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Reference Points
This following contains all the information to support the fact that through Jesus Christ, all are welcome in the kingdom of God. There are far more passages throughout the Bible that demonstrate God's love and mercy than the six regarding homosexuality. These passages together form a much stronger illustration of God's grace. Only by understanding the entirety of what is written can we fully understand that eternal salvation is given to all who call upon Christ, and nothing else.
Exodus Chap 26
Specific directions and details are given to Israelites to make a tent for worship. Special instructions are given in regards to the curtain that separates the Most Holy place in the tent from the rest of the areas inside. This partition will be taken away with the death of Jesus, bridging the gap between man and God. [Matthew 27:50-51]
Leviticus Chap 11
In this chapter, a list of unclean animals is detailed as to command the Israelite faith to abstain from eating. However, all animals later became regarded as clean to eat by Jesus, further solidifying that through Jesus, archaic and outdated regulations are replaced by God's mercy.
Leviticus 16: 20-22
“When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness."
[This ritual was established for the atonement of sins through a goat (presented as a transfer vessel) to carry away all the sins of those who confess over it. These practices are no longer valid nor needed for the atonement of sins, as through Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.]
Leviticus 19: 19
“Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material."
[Strict rules are given that forbid the planting of two different kinds of seeds in one spot, and forbidding people from wearing clothes made from two kinds of material. These are all examples of how these strict laws and regulations were giving at a time before Jesus Christ, and through the gift of salvation brought by Christ, God's mercy is given to people who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and we no longer depend on such rules.]
Numbers 25: 1-3
"While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods. So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them."
[The Law of Moses directed the Israelites to abstain from having intercourse with others that serve a different faith/religion. These rules were given during a time in which these regulations served a purpose that was specific to its time period. This chapter highlights this fact in that Isrealite men would begin to have relations with the women of Moab, and would be enticed to worship their "god" (Baal) and would turn away from the one and only true God. Abstaining from having sexual relations was critical to maintaining the survival of the faith in the one and only true God; which would ultimately become the precursor to the Messiah (Jesus Christ), who would bring salvation to all who believe in him and follow the teachings of Jesus.]
Jeremiah 18: 7-10
"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it."
[This passage describes how God's plan for Israel had evolved, and thus also proves that God's plan adjusts according to the temperament of the times. However, the one true constant that has always remained was God's love for people and his mercy that the Lord gives to those who accept Jesus Christ.]
Psalm 145: 18
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
[In this passage, it is made clear that ALL who call upon the Lord are allowed near the Lord.]
Isiah 28: 13
"So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that;
a little here, a little there—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
they will be injured and snared and captured."
[This passage states how what started off as religious rules from God will eventually be transformed by men into following mere rules for the sake of following them, and through that action will become their downfall.]
Isiah 29: 13
"The Lord says, "These people come near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship 'of Me' and is made up only of rules taught by men."
[This is a perfect key point that shows how God's love for how mankind should focus on honoring and worshiping God, rather than focusing on the rules that were created through religion designed by mankind (which should not be mankind's directive in religion). Religion often becomes skewed and lost through the hampering of man-made rules and regulations. The Bible shows how God wants mankind to recognize the Lord as the one and only God, and to have a loving relationship that is reflected in doing good to one another, while also refraining from judging others and loving one another as one would love one's self.]
Isiah 53: 5
"Through his wounds, we will be healed from our inequities."
[This is continuing affirmation of the forgiveness of sins that comes from the salvation that Jesus brings. It is only though Jesus that we are afforded this mercy, and thus following archaic rules and regulations are not required for eternal salvation, but rather through Jesus Christ.]
Isiah 64: 8
"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
[God is the potter and we are the clay. We are all made from God's hands, and God loves all his creations.]
Psalms 130: 4
"But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you."
[With God there is forgiveness, therefore God is feared.]
II Chronicles 30: 15-19
"And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.”
[This shows God's mercy to those who worship the Lord with all the heart and mind, but are ritually unclean. Just as the strict rules and regulations were given to the Israelites to follow, through Hezekiah's prayer during the Passover, God showed mercy and forgiveness, even though there were those that were 'unclean' due to the breaking from the strict rules given.]
Ezra 10: 2
"... We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."
[This passage details how intermarrying between Israelites and foreigners was prohibited. Just as in the United States during the early 1900's it was also forbidden for people of different races to be wed to one another. The Bible makes clear distinction that though there were laws and regulations that were upheld and enforced at the time it was created, they can no longer be applied to today's era, as civilization's attitude is evolving and adjusting according to the times. The Bible is not refuting the notion of people culture evolving, but rather recognizes and details it.]
Lamentations 3: 22
"So great is the Lord's love that His love never fails."
[This is a constant reminder of God's great love for us, and that the Lord is a LOVING God.]
Hosea Chap 6: 6
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
[Mercy is desired over sacrifice. This illustrates how God places higher importance on showing one another mercy rather than following mere Law (of Moses) in order to gain favor in the Lord's eyes.]
Micah 6: 8
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God."
[This passage is another clear indication that God wants us all to act merciful, for God is also merciful.]
Zachariah 7: 9
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. "
[Another great example and one of many passages in the Bible that reiterates the emphasis that the Lord favors acts of mercy and compassion towards one another.]
1 Samuel 16: 7
“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
[This is a great verse that shows how God examines the heart of a person, and does not judge on the outward appearance. Just as people judge what they see, they discard examining the person on the inside. God knows what is in a persons heart, and God will judge on that.]
Matthew 12: 6-8
"I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
[Jesus is the new covenant, and stresses that to do good and show mercy are more important than following rules merely for the sake of following rules.]
Matthew 19: 7-8
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning."
[The Pharisees approach Jesus while a crowd is gathered, and attempt to engage Jesus in a debate regarding divorce. The Pharisees reference divorce regulations according to the Law of Moses, to which Jesus specifically notes that they are referring back to a time when the Israelite's hearts were hardened; further establishing the point that the old rules were relative to a specific time due to circumstances of that time. Jesus teaches us that we ought to place love before such rules and regulations, which have since become archaic to times after Jesus.]
Matthew 25: 34-40
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ "
[Jesus explains that anyone who shows mercy and compassion to a stranger also does so for Jesus.]
Luke Chap 11: 2-4
"He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation'."
[Jesus teaches that when we pray, if we hold anything against another person, we ought to forgive them so that our Father in Heaven may forgive our sins. <= (This illustrates a stark contrast from the old laws established by the Law (of Moses) in the Old Testament, which dictates an "eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:24) type of rule. However, with the new covenant that comes with the salvation brought by Jesus, followers of Christ are instead instructed to follow a new code of conduct that centers on forgiveness, mercy and restraint from judging one another.]
Luke 11: 46
"Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."
[This is another great example of how Jesus condemns the burdens of the restrictive rules and regulations that are regarded as the ways of gaining salvation. Jesus is the way to salvation.]
Luke 13: 15
"The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?"
[A synagogue ruler sends away a crowd after Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, and subsequently confronted about the rule regarding actions performed on the Sabbath. Jesus then points out that it is foolish to follow so extremely to a rule merely for the sake of following a rule while neglecting the greater good. Jesus elaborates by relating to a person who unties an ox or donkey on the Sabbath in order to allow the animal a drink of water. This ties back to the Jesus teaching us that we should focus on love over merely following a rule, simply because it was established, even though it is no longer pertinent to the era of the time.]
Luke 20: 17
"Rejected by the Law (of Moses) but made the capstone."
[Perfect metaphor of Jesus Christ, who was persecuted and rejected by the Pharisees, but Jesus then became the capstone (the highest most important part of the structure).]
John 1: 1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
[This shows that the new covenant was long established before the old covenant and was always part of God's plan.]
John 5: 22-24
"The Father has entrusted judgement to the Son. Whoever honors the Son, also honors the Father who sent him. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so too the Son saves and gives life after death, All who believes in the Son will gain eternal life through the Son."
[This is one the passages that gives greatest insight as to how the Lord judges us all. This passage makes clear that Jesus is above all other former commands, and that through Jesus Christ we are given salvation, and that Jesus has been given the authority to give mercy to those that follow Jesus and his teachings.]
John 7: 24
"Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgement."
[Jesus also points out that when laws/regulations are given by man, such as the laws established during days of Moses, people have proven incapable of keeping to these strict regulations. We are warned by Jesus to instead look into the deeper meaning of kindness and mercy, as these prevail over following mere rules for the sake of following them as the Pharisees have done. (and just like the Pharisees, there are those in today's time that act just like the Pharisees.)]
John 8: 31-32
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
[To follow Christ's teachings will allow us to gain eternal freedom.]
John 17: 20-23
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
[Jesus confirms the unity between mankind and the Lord; which is bridged through Jesus Christ, and through Jesus we are saved.]
Acts 10: 34
"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts people from every nation who fear him and does what is right."
[Peter then goes on to explain that Jesus is the Christ sent from God, an that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through Jesus, and that God has appointed him as judge over both the living and the dead.]
Romans 2: 1
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."
[Only God may judge.]
Romans 8: 38-39
"And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love."
[No rules or laws or regulations can separate the love that God has for us all.]
Romans 9: 16
"It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy."
[God opens the way for everyone through Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus that we attain salvation, and NOT by our own actions/desires.]
Romans 10: 4
"Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."
[Jesus is the 'End-All' of Law.]
Romans 13: 10
"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
[This is also another reaffirming passage that helps to solidify the confirmation that Jesus has placed the love we share to another with utmost significance.]
I Corinthians 3: 11
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
[This reiterates to refrain from placing the focus on mere men who perform the Lord's work, but rather the focus should be placed on Jesus Christ.]
I Corinthians Chap 7: 19
"Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts."
[Paul notes that circumcision is now rendered obsolete due to the fact that Jesus Christ has come and abolished the old laws (of Moses). This is another passage that shows how the old laws and regulations set forth prior are now considered archaic under Christ who supersedes all else.]
I Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
[This is another great passage that highlights and emphasizes the precedent that love has, and reminds us to show restraint and mercy to one another.]
II Corinthians 6: 4-6
" Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love."
[Paul writes that we ought to rejoice in the Lord always, even during our struggles, because God is ALWAYS with us.]
II Corinthians 5: 17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
[Through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the consecration rituals are no longer required.]
Galatians 2: 16
"... know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."
[Paul highlights the fact that "we are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ and not observing the Law (of Moses) and that the Law (of Moses) died with Jesus so that we might live through Jesus, adding "if righteousness could be gained through the Law, then Christ died for nothing."]
Galatians 5: 6
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcised nor uncircumcised has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
[This passage is in reference to circumcision, giving further evidence that the old laws and regulations (Law of Moses) fall by the wayside as Jesus supersedes all former laws/directives given before the salvation that came with Jesus Christ.]
Galatians 5: 14
"The entire law is summed up in a single command, 'Love thy neighbor as yourself' "
[This sums up everything in one single stroke: there is clear command that loving one another is paramount, and judging others is nowhere in this scope of direction.]
Galatians 6: 2
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
[We ought to be compassionate to one another and help those who are burdened; as Christ commanded: 'We should love one another as we love ourselves.']
Galatians 6: 15
"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcised means anything; what counts is a new creation."
[Paul points out that whether circumcised or not, we are no longer bound by the laws of the Old Testament, but rather following the law of Christ (New Testament). Just as old listed rules are stricken out such as this regarding circumcision, so too are the old regulations that were formerly deemed necessary for salvation. These were abolished through Christ and his greatest command given: "Love God and love one another."]
Ephesians 1: 13-14
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."
[We gain salvation through Jesus Christ.]
Ephesians 2: 15-18
"By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by One Spirit."
[It is through Jesus Christ that we are given access to God]
Colossians 3: 12
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
[Paul urges that we should remain vigilant in showing kindness to others. This again stresses the importance that we must continually strive to make efforts to love one another.]
I Timothy 1: 15
"Christ came into this world to save sinners."
[This reiterates that through Jesus Christ we have salvation, and no other actions on our part can ever change that.]
I Timothy 4: 11
"... but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
[Paul instructs to remain steadfast in preaching the word and to be patient and careful with instruction. This further shows that as Christians, we are to be gentle and non-judgmental with particular regards to spreading God's truth. Christians should not denounce others nor vilify them, but rather the Jesus teaches us to be nothing but kind and gentle to one another.]
Hebrews 1: 1-2
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."
[Jesus is anointed by God above all in the Kingdom, raised to the right hand of the Father. Through Jesus, all former ways of religious laws were abolished and replaced by following Christ.]
Hebrews 2: 14
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—"
[Jesus calls the people of this world "the children which God has given me" which shows that we all belong to Jesus, and Jesus accepts and loves us all. The teachings that Jesus has given us is what we should abide by and focus on.]
Hebrews 5: 9
"... and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."
[Jesus was offered up as a sacrifice, suffered and made perfect as a source of salvation for all who submit themselves to Christ. As Christians, we ought to submit ourselves to Christ and following the teachings of Christ, holding true to the greatest commands given by Christ as the means of receiving eternal salvation.]
Hebrews 6: 19
"... from this hope, we are an anchor to the soul, firm and secure, Jesus has come before us, eternal on our behalf to offer eternal salvation."
[This passage reaffirms that the salvation that Jesus brings is eternal, and thus by placing Jesus as our anchor, we are eternally saved.]
Hebrews 9: 15
"For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
[Christ is described as, "a ransom to set us free from the sins committed under the first covenant." This is a perfect illustration how under the 'first covenant' (Law of Moses) rules and regulations that were delineated to detail sinful acts are abolished through the salvation that is Jesus Christ.]
Hebrews 10: 9-10
"Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
[Before the arrival of Christ, blood from sacrificed animals was used to cleanse/atone for sins. However, with the salvation that comes from Christ's blood being shed for us all, no longer are the old rules and regulation in effect. The first had to be established in order for the second to happen and make sense.]
Hebrews 12: 24
"... to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."
[This passage reaffirms that Jesus is the new covenant, and his blood shed for us is above all previously established sets of rules.]
James 2: 13
"... because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
[Mercy is given to those who give it. A strong reminder that we are all to show mercy and compassion to all those around us, and to refrain from judgmental behavior.]
James 3: 17
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
[Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful, impartial and sincere.]
1 Peter 2: 24
"... his wounds have healed us."
[Through Jesus Christ who died for our sins, and through Jesus Christ we are granted salvation.]
1 Peter 4: 8
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."
[This is yet another re-affirming passage of how important it is for Christians to place kindness and love on the forefront of their attention.]
1 John 1: 9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
[Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who purifies all from sin to those who confess their sins.]
1 John 2: 5-6
"But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."
[We must love one another if we want to obey Jesus.]
1 John Chap 3: 23
"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us."
[As children of God, we must distinguish ourselves, not with words, but with actions: to love one another.]
1 John 4: 7-9
"... let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."
[God is love, and love is God. If we love God, then we must also love one another.]
1 John 4: 21
"And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
[Since God loves us, we also ought to love one another if we say we love God.]
Jude 1: 22
"Be merciful to those who doubt."
[This is another instruction that as Christians, we are to approach non-believers in a gentle manner, and not in a brash and condemning approach (which would only further distance non-believers.)]
Revelation 22: 21
"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."
[The Lord's grace has no bounds, and is granted to all who devote themselves to Jesus.]
Text from New International Version Bible