“And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15
When it is discussed what is pleasing in the sight of God and what is not pleasing, the subject is generally centered on sin; what is sin and what is not sin. Very seldom, if ever, does the discussion get around to what is an abomination unto the Lord. Most believe these two words are interchangeable. But with a little word study we find there is much difference between the word sin and the word abomination.
The Greek word for sin is HARMATRIA or HARMARTANO. The meaning is “to be without a share in; to miss the mark; to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, and to violate God’s law”.
The Hebrew word for sin is CHATA and means “to miss the way, to err, to miss the mark, to wander from the way, to become unclean”. Another Hebrew word used for sin is PESHA and means “transgression and rebellion”. It refers to those who rebel against God’s intended way in their lives.
As our understanding increases in God’s Word, we know that God has an intended purpose for each life, and His purpose was instilled in each person’s life from before the foundation of the earth. Whether that person has an understanding of that purpose or not, God has His intended purpose to be accomplished in every life.
As we begin to understand the meaning of sin, those who are dwelling in HARMATRIA (sin) have fallen from the grace and mercy of God, and they are without a share in that they have missed the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Philippians 3:14. They walk in error, and have wandered from the path of the upright, and have violated God’s law.
When law is mentioned, Moses’ law automatically comes to mind. But, as we begin to more fully understand the term “God’s law”, we discover that it is referring to the whole Word of God, not just the first five books of the Bible. When we are walking in HARMATRIA (sin), we are on the wrong path to enter in at the strait gate and we are missing God’s intended purpose for our lives.
Paul reveals that all have sinned (HARMATRIA) and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. When God is our target and HARMATRIA enters into our lives, it alters our paths, we come up short of the target and we miss the mark. We are walking in error and we have wandered from the paths of the upright. When Paul wrote all have sinned, ALL means ALL. None have entered into God’s glory. But God is raising up a people who are dealing with the sin nature and will enter into His glory.
As we consider the word for abomination in the New Testament, it is the Greek word BDELUSSO or BDELUGMA and means “to abhor, a foul thing, a detestable thing, to stink, smell bad, odious, wickedness, and to turn one’s self away from on account of the stench”. In the Old Testament there is more than one word used for abomination. The main word used is TOWEBAH and means “a disgusting thing, a thing of wickedness”.
As the scriptures relate the words of Jesus, those things which are highly esteemed among men are an abomination in the sight of God, Luke 16:15. What is highly esteemed among men is a foul thing in the sight of God. To put it plainly, those things that are highly esteemed among men are a stink in God’s nostrils. He will turn His face from that stink because He abhors and detests it.
Jesus was speaking of those who justify themselves before men, but God knows their hearts, Luke 16:15. These are those who, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, have gone about to establish their own righteousness, and have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God, Romans 10:3. This is an abomination in the sight of God.
Jesus was not speaking of the worldly people. He expects them to do such things. But He was speaking of those who are called by His name, the Christ-ones in the earth, those whom He has purchased with His blood, those who have been anointed with His Spirit, those who are supposed to know His voice; His sheep, who are not following another shepherd. These are those who have justified what they want to do in the sight of men, using the name of Christ. These people are a stink in God’s nostrils.
By comparing what the Word says are abominations unto God with what is acceptable in the society in which we live, we can understand why God will bring judgment upon the earth. When we consider what is allowed in the churches that God plainly states are abominations in His sight, we can understand why judgment must begin at the house of God.
Sexual perversion is an abomination in the sight of God. There are many forms of sexual perversion and mankind is involved in all of them. Most, if not all, are found in the church. God spoke to Moses,
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Leviticus 18:22
Homosexuality and lesbianism are abominations in the sight of God, a stink in His nostrils, that He will turn His face away from. Many will say, “That is part of the old, Mosaic law, and we are not under the law.” Paul addressed this in his letter to the Romans,
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20
We are not justified by the law. But it is by and through the law that God has given us the knowledge of what is acceptable and unacceptable in His sight. We can hit the mark that God has set for our lives, or we can miss that mark, coming up short of what God has intended for us.
So when God states in His law that sexual perversion is an abomination in His sight in the Old Testament, then sexual perversion is also an abomination in His sight in the New Testament, and is still an abomination in His sight today. There was a punishment for this abomination.
“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.” Leviticus 20:13
Those who had committed this abomination were to be put to death, and their blood was to be upon them. Israel was commanded to take these harsh steps to control the spread of such activities in their midst so their promise land would not be defiled.
God gave Israel the land of Canaan. Canaan was the son of Ham. Canaan begat the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgasites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites and the Hamathites, Genesis 10:15-18. These were the people who occupied the land of Canaan when God gave it to Israel. Those dwelling in Israel at this time were the descendants of Ham. The Israelites, on the other hand, were from the descendants of Shem, Ham’s brother. God commanded Israel to destroy everyone of the Canaanites, to make no covenants with them, not to marry their sons or their daughters, nor to give their sons or daughters in marriage to these heathen, and to destroy all their gods. These nations were involved in idol worship and sexual perversion. They were devoid of any relationship with the true and living God.
“Ye shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled.) Leviticus 18:26-27
Because of these abominations, God gave the lands of the Canaanites to Israel, Deuteronomy 18:12. Sexual perversion was one of the main abominations the Canaanites committed before God when Israel occupied the land. Almost immediately Israel began to take on the abominations of the Canaanites because they refused to cast out the Canaanites as God had commanded them.
There are many forms of sexual perversion. One of the commandments God gave Israel before they entered into their promise land was,
“Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.” Deuteronomy 17:17
When Solomon became king he married seven hundred wives, princesses and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart,” I Kings 11:3. Solomon typifies a form of sexual perversion that is prevalent today. It is called “machoism”, desiring every woman or every man that one sees. Many believe they are God’s gift to women, and today, women believe they are to service every man. This is an abomination unto God. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
“Avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” I Corinthians 7:2
God has a husband for every woman and a wife for every man. But Israel followed the traditions of the heathen and married more than one wife.
After Solomon’s death, Rehoboam’s son was made king. It is recorded,
“And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.” I Kings 14:22-24
Israel had sodomites in their land. Today we do not use the word sodomite because it is offensive to those who practice this abomination. They are referred to as homosexuals and lesbians; but more preferably, gays. This sounds more acceptable to a permissive society and a permissive church. But it is still an abomination before God. This wickedness dwelt in Israel at the time of Jesus, and it dwells in the land today. When are we going to rid the land of this abomination?
When Jesus walked the earth, Rome and the government of Rome were full of homosexuals or sodomites. When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he addressed this abomination before God. Paul was speaking of God’s creation and how man had perverted it,
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 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. 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: 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. 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.” Romans 1:24-28
God’s Word says those who practice such things, God gave them up to uncleanness. These have changed the truth of God into a lie. They worship the creation more than the Creator. God has given them up to vile affections. Vile affections means “dishonorable desires”. These will receive the recompense or payment; that which is meet or the judgment which is due for their error. Those who practice such things have not retained God in their knowledge. They have rejected their knowledge of God and do what pleases the flesh. And God has turned them over to a reprobate mind. Reprobate means “rejected of God”. When these minds that are involved in this abomination have been rejected by God, they continue in their degradation.
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 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 1:29-32
They become filled with all unrighteousness. Even when they know the judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only continue to do them but they have pleasure in those who commit these abominations before God. Jude also wrote,
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, 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 7
Sodom and Gomorrah were given to us as examples of God’s judgment on such activities. The word Sodomite comes from Sodom. The word Sodom means “fettered, in bondage”. Those who practice this abomination are in total bondage to that lifestyle. They forsake all others to be with those who practice this abomination. They are given over to a mind that has been rejected by God.
Our God is a righteous judge. He judges nothing unless it is absolutely clear what is acceptable in His sight and what He must judge. He has given us many examples in His Word of His judgment on homosexuality. And yet this nation allows this abomination to march in the streets, wear the uniform of the nation, become police officers, teach our children and hold high government offices. If God judged the Canaanites because they defiled the land, can God allow this nation and this government to continue in this abomination without His hand of judgment being close?
It is well to ask, “What about the church?” Homosexuals sit in the congregations and nothing is said. No conviction is forth coming, nor is any separation demanded from such activities. It has become acceptable by many mainline, denominational systems, where known, practicing homosexuals are ordained into the ministry. This is abomination standing in the holy place. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of this,
“We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house.” Jeremiah 51:51
Strangers, those who do not retain God in their conscience, are standing in the sanctuaries (pulpits). These have become teachers of God’s holy writ. What an abomination and affront before our God. It is a stink in His nostrils, and He has turned His face away. Anyone who has pleasure in such activities is the same as those who practice the abominable acts before God. There are homosexual churches that solemnize marriages between two practicing homosexuals in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the abomination above all abominations. We are warned in the Word, “God will not be mocked.”
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
Those who are sowing these seeds of abomination will reap the fury of God in their presence. We have God’s Word on that. Matthew recorded the words of Jesus,
“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.)” Matthew 24:15
The holy place is the pulpit of His sanctuary. The word desolation means “to make desolate”. Nothing is more desolate than when the shepherd abandons the flock. When these abominations enter into the flock, and nothing is done about it, then the Great Shepherd will abandon that flock, and they will become a desolation in the sight of God.
God judged the Canaanites and Sodom and Gomorrah, as examples to His chosen. And He will judge this abomination that is in our midst today. How far off can this judgment be? All the signs point to a soon judgment. Can we say we have not been warned?
Let me first say that I understand where you are coming from.
Then I’d like to ask, did you read the context of the passages? Is there a single passage in the Bible that describes a monogamous gay relationship? Why use the Leviticus passages when we disregard so many of them as not applicable in our lives anymore?
And last, what does the Bible say is the sin of Sodom and Gommorah?
Thanks in advance for your answers. Blessings on your journey.
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Hello, Sacred,
To answer your first question: Yes, matter of fact it is a post of mine and I have full knowledge of it’s content.
I am afraid there is nothing anywhere within the Bible referring to a “monogamous gay marriage.” God is truth, Sacred. His word is truth. God will not, and can not, counter His own word. What He condemns, as in the case of Sodom & Gommorah, sin in general, He can not make an exception to that same fact (as in the case of: i.e. homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites).
Why use the Leviticus passages when we disregard so many of them as not applicable in our lives anymore?
The fact of the matter is, Sacred, all of the Bible, and it’s passages, are as applicable to day as before Christ walked the earth. In other words referrence being made to the old testament. At that time we were under the Law……What was considered a “sin” or abomination” before God is still a sin today. For instance the “the Ten commandments” are as applicable today as at the time of their being handed down from God. What is written in Leviticus of the old testament is reiterated in the new testament in 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. See also: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 New King James Version (NKJV) 9 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 homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
And last, what does the Bible say is the sin of Sodom and Gommorah?
Jude 1:7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Sacred, I hope i have answered all of your questions. I do trust this will help you understand and find you answers. If, at any time i can help with your journey, please, do not hesitate to write me. i will doo all I can.
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If all the 613 commandments are still as applicable why do we throw them away? Should we still stone our children for disobedience and not eat ham and shellfish? Should we still count our steps on the Sabbath?
Ezekial 15:49 says “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”
Many believe that the Matthew passage is most applicable because it says that the people have given themselves to strange flesh and they denied their natural for unnatural meaning they were straight and decided to have sexual relations with the flesh they are not naturally attracted to.
And you are right, there is no addressing of a gay monogamous relationship, but only those that would be immoral whether seen with men and women or those of the same sex ie. rape and pagan worship rituals.
I thank you for your graciousness though I disagree with you on some counts. I see Christ in that.
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People, from around the world, still live under the Law (at the time of Moses). Orthodox ( not messianic) Jews still live in this manner. However, Christ brought a new covenant to the world. He came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. If you refer to Mathew and the natural order, then yes…. but it refers to homosexuality. It would also apply to people who lie with animals ( see Lev. & Duet).
Yes, and you could apply Adultery to the rape and paganism as well.
As for what one would eat Christ tells us in Matthew 15:11 “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:10-12).
Sacred, thank you as well for your graciousness and points of view. It is alright, in most things, to disagree. On Christ,, The Word and our spirituallives? I am not so sure….. we should all be of one mind when it comes to Christ and walking Christlike.
Thanks Sacred and you’re still always welcome. God bless.
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Yes there are many people still living with those laws, and majority Christians would consider them to either be worshippers of the law or just to not get it.
It’s my belief that when we love people like Christ commands there is all manner of semantics’s views that will be tolerated by God. Love people people, love God. This is the summary of the law. This is what we must agree on to be Christ-like.
You have shown me great courtesy, and in that I can see the image of Christ. That’s how we reveal Christ others. That’s how we win souls. His love was radical enough to transform, ours should be too.
Blessings on the journey!
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I am glad i am not under the Law. It would be a much harder life-style or means of living a Godly life. For example: Yom Kippor – “The Day of Atonement.” merely covering sin, for me, isn’t the same as having a “permanent sacrifice as that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He died for our sin and for that i am so very appreciative. Our goal, after receiving Christ is to repent or walk away from our old ways…. Many can’t do that or believe it’s enough to merely be forgiven. Failing to walk away from our old selves is to say “we are not obedient and salvation isn’t meaningful.”
Sacred, I am well pleased that you acknowledge me as a Christian and that i have shown you much courtesy. Thank you for saying so. Once again, you’re welcome here always. May God bless and keep you my friend.
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Altruistico – I’ve been subscribed to your blog for some time now. I, in my blog (http://christiansareus.wordpress.com), am making a section regarding topical scripture references in case some are having problems with a particular area of their lives and / or spiritual warfare. I was in the process of publishing one regarding “Homosexuality”. I saw at the bottom that there was an article written by you on the topic and am hoping that you will allow for a linkback. I really like what you’ve written on the topic and reading the following comments, I have to say that I am totally on board with your stance in the matter.
There is one beautiful thing that I have found (and I’m sure you have too) is that when Jesus came to earth, not only did he fulfill more than 100 prophecies regarding His coming, but He also completed the law so that those who have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection – we don’t have to be judged by that law any longer. Unfortunately, on the other side of the coin, those who reject His sacrifice for us will be judged very harshly (just like the OT law was very harsh) and the final outcome of that judgement must only be eternal death in the lake of fire since there hasn’t been since the original sin with Adam and Eve a person that walked this earth that would pass the sin test save Jesus Christ who lived a life just like you and I yet failed to sin at all.
I thank God for His sacrifice to atone for my sins and yours because I just happen to be a very sinful person and would otherwise be subject to that judgement and sentenced to the lake of fire as well.
Thank you for your kindness shown to “sacred” above and to all of your comment-ors. Some of us have more diplomacy than others. God loves diplomacy I have found. God bless you in your efforts here and I’m sure I will be linking back again soon.
Mark Davis
http://christiansareus.wordpress.com
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Mark, i have to agree with you fully. I know there is no manyof personal action of which could bring atonement for all I have done in my sinful nature. Praise be to God for sending His only begotten Son for atonement for we sinners. It’s not easy walking a truly Christian life. We fall short so often, but the mercy of God towards us and His eternal love for us brings justification when we call upon Him for forgiveness and His everlasting mercy. Thank you for your kindest words and appreciation for our work here. If I can ever help you please let me know. Once again, thank you and God bless.
God Bless you and yours Mark. May God keep you always.
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If there is every anything I can do to support your work, please, do not hesitate to call upon me. Of course, all posts here are available to you. Feel free to use all or any part of them for your site or to assist you in a post you are working on.
I want to thank you for your following (though I dislike that terminology) my blog. I trust that you will always find my material accurate and of benefit to you and others. Of course your comments and thoughts here are always welcome.
May God bless and keep you and yours.
Michael
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Good post. I think you stated the clear position of Scripture very well. Far too many professing Christians want to make Sodomy Scripturally legitimate, when there is absolutely no Scriptural basis for justifying homosexuality.
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Thank you for saying so. You are quite correct when stating “far to many professing Christians want to make sin justified through one means or another.” They rationalize their actions through twisting what gospel says, or doesn’t tell us. Sin is sin and the Bible calls it expressly that. There is no middle of the road. Thank you for commenting it is greatly appreciated. may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob watch over you always and forever. God bless.
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There is nothing wrong with encouraging full acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality in society. It certainly won’t hurt anyone. It should be seen as normal and equal to heterosexuality, because it is! A huge benefit to society is that same-sex couples can adopt babies to give them a loving home and family.
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Your claim is that homosexuality/bi-sexuality does not hurt anyone…….in fact, according to you, it should be seen as normal. In your argument you fail to establish what is normal about men penetrating another man’s rectum or his oral cavity? Or, a female strapping on an artifical penis in order to penetrate another woman’s vaginal areas. I am afraid i fail to see any form of normalcy to these activities.
As a quick aside: we oftentimes think that when we sin and nothing happens (no lightning bolt strikes, etc.) that God either didn’t care or didn’t notice. However, Romans 1 tells us that the first stage of God’s wrath is actually not to discipline or correct the person, but rather He abandons the individual, giving them up to their sin. His initial wrath and judgment results, as Paul says, in them “receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error” (vs. 27).
In vs. 24, Paul makes the initial mention of the first judgment: a sexual sin that is a consequence of the rebellion described earlier: “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.” The reading of this text is unmistakable – God delivered the people over to sexual lust (the word “impurity” is akatharsia in the Greek, which literally means immorality; a state of moral corruption[5]), a kind that resulted in their bodies being ‘shamed’.
What kind of moral corruption and shame? Paul explicitly tells us: “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” (Rom. 1:26–27).
There is no mistaking Paul here; the reference is clearly to the practice of lesbianism and male homosexuality.
Historically, and absent from a Christian perspective, sex and sexual relations have been predominately between a man and a woman. Procreation of the species was the ultimate thought behind such relations and sexual activity. Please inform me the outcome of this scenario. Heteresexuals stop procreating and no longer produce their species. Where will the homosexual find the off spring to adopt and give these offspring an abundant and productive life? The balance of nature and the natural order of life, or the species can not be maintained under your scenario. You might say, “well there will always be people bearing children and thus we will always have an aqbundant supply of offspring to adopt.” Yet, i have to ask, “what if the homosexual community has it’s way and persuades a mass majority of heteralsexuals to become gay/lesbain? And, you must realize many of the couples who are having children desire them, love them and want to raise them themselves.
I have to ask also, “why would a gay or lesbian couple desire to have children?” Is it to take on a sense of social normalcy or to raise the next generation of gay and lesbian children/adults?
From a Christian perspective God did not consider the prospect of making Adam a helper of the same sex. He knew that, in order for the world to flurish it needed procreation of the species. God knew there would be “NO LIFE” if there were an Adam and male counterpart to be his (Adam’s) helper. So whether you are atune to Creation or Evolution it stand clearly there before your eyes that either God knew the outcome and benefit of a man and a woman joined and called it normal and beneficial or; mother nature, in her design, saw the inmportancy of a man and a woman in order to sustain life – it’s tantamount to the same thing: “the social and procreational balance can only have order and balance, and thus a normalcy, if each species holds to a male and females shared responsibilty towards life.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you always.
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Sounds right. We should live by the law. If you don’t want get stoned to death….then don’t sin.
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Well, I have to admit there is merit to your comment. Many are probably pretty happy we no longer are under the law. Right, Ken?
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you.
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Thank you for your interest in this post. May God bless and keep you.
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Thank you for your interest in this post and visiting my blog. Both are appreciated. may God bless and keep you.
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