Saturday, July 21, 2012

Homosexuality in the Bible: The Truth Can Set You Free


In January 2012, the Lord put this bible study in my spirit. It was overwhelming at first because of the controversial topic. The more I thought it was someone else job to put this study together, the louder the Holy Spirit revealed to me that I am the one to do it.  Then I thought about it, Jesus was controversial - controversial because He was all about the truth - painfully truthful.  And the truth he spoke was controversial because many couldn't handle the truth.  It's the same today. So out of obedience, I deliver this bible study to you.

TEXT:
(1 Cor.6:9-10) “Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God?  Don’t fool yourselves.. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshippers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers and swindlers – none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.”


(Matt. 19:4-6) – “And He (Jesus) answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read  that He who made me at the beginning made them MALE  and FEMALE,”  and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”


(1 Thess.4:3-5) –  God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin.  Then each of you will control your body, and live in holiness and honor. – not in lustful passion as the pagans do, in their ignorance of God and His ways.”


 First of all, before I begin, let me make it perfectly clear that this bible study is not a debate but a detailed lesson on what the Bible states about homosexuality, so that by the end of this lesson,  you will truly understand how God looks at the homosexual life-style.  That’s the most important thing. Some lawmakers are working around the clock to pass one proposition after another in the attempt to support and justify homosexuality as an acceptable alternative behavior.  Books explaining homosexual relationships have been on the library shelves in our elementary schools since the early 1990’s.  And now, at the time of the taping of this lesson 20 years later, several school districts are in the process of having this homosexuality added to their health subject curriculum and expecting the teachers to teach the kids that  homosexual behavior is an acceptable alternative, whether they believe it or not.

As you can see from my text, homosexuality is listed as just one of many sins.  What makes it such a big deal with Christians is that, unlike all of the other sins listed, the gay community is lobbying to make this sin an acceptable practice. We don’t see mass murderers lobbying to pass a law that they have a right to kill whomever they wish, so what makes homosexuality different?   Homosexuals hold powerful positions in almost every arena which turns into influential power and political power.   This makes Christians defensive and feel  like we are being forced to accept homosexuality as a “normal” lifestyle.  And that is indeed what is happening if the laws of the land eventually pass more and more laws supporting same sex marriages and other homosexual practices.   That would put Christians in the same situation as Lot living in Sodom (Gen.19:1-27), surrounded by sexual perversions all around.  Yet he and his family were spared when God came and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their perverted practices.

Now with all that said, Christians should not judge homosexuals but instead pray that homosexuals will see the light (the truth) and turn from their sinful ways.  It is not our job to judge.  And that is what this bible study is about, the truth.  (John 8:31-32) “..”if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth and the truth  shall make you free.”

Jesus also made it clear that since no one is perfect, no one has a right to judge anyone else. 

(Rom.3:23) “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”


(James 4:11-12) “Do not speak evil to one another brethren.  He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.  But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.   There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy.  Who are you to judge?”


(Rom.2:1-3) “You may be saying, ‘What terrible people you have been talking about!” But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse!  When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things (sin).    And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.  Do you think God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them too?”

In the New Testament, the familiar example of how man is not to be the one to judge is in (John 8:1-5, 7,9-11) “Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple.  A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.  As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery.  They put her in front of the crowd.  ‘Teacher!” they said to Jesus, ‘this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her.  What do you say?’  (v7) They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, stone her, but let those who have never sinned throw the first stone!’  (v.9)When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest until Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. (v10)Then Jesus stood up again and said to her, ‘Where are your accusers?  Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’(v11) ‘No, Lord,” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I, go and sin no more.”’

Here Jesus made two distinct points.  Yes, He recognized that she is a sinner because he said, “Go and sin no more.”  But at the same time, He made it clear that the accusers had no right to judge because there is no one who is without sin as mentioned in Rom.3:23.

It is our job as Christians to share what the Word of God says about the homosexual live-style and then pray that they will come to understand that Word and then seek to get their life back in line with God.  As far as the Bible is concerned, as mentioned in my text, homosexuality is a sin which led to severe consequences in the Old testament and a strong warning is issued in the New Testament.

The example the consequence of homosexuality in the Old Testament is the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gamorrah.  These cities were destroyed on account of their unrepented homosexuality.

(Gen 19:1-13) That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom, and Lot was sitting there as they arrived.  When he saw them, he stood up to meet them.  Then he welcomed them and bowed low to the ground.  “My Lord,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night.  You may then get up in the morning as early as you like and be on your way again.


“Oh no” they said, “We’ll just spend the night out here in the square.”


But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him.   He set a great feast before them….After the meal, as they were preparing to retire for the night, all of the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house.  They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who have come to spend the night with you?  Bring them out so we can have sex with them!”


Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him. “Please, my brothers! “ He begged. “Don’t do such a wicked thing.  Look, I have two virgin daughters.  Do with them as you wish, but leave these men alone, for they are under my protection.”


“Stand back!” they shouted. “Who do you think you are?  We let you settle among us, and now you are trying to tell us what to do!  We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!  And they lunged at Lot and began breaking down the door.  But the two angels  reached out and pulled Lot in and bolted the door.  Then they blinded the men of Sodom so they couldn’t find the doorway....Do you have any other relatives her in this city?” the angels asked. “Get them out of this place – sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else, for we will destroy the city completely.  The stench of this place has reached the Lord and he has sent us to destroy it.  (v17) “Run for your lives!” the angels warned.  “Do not stop anywhere in the valley.  And don’t look back!  Escape to the mountains, or you will die.”   (v23) – The Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens on Sodom and Gamorrah.  He utterly destroyed them along with the other cities and villages of the plain, eliminating all life – people, plants and animals alike.”

The example of Sodom and Gamorrah is given as a warning for people of all ages.  God holds homosexuals fully accountable for their sin just as He does all the other sins listed in the Bible.

Now remember, even though this bible study is about homosexuality in the Bible, God hates all sin.  In this lesson, I am focusing on those scriptures that deal with sexual sins because many have been brainwashed into thinking that homosexual behavior is acceptable because we are all God’s children.   NOT!  That is one of the most misquoted statements that can land you in the pit of hell.  Correction – We are all God’s creation but only those who are following Jesus and living according to God’s will can be called God’s children.

So you see, one of the biggest misunderstandings through misrepresentation and miscommunication is there is no such thing as a gay Christian or a gay Christian pastor.   If  the term Christian  means “followers of Christ”, those who follow His will and His way, how can you be a gay Christian or gay Christian pastor if you are not following Christ and have chosen to live a live-style that the New and Old testament call abomination, a sin?  God hates ALL sin.

The world is so quick to justify the sin of homosexuality as a trait at birth that a person cannot change, that it makes the problem worse.   I personally know of two people with two different scenarios who were raised by all women and had no male presence the first several years of their life.  All they knew and saw daily were women.  And you wonder why they had feminine traits.  A boy doesn’t know to be manly unless he’s around a manly man.  But in these cases, instead of finding manly men, secure with their sexuality, in the family or acquaintances, to put in the young man’s presence, the conclusion was quickly made that he must have been born a homosexual.   Other environmental settings have also been known to push a young person towards homosexuality are, painful physical and/or emotional experiences with the opposite sex, incest, growing up in a homosexual household, child abuse from perverted adults seeking to twist and confuse a young mind and peer pressure from other young homosexuals, just to name a few.      

In the secular world, the debate as to whether homosexuality is a learned behavior or a a gene you are born with, is a debate that will go on and on.  However, I'm here to debate.  The purpose of this bible study is not to ignite a debate, but rather to inform all who are interested exactly what the Bible teaches about homosexuality. (John 8:31-32) …”if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

(Romans 1:18-32) – (v18) “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.  (v19) For the truth about God is known to men instinctively.  God has put this knowledge in their hearts.  (v20) From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.  (v21) Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused. (v22) Claiming to be wise, the became utter fools instead.  (v23) And instead of worshipping the glorious ever-living God, they worshipped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.”  (v24) So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.  As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  (v25) Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies.  So they worshipped the things that God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever, Amen.   (v26) That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.   Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.  (v27)  And the men, instead of  having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other.  Men did shameful things to other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved. (v28) When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.  (v29) Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.  (v.32) They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.  And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.”

(Rom.2:4-10,16 )   (v4) “Don’t you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you?  Or don’t you care?  Can’t you see how kind He has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?  (v5) But you won’t listen.  So you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world, (v6) will judge all people according to what they have done. (v7) He will give eternal life to those persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. (v8) But he will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice evil deeds. (v9) There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning – for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. (v10) But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good – for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.  For God does not show favoritism.  (v16) The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone’s secret life.  This is my message.”
 
Hope for homosexuals and all other sinners
So you see, regardless of what sin you’ve committed or what kind of sinful life-style you’ve lived in the past, when you accept Jesus Christ and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior, and sincerely mean it, you are forgiven, your slate is wiped clean.  Don’t let the devil try to convince you that it is too late for you to be saved because of the sinful life you’ve lived.  Once you have accepted Him, you are covered by the blood of Jesus and all that was accomplished on the cross.

(1 Cor.6:11) – “There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.


(Rom.6:1-12)  (v2) “Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?  Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? (v4) For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (v5) Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. (v6) Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.   We are no longer slaves to sin.  (v7) For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. (v8) And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life.  (v9) We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again.  Death no longer has any power over him. (v10) He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. (v11) So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.”

Nobody said it’s going to be easy.  The longer you have lived in sin, the stronger the temptation to return to that life-style.  But the Word has answer for that.

(Rom.6:12-14) (v12) “Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to its lustful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning.  Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given a new life.  And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.  Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin.  Instead, you are free by God’s grace.”

So now you know the truth on what the Word says about homosexuality.  Some of you may have learned from this Bible Study and want to get into God’s will.  Some will be convicted and seek God immediately. Still others will half listen, deny all that was shared and go on sinning.  But in all cases, the truth was heard.

(Heb 10:26-31) “…If  we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.  There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. (v28) Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  (v29) Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people. (v30) For we know the One who said,  “I will take vengeance.  I will repay those who deserve it.”  He also said, (v31) “The Lord will judge his own people. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”


If you are a homosexual who is reading this and think everything I just said is a bunch of bologna, at least you now know exactly how you stand with God as you continue down the path of spiritual destruction.  I will continue to pray for all who live by their sinful nature, that you will see the truth and repent before its too late.  If you are a homosexual who is reading this and feel a spiritual battle going on inside, that is your spirit fighting your sinful nature wanting to do the right thing.  You can act right now.  Don't delay!  Don’t be an enemy to God!  It’s not too late to turn you life around right at this very moment.  Whether you read, watched or listened to this Bible Study, you can accept Christ right now, right where you are. 


(Rom 10:9-10) “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right by God, and it is confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”

Repeat this sinner's prayer;  Father God, I come to you right now with a humble heart.  Forgive me for the wrong I’ve done and the wrong I’ve been.  I believe that Jesus is Lord.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead for me and my sins.  And I ask the Lord Jesus Christ into my life to be my Lord and Savior.  And from this day forward, I will not do a single thing in life or make a single decision in life with asking Him for guidance first.  Amen!

Now after saying this prayer of salvation, with sincerity, you are taking the first step toward victory towards a new life.   The Holy Spirit will help you become stronger and stronger in the battle against lust feed by you old sinful ways.  What you have control of is changing the friends, environments, events and thoughts that were a part of your sinful past and replace them with new surroundings that support and nurture your new life walking with Christ.  Such surroundings include attending church regularly, bible studies, small groups, reading the Word regularly, Christian counseling, fellowshipping with other Christians who support your new life and pray for you .  The more you do these activities the stronger God’s light in you will become until you are walking victoriously in your deliverance over your former life-style.  “With God all things are possible.”


So now you know the truth, and the truth can set you free – IF YOU BELIEVE!


3 comments:

  1. This is Amazing! Amen!!! Most people allow themselves to be cowards in speaking the truth, all while knowing it. Many can't even stand to hear the truth, let alone speak it, when it is uttered, regardless of how controversial the Truth appears to be.
    - Jon

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