[cefunonge]

Okay, I’ve got two more questions and an encouragement from my “buddy” (Sean) to answer the Mormon one.

First off, let me say that I do not intend to spend too much time on PS. I started out in a flurry, I grant you that. I did so partly to see if I was going to survive—in the sense of not being kicked off. I appreciate the fact that I have not been kicked off yet. Thank you, moderators/administrators.

Second, I do want to stay on the theme of the thread. Thus, near the and of my answering questions, I probably will continue to give OT passages that affirm the deity of the predicted Messiah (all fulfilled in Jesus).

Finally, MM wrote: “Humber how do you feel about teh gays? What bout Gays For Jesus?”

Aside from the typos, which I assume most can figure out the intent (thus did not edit), I question the use of the word “gay” for homosexual. My sister-in-law’s name is Gay, but she is married to my brother. The word, gay, also used to mean something quite different from what it has come to mean.

1 Corinthians 6:11a is helpful. It says, “And that is what some of you were.” There are many sexual sins. Rape and adultery are two, but notice the Apostle’s use of the word, “were.” These people, who had become Christians, “were” (past tense) sexual sinners.

Here is the passage in context: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. 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.”

Thus, homosexual persons, like adulterers, rapists, etc. need to repent. I look on homosexual people as I look at the world. We are all sinners needing God’s forgiveness and salvation.

The Apostle went on to say, “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

The other question was, “What do you think about the Mormons?” Mormons have faith in the Book of Mormon (as well as in other books, such as The Pearl of Great Price). Many also may believe in the doctrine of “the blood atonement”, which is not the same as the biblical doctrine by that name. Mormons teach that that some sins are so bad that they can only be atoned for by shedding one's own blood. This denied the biblical teaching in 1 John 1:7, that the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.

Returning to the thread, Genesis 21:17-18 says, “God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

Note that instead of Jehovah’s Messenger, as in Genesis 16, we read here of God’s Messenger (“the angel of God”). Now, as earlier, the recipient of the revelation is Hagar. Only a Divine “angel” (as opposed to a creaturely one) could truthfully say, “I will make him into a great nation.” The Lord Jesus, prior to His incarnation, is in view.