God's Divine Order | Journeying Through the Book of Romans Season 2

Rabbi K.A. Schneider: Mankind is right in his own eyes. We justify ourselves in our own eyes by comparing ourselves to the culture. But as far as God is concerned, man is corrupt. Shalom Shalom my friends, beloved ones. As I continue in the book of Romans, we're in the first chapter and it's so critical that we understand what Paul teaches here because the message that so many of us are hearing today is not the message that was originally delivered by God's apostles. I'm not going to take the time to go back to the beginning, only to say this, that Paul began this letter, this epistle by talking about the fact that God's wrath is upon mankind because mankind is not acknowledging that he is and they're not living under his lordship. Paul then went on to talk about the effects of this. Paul said because mankind is not submitted to his sovereignty and to his lordship, God gave them over to degrading passions. And so just for review today, I'm reading verse 26. For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions. For their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural. And in the same way also, the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts. And I simply pointed out that what is happening today is that the church is falling away from this God-given standard of sexuality. You see, when God created mankind in his own image, the Lord said in the book of Bereshit, the book of Genesis, God created man in his own image. Listen now, male and female he created he them. And so God created male and female and that together, joined together, they make up God's nature. Men are different than women and women are different than men. And obviously, when we look at simple human anatomy, we can see that women are designed to be with men and men are designed to be with women. This is the natural order of creation. But the gay revisionist movement in the church today, which is sweeping over the world with such strength and such speed, if you realize what was happening, you get knocked off your chair. Major denominations are splitting over this. What is happening today is there's a new theology in the church that is saying that what God meant here in the book of Romans, in the passage of scripture that I just read, is not that it's unnatural for a man to be with a man or a woman to be with the woman. That's not what God was condemning. What gay revisionist theology is teaching is that it's unnatural when a man or a woman is born with heterosexual feelings, but they go against their own feelings to engage in homosexual activity. And so what the new theology that's sweeping into the church is teaching is that the natural divine design is not determined by the creator who created it to be natural for men to be with women and women to be with men. But the new theology is teaching, no, it's not what's designed by the creator. It's what is natural to each person. So they say, for example, that if a man is born with feelings towards other men, that's what's natural to him. And since that's what's natural to him, because that's his earliest childhood memory is same-sex attraction, then there's nothing wrong with that. And they're saying the same thing about homosexuality with women, that if they're naturally drawn to other females, then that's okay because it's not unnatural. So they're defining it by the individual. But beloved, come on. Let's use our common sense here. That's not what the word of God is teaching. What God is teaching is what he built into creation, not how we define it, but how he defines it, what he built into creation, the natural harmony between men and women that's to exist has been broken. And so he says once again, for this reason in verse number 26, for this reason, God gave them over, mankind, to degrading passions. And then he speaks about and identifies this degrading passion manifesting in the realm of homosexual behavior amongst both men and women. So the result then of men having fallen from God, suppressing the truth, being unwilling to submit to his lordship and acknowledge him in all his ways and obey him, the result of that Paul is teaching is that God gave man over to degrading passions. And again, the degrading passion that he's stipulating here is homosexual activity. Let me simply say, beloved, homosexual behavior is wrong. I totally understand that people because of the brokenness in the world, because of sin, I totally understand that there are people in this world and their earliest memories are same-sex attraction and that feels what is natural to them. But beloved, once again, truth is not defined by the individual. Truth is defined by the creator. And I'm not wanting to single out homosexual behavior in the sense that I'm standing here as self-righteous. I'm just simply proclaiming the word of God. All of us are broken in some area. And whatever area that we're broken in, God is calling us to turn from that behavior and to repent and follow him. Now I realize that for some that are in this lifestyle, they've tried to repent and just feel that it's something that can't be overcome and it feels so basic to their nature that they identify that behavior or that tendency as who they are in their identity. But remember, beloved ones, in Christ Jesus, old things can pass away and all things can become new. You see, the Lord loves all of us, you and me, me and you, right where we're at. But he loves us too much to leave us where we're at. And the same message that's true for someone involved in homosexual activity is true for all of mankind. We must repent. The adulterer, the person that's involved in all types of sexual activity outside of marriage must repent. The person that's married that's involved in illicit sexual activity must repent. The glutton that's addicted to food must repent. The person that's lying to get along with people must repent. And I could go on and on and on. We're all guilty before God. But because sexuality and the divine union between man and woman is so central to God's design, Paul brings this to the surface to show how broken the world is because of sin. And then Paul tells us in addition to men's passions being defiled due to the brokenness of mankind, Paul goes on to tell us next that our minds are defiled. And so in the same way that people's passions are defiled, as is pointed out in verse number 26, so too the result of suppressing the truth, suppressing the Holy Spirit is that mankind's minds have become defiled. So first, Paul addresses humanity's passions as having gone astray. And now he says that our minds have gone astray.
Dustin Roberts: You're listening to Discovering the Jewish Jesus with Rabbi Schneider and he'll be right back. But first, have you thought about the legacy you'll leave when you're no longer on this earth? Planning for the future, it's an important step in walking with wisdom. So we've partnered with Free Will, a free online tool that makes creating a will simple, secure, and accessible to everyone. I've used it myself and it's really easy and efficient. And this tool, it also gives you the opportunity to make a lasting impact. And if you want to support this ministry, you can include a financial gift to us and your plans to help us share the love of Yeshua with generations to come. You can get started today at discoveringthejewishjesus.com. Just click on our resources and need a will tab. It's completely free, whether you choose to give to this ministry or not. So check it out today. And for those of you who do choose to give, thank you so much. And now back to Rabbi with the second half of today's lesson.
Rabbi K.A. Schneider: As I continue in the book of Romans, we're in the first chapter. And so he says here in verse number 28, and just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind. So we're looking at both passions and the mind. And now Paul goes on to speak about what he's referring to. God gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed. I mean, all you have to do, look at commercials today. Look at the way goods, material goods are being sold at commercials. Doesn't it show mankind's mind being defiled with unrighteousness? I mean, the old bait and switch technique of salesmen, they tell you that if you call them or whatever they're going to show you this, I won't even name the specific industry, but it happens all the time. I don't want to badmouth a certain industry, but my wife and I just needed to make a purchase. There was an advertisement from a company about a particular product they were offering. And then we went where they supposedly were offering that product. They said they were all sold out. And then the salesman admitted to us that all that company's offices were sold out of that product and it was just a bait and switch. This is what Paul is talking about, that mankind is filled with unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful. I mean, gosh. I mean, I could go through each one of those things individually. We're not going to take the time on every single one, but simply to say that mankind is right in his own eyes. We justify ourselves in our own eyes by comparing ourselves to the culture. But as far as God is concerned, man is corrupt. Think about the prophet Isaiah. I mean, he was a pillar in the earth in terms of his righteousness compared to other human beings. I'm talking about the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament. But when Isaiah saw God, when God revealed himself to Isaiah in Isaiah 6, Isaiah fell on his face and he said, woe is me for I am unclean and I live amongst an unclean people. He looked great when compared to the rest of humanity. But when it was compared to the purity of the Holy Spirit and the clear Holy Spirit's power, he saw how corrupt and evil not only he was, but the entire population full of wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, I mean, dissension and the strife and the ends justified the means mentality that governs our society today, the way we malign one another, malice, the way we go on talking about people, gossips, the way we slander people. I mean, this is on I'm just reading from the word right here. Strife, deceit, malice, I mean, all we have to do is watch television. We can't even trust the news anymore. We just get a spin on almost everything we hear. We don't even know what's truth anymore. Just one side maligning the other side, twisting truth, twisting the facts, twisting the information, gossiping about each other, taking a snapshot of somebody's life and creating a whole storyline to fulfill our own purposes. Slanderers, haters of God. You know, I got a text from somebody not long ago and they were talking about, you know, the importance of protecting the animals. I said, yes, praise God. And we need to protect the unborn children too. But I don't think they wanted to hear that. I mean, let's protect the animals, but let's give a woman the right to, you know, to abort the child. And I 'm not trying to put any guilt on anybody here that has gone through that, but let's face it, beloved. I mean, that's not right. I mean, we don't even that's a no-brainer, right? But that's what's going on in our society, murders, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil. We've got companies being started and the whole purpose of the company is to manipulate people for money, disobedient to parents. We have so much rebellion in society now between children and parents. And it's not all the children's fault. It comes from the brokenness of mankind, the broken homes, the brokenness of humanity, insolent, smug, resistant, arrogant. Everybody today walking around, you know, trying to be somebody they're not, to show their best face, boastful, inventors of evil. I mean, I could go on without understanding, untrustworthy. How trustworthy How many trustworthy people do we know? How many people How many people can you really trust? It's not something that is highly valued in our culture anymore. It's like, no, the ends justify the means. So tell a little white lie, do what you have to do to make money, say what you have to say to survive, unloving, unmerciful. And he continues on in verse number 32. This is just a description of humanity. Paul began Listen, beloved. Paul began his description of the gospel in chapter one by saying, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth. He said the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to those that believe. And then he tells us what we need to be saved from. We need to be saved from the wrath of God because of the unrighteousness of man. This is where the gospel starts. Do you understand what I'm saying? The gospel starts with us being delivered and cleansed and forgiven from sin and evil. But as I've been teaching, beloved, the gospel that's being taught today is often times saying very much about sin, about our souls. Your soul and my soul that needs to be cleansed from evil. The way we think, the way we perceive the world, the way we perceive ourselves, our selfishness, all these things, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men that are suppressing the truth. This is how the gospel begins. And Paul just got done with this long list of characteristics of evil at work within men's life. And I'm wanting to make the point that Paul said, as I've said in earlier episodes, if somebody comes to us preaching a different gospel, we should reject it. The gospel that Paul preached is not that we're going to have our best life in this world. Rather possibly, we should be prepared to suffer in this world for the sake of godliness. Paul's desire was to know Jesus in the book of Philippians in the power of his resurrection. Listen now, and the fellowship of his sufferings. I mean, think about the apostles' lives. They were all murdered. The message that they were giving wasn't that your best life is now. The message that they gave is that we should deny worldly lust and live righteously because Jesus is coming back for you soon and he's going to reward every man according to what he has done. So you see, beloved, Paul's gospel was a different gospel than the gospel that many of you are hearing today. And Paul told us if any man comes and preaches a different gospel other than this, let him be accursed. So take stock of your life, what you're hearing, what you're listening to, what you're receiving into your soul. Study the word of God for yourself. And then Paul goes on to say that those that practice this unrighteousness that he just described are deserving of death. And not only is it shameful that people are arrogantly living these ungodly lifestyles, denying there's a God, partying, you know, as if this life is all there is. He said what's even worse is so many of the people that live this way godless, they approve and encourage other people to live the same way. And I wish we could have a sit down right now and we could take some questions and dialogue a little bit and kick it all back and forth. It's a lot to take in. And by the way, speaking of the relationship between men and women as we were referring to earlier today in the broadcast, I just want to give honor to my beloved wife Cynthia because you know what? She's like half of my soul. I mean, without her, there's no way I'd be standing in the Lord where I am right now. I mean, it's just an amazing transformation that we can have in each other's lives when we impart into our husband or into our wife. So I just want to say Cynthia, we love you today. Thank you for being who you are and for the humble servant of God that you are and for the beauty that you bring to the earth and to the church. Let me just pray for you, beloved. First of all, I want to pray for those that may be struggling with homosexuality today. I want you to know God loves you. Father, I pray for your deliverance of every soul, every dear beloved one that's reaching out to you right now that wants deliverance. Jesus, your arm is mighty to save. And you said he that puts their hope in you will not be disappointed. Jesus, I proclaim your lordship in the church. We declare according to your word that you are able to save to the uttermost. So I pray that you will pour forth your grace and your power and your mercy on these that are struggling today. And I pray for all of us today, Father, that we would be delivered from all sin, to stand before you holy and righteous for all time in Jesus' name. Sometimes, beloved, when I sit down to eat for dinner, I'm so tired. It's the end of the day that I don't feel like praying and giving Father thanks before I eat. I'm just too tired. But you know what? I always do. And I'm happy that I do and thankful that I do. Why? Because he deserves to be thanked and he deserves to be honored. He's the one that provided the food and the meal. This same truth can be applied to the way that we handle our finances. We don't always feel like honoring the Lord with our finances, but you know what? We always should. Why? Because it's the right thing to do. God deserves to be honored by us with our finances. We see this truth going all the way back to Genesis where Abraham presented a tenth of all he had to the Lord to the priest Melchizedek. And the same truth applies to you and I today. If the Lord is using this ministry to be a blessing to you and help you, I want to ask you today to consider honoring him with your finances through this ministry. I know that when we respond to God's love, we're always blessed.
Dustin Roberts: Amen. And to support Discovering the Jewish Jesus today, visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com or call 800-777-7835. I'm Dustin Roberts and we recently heard from a listener named Paul who shared what God did in his life during an incredibly difficult season. Paul was homeless for three and a half years and couldn't find a job. He told us it would have been easy to walk away from Jesus. Instead, these circumstances drew him closer to God. Today, Paul has a church family, a place to live, a driver's license, and a vehicle. And through everything that's changed in his life, he gives credit to God. He said to us, I praise God for it all because I recognize that it was all his doing. That's why your support matters. It helps keep biblical teaching available for people walking through seasons when they desperately need encouragement to remain close to God. And Paul connected with this ministry and it enabled him to get through a hard time in life while not disconnecting from God, but by connecting with God closer. If you'd like to help us reach more people with God's word, just like Paul, visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com or call 800-777-7835. And before we close today, I have something that I think will strengthen your own faith. It's called 18 Messianic Prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures. It's a free teaching bundle because we want to bless you. And all you have to do is get yours at myfreegift.com/prophecy. It explains how Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecy in the Hebrew Bible. Now here's Rabbi to speak God's sacred blessing over our life.
Rabbi K.A. Schneider: What I love about the Aaronic blessing is that it did not originate with man. The words actually proceeded from the very essence of God himself. The blessing comes from the book of Numbers, chapter 6. So listen to these words and receive the blessing of the Lord into your life today. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift you up with his countenance and the Lord give you, beloved one, his peace. And now in Hebrew. God bless you and shalom.
Dustin Roberts: I'm your host Dustin Roberts and this program is produced and sponsored by Discovering the Jewish Jesus. Thursday, Rabbi Schneider explains how God's patience gives us time to recognize what needs to change and allow us to turn toward him in repentance. Next time on Discovering the Jewish Jesus.