True Christians are to love everyone. (1 John 3:14-15) But that does not mean that we are to approve of lifestyles and actions that are contrary to Gods' word. This includes homosexuality. Christians who follow God's word know that homosexuality is a serious sin, but that does not mean they are to hate people who are gay. True Christianity is opposed to hatred of anyone. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:19-21) God warns us in Leviticus 18:22-24; "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled." Remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19:1-29) The outcry to the Lord against this people was so great. (Genesis 19:13) They had detestable practices and were depraved. (Ezekiel 16:47) They were arrogant, overfed, unconcerned, they did not help the poor and needy, they were haughty and they did detestable things before God. (Ezekiel 16:49-50) Ezekiel 16:49-50, Genesis 18:20-21 and Genesis 19:13 all show us that homosexuality was a reason for their destruction. The bible tells us in Jude 1:7 that Sodom and Gomorrah and also the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. These people are to be an example to us of the ones who will suffer the punishment of eternal fire. In Old Testament times, the punishment for homosexuality was death. It is in Leviticus 20:13: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." They were executed, just as adulterers were. When Jesus came, He did not overrule the Old Testament Law on such sins as stealing, idolatry, murder, or adultery, and He also did not change God’s Law on homosexuality. He rebuked the Pharisees for many mistaken ideas they had, but He never corrected them for the Scripture they studied or their view of homosexuality. In the New Testament, Paul also gave very explicit warnings prohibiting homosexuality. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is very clear: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." Romans 1:26-27 says that both men and women sin terribly in exchanging natural relations for unnatural homosexual relations. All homosexual practices are sinful and they can keep us from going to heaven. They are every bit as bad as sexual immorality, drunkenness, and other sins. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) We are all born with a sinful nature, whether we are gay or straight. We must accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour because without Him, none of us will be fit for heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tells us, "...You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 says, "It is God’s Will that you should be holy; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like he heathen, who do not know God." But, homosexuality is not an unforgivable sin. Reading on in 1 Corinthians 6:11, it says, "And such were some of you. But you were washed and you were cleansed." This tells us that some of the Corinthian Christians were former homosexuals, sexually immoral, drunkards and such, but that God forgave them! You can't change yourself. So, let God change you. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says that God cleansed them. He changed them. We are ALL, both straight and gay, unclean to God. But when we repent and come to Jesus, we are sanctified. It is that special cleansing done by the Holy Spirit in the lives of ALL who believe. We cannot save ourselves, but those who are truly saved work out their salvation within themselves as God works in their lives. Philippians 2:12-13 says "...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, to will and to act according to His good purpose." So, to everyone, gay or straight, Acts 2:37-40 instructs us to "repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." So, repent of homosexuality, just like we need to repent from all sins. You must make up your mind to refrain from all gay activities. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. 1 Peter 2:11 says we must abstain from sinful desires that war against our soul. Jesus died and rose so that EVERYONE could be forgiven and sanctified. He came to this sinful world to make a holy people for Himself. BibleQuery.org "Thank you Lord for loving us so completely. May we honor You by giving that love back to others... Amen." |
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