Homosexuality
What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?
It's in the Bible, Romans 1:26-27, NIV. "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."
Note: The Bible does not condemn a person for having same-sex attraction/homosexuality, but rather only the act of homosexual behavior.
Is Homosexuality a Sin?
It's in the Bible, Leviticus 18:22, TLB. "Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin."
Is the practice of homosexuality the worst sin a person can commit? Many people, even “Christians” may say this, but the Bible says all sin leads to death. It’s in the Bible, Romans 6:23, NKJV. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Pride, greed, and laziness are sins all the same, just as much as homosexuality is a sin. It’s in the Bible, Ezekiel 16:49, NKJV. “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”
Note: The Bible does not single out homosexual behavior, but also includes other sins offensive to God, including idolatry and other sexual sins.
Like all sinners, practicing homosexuals are called to repent. It's in the Bible, I Timothy 1:10-11, TLB. "Yes, these laws are made to identify as sinners all who are immoral and impure: homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, and all others who do things that contradict the glorious Good News of our blessed God, whose messenger I am.
Can a Homosexual be Forgiven?
What hope is there for me if I am practicing homosexuality? All sinful patterns can be stopped, and God offers forgiveness, renewal, and restoration. It's in the Bible, I Corinthians 6:9, NKJV. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will 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 and by the Spirit of our God."
There is hope for the practicing homosexual. It's in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 10:13, TLB. "But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it."
The weakest, the most struggling soul, may live, and find hope and sufficiency in God. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 42:3, NIV. "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice."
If you are a practicing homosexual, what should you do?
1) First acknowledge your sin. It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:2-4, TLB. "Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night."
2) Second, Ask forgiveness for your sin—God says you can start over again. It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:7-12, TLB. "Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. And after You have punished me, give me back my joy again. Don't keep looking at my sins—erase them from Your sight. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don't toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You."
3) Third, Believe that God has indeed forgiven you and quit feeling guilty. It's in the Bible, Psalm 32:1-6, TLB. "What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record. There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night Your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess them to the Lord.' And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does. You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory.
4) Fourth, believe that God has a plan for your life, and that He truly cares for your well being! It's in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Trust that in His perfect timing, He will work His plan out for you. That may mean to be single, or it may mean to get married. Either way, you can live a happy, productive life living for Him. He truly does want what is best for your life.
Jesus Calls Each of Us to a Life of...
Jesus does not ask you to be straight or gay, but rather calls you to holiness in and through His victory. It’s in the Bible, Galatians 3:28, NKJV. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
"So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16, TLB.
Read a brief biography of Wayne Blakely, who lived an open gay lifestyle until God conveyed His truth and love to Wayne. (visit: http://knowhislove.org)
Original article located on Bibleinfo.com: Homosexuality
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