Denying God's Built-In Design | Journeying Through the Book of Romans Season 2

Rabbi K.A. Schneider: See, beloved, our feelings and our attractions don't dictate truth. God's word is what dictates truth. That's Hebrew for friends. God bless you. We're going to continue on now beginning in the book of Romans verse number 18 of chapter number one. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and this is reviewed, but I'm just setting the stage. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which is known about God is evident within them. Everyone knows there is a God, for God made it evident to them. We're born into this world knowing there's a creator. For since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, meaning that he's infinite. You look at the sky, it goes on forever. His eternal power, the power of a thunder or that we see in creation, his eternal power and divine nature, his beauty in creation have been clearly seen being understood through what has been made, so they are without excuse. Continuing in verse 21. For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks. And I explained all the reasons why even though people know there's a God because God made it evident inside us and because that we can see in creation, even though we know men have not acknowledged him as God, instead even today claiming atheism and agnosticism all the way back to the time that the New Testament was written, the same thing happening today, men denying God, refusing to submit to his ways, and they do this to their own peril because as a result, Paul says they became futile. You know what that means? It means you expend all your energy to accomplish nothing. I mean, think about all the energy that's being used today to try to explain the origin of creation outside of an intelligent creator. All the famous scientists and their theories about how there was this big bang in outer space, not because there's a God, but just because somehow things blew up. It's all futile. And listen what Paul says as he continues here. They became futile in their speculations. That's all these theories are are speculations. There's no truth in them even though they're being taught to our school children through the public educational system as truth. They're just futile speculations. There's no truth in them. It's just ungodliness that's bringing down the wrath of God upon the world. They became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened, professing to be wise. These people walking around with their PhDs, talking about how the world came to be outside of God. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. I mean, a great example of what I just read. Listen again. Exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. A great example of men exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God for creation is right where I'm at in Colorado. This state is a very liberal state by and large, and many of the people here consider themselves as very spiritual. They spent so much time out here in nature, but they don't thank God for the beauty of the creation. They worship nature as if nature itself is God. They don't go beyond the creation to worship the creator. This is exactly what Paul was saying here. People deny God, they deny the creator, and they worship the creation. And beloved, it's happening today all around me right here where I'm at. Continuing on, you see the gospel is just as powerful today, if not more so, than it was 2,000 years ago. And because men have done this, there's a consequence. Verse number 24. Therefore, because men rejected God, denied him, and began to worship the creation and worship themselves and worship science, therefore, God gave them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonored. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie. They exchanged the beautiful truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator who is blessed forever. Amen. 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 receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. What is God speaking about here through the apostle Paul? Beloved, it's plain language. He's speaking about the pervasive homosexual spirit that is so prevalent in our culture today. And there's such pressure upon the church to compromise in this area. But the Bible tells us that the result of humanity being separated from God, the result of the darkness that has separated human soul from a relationship with the creator, the result of that is homosexuality. I'm not saying that homosexuality is the only result of that. Please, in no way shape or form am I trying to say that. What I am trying to point out, however, is that that which the world is condoning a homosexual lifestyle is being good and acceptable. Beloved, the word of God plainly teaches that that is not so. In fact, the word of God says that it's unnatural. It's not according to God's built-in design in creation. Because mankind has been separated from God, a homosexual spirit has entered into the world, and it's happening now with such ferociousness and such velocity that the voice of the homosexual community is so strong now that the heterosexual church is afraid to raise their voice and say, no, this is an error. This is wrong. This is the result of God's wrath being poured out upon the world and him giving humanity over to this idolatry. It's a result of sin. It's not good. It's not natural. It's not right. It's plainly wrong. Now, I might be preaching to most of you to the choir right now, but I really want to take some time to talk about this because so few people are. Beloved, this homosexual spirit that is taking captive so many people today is not building up society. It's destroying society. Now, hear me. I'm not condemning any individual that is stuck in this lifestyle. And I realize, and I say this with complete empathy and compassion, I realize that many people that are living in a homosexual lifestyle or are having homosexual feelings did not feel that they chose this lifestyle or that they chose to feel this way. I realize that many people from their earliest childhood memories remember having same-sex attractions. But beloved, just because someone has, you know, that sense of having same-sex attraction, that doesn't mean that it's right.
Dustin Roberts: You're listening to Discovering the Jewish Jesus, and Rabbi will be right back. But first, I would love for you to download the Rabbi Schneider mobile app. When you do, you'll have access to Rabbi's daily devotionals, messianic content, and full-length shows of Rabbi's teachings. We'll also have a link to Rabbi's teaching notes for each and every teaching. All you have to do is search for Rabbi Schneider in your phone's app store and download the app today. Do you want to be an instrument for God's work on the earth? Well, join us as a new monthly partner and receive a handcrafted show far that's made in Israel. This instrument will announce Jesus' second coming one day, and by supporting these teachings, you're helping prepare the way for his return. So would you prayerfully consider joining us? Visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com or partner with us by calling 800-777-7835. And now back to Rabbi.
Rabbi K.A. Schneider: You see, beloved, we're all broken due to sin. We're all broken, and all of us have desires that aren't right. For some people, it might not be a tendency towards same-sex attraction, but for other people it may be that they're married and they're constantly committing adultery because that's what they're constantly attracted to other people, even though it's the opposite sex. Both are wrong. It might be natural for someone to want to have sexual relationships with all these people, but that doesn't make it right. That doesn't mean they should give in to it. That doesn't mean God condones it because that's the way it feels. Just because somebody might feel, oh, I feel so attracted to this person, even if it's in a heterosexual context, that doesn't mean that God blesses it. See, beloved, our feelings and our attractions don't dictate truth. God's word is what dictates truth. And so let's go back and look at this again. Somebody needs to say it. Beloved, somebody needs to say it. The scripture is clear here that because mankind is fallen from God, because mankind has come out from under the covering of the creator, there's been such darkness that's been released in the world then men have become foolish in their speculations and professing to be wise, they became fools. And the result of this in the book of Romans verse number 24, therefore, God gave them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. What is the impurity and dishonoring of one's body that God is referring to here? He's talking specifically, beloved, listen, about homosexual behavior. He continues on, God gave them over to the lust of their hearts. So once again, God's not denying that someone might have these feelings. He's not denying that someone might have these lust, but rather people are giving in to them. And because man is separated from God, God just allowing it to happen. Therefore, God gave them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. And how are they being given over to impurity? The word of God specifically tells us. Verse number 26. For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural. Now, what does this mean? What's the natural function of a woman? The natural function of the woman is to be in relationship through matrimony and through sexuality with a man, with a husband. That's what's natural. Just looking at the anatomy of the male and female, man fits together with woman, not woman with woman and man with man. It's like a puzzle. It doesn't fit, right? And not only that, he says in the same way also, the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another. So men towards men and women towards women. Now, let me tell you, this will boggle some of your minds. Let me tell you what some in the church are teaching now. And it's happening in huge mainline denominations. Some of the mainline denominations, some of the biggest denominations in the world are splitting over this issue. This exact issue of homosexuality, whether God approves it, whether he condones it, or whether it 's condemned. And we have major blocks within Christendom that are saying homosexual behavior is acceptable to God. People feel that this is naturally what's in them, and God blesses them because that what 's natural to them. But beloved, listen, God does not bless what's natural to us. It's not our feeling. It's not what is natural to us that defines truth. What defines truth is the divine order and design that God built into creation. And the way he built creation is for men to be with women and women to be with men. That is what is natural. We don't define what's natural. God defines what's natural. But what many in the church are doing is they're interpreting this verse through a different lens. It's called gay revisionist theology. And what they're saying is what God is condemning is not a man towards a man or a woman with a woman. What God is condemning is that if a man has a natural affection for woman, but he exchanges his natural affection for the woman and instead decides to go into a homosexual lifestyle, that's what God condemns. So again, the naturalness according to gay revisionist theology is not according to what God said is natural. God said what is natural is men with women, women with men. But the gay revisionist theology in the church is saying, no, the naturalness that is spoken of here in the word of God, they exchanged that which was natural to give themselves over to impurity. Again, for this reason, verse 26, 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 their natural function of the woman and burned in their desire to one another. God defines the creation in terms of the way he built it. Okay? He's the one that says what's natural. But gay revisionist theology it says, no, it's bad, it's wrong if you are a heterosexual and that is what you were born with, that was what your natural tendency was. But instead of practicing homosexual relationship, instead you just decided to go against what was natural to you, and you decided to involve yourself in homosexual relationships, whether it's men with men or women with women. So I hope I'm making myself clear. This incredible, defiled, devouring, evil spirit that just has fangs on it that's meant to steal and kill and destroy, it is being now taught to the church in the guiles of Satan who's more seductive than any other being in the planet. He has created a whole theology by twisting God's word and is teaching that homosexuality is not wrong if that's somebody's natural inclination. It's only wrong if someone was born with a heterosexual inclination and they exchanged it to become homosexual or to engage in homosexual activity. And so once again, the new revisionist theology that's being taught is that what is natural is not defined by what God says is natural, but instead the gay revisionist theology is teaching what's natural is defined individually, what's natural to you. And as long as someone's doing what's natural to them, whether it's homosexual or heterosexual, God will bless it. And so beloved, there's tremendous darkness, a deep darkness on the earth right now. And this spirit is sucking up the world. I don't want you to be deceived, and I want you to know, beloved one, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart. If you are someone that has homosexual feelings and homosexual desires, I want you to know, God doesn't reject you as a person anymore than he rejects me. But he loves us too much to leave us where we're at. One person needs to repent of one sin, another person needs to repent of another sin. But there's a difference between saying God loves you versus saying God will continue to leave you where you're at. Jesus called us to repent. He said, unless you repent, you will perish. I know for some of you, you've tried to repent, and it's so hard. You feel you're not making any progress. I'm telling you, beloved, please, receive the truth, acknowledge the truth, keep praying, keep seeking God, keep turning to him over and over and over and over again. And as you continue to call out to God and recognize that homosexuality is a sin, reject it as a sin, keep calling out to Jesus. He will, beloved, strengthen you, and you will overcome because he that's born of God overcomes the world. And at the end of the day, he that has overcome the most will receive the greatest reward. Jesus' last words were, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I'm not saying those were his very last words, but I mean that was the imprint that he left for the church. That's what we're doing, beloved, in Israel. We're building the church. How are we building the church? By preaching the gospel. So a preacher of the gospel, an evangelist is someone that's declaring the good news of the whole word of God. We are preaching the gospel in Israel. Lives are being saved. I got a testimony of a Jewish person in Israel that saw one of my YouTube videos, and they reached out to somebody to get in contact with me, someone that knows me and said, can you connect me with Rabbi Schneider? God is using us, beloved, to strengthen the messianic Jewish believing community in Israel. And you know what? God has raised us up for such a time as this. The things that I've been through in my life, walking with the Lord now for over 40 years, being kidnapped by a deprogrammer my parents had hired, being probated over 40 years ago to a psychiatric ward because of my faith in Jesus, all those things prepared us, discovering the Jewish Jesus, to be bold in Israel today. Many people have sent money to Israel to provide for them food and shelter, and all those things are really important. But I think the most important thing of all is that they would receive Yeshua Jesus as their Messiah. And that's what discovering the Jewish Jesus is focused on doing. I am called to preach the gospel, to lift up Messiah in Israel first and around the world. And I can do it without your help. So I want to ask you today, if you just feel the witness of the Holy Spirit that this is legitimate, I want to ask you, would you support this ministry financially? And thank you for your financial support.
Dustin Roberts: Amen, and thank you, Rabbi. If you want to become a monthly partner and help reach Jewish people with the good news of Jesus, visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com or call us at 800-777-7835. Thank you so much for your faithful giving. We're really encouraged to see what your partnership is already making possible through our brand new website jewishjesus.com. That's where Jewish people are coming and they're asking questions about Jesus. They're bringing their objections, they're wrestling with resistance from family members. They're asking what it means to follow Jesus as Messiah. Recently, a Jewish man contacted us through jewishjesus.com because that's exactly what he wanted to know, how he could follow Jesus. Another person is considering Jesus as Messiah, but they're struggling with objections from within their own family. And they turn to jewishjesus.com for support and guidance. These people, they're searching for truth and they're reaching out because this ministry made a place where they can ask questions. It's all because of your partnership. Because of your giving, we have jewishjesus.com and our team now has opportunities to respond to someone when they're searching. So thank you for giving and supporting us. And if you've never given or if you'd like to support this outreach, would you visit discoveringthejewishjesus.com or call 800-777-7835? Maybe consider becoming a monthly partner. Thank you for helping people encounter Jesus. Now, here's Rabbi.
Rabbi K.A. Schneider: In the book of Numbers chapter 6, the Lord gave instructions to Moses and Aaron to speak this blessing over his people. And the Lord said, when you speak these words over my people, I will place my name on them and bless them. Receive the impartations of the Lord's blessings. 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. Wednesday, Rabbi Schneider warns against measuring ourselves by culture. See why God's word must define how we live right here on Discovering the Jewish Jesus.