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Freedom for The Law and Sexuality

The Leviticus Law is a go-to area of the bible some use to justify why they can do certain things.  The argument attempts to say that Jesus freed Christians from the old covenant law and that the church currently cherry picks what to follow and what should not be followed.  But, the ignorance of that very scripture is clear when simply looking at who the law is addressed to.

Leviticus 18:22

22 You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.

This is the verse of 'controversy' 

It is not denied what is being condemned here.  But is being contested is whether or not this behavior is still condemned or not.  But this argument must then address the following verse as well:

23 You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal, defiling yourself with it; a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.


Problem 1

If v22 is no longer condemned, than v23 can no longer be condemned as well.  Having sexual relations with an animal and even marrying an animal can not be condemned if v22 is not.

Critic Objection:

"If we are still under the Law, that means we need to put sexual law breaks to death via stoning and we would have to put to death anyone who curses their father or mother too; also we would have to be put to death for eating shrimp"

Response 1 - Mercy and Grace:

Jesus fulfilled by the law.  He desires mercy and grace.  This does not justify the sin but it sees the reality of sin and shows mercy.   It does not excuse the sin.  It does not say it is no longer sin.  The Fullness of The Law is Grace and Mercy through Jesus Christ.  The Law as not banished but fulfilled.  "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." (Matt 5:17 AMP).

Thus; these are still sins.  But no longer death is sought but mercy.  Because while The Law was not completely revealed, death was called for but now the law is fulfilled and mercy is called for. 

Response 2 - Other Nations:

Jewish customs that were not applied to non jews, were just that, only jewish customs and laws.  Morality that was applied to all people is just that, morality applied to jews and non-jews.

For example: He is addressing Israel and not all the nations on the earth (Deut. 14:2). It is to Israel that we find special restrictions. God was speaking only to Israel (Lev. 11:2) about forbidding them to eat pork (Lev. 11:7), shrimp (Lev. 11:10-12), and lobster (Lev. 11:10-12).  God is speaking only to Israel.  Civil and Ceremonial Israeli Law is just that, for them.  Moral law is applied to everyone everywhere at all times because they come from God's character and he does not change.

Solution:


I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. 26 But you are to keep My statutes and ordinances.

God makes it clear that there are things that apply to non-jews and those NOT under the law, and there are things that ONLY applied to the jews who WHERE under the law. 

Lev 18:24

“Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves by all these things.

Those who are not under the civil and ceremonial law, non jews, people of the world, are practicing things that God says defile them. They are not under the levitical law.  That means that v22 is a sin outside of the levitical law.  It is a universal sin that applies to all people.

"[Critics] fail to distinguish between what is specifically commanded by God for the nation of Israel (i.e., Lev. 11:2, Deut. 14:2) and what is not restricted to just Israel--the latter including homosexuality by which the nations before the Israelites had defiled the land (Lev. 18:24). Therefore, homosexuality is a sin that is universally applied to all nations where dietary laws, sex during menstruation, ritualistic purity, etc., is not. Mr. Vines has failed to recognize this distinction.  Therefore, his argument is not valid." - Matt Slick

SIMPLY PUT:
  1. Ceremonial Law applies to Israeli ceremonies
  2. Civil Law applies to Israeli civility
  3. Moral Law applies to Israel and ALL nations.
  4. Moral Law is from God's character therefore it is for everyone everywhere at all times.
  5. Death penalty under Moral Law is not sought because of Christ fulfilling the law (Matt. 3:15).
  6. The Law Fulfilled seeks Grace and Mercy.
  7. The Law Fulfilled does not justify or excuse what has been revealed as Morally wrong because the law itself exposes what IS morally wrong.

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