Sermon Notes - Seventh Sunday after Trinity - Saint Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church - 15 July 2018, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

The Seventh Sunday after Trinity.

The Collect.

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ORDof all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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ORtherein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed 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: 21 Because 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 uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the 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 that recompence of their error which was meet. 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; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:17-32)

Homosexuality

NOTE: The subject of this sermon covers what would be termed a ‘sorry situation’ in the foothills of the Blue Ridge at the time of my birth there; but I feel the necessity to preach on it and to add as well the missing verses not included in the lectionary since they are essential to convey the depth of meaning to my young people of St. Andrews. These verses were likely omitted out of a modesty that restrained speaking of such matter at the publication of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer Lectionary. The ancient commentators up to Henry and Ryle had little to say on the subject since it was unheard of among citizens of a Christian nation at their time. In fact, I will quote here and excerpt from Jamieson-Faucett- Brown Commentary concerning these missing verses of the lectionary (vs 23-27): 

Professing merely to worship the Creator by means of the creature, they soon came to lose sight of the Creator in the creature. How aggravated is the guilt of the Church of Rome, which, under the same flimsy pretext, does shamelessly what the heathen are here condemned for doing, and with light which the heathen never had! who is blessed for ever! Amen -- By this doxology the apostle instinctively relieves the horror which the penning of such things excited within his breast; an example to such as are called to expose like dishonor done to the blessed God.

Verses 26,27. For this cause God gave them up -- for even their women -- that sex whose priceless jewel and fairest ornament is modesty, and which, when that is once lost, not only becomes more shameless than the other sex, but lives henceforth only to drag the other sex down to its level. did change, &c. -- The practices here referred to, though too abundantly attested by classic authors, cannot be further illustrated, without trenching on things which "ought not to be named among us as become the saints." But observe how vice is here seen consuming and exhausting itself. When the passions, scourged by violent and continued indulgence in natural vices, became impotent to yield the craved enjoyment, resort was had to artificial stimulants by the practice of unnatural and monstrous vices. How early these were in full career, in the history of the world, the case of Sodom affectingly shows; and because of such abominations, centuries after that, the land of Canaan "spued out" its old inhabitants. Long before this chapter was penned, the Lesbians and others throughout refined Greece had been luxuriating in such debasements; and as for the Romans, TACITUS, speaking of the emperor Tiberius, tells us that new words had then to be coined to express the newly invented stimulants to jaded passion. No wonder that, thus sick and dying as was this poor humanity of ours under the highest earthly culture, its many-voiced cry for the balm in Gilead, and the Physician there, "Come over and help us," pierced the hearts of the missionaries of the Cross, and made them "not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!

Notes for Verse 27 Verse 27. and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet -- alluding to the many physical and moral ways in which, under the righteous government of God, vice was made self-avenging.

—   Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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During my lifetime, the moral underpinnings of America have been rotted away by wicked men who have taken control of our public schools, social clubs, seminaries, churches and halls of government; and who have no regard at all for moral righteousness, but rather are pursuing a Fabian philosophy that aims at destroying the republican institutions of a nation in order to build it up again with an amoral adherence to globalist doctrine that seeks a drastic reduction in the world’s population through wars, famine, drugs, crime, homosexuality, and abortion among others.

Standing in direct opposition to these evil doers is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As long as the true Gospel is preached, the plans of these globalists cannot be fully implemented. It is for this reason that even the mention of the Name of Jesus Christ in any forum is so hateful to these social engineers from Marx to Dewey.

I apologize for the need to preach on the topic of homosexuality today, but it is a sin of our day and must be confronted. It is a sorrowful thing to me young ears must be made aware of this terrible abomination at such a tender age.

All civilizations from antiquity have rejected the horrendous sin of homosexuality as a filthy and perverse practice. The United States is the first industrialized nation to openly give dignity of law to the ungodly sin of homosexual and lesbian marriage. Though our children in public schools are being encouraged to either accept, or even indulge, in such a filthy practice, the average life span of 43 years for the practicing homosexual is never mentioned. The morals of our youth are being gradually dissipated. 

            From the very beginning of Creation, Satan’s design has been to mar and destroy that which God has made. He has been quite successful at engineering many different facets of a plan to eliminate the man and woman which God placed in the Garden. His initial phase would be to undermine all moral restraint among youth. Second to decrease the world population to as low a figure as can be accomplished through those sinful practices mentioned earlier such as wars, drugs, famine, abortion, and homosexual marriage. After all, how many of us would be here today if our parents were homosexual, and how many wonderful children are missing from our presents owing to the murder of small innocents in their mother’s womb?

Let us begin by examining God’s will for man given in Genesis:

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NDGod 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. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.  (Gen 1:26-28)

            The wording here is extraordinary since God (Elohim) makes reference to Himself in the plural. Elohim is the word for God, and it is given in the irregular Hebrew term meaning a plural-singular. This is the wholeness of the Trinity that speaks here. “Let us..” Note also God created man in His own image – Male and Female! We have a body, soul and spirit. So does God. He was manifested in the flesh by way of His only Begotten Son, Jesus. The soul of man is that which is eternal – either in Heaven or Hell – and symbolizes God. The spirit is like the Holy Spirit that guides our consciences and gives light to our understanding. But in mankind, these are fallen entities due to Adam’s Fall at Eden.

Genesis 28 is an early exposition of the institution of marriage – more fully revealed in Genesis 2:21-25. Biblical marriage is only between one man and one woman. Anything else is a perversion. It prefigures the marriage that exists between Christ and the Church (which is the Body of Christ on earth). “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.(Rev 21:1-2)

            Just as men and women born physically into this world are intended to multiply and bring forth children, so are those who are born anew in the Kingdom of God to reproduce and bring forth disciples.

            The Word of God minces no words in plainly condemning the abomination of homosexuality and the consequences:  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (Lev 18:22)  Webster’s dictionary tells us that an abomination is something that is both disgusting and filthy.

But what is the punishment for such sin?

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Eshall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any STRANGER TTHAT SOJOURNETH among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. (Lev 18:26-29)NOTE: Even the sojourner in our country must be forbidden to exercise this lifestyle. Additionally, the punishment is given again in Leviticus. 13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.  (Lev 20:13)

            Remember the origin of the term ‘sodomy.’ It comes from the name of one of the five cities destroyed by fire and brimstone for the sin of sodomy – the city is SODOM! An account given of its destruction follows:

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UTbefore they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.     (Gen 19:4-5)

            For our benefit and warning, God mentions the fall of Sodom again in the New Testament: Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.   (Jude 1:7)

Homosexuality is not a regular sin as is lying or stealing. God calls it an abomination – a most cardinal of sins. It is a sin that makes desolate the race that God created: “15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:  (Matt 24:15)Homosexual ministers and even bishop already are standing in the pulpits in America and England. 

Romans 1 reminds us we are not even to take pleasure in those that practice such things particularly, I believe, in entertainment programs. Today’s humor may be tomorrow’s curse.

How should the church view a man or woman who enters the church sanctuary as a practicing homosexual? I do not believe we should shun such sinners, for we were all lost in sin ere being called and chosen of God. We should treat them with love and respect, teaching them tactfully and compassionately of the errors of their sin. This accords favorably with the counsel given by Paul:

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NOWye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.   (1 Cor 6:9-11)

            Some of us were thieves, liars, adulterers, drunkards, extortioners, and, yes, even homosexuals, before our eyes and hearts were opened by the intercession of the Holy Ghost.