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New Testament Scripture and Summary
Unless otherwise noted, the following Scriptures were taken from the NIV and NAS translations of the Holy Bible. Homosexuality and lesbianism is described as godlessness, the suppression of the truth, wickedness, the action of a fool, sinful desire, sexual impurity, degrading of the body, a lie, shameful lust, unnatural, abandonment of natural relations, inflaming lust, indecent acts, and perversion. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,… ‘Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools… Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,... Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” Rom 1:18, 21-22, 24-27 Effeminates and homosexuals are called unrighteous and are categorized with unrepentant fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, the covetous, drunkards, revilers and swindlers who will not inherit the Kingdom of God. We are warned not to be deceived into thinking such can be saved without being washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of God. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6: 9-11 Homosexuals are listed in the Bible with those who are lawless, rebellious, ungodly, unholy, profane, sinners, murderers, those who kill their fathers and mothers, immoral men, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching. “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching…” 1 Tim. 1: 8-10 Homosexuality is named as the most extreme sin of lust bringing flaming judgment upon mankind.
“And don’t forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, all full of lust of every kind, including lust of men for other men. Those cities were destroyed by fire and continue to be a warning to us that there is a hell in which sinners are punished.” Jude 1:7 Living Bible
Old Testament Scripture and Summary Historically given to Israel Moral standards are still applicable to the church. An example for all nations seeking to obey God. The first mention of homosexuality begins in Genesis with the description of an attempted Sodomite gang rape on God’s servants (angels of the Lord). It was followed by the severe judgment of God upon Sodom and Gomorrah for their perverse sexual sin. “Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord… They called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them’… Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens.” Gen. 13:13; 19:5, 24. Homosexuality and bestiality are sins so severe they are called abomination and perversion by God. These sins brought defilement to nations, including Israel, and always brought God’s eventual judgment upon any nation that permitted these sins. “’You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. ‘Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion. ‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. ‘For the land has become defiled, therefore I have visited its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.’” Leviticus 18:22-25 “During his (Rehoboam-King of Judah) reign the people of Judah, like those in Israel, did wrong and angered the Lord with their sin, for it was even worse than that of their ancestors. They built shrines and obelisks and idols on every high hill and under every green tree. There was homosexuality throughout the land, and the people of Judah became as depraved as the heathen nations which the Lord drove out to make room for his people. In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked and conquered Jerusalem”. I Kings 14:22-25 Living Bible. Homosexuality is called by God a detestable capital crime worthy of death. “‘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.’” Lev 20:13 Men and women are not even to dress as the opposite sex. This too is an abomination to God. “A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” Deut. 22:5 God’s judgment will fall on people who protect homosexuals from punishment for their sins. When an Israelite tribe (the Benjamites) protected some homosexual men in their midst, and did not surrender them to the rest of the men of Israel for punishment for their extreme sin, the Lord prompted the Israelite men to kill 25,100 Benjamites as judgment for their protection of the homosexuals in their midst. “While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men (they were Benjamites) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, ‘Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.’… (instead) “the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.” (She later died) “So all the men of Israel got together and united as one man against the city. The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, ‘What about this awful crime that was committed among you? Now surrender those wicked men of Gibeah so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.’ But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites… The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.” Judges 19:22, 25; 20:11-13, 35 Homosexuality brings a hardness of heart and an arrogant defiance against the ways of God. The following verse speaks to the public parades and demonstrations of the homosexuals in recent years. — “they parade their sin like Sodom.” Coming out of the closet — “they do not hide it.” “The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.” Isaiah 3:9
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;…” 2 Tim. 3:16
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Commentary The Bible gives clear testimony that homosexuality is a sin which is extremely abhorrent to God. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and realize the Bible is the Word of God, the issue is clear. But how are we to respond to the increasing acceptance of homosexuality in our society as a legitimate “life style,” “sexual preference,” or “orientation.” How do we respond to the claim that homosexuals are “born that way,” and that those against the practice of homosexuality are “homophobic” (having hatred for, or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality). Laws have already being passed which treat homosexuals as a legitimate minority class which cannot be discriminated against in matters of employment, housing, etc. The subject of gay marriages has been much debated in the US since Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses for gay couples in 2004. Forty five of 50 states have passed laws or amended their constitutions to effectively prohibit same-sex marriages. But, several of those bans have recently been rejected by judges in states, including Washington, California and New York. Although a similar ban on gay marriages failed to pass through Congress in 2004, it proved an issue that energized socially-conservative Republicans in that year’s presidential poll, our correspondent says. A constitutional amendment needs two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate. It would then be sent to the individual states for ratification, and would need to be approved by three-fourths of them. (BBC News June 2006 update) IBM, Disney World, and many other companies have embraced “politically correct” (godless) thinking and are giving their homosexual and lesbian employees insurance protection, and other company benefits, for their employees insurance protection, and other company benefits, for their employees same sex “partners.” It is astounding that we have become so blind as a nation that we would even entertain the thought that homosexuals should obtain the recognition and benefits of legal same-sex marriage, and have their sin protected by law. Already, it is considered illegal in many states to refuse employment to, refuse to conduct business with, or refuse to rent or sell property to someone because he is a homosexual or lesbian. And it probably will one day become a violation of the law to even write or preach a message presenting the teaching of the Bible on this subject. Because homosexuals and lesbians are making every effort to express their life-style openly, and are demanding recognition for themselves and their sin as both lawful and normal behavior, it behooves us as Christians to speak to this issue, both to our own community of believers, and to society at large. It is also for the sake of the homosexuals and lesbians that we must speak plainly of the depravity of their sin. If we yield to their demands for recognition, respectability, and acceptance, we confirm the lie of Satan which they have believed, and there is little hope they will become convicted before God of their sinful nature and turn to be saved. We are commanded by our Savior to be the “light of the world.” If murderers, and child molesters, and thieves, began demanding recognition of their “life-styles” as lawful and acceptable and deserving of legal protection, we would be shocked and appalled. Yet, this is exactly what is happening with the abomination of homosexuality. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And, all sin must be revealed, resisted and rebuked, especially when society (and even some in the church) begin to justify ungodly behavior as “normal” and “acceptable.” Also, some sins are extremely destructive to the lives of innocent victims, society, and the offender as well. These perverse sins are also particularly blinding to the light of the Gospel and must be exposed. Christians should hate the sin of homosexuality just as we are to hate adultery, murder, stealing, lying and all sin. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Rom 12:9. We do not hate homosexuals, murderers, thieves, liars, etc., for we ourselves were once also lost, and now as Christians, are called to express the love of Jesus Christ. We have renounced the sin in our own hearts and are now called to die daily to sin and self in order to live victoriously in Jesus Christ. As we preach Christ we are called to “resist sin” in ourselves and in our world. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:3-4 Why do Christians and many non-Christians feel a revulsion when working with homosexuals, or living near them, or having them teach our children or serving with them in our military? Are we wrong to have such feelings? Absolutely not! It is not because we do not care about them or love them as Christ loves all sinners. Such revulsion is because their sin is open, unashamed and aggressive in our society. Would you welcome an open, unashamed adulterer, or murderer, or child molester, or thief to work with you or teach your children, or live next door to your spouse and children? Revulsion is a proper response to blatant unashamed sin because this type of sin, if not resisted in our own lives, families, and nation, is a spiritual disease that is even more deadly then the AIDS virus that the homosexual community has clearly introduced into society. (Homosexuals are also guilty of the deaths of the innocent children and people who have been infected with the AIDS virus). Jude wrote: “Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinner.” Jude 1:23 Living Bible Even most natural men, not born again, fear and hate the sin of homosexuality because they know, by the simple laws of nature, that homosexuality is the most unnatural and corrupting of sins, and to accept it as proper in others would be to risk its invasion into their own lives and families. Many claim that homosexuals are born so and therefore they cannot control their sexual preference. In a similar side-step to avoid the label of sin, for years, drunkenness has been re-classified as the “disease of alcoholism;” and in 1995, Time magazine had a cover story article indicating that some “scientists” had found evidence that the practice of adultery has a genetic origin. We might laugh at these absurd efforts to avoid God’s judgment on sin; however, there is some truth to these claims with one very important qualification which validates the Word of God. We are all born in sin. Even as Christians, we continue to live in “a body of death” which will one day perish and be resurrected without sin and the fallen sin nature. We all carry within us, apart from salvation through Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, the potential for all manner of sin. The Word of God clearly teaches that every human being is vulnerable to all sin and that only through Jesus Christ are we delivered from the corrupt sin nature. Homosexuals have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie” and like all unconverted human beings have given themselves over to their “human nature” which carries within itself the potential for every evil. We were all “born in sin” or “born that way” as the homosexual will say, but thank God, in Christ Jesus we have been set free! We, as believers in Christ, have “crucified the sinful nature” Gal 5:24 which lies within the heart of every man and woman, and are now “slaves of righteousness”. Rom 6:16, 18-19 “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” So, the homosexual may have some truth in his or her claim that he was born that way, in the same way that a murderer or thief or drunkard, or swindler or fornicator or adulterer could claim that they were born that way. The homosexual has chosen a ‘sexual preference,” “life style”, and “orientation” which was truly within. They have given themselves over to the corrupt sinful nature.
Conclusion We have men and women running for president of the United States who have committed themselves to embracing the rights of homosexuals. This should be a warning to those who adhere to the Word of God that we will face increasing persecution in the days to come from religious “Christians” who profess Christ but deny Him by their actions. This false church will be spearheaded by the mainline ecumenical churches which have departed from belief in the Bible as God’s word. In these last days they will increasingly persecute those who hold to Biblical values and the offense of the Gospel message that Jesus Christ alone is the Savior. Biblical Christians, because of the “narrow way’ they have embraced, will be labeled as mean-spirited, bigoted, prejudiced, divisive, and dangerous. “Politically correct” thinking in America will also encourage isolation and persecution of God’s people who hold to His Word and the testimony of Jesus, and will lead ultimately into the revealing of the Anti-Christ and the false prophet. This final struggle between God’s people and the Anti-Christ will immediately precede the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His followers. Christ will then pour out the wrath of God upon a world which rejected God’s forgiveness, truth, and love expressed through the prophets, the Son of God, and His Bride, the church. All have sinned, and all need the forgiveness and gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ. God’s great salvation through Jesus Christ is freely given to all who recognize their sinful nature, and realize their need of God’s forgiveness and cleansing. All (including homosexuals) who have humbly admitted their sinfulness, and placed their faith in the Son of God, are delivered from the wrath to come and are not condemned. Although all sin of believers with sincere faith is covered by the blood of Christ, evidence of genuine faith is a new-found love of righteousness, and a desire to resist sin with all our strength, mind, and heart, enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin within ourselves is to be our greatest concern; however, sin in our society is also of concern to Christians, as we are called by our Lord to be the salt and light of the world. If standards of righteousness are not upheld in a society, that society is destined to destruction, and such a society will not only resist holiness, but will increasingly resist the light of the Gospel as well. We must reach out to homosexuals with the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ which is available for all, for all have sinned, and Christ is able to save to the uttermost, all who come to Him. Also, in the clear light of God’s Word, Christians cannot surrender to demands to remove homosexuality from its identity as an extreme sin before God. Homosexuality, and all ungodly behavior and thoughts must be recognized as wicked. The presence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in one’s life brings a compelling desire to turn from all revealed sin. Finally, Christians, as the salt and light of the world, have a responsibility as fellow member of society, to warn our society of the dire consequences of protecting homosexual behavior, and accepting such behavior as normal. Judgment upon that society will surely follow.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14: 34
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