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Polygamy

 
Polygamy is wrong because it necessarily involves adultery. That is why it is not specifically banned anywhere in the New testament Bible - because it is covered by the laws that deal with adultery.
 
If you have sex with someone other than your wife then it is adultery, and simply going through a ceremony, even if it is legally valid, cannot make that second woman into a wife in the eyes of God.
 
Adultery is stealing the sex that does not belong to you, it belongs to another man or women.

99.9 percent of the Christians have never practiced polygamy for centuries now too and that alone should have been quite explicit the clear condemnation of polygamy.

There are only supposedly 14,000 participants worldwide for the professing Christian polygamists, and many of them are moving to the western United States, particularly Utah. Their main purpose also in going to Utah and surrounding areas is to convert the Mormon polygamists to Christian polygamy since they and majority of Christians don't believe even the Mormon fundamentalists to be Christians.  But we also already have been warned that int he last days there will be these type of false prophets and false teachers evens such as even the  Mormons, the sexual perverts. Mormons at one time had openly observed the multiple-wife tradition until the law prohibited it Unacceptable abuses that occur within the polygamous societies such as incest, statutory rape, underage marriage, welfare fraud, tax evasion, lack of education, trafficking of minors across boarders for the purpose of sex, medical neglect, and extreme forms of domestic abuse & mental torture. we must not forget the tens of thousands of polygamous children and adults who are being coerced into this Taliban way of life. without any regard for the polygamous women and children whose human rights are being violated.   The  Mormons who now also pretend to be Christians and many do know they are not. In fact neither of them are real Christians  that now is undeniable too

Historically, biblically In the new testament times, Bible  there was no practice of polygamy amongst any of the Christians or the apostles, church leaders. 

Muslims also do  practise polygamy.  Chechen Acting Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov has spoken for allowing polygamy in his republic. “Chechnya needs it because we had a war, and, statistically, we have more women than men,” Kadyrov said that different sources say there are 9-11% more women than men in Chechnya. Kadyrov believes a man can have up to four wives, if he can support them.

Polygamy is not a question of a woman’s right to ‘not be single’ .  " As a Muslim I believe it to be a human right if a woman does not want to be single and does not have an opportunity to get married, but agrees to become a second or a third wife, than the state has no right to deprive her of that. Today the state gives a woman the right to be a mistress deprived of rights. She can claim neither property nor support to her children born in civil marriage. But as a spouse her rights are limited."  And according this anti-Christ polygamy is about a woman’s ‘right’ to be a second, third or fourth wife of a man. If a Christian man is tempted, he can just marry the woman –just like the pagans do. What’s the problem? The first step to the complete debauchery of any people so they descend into animal behavior by the anti-Christ's the lie of free will.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, to eat of idol sacrifices and commit fornication.

Malachi 2:13-17 And further ye do this: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the oblation any more, nor receiveth it with satisfaction at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been a witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt unfaithfully: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not one make them ? and the remnant of the Spirit was his. And wherefore the one? He sought a seed of God. Take heed then to your spirit, and let none deal unfaithfully against the wife of his youth, (for I hate putting away, saith Jehovah the God of Israel;) and he covereth with violence his garment, saith Jehovah of hosts: take heed then to your spirit, that ye deal not unfaithfully. Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words, and ye say, Wherein have we wearied him ? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Exodus 23:32,33 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it is sure to be a snare unto thee.

(Rev 2:20 KJV)  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Clearly, polygamy is unscriptural. God created (1) man and (1) woman to be united. God didn’t simultaneously create (1) man to be united with 2-3, or more women. Anyone who argues in favor of polygamy is clearly a follower of Satan.

God still says to the worshipers of demons who hate Jesus Christ and Israel: "But I know thine abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, And thy raging against me." 2 Kings 19:27

Polygamists they are clearly the abnormal sexual perverts even if they are having a good time at it..

(2 Cor 11:14 KJV) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

(2 Cor 11:15 KJV) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

" Polygamy We have NT data from Jesus and from Paul, and we have information on the attitude of the early church to it from the Fathers. 1. The clearest verse comes from Jesus in His teaching on divorce: Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." (NIV Matt 19.8-9, pp. Mark 10.1-12)

The key thing to note here is that this argument fails if polygamy is acceptable! Jesus' point is that improper divorce does not nullify a marriage, and if the first marriage still stands, then a "second" marriage is adultery--and NOT simply 'polygamy'! This is very clear.

"The saying is hyperbolic-that is, it has exaggerated, intensified force: because God does not accept divorce as valid, any man who divorces his wife is not really divorced, and if he marries someone else, he commits adultery. No one else in antiquity spoke of divorce in such strong terms. (Because most Jewish teachers allowed polygamy, they would not have seen marrying a second wife as adultery, even if they had agreed that the man was still married to the first wife. But Jesus eliminates the double standard; a man consorting with two women is as adulterous as a woman consorting with two men.) [BBC, in.loc. Mark 10:11.

"The school of Shammai ... did not permit divorce except for the wife's unfaithfulness (whether successful or attempted), but they did not consider remarriage afterward adulterous. Jesus is more consistent: if one divorces one's spouse without valid grounds , the marriage is not truly dissolved and subsequent marriage is adulterous." [BBC, in. loc. Mtt 19.9]

2. Paul, in Romans 7, actually uses the same principle, but applies it to the wife: So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. (Rom 7)
Notice that a polyandrous relationship would also be adultery.

3. There is another, more general argument expressed in the New Testament, concerning the example of godly leaders. It is clear (as the questioner notes) that those in Church government/leadership are to be monogamous (the 'husband of one wife' clause shows up in both statements of elder/deacon qualifications: 1 Tim 3.2 and Titus 1.6). But these leaders are told to be examples to the flock, and the believers are told to follow the example of the apostles, disciples, and leaders. [Phil 3.17; 4.9; 1 Thess 1.6,7; 2 Thess 3.7,9; 1 Tim 4.12; Tit 2.7; 1 Pet 5.3; 1 Cor 4.6; 1 Cor 11.1] Therefore, in the absence of other NT instruction, ALL believers are to emulate the purity and scripturally-mandated characteristics of our elders--including the monogamous one (2nd in each list!). In fact, one measure of the 'godliness' of a widow, worthy of welfare support from scarce church funds, was that she be a "wife of one husband" (the exact same phrase turned around)--I Timothy 5.9. The reference to polyandry shows that monogamy was important for general believers as well.

The NT data is rather clear--for both forms of polygamy: polygyny and polyandry--that monogamy is important to God's will, and that entering into polygamy is committing adultery.

the post-NT church was likewise anti-polygamy:

1. Justin Martyr (c.160) rebukes the Jews for allowing polygamy: "Your imprudent and blind masters [i.e., Jewish teachers] even until this time permit each man to have four or five wives. And if anyone sees a beautiful woman and desires to have her, they quote the doings of Jacob." [ANF, vol. 1, p. 266]

2. Irenaeus (c.180) condemns the Gnostics for, among other things, polygamy: "Others, again, following upon Basilides and Carpocrates, have introduced promiscuous intercourse and a plurality of wives..." [ANF, vol. 1, p.353]

3. Tertullian (c.207) was also explicit: "Chapter II.-Marriage Lawful, But Not Polygamy. We do not indeed forbid the union of man and woman, blest by God as the seminary of the human race, and devised for the replenishment of the earth and the furnishing of the world, and therefore permitted, yet Singly. For Adam was the one husband of Eve, and Eve his one wife, one woman, one rib. (ANF: Tertullian, To His Wife)

4. Methodius (cf.290) was clear on the issue, arguing that it had stopped at the time of the Prophets: "The contracting of marriage with several wives had been done away with from the times of the prophets. For we read, 'Do not go after your lusts, but refrain yourself from your appetites'...And in another place, 'Let your fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.' This plainly forbids a plurality of wives." [ANF, vol. 6, p.312]

5 The Pseudo-Clementine Literature boasts about how St. Thomas taught the Parthians [i.e., an Iranian culture] to abandon polygamy:

"But I shall give a still stronger proof of the matters in hand. For, behold, scarcely seven years have yet passed since the advent of the righteous and true Prophet; and in the course of these, inert of all nations coming to Judaea, and moved both by the signs and miracles Which they saw, and by the grandeur of His doctrine, received His faith; and then going back to their own countries, they rejected the lawless rites of the Gentiles, and their incestuous marriages. In short, among the Parthians-as Thomas, who is preaching the Gospel amongst them, has written to us-not many now are addicted to polygamy; nor among the Medes do many throw their dead to dogs; nor are the Persians pleased with intercourse with their mothers, or incestuous marriages with their daughters; nor do the Susian women practise the adulteries that were allowed them; nor has Genesis been able to force those into crimes whom the teaching of religion restrained. (ANF 8: "Book IX: Chapter XXIX.-The Gospel More Powerful Than 'Genesis.'"]

6. The Council of Neocaesarea a.d. 315 (circa) refers to a 'purification period' for polygamists. By that time, sinners had to 'sit out' of Church activities until they had demonstrated reformation. If a sin showed up on this list of canons, it was considered a 'bad sin'--and polygamy shows up here: "Ancient Epitome of Canon III. The time (for doing penance and purification) of polygamists is well known. A zeal for penance may shorten it." [ANF]

7. Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea, mentioned it a number of times in his letters, generally concerning the period for exclusion from church for polygamists, calling it 'limited fornication'(!):

"IV. In the case of trigamy and polygamy they laid down the same rule, in proportion, as in the case of digamy; namely one year for digamy (some authorities say two years); for trigamy men are separated for three and often for four years; but this is no longer described as marriage at all, but as polygamy; nay rather as limited fornication. It is for this reason that the Lord said to the woman of Samaria, who had five husbands, "he whom thou now hast is not thy husband." He does not reckon those who had exceeded the limits of a second marriage as worthy of the title of husband or wife. In cases of trigamy we have accepted a seclusion of five years, not by the canons, but following the precept of our predecessors. Such offenders ought not to be altogether prohibited from the privileges of the Church; they should be considered deserving of hearing after two or three years, and afterwards of being permitted to stand in their place; but they must be kept from the communion of the good gift, and only restored to the place of communion after showing some fruit of repentance. [ANF: (Canonica Prima.)To Amphilochius, concerning the Canons. Letter CLXXXVIII written c.347.]

The data for the NT is rather clear. Although it was already a minority practice (outlawed in many countries), the stance of Jesus, Paul, and the early church is emphatically condemnatory towards it. Monogamy is upheld as God's design, His will, and His expectation for His people.

1. Polygamy was NOT practiced in Greek and Roman societies of the New testament time:

"Even though we may find numerous traces of polygamy and polyandry in the Gk. myths, monogamy predominated in the Gk. world in the historical period. Morality within marriage was strict. The Homeric hero had one wife, who was faithful and inviolable, a good manager of the home and mother. Gk. marriage was monogamous. [NIDNTT:s.v. "Marriage, adultery, bride, bridegroom"]

"Polygamy was not practiced in the Roman world outside Palestine, though illegal bigamy and certainly adultery were. [EBC: in.loc. 1 Tim 3]

2. Polygamy was practiced somewhat in 1st century Palestinian Judaism (by the government/aristocratic leaders):

"In the Second Temple period, Jewish society was, at least theoretically, polygamous, like other oriental societies of the time but in contrast to the neighboring Greek and Roman societies...."[HI:JWGRP:85] "There is evidence of the practice of polygamy in Palestinian Judaism in NT times (cf. J. Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus: An Investigation into Economic and Social Conditions during the New Testament Period, 1969, 90, 93, 369f.). Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.) had ten wives (Josephus, Ant. 17, 19f.; War 1,562) and a considerable harem (War 1,511). Polygamy and concubinage among the aristocracy is attested by Josephus, Ant. 12, 186ff.; 13, 380; War 1, 97. The continued practice of levirate marriage (Yeb. 15b) evidently led to polygamy, which was countenanced by the school of Shammai but not by that of Hillel. [NIDNTT:s.v. "Marriage, adultery, bride, bridegroom"]

3. Among the Jews, it was not accepted by the prestigious school of Hillel (above), nor by the strict Dead Sea Sect (Qumran), and was not widely practiced, esp. among the rabbi's:

"But even if polygamy was permitted by tannaitic halakhah, other halakhic systems counseled otherwise. During the Second Temple period, monogamy was preferred even on the conceptual plane by, above all, the Dead Sea Sect whose halakhah explicitly prohibited polygamy. In the reworked version of the statutes of the king in the Temple Scroll, it is stated: "he shall not take another wife in addition to her, for she alone shall be with him all the days of her life" (LVII 17-8). In the Damascus Covenant, criticism is leveled against the 'builders of the wall' (Pharisees?) in the following terms: 'they shall be caught in fornication twice; once by taking a second wife while the first is still alive...' [HI:JWGRP:85] "it was known in Jewish society as represented in rabbinic literature, polygamy was not widespread in practice, especially not among the sages themselves." [HI:JWGRP:86]

So, polygamy was present only in a particular subset of Palestinian Judaism (not in Roman society, Greek society, Diaspora Jewish communities, the Hillel-school, or Dead Sea Sect), and generally confined to the aristocracy.  "
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/

So Polygamy is not acceptable in the New Testament  nor today not even for any professing Christians and all the people now trying to now live under mostly the old testament laws alone, wrongfully justifying their polygamy  are now going to hell anyway  Even sex outside of marriage, or lusting for  another women, even while it may be consetsual is also still sinful. Just cause it is consentual does not mean any act between two persons is not sinful. Even the sole act of masturbation is a sinful act. What even makes these acts sinful is that the people involved are not only harming themselves, going clearly against God's present and original intent, they are also likely next corrupting, harming the others as it was pointed out .

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Gal 5:16 KJV)

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16 KJV)

9  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.   10  And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11  And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12  And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. (Mark 10:  KJV)
 
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.(John 4: KJV) 
 
3  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8: KJV)
 
The fact that Jesus did not directly condemned the adulteress woman, there is still no denial of the truth that adultery/polygamy is still an unacceptable  sin.. and Jesus said go and sin no more
 
For the husband is the head of the wife (singular), even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:22-23)
 
 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.  (I corinthians16 )
 
 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

 1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.[a] 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her  husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion."  (I Corinthians 7 )
 
and consentual or not Ephesians 5:3 NIV;  says  "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."  1 Thessalonians 4:7. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."
 
(1 Cor 5:11 KJV)  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 
 
Aultery/polygamy, Sex before marriage are sins. Sex before marriage is fornication. Fornication" literally means "voluntary sexual intercourse between unmarried  woman and a man"
 
Christianity began with Jesus himself is recorded as having declared that  he is God, and the sole person that can forgive all sins,  "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father [i.e. God], but by me." (John 14:6; Revised Standard Version). He also is recorded as having declared, (John 8:19 KJV)  Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. (John 10:7 KJV)  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Hebrews 3:3 "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?". (Galatians 1:6-8) I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel.... But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed."  "All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16b-17).
 
Christianity is the only religion that Offers the Assurance and Security of Salvation in the present and from the time we first believed until we breath our last breath and beyond.
 
A.We have the assurance of a new life (1 John 3:14).
B.We have the assurance of divine care (Romans 8:28).
C.We have the assurance that God hears our prayers (1 John 5:13).
D.We have the assurance of a happy ending (2 Corinthians 5:1, 5-8).

All this brings wonderful peace and hope to the believer. We can know now that one day we will be with Jesus in heaven. 
 
In the 7the century A.D. Prophet Muhammad,  appeared with  the founding of Islam. Islam too is another  after the facts, another gospel and so are the Mormons, as well.. both relgions that worngfuly practised polygmany now too. Many Mormons have moved north even to Alberta
 
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, claims 12-million adherents around the world, The false church is the Americanized Jesus religion. It places the Garden of Eden in Jackson County, Missouri, and claims Christ visited America after the resurrection to promise his second coming, also in Missouri. It is an entirely home-grown. Joseph Smith founded the religion in 1830 in upstate New York, telling his followers an angel had appeared to him and handed him the Book of Mormon in the form of gold tablets.Smith gave the tablets back after translating them from the original "reformed Egyptian". According to the Book of Mormon, Israelites came to the American continent 600 years before Christ, but split into two feuding tribes, Nephites and Lamanites. The Nephites were "pure" (the word was "white" in Mormon scriptures until 1981) and led by a great man called Mormon. Lamanites were idol-worshipping and wicked, and therefore suffered the "curse of blackness" that turned their skins dark. The Lamanites eventually wiped out the Nephites, which is why Christopher Columbus found only brown-skinned native Americans when he arrived.  Mormon scriptures are jarringly recent and, in many cases, patently wrong. DNA testing, for example, has shown that the first Americans arrived from Asia, not from the Middle East.
 
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons,introduced polygamy to the United States before the civil war, but it has spent more than a century trying to disown its continued practice by more than 20 000 renegade Mormon fundamentalists in the backwaters of the western states, as well as in Mexico and Canada. In this Latterday Saints' church  priesthood was closed to black people until 1978,  No Mormon doctrine or practice has proved more troubling to the church than polygamy. The principle did not form part of Smith's original scriptures, but came to him as a revelation years later. He is said to have taken a second wife, a 16-year-old housemaid, in 1833 -- and 30 more wives over the next decade, to the disgust of some of his disciples.
 
Many deny that Mormonism is Christian at all.   "Many of the evangelicals take a dim view of the Latter-day Saints. The Southern Baptists regularly label the Mormons as a dangerous cult. Although Christ is a central figure in Mormon beliefs, the church teaches that God has a material body, and was fathered by another God. Joseph Smith also said that man can ultimately ascend to heaven and become "what God is": divine. This church today now is a byword for conservatism (95% of American Mormons voted for Bush in 2004) Latter-day Saints church today does not sanction plural marriage116 years after banning the practice . Polygamy is a constant embarrassment to this false  church in its quest for mainstream acceptance and top-level political influence.This false church  must shoulder some of the blame. It has sent mixed signals on plural marriages, turned a blind eye to polygamists in its own ranks decades after the ban, and done little to help victims of abuse. Although the church's 1890 "manifesto" against polygamy prohibits it here on earth, the scriptures retain it as a celestial ideal for believers who find their way to the kingdom of heaven. Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the Latter-day Saints church, declared his presidential candidacy in 1844, at a time when his followers were a community of outcasts in Illinois. In July that year, he was shot dead by an anti-Mormon at the age of 38, before his campaign even got going. His successor, Brigham Young, fled west to Utah with the remaining Saints .   ." In 2000,  was  Orrin Hatch, a softly spoken Mormon Republican senator from Utah, campaign for the US presidency was quickly crushed. Aa survey found that 17% of Americans would not vote for a Mormon US president under any circumstances. 

GOD STILL DOES PUNISH THE SIN OF ADULTERY/POLYGAMY

(2 Pet 2:13 KJV) And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The world view, which more and more persons now have opted for, even if by default, is that even of secual perversions and secular humanism with its hope in mankind, not the God-man, Christ Jesus. Ironically, coupled with this world view is a certain despondency, disappointment, and discontentment with the job mankind is doing.

Jesus Christ had already warned that in the last days many false messiahs would arise, which, as John tells us will culminate in the Antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3). All other beliefs are based on the teachings and ideas of those who were nothing more than mere men. No matter how brilliant, charismatic, or powerful they may be, there is no guarantee of their objectivity, accuracy or ultimate ability to deliver what they have promised. Other religious and philosophical leaders have come and gone, risen and fallen, but none have come back from the dead to carry on their work as did Jesus Christ.

What makes Christ’s person unique? The virgin birth of the Son of God, the incarnation, the birth of the God-man. Only the virgin birth can give an adequate answer to the phenomena of the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
(1) In Christ’s life and ministry, he demonstrated who He was--the God-man, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He also declared His purpose—to die for our sin.

(2) In His death on the cross, Christ accomplished that purpose. He bore our sin in His sinless body on the tree. He died as our substitute, and took our judgment.

(3) By His resurrection, God proved the value of His Son’s death and the sinlessness of His Person. It proved Him to be the unique God-man.

We note the words of Jesus in John 14:6, "Jesus said to him,  'l am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" 

We observe the testimony of Peter in Acts 4:12, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved." 

We hear the witness of John in I John 5:11-12, "And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." 

Christianity is the only religion that Offers the Assurance and Security of Salvation in the present and from the time we first believed until we breath our last breath and beyond.
 
A.We have the assurance of a new life (1 John 3:14).
B.We have the assurance of divine care (Romans 8:28).
C.We have the assurance that God hears our prayers (1 John 5:13).
D.We have the assurance of a happy ending (2 Corinthians 5:1, 5-8).

All this brings wonderful peace and hope to the believer. We can know now that one day we will be with Jesus in heaven. 
 
 Christianity is unique because it is the only religion that teaches that Salvation is a Free Gift of God’s Grace. There is nothing a person can do to merit salvation, since it is received through faith, apart from works. 

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life. Truly-

 The God of Christianity is claimed to be the only true God (Jeremiah 10:10; Jude 25).

The Bible is claimed to be the Word of God and the only true revelation from God (Isaiah 8:20; Revelation 22:18-19; 2 Timothy 3:16)

 The Biblical Way of Salvation is the only way of salvation. There is no other way (John 3:36).  No matter how good, religious or sincere a person may be, unless he or she has faith in Jesus they will not be saved. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12)

 Jesus Christ claims to be the only way to God, the only way of salvation and the only way to eternal life in heaven (John 3:16-17). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

Here is another evidence of the uniqueness of Christianity as an outgrowth of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Hospitals, which essentially began during the Middle Ages.
Universities, which also began during the Middle Ages. In addition, most of the world’s greatest universities were started by Christians for Christian purposes.
Literacy and education for the masses.
Capitalism and free enterprise.
Representative government, particularly as it has been seen in the American experiment.
The separation of political powers.
Civil liberties.
The abolition of slavery, both in antiquity and in more modern times.
Modern science.
The discovery of the New World by Columbus.
The elevation of women.
Benevolence and charity; the good Samaritan ethic.
Higher standards of justice.
The elevation of the common man.
The condemnation of adultery, homosexuality, and other sexual perversions. This has helped to preserve the human race, and it has spared many from heartache.
High regard for human life.
The civilizing of many barbarian and primitive cultures.
The codifying and setting to writing of many of the world’s languages.
Greater development of art and music. The inspiration for the greatest works of art.
The countless changed lives transformed from liabilities into assets to society because of the gospel.
The eternal salvation of countless souls!
 

Heaven and Hell

There are three major meanings to the word heaven in the Bible.

The word "heaven" (Hebrew: shamyim, Greek: ouranos) can mean God’s dwelling place. The Bible says: "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all." (Psalm 103:19)

Heaven may also refer to the endless planets, stars, and galaxies of the universe. The Bible says: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place…" (Psalm 8:3)

The Bible also speaks of the atmosphere that surrounds the earth as heaven or heavens. (Genesis1: 7, 8)

One must study the context in the Bible to know which meaning is implied.

The Bible is clear on the following:

Heaven is a Real Place and it is eternal

After Jesus was raised from the dead he went to heaven. The Bible says: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Prior to this Jesus told His disciples: "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2,3)

Hell too  is a Real Place and it is eternal
 
The Bible says that God prepared hell for the devil and his demonic cohorts (Matthew 25:41), that He is "...not wishing for any [person] to perish but for all to come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9),

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  -Mark 9:43-48

"How will you escape the damnation of Hell?" (Matt. 23:33)

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.   -Revelation 20:12-15

We read in the Old Testament, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4), really the idea of the word is that it shall be separated. It is not non-existence or annihilation, but rather it is separation from God.
Physical death is the separation of the soul from the body.

Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God.

God doesn't send anyone to Hell. You send yourself there. God has done everything He possibly can to keep you out of Hell and still leave you as a person with free will
 
Apostle Paul stated  that individuals who unrepentantly engaged in certain prohibited behaviors would certainly also be excluded from heaven. They would "not inherit the kingdom of God."

Galatians 5:19-20 includes the following behaviors: "fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." (ASV)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 states that: "neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (ASV)
 
* The New American Version translates these as "boy prostitutes, practicing homosexuals." Their footnote defines the latter as referring to men who sexually abuse boys.   

We will have our glorified physical bodies in heaven

Our bodies will be free from disease, pain and death in heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:40-49) We will still have physical bodies. The Bible says: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body. (Philippians 3:20,21) The body of Jesus after His resurrection was physical. Jesus said: "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Luke 24:39) We will be able to recognize our loved ones. The Bible says: "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

 Bodily Resurrection:
Passages in the New Testament gospels emphasize Jesus resurrected physical body, his ability to speak and to eat:
  • Matthew 28:9: Jesus is described as speaking; two women clasped his feet.
  • Luke 24:15: Jesus meets two disciples; he walks and eats bread with them.
  • Luke 24:15: Jesus shows his disciples the wounds in his hands and feet. Then he ate some fish, perhaps to emphasize that he was in his human body.
  • Luke 24:50: Jesus raised his hands and blessed them. Then he was taken up into heaven
  • John 20:20-27: Jesus twice shows his disciples his injured hands and side.
  • John 21:12-13: The disciples ate breakfast with Jesus.

https://pbulow.tripod.com/polygamy.htm

https://pbulow.tripod.com/
http://postedat.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/grace/
http://thefocusonthefamily.wordpress.com 
http://stayinhealth.wordpress.com/