Homosexuality
There are those who want people to believe homosexuality is normal. Jesus tells us what is normal. And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:4-6).
Many religious leaders are defending this practice. The United Methodist Church recommended their members accept homosexuals as “persons of sacred worth” and welcome them into fellowship of that Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Netherlands made a report saying that homosexuality should not be something to keep a person from becoming a pastor in their Church. The United Church of Christ has ordained homosexuals into their ministry. There is even a homosexual denomination in the United States called the Metropolitan Community Church.
There is much confusion in our society, just as there was in the days of Isaiah. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Just because some people say that homosexuality is right, that does not make it so!
Some say we should not be talking about this issue, because it is a political issue. However, it was a moral issue long before it was a political issue. The Bible teaches us homosexuality is sin. If a person does not repent and stop the practice, they will be lost eternally.
The Bible Condemns This Practice
The first example of homosexuality is found in the city of Sodom. The wickedness of the city is described in Genesis 19:4-7. Men, both young and old, wanted to have sexual relations with Lot’s male visitors. The New Testament confirms this is a true account (cf. Matthew 11:23,24; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6-8).
Sodom and Gomorrah serve as the standard by which other sins are compared (Isaiah 3:9; 13:19; Jeremiah 23:14; Matthew 11:23-24).
The Law of Moses Condemned Homosexuality
Note three passages condemning this practice.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination...Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you (Leviticus 18:22, 24).
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them (Leviticus 20:13, KJV).
There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God (Deuteronomy 23:17-18). The word dog here is a synonym for a homosexual. “Dogs” will not be in heaven (Revelation 22:14-15).
Israel’s faithfulness was partly determined by the king’s attitude toward the perverted persons (homosexuals) in the land (1 Kings 14:22-24; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7).
Three Significant New Testament Passages
God, through Paul, makes it clear those who practice homosexuality will not go to heaven. Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: 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. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The phrase “abusers of themselves with men” comes from the Greek word which means “men having sexual relations.”
For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. (Romans 1:26-27). Note the words Paul uses in this passage: “vile,” “against nature,” “unseemliness,” “error.” These are not words of approval. In the context, Paul is discussing the unrighteousness of the Gentiles (Romans 1:18).
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:8-10). In verse 10, Paul mentions the “abusers of themselves with men.” This is the same Greek word that is used in 1 Corinthians 6:9.
All of these passages show us the way God views this practice. It is not approved, but condemned.
Can the Homosexual Be Saved?
God loves all people and wants all to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). The homosexual can be saved the same way any other sinner can be saved. They must repent and be baptized (Acts 17:30; Acts 22:16).
Then, the practice must be stopped! And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Conclusion
There is great pressure placed upon the Christian to ignore sin in our society. It is not popular to take a stand against sin today. Neither was it easy for the Old Testament prophets to take a stand against sin. It was not easy for Christians in the first century to preach the gospel to the heathen world. It will not be easy today, but we must obey God (Acts 5:29).
It may not be easy for the person who practices homosexuality to give up this sinful practice. But, if we want to go to heaven, we have to live our lives according to His will (Matthew 7:21-23). The most important thing in the world is to go to heaven!
Many religious leaders are defending this practice. The United Methodist Church recommended their members accept homosexuals as “persons of sacred worth” and welcome them into fellowship of that Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Netherlands made a report saying that homosexuality should not be something to keep a person from becoming a pastor in their Church. The United Church of Christ has ordained homosexuals into their ministry. There is even a homosexual denomination in the United States called the Metropolitan Community Church.
There is much confusion in our society, just as there was in the days of Isaiah. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Just because some people say that homosexuality is right, that does not make it so!
Some say we should not be talking about this issue, because it is a political issue. However, it was a moral issue long before it was a political issue. The Bible teaches us homosexuality is sin. If a person does not repent and stop the practice, they will be lost eternally.
The Bible Condemns This Practice
The first example of homosexuality is found in the city of Sodom. The wickedness of the city is described in Genesis 19:4-7. Men, both young and old, wanted to have sexual relations with Lot’s male visitors. The New Testament confirms this is a true account (cf. Matthew 11:23,24; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6-8).
Sodom and Gomorrah serve as the standard by which other sins are compared (Isaiah 3:9; 13:19; Jeremiah 23:14; Matthew 11:23-24).
The Law of Moses Condemned Homosexuality
Note three passages condemning this practice.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination...Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you (Leviticus 18:22, 24).
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them (Leviticus 20:13, KJV).
There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God (Deuteronomy 23:17-18). The word dog here is a synonym for a homosexual. “Dogs” will not be in heaven (Revelation 22:14-15).
Israel’s faithfulness was partly determined by the king’s attitude toward the perverted persons (homosexuals) in the land (1 Kings 14:22-24; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7).
Three Significant New Testament Passages
God, through Paul, makes it clear those who practice homosexuality will not go to heaven. Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: 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. And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The phrase “abusers of themselves with men” comes from the Greek word which means “men having sexual relations.”
For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. (Romans 1:26-27). Note the words Paul uses in this passage: “vile,” “against nature,” “unseemliness,” “error.” These are not words of approval. In the context, Paul is discussing the unrighteousness of the Gentiles (Romans 1:18).
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:8-10). In verse 10, Paul mentions the “abusers of themselves with men.” This is the same Greek word that is used in 1 Corinthians 6:9.
All of these passages show us the way God views this practice. It is not approved, but condemned.
Can the Homosexual Be Saved?
God loves all people and wants all to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). The homosexual can be saved the same way any other sinner can be saved. They must repent and be baptized (Acts 17:30; Acts 22:16).
Then, the practice must be stopped! And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Conclusion
There is great pressure placed upon the Christian to ignore sin in our society. It is not popular to take a stand against sin today. Neither was it easy for the Old Testament prophets to take a stand against sin. It was not easy for Christians in the first century to preach the gospel to the heathen world. It will not be easy today, but we must obey God (Acts 5:29).
It may not be easy for the person who practices homosexuality to give up this sinful practice. But, if we want to go to heaven, we have to live our lives according to His will (Matthew 7:21-23). The most important thing in the world is to go to heaven!