Sunday, December 20, 2020

MARY NEEDED SALVATION TOO

 

MARY NEEDED SALVATION TOO

Mary’s immaculate conception is completely unsupported by the Bible. The only two verses I am aware of from which all of Mary-ology is taught comes from Gen. 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” and Luke 1:28 “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
This teaching of Mary being without original sin and living a sinless life comes solely from what I refer to as extreme extrapolation. Extreme extrapolation (my version at least) is the idea of taking one word or phrase and giving it an idea or concept that is not intended and then extrapolating on that idea which you generated and making it something unrelated to its original meaning. And then compounding those errors over and over until you create the idea that (for our example) Mary is enthroned in heaven as its queen all because Luke said she was ‘highly favored’ (or full of grace).
Look again at these two verses. Genesis 3:15 simply tells us that God would put “enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed.” He would put a barrier of hatred or contention between Satan and Eve's seed that would continue until Eve’s seed (Jesus) would finally defeat Satan and his minions. Mary is never in view here at all no matter how one might strain to make it so. And in Luke 1:28 all that is said is that she was blessed by God more than any other woman. Without doubt God was extremely gracious to her by allowing her to carry His only Son. No woman has ever been so blessed. But to use this single verse to create a demigod of Mary is in itself ungodly.
The Catholic Church teaches that Adam and Eve were both created without original sin. Adam and Eve fell from grace, and through them mankind continues to sin. Then they go on to say that Christ and Mary were also conceived without original sin (Immaculate Conception). But they remained faithful, and through them mankind was redeemed from sin. Christ is thus the New Adam, and Mary the New Eve (emphasis mine). This is the result of the ‘extreme extrapolation’ of Luke 1:28 as noted above. Mary is never said to be without sin at any time in any Biblical reference, although Jesus is. Continuing this extrapolation forces them to eventually make Mary the cause of salvation.
The Catechism notes: (catechism 494) . . . “As St. Irenaeus says, ‘Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.’ Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert: ‘The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.’ Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary ‘the Mother of the living’ and frequently claim: ‘Death through Eve, life through Mary.’”
But this flies in the face of New Testament theology. So many statements like these sound wonderful and filled with deep wisdom. Unfortunately, they are Biblically incorrect and nowhere remotely alluded to anywhere in Scripture. The teaching of original sin lies at Adam’s door not Eve’s. They teach that Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary’s faith. But that is nowhere to be found in the Bible.
Look at this simple passage penned by the Apostle Paul in I Timothy 2:14, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Eve was in transgression because she was tricked (deceived) but Adam chose to sin, he was not deceived. Whereas Eve’s transgression was falling to deception. Adam’s sin was an active choice of his free will. The result of which is expressed by the same Apostle in his letter to the Church at Rome in Romans 5:12,14, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world (not by Eve’s deception but Adam’s choice to sin) and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…. (v.14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, (not from Eve to Moses) even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression (not Eve’s), who is the figure of him that was to come.”
No such passages from God’s Word can be found to support this shameful doctrine of Mary having no original sin and living her life free of any sin. How Mary must grieve with every recitation of the Rosary as she hears “holy Mary, Mother of God.” She indeed carried the physical body of his flesh (protected from original sin by the Holy Spirit) until the day he was born. But she is not God’s Mother. She sinned as we do and she was born with original sin just as we are. And she has nothing to do with our salvation except that she too stood in need of salvation. If we have no sin then we have no need of a Savior but Mary expressed her own need of salvation “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” Luke 1:47.
Mary needed to be saved, do you? If you have never been born again (John 3:3-6) you need to be. This Christmas may you receive the greatest gift of all.
You must admit that you too are a sinner, Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Understand there is a real payment because of that sin, Romans 6:23a "For the wages of sin is death…." Believe God loves you so much that He allowed Jesus to pay the price for your sin, Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." And then simply receive His gift of salvation, Romans 6:23b "…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." When we are truly sorry for sin (repent 2 Cor. 7:10) and receive the gift of God’s love he promises to save us, Rom 10:9-10, 13 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (v.13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Right now from your heart pray this prayer or at least something like this: God I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin. And, right now, I ask Jesus to come into my heart to take control of my life and forgive me of my sin. I believe Jesus’ sacrifice was enough and that God accepted it and raised him from the dead. Thank you for saving my soul, amen.

Monday, December 14, 2020

And Mary was Silent



We face hardships in life. So often it is difficult to understand why we go through so many struggles. Yet, the Bible tells us in Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God….” I think I would have to agree with the Apostle Paul on this one. I know what I am supposed to do. But so often the struggle is greater than my ability, or it seems to be. Paul said in Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Like Paul, I know what I am supposed to do. I know how I am supposed to respond in given circumstances but all too often my old nature gets in the way and I just can’t seem to do the right thing. I can’t stand silently by and let God be God. 

     Mary was truly blessed by God. More than any other person in all of history. She was certainly not the Mother of God. But she was the mother of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah of Israel and the Lamb of God. She would give birth to the physical child who would become the sacrifice for our sin and in whom all the fullness of God would dwell. What a joy it must have been to watch him grow. Every day he was learning as others learned, and as Mary must have watched and wondered. He must have played as others played, and Mary must have watched and wondered. And yet she knew he was God’s son. 

     Did she see him as he was, the Son of God? The angels told her he would be the Son of God, Luke 1:30-33 “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” But when did she realize the magnitude of that message? When she held him in her arms as an infant was he just like any other child? When she put him to bed at night and kissed his forehead was her attachment the same as any other Mother? 

     Regardless of when she finally understood her profound gift from God she still formed attachments. Like any mother she would form a maternal bond that would become inseparable. She would still be worried when he seemed to be lost or missing. When Jesus taught in the temple Mary became very worried because she had no idea where he had gone, Luke 2:48 “And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” And I imagine this was only one of several similar situations throughout his life at home. Mary loved Jesus as her son. She was attached as any good mother would be. He was her son.

     She must have been so very proud of him when he began preaching. People came from all over to hear him. Multitudes would gather and often follow him over the countryside just to hear him preach. So, when his popularity finally caused the religious leaders to become angry and vengeful, Mary would surely begin to fear for his safety. Could any of us have done what Mary did the day Jesus was taken?

     Mary was in the crowd. Remember as Jesus hung on the cross we read in Joh 19:26-27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother….” Mary was silent. She was SILENT, as she saw her son being tortured. She saw the crown of thorns pressed onto his brow. She saw the nails driven into his wrists and feet. How did she remain silent? How did she not cry out for justice? How did she not plead for mercy? Her son hung on a roughhewn wooden cross right in front of her beaten, torn and mangled beyond recognition. And, Mary remained silent! 

     I can only imagine that by this time she had come to understand what the Psalmist meant when he wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God….” She knew that even now, even in these circumstances God was in control. I am sure her heart still broke and the tears still flowed. But she knew God had a plan no matter how bleak her world may have looked.

     Can we have that same confidence in sorrow? Mary had special circumstances to say the least. But, she was still human and still a mother. Mary trusted God. And that is something we can still do today. God proved His faithfulness to Mary over the 33 years she shared with Jesus. But, we have had thousands of years of history that prove over and over again, God is faithful, that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

     In her deepest distress and darkest hour Mary remained silent and trusted God. 

     Can we remain silent and trust God for our trials?



Monday, September 28, 2020

 

A FRACTURED WORLD

 Troubles come and troubles go. Really? It seems me more like, troubles come and keep coming. I love it when people tell me I am not alone. It sure feels like it. And how comforting do they think it is just to know that everyone else is suffering too? To me, we sometimes have a skewed view of the world we live in. We look at New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit, et. al. and think how much hatred resides in those towns. We see the murder rate in various areas of the world and are often taken back by the overwhelming numbers. Divorce is at or above 50% even in Christian homes. People are born with diseases and physical abnormalities that leave them all but helpless if not for the care of others. And poverty. People walking the streets without homes, many void of contact with their own families as a result. It is a fractured world.

But you say, “I live in Pennsboro, WV and we do not have those issues here.” Here they are not on the nightly news. Here they are not paraded before us every evening in the hope of making profit from the headlines. But they are here. They hide behind closed doors.  Most often they are not out in the open. Walk down any street in any town and you will find despair shrouded by a false smile. Houses with wheelchair ramps are common. You will see children in the care of single parents. You will see, even in the houses of worship, poverty so overwhelming it crushes the impoverished worshipper as he stands beside those who have plenty. Hatred lives here too, but it is more carefully covered up by silence, fence lines and exclusive social activities. Even in our town, we must admit it is a fractured world.

When we look at the difficulties, we face every day, we simply must put them in perspective or completely fall apart. “I am not alone,” actually can be a comfort, even if ever so slight. Take the difficulty most recent in your own life for an example. Regardless of what it was (or is) something very much like it was experienced by someone else today, and yesterday, ad infinitum. As Solomon said, Ecclesiastes  1:9-10 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. (v.10) Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new...?” 

I am not saying that it is comforting to know that trouble and sorrow come to all of us. But sometimes a better perspective can relieve at least some of the distress we feel. Suffering is, and always has been, universal; Job 14:1-2Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (v.2) He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. In the very first family on earth, there was trouble. Two parents (the only two) had the crushing reality that one of their own sons was a murderer. How can a parent deal with that level of trauma? How do we get up in the morning and face the next day knowing that one of our own sons murdered his brother? Trauma, literally, comes to all of us because…it is a fractured world.

When we consider the issues we face today, perspective can help. Prayer, the reading of God’s Word, the indwelling Holy Spirit, yes; but also, perspective. Where am in I in the Lord today? Am I walking close to God this morning? Being a child of God does not eliminate trials and troubles (look at king David). But it can help us to keep trouble from destroying us. Knowing that the troubles I see are evidence that God loves me, even in my trials, can bring comfort. And they are proof Jesus had to die in my place because I can certainly never earn salvation, as evidenced by my own broken life. My troubles and trials prove I could never be worthy of His great love.

God came to redeem a fallen world, a world destroyed by sin. It is that world we see every day, and that we experience in our own homes as well. He would not have died to redeem us if we could have done something to redeem ourselves. Every pain, every heartache, every injustice we see is evidence of the great and overwhelming love of God (John 3:16), because he came to save even those who caused the pain, the heartache and the injustices we see every day. God loves, and died to redeem, those who are fallen…US, you and me. When we see the fractured lives of others, remember they see our fractured lives as well. Look at the trouble in our lives and remember, “God commendeth (or proved) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for usRomans 5:8. While we were sinning, while we were actively rebelling against Him, He died to redeem us. The troubles we see in life should be a constant reminder of this amazing love.

This is a fractured world. It will always be full of trouble. But when Jesus saved us He also made a great promise to those who would receive the salvation he offers: John 14:1-3Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (V.2) 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. (v.3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” When you see troubles in your life and all the fractured lives around you, try to also see the redeeming love of God reaching out to each one of them. It is a fractured world that Jesus came to save.

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, March 21, 2020

DO YOU FEAR GOD?


DO YOU FEAR GOD?
“Christians” find excuses to worship outside of the Church, live in adultery year after year, they go to bars and drunken parties, support the murder of innocent children in the womb, laugh at ungodly humor so they don’t “stand out” and even support sexual abomination like homosexuality (which before long will include bestiality and child abuse like “man-boy-love”). Our refusal to obey God is a real concern. Christians today have no fear of God.

We don’t fear God. There is more concern for being politically correct or losing current friendships and relationships than there is of opposing the sovereign God of this universe. Those calling themselves “Christian” must begin to ask, “Am I saved?” Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” When fear of standing out or not being politically correct or even losing a relationship or a longtime friendship causes us to continue in sin, then God has become 2nd place. That position in society, or relationship/friendship, has become more important than our relationship with God. In which case we must again ask, “Am I saved?” Or, am I living in false hope?

 Mark 12:29-30 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (v.30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” Jesus made it very clear our first priority in this life is our love of God. That would clearly entail compliance with His laws in our daily lives. If we love God, we obey God. Loving others, which is the second, would never necessitate openly rebelling against God’s commands. Loving others would mean warning them of God’s divine judgment, not allowing them to face eternity in hell so that we can maintain a peaceful relationship with them today. Living in sin with them here, today, helps to secure their eternal condemnation and places us in a continuous state of disobedience with God. Can we knowingly disobey God without any real fear, if we are saved? Paul’s statement above (II Cor. 13:5) suggests that it is more likely that we have never truly been born again. When we truly get saved, we depart from sin. Jesus said in Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” We make a conscious effort to stop sinning when Jesus lives within us, Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If there is no example of Jesus Christ living within us (“..how that Jesus Christ is in you…”) then Paul is saying we are likely still reprobate. Does sin offend you? Sin is the very cause of God having to allow His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die on the cross, to be separated from God during that moment (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”) so that he could redeem us. How horrible must sin be? Yet, to retain popularity, friendship/relationships many calling themselves Christian willing live in sin with no real fear of God. Does sin offend you? Do you fear God?

Jesus said that at the final judgment, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23)

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

WE WONDER


WE WONDER
Is pedophilia wrong? Isn’t it just an alternate lifestyle? Is man-boy-love wrong? Isn’t it just a matter of personal choice? Certainly, homosexuality can’t be wrong for two consenting adults. Men having relationships with adolescent girls, with or without their consent (common in some countries today), isn’t wrong, is it? What about abortion? And myriad other issues? All of these come to light in our society and demand answers. Shouldn’t there be more laws against each of these? Some say, “Yes, but not this one.” Others stand up and say, “No, because they are all matters of personal choice.” We have nations today in which, at least some part of society, accepts the abuse of female children as acceptable. Parts of our own society, here in the states, are beginning to accept all these immoral behaviors as well. Some claim we need more laws. But, isn’t the real problem an intolerant “moral” mainstream society? Shouldn’t the Moral Majority just shut up and sit down?
Questions like these must be answered. But where do we find the answers? What is right and what is wrong? Anything we conclude to be true or false, right or wrong or good or bad must have a basis of truth; something upon which it finds resolution. If you say trees are green, we find it to be true in common observation and we can confirm it in elementary science books. If I say light travels at approximately 186,000 miles per second, I can prove it to you in basic scientific literature. We have a basis of truth from which we can confirm or refute the simpler concepts of nature.
But what is our basis of truth for morality? If I say pedophilia is wrong and you say it is acceptable, who is right? When I was a youth it was commonly accepted that pedophilia and man-boy-love were evil and wicked. Today they are becoming more widely accepted as personal choice. In those days, homosexuals hid in the closet because most people still understood it was a wrong lifestyle. So, what has changed? The basis of truth has changed.
Today we have come to the place in society that anything can become right or wrong simply based upon its public acceptance. Today, when society (as a whole) accepts one behavior or another, the rest of us are expected to be silent, sit down and passively accept the “tolerance” of the current sentiment. Yet, some things seem to be natural. Even the Apostle Paul in one argument called upon nature as a source of truth. In I Corinthians 11:14 we read, “Doth not even nature itself teach you…?” There are some things which nature has set in place. Our genetic code is one example. Throughout the entire list of lifeforms in the animal and human kingdoms we see two sexes. Genetically there are only two. You have this genetic code or the other. Scientifically, without appealing to the Word of God, we see only two sexes. So, why is society so willing to accept the myriad aberrations presented to us today? What is the basis of truth referenced by those who plead the case of such behavior? Public opinion has become the basis of truth.
Public opinion as a source of truth is fleeting, to say the least. 50 years ago, when I was child, all the issues we have mentioned would be seen overwhelmingly as wrong. Just 50 years ago. Then public opinion agreed that all the issues mentioned above were wrong behaviors. Yet today, abortion and homosexuality are being exalted as normal and even encouraged. Others from our list are beginning to accepted by some and may well be seen as normal very soon. Why? Because public opinion varies with the corruption of the public. Remember, some societies in the world today (not in the states, yet) accept violation of women and female children as acceptable.
We must have a more solid “basis of truth” by which we can establish our laws. Morality is not a standard naturally within man (Romans 3:10-12). Left to ourselves we will eventually succumb to all the wickedness above, and more.
The Bible is God’s standard of truth for man. Using it as our guide we would love each other, respect our elders, obey government, reject all forms of sexual perversion, there would be no dishonesty, no coveting or stealing, and families would search diligently for ways to remain together without divorce. Why? Because our “basis of truth” (the Bible) helps us to understand that this is God’s plan. And even with our human frailty, God’s plan is the best path for our families and for our society.   
God’s plan is best when we worship Him and apply His principles. Yet, His principles work to some degree in any society even if they refuse to worship Him. They work best when God is worshipped, and His principles are the “basis of truth” for every decision made in the home and in society.
Still, our nation is bent on the removal of God from society. We wonder what is wrong. We are baffled by the depravity of current society. We have trouble understanding how our nation has become so evil. We wonder… as we push the Bible and its God out of our homes and our government… we wonder.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

The “sons of God” issue


The “sons of God” issue
The idea that angels had sexual relations with humans is the product of poor Biblical interpretation or a willful act of deception. On the side of “poor Biblical interpretation” I would include those who are caught up in the excitement of the moment and those unwittingly coerced by religious charlatans.
Before any discussion on the topic begins there must be a thorough study on the text in question. However, invariably I find a shallow, and even intentionally misleading, study. For example: one such study says, “the phrase ‘sons of God’ is used 5 times in the Old Testament and every time it means angels.” However, the only time it means angels, without debate, are the 3 occasions it is found in Job when the angels are before God in heaven. The other two times it is used are the times we are researching. So, these two cannot be counted as proof since their definition is still in question and are in fact “the question” we are trying to solve. One cannot say they mean “this” when the meaning of “this” is what one is attempting to solve.

Second, the angels gathering before God in Job are His angels. Satan is also allowed to come but is referred to independently. The fallen angels (demons) have been cast out a long time before this episode. And so, in Job, the phrase “Sons of God” is used to clarify the distinction between God’s angels and Satan. Satan had once been an angel as well, but here he is not included in the phrase “Sons of God.” Those angels cast out of heaven long before the events of Genesis chapter six occurred, have never enjoyed such honorable titles as this one. To say that “Sons of God” refers to demons or fallen angels, would be the greatest of errors. Can anyone really believe that in Job 38:7 there was reference to fallen angels shouting for joy over God’s creation? Before their fall they may have shouted for joy. But never after their fall, and after their fall is where we find the phrase in question. The “Sons of God” does not ever refer to demons or fallen angels.

And third, context often contains the answer to such questions. So, let’s turn back to Genesis 4 where the lineage of Adam is shown. Of course, this is where we find the story of Cain and Abel. After Abel is slain and Cain is removed to the land of Nod, we are given some of his lineage beginning in verse seventeen. (Please bear in mind that chapter and verse divisions are not in the original text, this is actually a running commentary.)

In chapter four and verse 25 we are told that Adam and Eve bore another son, Seth. So, we are given the lineage of Cain (the one who was cursed) and we are given the lineage of Seth who, as far as we know is not cursed. Before this moment in time we had Adam and Eve worshipping God, Abel offering a proper sacrifice to God as an example of that same worship, and Cain with an evil murderous heart. As soon as Abel is killed, we are shown that there was another born after Adam who would carry on in the same faith. And so, we are then given his lineage in chapter 5. Why was the author giving us this history? Chapter five (remember this is a flowing commentary, there is no division between 5 and 6 just a continuous thought) ends with the introduction of the family of Noah. The writer stopped there because he wanted to share the story of the flood (6:8). But, how does one go from a simple lineage to a world-wide flood? There must be an explanation before destroying the world. And so, in Genesis 6:1-4 we are given a very brief explanation of events and then we go straight into the consequence.

A great deal, on the side of sensationalists, is made of the term ‘Sethites.’ This is an argument which has no value. Simply stated Adam and Eve were blessed of God. Cain fell away and was cursed after killing Abel who would certainly have been the blessed side of the family. With Abel’s death Seth was then brought into that side of the family simply to be the means by which the Savior would come. Which is certainly why this list is present today. Cain, and those who were with him, or of him, were cursed. Those who followed God came from Adam, and in this case, Seth’s side of Adam since Abel no longer existed here. Adam and Seth were followers of God as were at least some of those in their family. Which is certainly why the author took time to list the family tree before exposing the judgment. Seth’s lineage does not have to show perfection in order to be the line to the Savior. In every generation there only needs to be one person who qualifies as a predecessor. God was able to preserve the line of Christ back to Eve through Seth. The vast majority of mankind had become wretched and vile. Yet, God had a  remnant even here…even if it was only one.
Genesis 6 tells about the degradation of the hearts of men. Shortly after the birth of Seth there were, undoubtedly, some good people in the world. However, as time passed and civilization grew so did the wickedness of man. Good men began believing it was acceptable to marry ungodly woman. The results were precisely what God had always warned they would be. (The following is from my “very personal” paraphrase.)

Genesis 6:1 Says, “when people began to have babies”
Genesis 6:2 Says, “godly men began checking out ungodly women and marrying them.”
Genesis 6:3 Says, “God will not always deal patiently with man, but will cut their life spans down to
almost 1/10th of what is was before because of their sinful hearts” (this is confirmed with “he
also is flesh” and the fact of the severe nature of the judgment.)
Genesis 6:4 Says, “Back then, when the godly and ungodly were marrying, giants were common in the land, there were very strong men and men of great reputation also in the land”  

In verse two there is absolutely no reason at all to leave the natural intent of the verse. We have been discussing natural, sinful, people and their lineage in chapters four and five and are about to see God’s judgment come upon these natural humans in the next verse while continuing a discussion on men and their sinful hearts. To suddenly mention angels (especially by attributing this Godly title to fallen angels) and then switch immediately back to humans is a distortion of the text. It is done without warning, without the use of commonly accepted terms (like “angels” or “demons”) and without any explanation of why it was stated and then abandoned. God is speaking about wicked men continuously in this text.

If the term ‘giants’ is the term of concern, then let me assure you they have always existed. Nephelim is only used 3 times; once in Genesis 6:4 and twice in Numbers 13:33.

Numbers 13:33  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Deuteronomy 2:11  Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.
Deuteronomy 2:20  (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
Deuteronomy 3:11  For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
Deuteronomy 3:13  And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants. (See also: 2Samuel 21:16; 2Samuel 21:18; 2Samuel 2:20; 2Samuel 21:22; 1Chronicles 20:4; 1Chronicles 20:6; 1Chronicles 20:8; Job 16:14; Joshua 12:4; Joshua 13:12; Joshua 15:8; Joshua 17:15; Joshua 18:16.) 

The use of “Nephilim” in Genesis 6:4 may more likely be a reference to the nature of mankind by the time of the flood. It does not always mean a really tall person. Nephilim can also be a reference to evil, violent or cruel men. Strongs Concordance defines it as follows:  nephı̂yl or nephil properly, a feller, that is, a bully or tyrant: - giant. This translation would fit more properly into the clear intent of the passage.

Are we as concerned for midgets, pygmies, or dwarfs? Why is there no talk of what evil may have brought them into existence? What about a host of other anomalies? They are not discussed because they could not have been made into such a grand tale. The text! Go back to the text and read it within the context and it simply says, when godly people married ungodly people sin began to fester and grow until God had to bring it to an end. Bad sin, real evil, the product of men turning their backs on God collectively, was so terrible that it produced what is only encapsulated in verse 4-5.
In the angelic-spawn debate, nothing beyond this verse matters!!! All the other “proof” texts fail to have importance because they rest upon this one verse, a verse that cannot possibly support the premise. If this did not happen then neither did any of the myriad tales that have been so wantonly tied to it.

Genesis 6:2  That the sons of God (men who were once godly) saw the daughters of men (women who were clearly ungodly) that they were fair (very pretty); and they took them wives of all which they chose. 
Genesis 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (God’s declaration of judgment was against man not angels.)
Genesis 6:4  There were giants (Nephilim: cruel, heartless, violent men) in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God (even though godly men, from the time of Adam onward, fell to temptation) came in unto the daughters of men (ungodly women), and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (The ungodly offspring became the leaders in both politics and warfare.)