Homosexuality is just not that special . . .

In the Greek, homosexuality is just another sexual perversion, of which there are many. In American culture, homosexuals have been elevated to a separate class of persons. We can not discriminate on the basis of: race, religion, gender, nationality, handicap, and now . . . sexual orientation, as if to say that homosexuals are in a separate category, a class of their own - like someone in a wheelchair.

This was not the case in ancient Greece and is reflected in the ancient writings. The New Testament does not give homosexuality such distinction or classification. In fact, it is not distinguished at all; it is lumped in with all other perversions of God's way.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 we read:

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."

First of all, the word translated as "homosexual" in the above passage is "ἀρσενοκοίτης" or "arsenocoitus". It is a compound word composed of arren and koite. Arren means male, and koite means coitus (sexual intercourse). Thus, arsenocoitus means "male-intercourse". Effeminate refers to the catamite, a boy kept for sexual relations with a man. These were common practices throughout Greece.

Married men would visit prostitutes, male, female, or young boy. This shocks us down to our puritanical boots, but that's just the way it was in antiquity. I should add that, even today in modern Greece, heterosexual men will on occasion seek sex with other men; it is for their own pleasure and gratification. Americans can not relate to this; nevertheless, never was a male-on-male sexual relationship distinguished as a special case until recent years.

In Paul's letter, the list of sins does not give any special treatment to male-on-male sex. The chapter is on sanctification and how God's people are to come out of worldly behavior because they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (verse 11).

At this point we might ask, how can anyone derive sexual pleasure by having sex with a child? Though our culture is accepting of homosexuality, it writhes at pedophilia. Not so in ancient cultures.

Our sexual preferences are culturally developed. In some cultures, men are attracted to obese women; in other cultures, thin is in. Heterosexual men in Greece found pleasure in having sex with boys and other men, in addition to female prostitutes. Because this is unacceptable in Western culture, we appease our collective conscience by creating a separate category of people called "gay".

In Paul's first letter to the church in Thessaloniki (also in Greece), he instructs,

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification." 1 Thes. 4:3-7

In the passage exorting the Christian to lead a sexually pure life, men are encouraged not to "defraud their brother"; in the Greek this word (defraud) means to cross the boundary and take advantage of your brother. The topic is sexual purity.

Homosexual relations are not "special". They are just another form of sexual perversion! We can not allow the culture to define our morality. The child of God has clear guidance on all topics in the word of God, the Holy Bible.

Self Control Means "In His Dominion"

We read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23,23. One attribute of this fruit is "self-control". In English, it sounds like self is doing the control. In the Greek this word is "enkratia" which, when broken down to its parts of "en" and "kratia", literally means "in + His Dominion". It's God-control. It's not really self that's doing the controlling, though it is up to us to obey Him.

Not to be too nit-picky, but sometimes analyzing the original word helps us apply it to our lives. In this case, understanding that our spirits are to be submitted and governed by the Holy Spirit at all times helps our understanding of Who is doing the controlling. This may help us from being stiff, religious, or legalistic in our walk. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!

I Exist Means Under Him I Rule and Reign

In the Greek, "I exist" means "under His Lordship, I rule and reign". It's so much more than just "existing".

In the Greek the word for 'I exist' is 'υπάρχω' (hyparcho). It is made up of two parts: hypo and archo.

Uπό (hypo) is positional, it means under: in this case, under Christ. And aρχω (archo) means to rule and reign. Therefore, under Christ, we rule and reign.

God has given us so much in Christ, it is up to us to stay under his rulership and, from that position, rule in this life.

Comfort is Myth

In the Greek, the word for comfort or console, as used in John 11:19,31, is παραμυθέομαι (paramytheomai). Paramythi means fairy tale. Paramytheomai is a combination of two words: para which means from, and myth which means myth. Consolation is from-myth.

The New Testament Greek teaches us that stories that console us might be fictional and need to be examined for their truthfulness. Especially when the consolers are hostile towards Jesus. Let's examine one such instance in John 11:1-45.

The chapter tells us that the people in Judea were hostile towards Jesus (verse 8). They wanted to stone Him. In fact when Jesus resolved to press on towards Judea, Doubting Thomas resigned, "Fine, let us also go, that we may die with him." (verse 16).

These same hostile Jews were consoling Mary and Martha after the death of Lazarus.

We can only imagine what they might have been saying. "It's ok; Jesus didn't come in time, but we're here for you. He could have prevented this tragedy, but I guess He was too busy."

Whatever words these people were using, Mary and Martha were polluted by the consolation as evidenced by their response to Jesus when He did arrive.

Martha said, "If You would have been here, my brother would not have died." (verse 21). She was blaming Jesus for Lazarus' death.

Mary met Jesus separately and also stated the same exact sentiment, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." (verse 32).

I wonder where they got this sentiment. Did the consoling Jews wear them down?

We must consider the stories we use to console ourselves and others.

Are the stories we take comfort in based on fact or fiction? Is our comfort coming from the Comforter, whose job it is to lead us into a deeper revelation of the Gospel? Or is our comfort coming from myths, comfortable substitutes for the truth?

Whenever we make a decision to draw near to Christ, a familiar spirit (something comfortable and consoling) will try to prevent us from going forward. "You don't need to go to church; they're all a bunch of hypocrites anyway."

Or, whatever the consoling myth might be.

Coming into a deeper level of truth always requires that we step beyond our comfort zone.

James 1:2 says, "Lead on with joy!"

In the Greek, James 1:2 says, “Lead on with joy my brothers!”

James was advising leaders how to deal with trials, and we should take a lesson as well. Anyone involved in ministry will be opposed. Let’s face it: the devil hates humanity and is out to destroy it anyway he can. When anyone decides to spread the good news of our salvation in Christ, that person will be opposed by demonic forces. How do we cope?

James, the brother of Jesus, instructs us to use joy as a weapon; to take it up, and lead on. Here it is in the Greek:

Πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε ἀδελφοί μου ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις
With all joy lead on my brothers when various trials encompass you.

As ministers of the Gospel, we must learn to apply joy to the situation in order to survive the ministry any length of time. Joy will secure the longevity of our ministry. Or so it says . . . in the Greek in James 1:2

There are Two Gripping Forces

Believers in Christ should live in the Grip of God's Glory. Unbelievers are in the Grip of dark forces operating in the world.

In the Greek language of the New Testament, we see two gripping forces. One is the Glory of God, and the other belongs to the forces darkness. Both are captivating; both are gripping.

In Colossians 1:11 we are told that believers are gripped by His Glory. In Ephesians 6:12 we are told that our struggle is against world forces of darkness that grip us. Here is a breakdown of the verses, KJV, Greek, and Literal:

Colossians 1:11
KJV "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,"
Greek "ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει δυναμούμενοι κατὰ τὸ κράτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ"
Literal "Fully empowered by the Grip of His Glory"

"Grip of His Glory" = "κράτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ"

Ephesians 6:12
KJV " . . . we wrestle . . . against the rulers of the darkness of this world,"
Greek " . . . ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη . . . πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου"
Literal " . . . we wrestle . . . against the world's grip of darkness of this age"

"World's grip of darkness of this age" = "κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου"

Kοσμοκράτορας, cosmokratoras is a ruler; however, it is a compound of two words: world and grip.

In English, we don't think of this world's rulers as having a dark grip on us. In the Greek, we are told that our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with world forces that are dark and gripping.

It helps to know that we have a choice to be gripped by the Glory of the Lord or the forces at work in this dark world.

Whose grip are you in? Are you gripped by His Glory or by the world-grip of the darkness of this age?

Authority means "Out of His Essense"

Authority and power in Greek mean "out of his essence" and "out of I am".

The word power and authority in Greek is ἐξουσία "exousia".

It is used in Matthew 28:18 when Jesus said, "All authority (exousia) has been given to me in heaven and on earth."

It is used in Luke 9:1 when Jesus called the twelve together and gave them all power and authority over all demons and to cure deseases.

So, this "exousia" was given to Jesus and then to his followers.

In the Greek exousia means "out of His essence" and "out of I am". That means that Jesus and his followers have been given the very essence of God.

We have been given the very essence and substance of God, out of I Am, and this we are to use against demons and to cure deseases.