband, giving him the final say or authority in all major decisions even if she doesn't agree with his decision. This however would not apply in an area where his decision was totally ungodly and would cause great harm, in such a situation the wife would have to bow to the greater law of YHWH and do as YHWWH would command in that situation.
Matthew 20:20-28GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
A Mother Makes a Request
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her two sons. She bowed down in front of him to ask him for a favour.
21 “What do you want?” he asked her.
She said to him, “Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 Jesus replied, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink the cup that I’m going to drink?”
“We can,” they told him.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will drink my cup. But I don’t have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. My Father has already prepared these positions for certain people.”
24 When the other ten apostles heard about this, they were irritated with the two brothers.25 Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 26 But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 27 Whoever wants to be most important among you will be your slave. 28 It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”
A man cannot be a proper spiritual head of his family until he learns to be a servant to them. A mans wife is his helpmate, not his doormat. (slight difference) God took a rib from Adams side, a wife to stand by her husbands side to be supportive to him always.
A wife should have a willing submissiveness from her heart towards her husband. This will grow out of her husbands servant attitude towards her, not his forced submission caused by his lordship over her. Remember girls, you chose this man yourself to be the head of you, your children and your home. (CHOICES)
SACREDNESS OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT
As the Blood Covenant is considered a sacred union, so it is with the Marriage Covenant. it is sanctioned and guaranteed by God.Mark 10:2-9 - God created marriage, man warps it
Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is scared
1 Corinthians 7:12-14 - God expects us to separate ourselves from everything sinful
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - God expects not to be unequally yoked
Psalms 1:1-3 - Not to spend alot of time with unbelievers
Malachi 2: 13-16 - Marriage Covenat is a protective covering for those within it. YHWH ordained marriage in order for us to give Him godly offspring - Our children belong to YHWH!
LAW OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT
The law of love. Love is the main reason one would enter into a Marriage Covenant.
In the Old Testament the law was established as a means of keeping covenant.
In the New Testament the Law of Love has been established as a means of keeping the covenant.
In the Marriage Covenant the Law of Love also has been established as a means of keeping the covenant.
Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Agape love, the "God kind of love" sacrificial love, will mold your marriage into a joyful existence for your spouse, your children and yourself.
Read 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8 (What love is)
There are many divorces in the world simply because the individuals never learned to walk in "God's kind of love". A person cannot operate in agape love until after they are born again because they haven't yet received YHWH's nature and love with them. Romand 5:5
A marriage should grow more precious all the time in the LORD, not deteriorate. if it is deteriorating, one or both parties do not have a proper covenant relationship with YHWH and are operating in selfishness.
MARRIAGE SCRIPTURES
GEN 2:22-24
DEUT 24:5
PROV 5:18-19
PROV 12:4
PROV 18:22
PROV 19:14
PROV 20:6-7
PROV 30:18-19
PROV 31:10
EPH 5:22-33
MATT 19:4-6
1COR 7:1-16
COL 3:18-19
HEB 13:4-7
MARK 10:6-9
IS GAY MARRIAGE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD?
Let the scriptures, the WORD of YHWH speak for themselves, they all say the same thing.Leviticus 18:22 ESV
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 1:26-28 ESV
For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Leviticus 20:13 ESV
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
1 Timothy 1:10 ESV
The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
1 Timothy 1:10-11 ESV
The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
Mark 10:6-9 ESV
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Jude 1:7 ESV
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
Romans 1:27 ESV
And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS "DEAL" WITH SAME SEX MARRIAGE
I'm going to be totally blunt here. We don't. The powers that be will eventually bow to the Homosexual Community demands and allow for SSM, it's simply a matter of time.As Christians, we are called to pray for the lost in this world, and show them the love of Christ, who died for them in the state they are in. Romans 5:8 - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (This includes homosexuals)
This battle maybe lost to us. HOWEVER, it truly is not a victory for the Homosexual community as they are not in Holy covenant with YHWH and YHWH will not go back on His Word. Their unions are not blessed and will not produce godly fruit (children), which is one of the purposes of marriage if you recall.
This world wide sin will only remain for so long until Christ return. Our concern is not about these people marrying, our concern is for their souls not to enter damnation. What we ought to do as Christians is show them God's love. I have a feeling that most if not all homosexuals already have that conviction in their heart that something just isn't right and something is missing, and unless one of us points them to Christ, they will be lost forever. I also know that most if not all homosexuals are well acquainted with the aforementioned scriptures, but because their eyes are covered by this sin, they can not see the truth that is ONLY found in Jesus.
Isaiah 6:9-10GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
9 And he said, “Go and tell these people ‘No matter how closely you listen, you’ll never understand.No matter how closely you look, you’ll never see.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
I Personally do not condone homosexuality, but I do not hate any homosexuals based on their actions. I dislike a bunch of them because they are jerks, but I do not hate them. If I hated them, I would not care if they died and went to hell, but I do. Hence why I write this blog today.
If you are a homosexual reading this, understand that the choices you make today will effect your future. You have a choice to make and it's simple, Follow Jesus or don't. That's up to you. I would humbly suggest that a life filled with Jesus is most satisfying but that's just me. I love you enough to tell you there is a better way, and you don't have to be a slave to the sin that holds you, there is freedom in Christ Jesus. But I also love you enough to let you know that your choice to remain in sin will lead you to separation from Jesus and eventually, yes Hell. But it's your choice.
I hope to see y'all in glory one day, worshipping Jesus in perfection instead of this fallen world. Choices must be made and consequences must occur, good, bad or indifferent.
Deuteronomy 30:16-20King James Version (KJV)
16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Blood Covenants: http://www.rockofoffence.com/myst6.html
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/bible-covenants.html#ixzz3Z75QJ4uz
Covenants of God - Rev. Dr. Kathy Kanters
