Are homosexual acts sin? Gay marriages are legal in some states, including Virginia. Peer pressure everywhere is to tolerate gay relationships and accept them. People are proud to “come out” of the closet of secrecy. Some people don’t like the scriptures condemning homosexual acts, so they have printed bibles omitting them. But what does God think about homosexual acts? Whether or not they are legal in man’s eyes, are those acts to be commended, or are they harmful?
I’m not meaning to stir up trouble or unnecessary conflict. However, I love you enough to tell you the truth. –And God laid this message on my heart to lovingly share with you.
“Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner”
Someone once said, “Hate the sin, not the sinner.” I couldn’t agree more. Some gay people may not feel loved by some Christians but actually hated. That isn’t right. Perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16 (King James Version) says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son [Jesus, who died on a cross to pay for our sins], that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The next verse goes on to say, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” God loves the world, so He loves gay people. So, we should love them, too. But should we morally agree with their actions?
Homosexual Acts Are an Abomination to God
We must not look to people and governments for our opinion on this matter. We must go to the scriptures, the Bible, (and not an edited one) to find out God’s opinion. In Leviticus 18:22, God says, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 20:13 says, “If there is a man who lies with a man as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.” Before you stone me, God spoke this to the Jews in an age of law. God thought this sin of homosexual acts is so serious, He said it deserved capital punishment! Since Jesus came, we are in an age of grace. I don’t believe God will put us to death for homosexual acts while we are alive. As long as we are alive, we can repent, change our mind, turn away from that sin and ask God to help us not to do it ever again! However, the verses above show us that homosexual acts are indeed sin; and God despises them! Are homosexual acts sin? Yes!
Romans 1:18-32 sheds light on this subject:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions, for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
While God loves us unconditionally, He gets angry about our persisting in sin. This passage is a picture of each of us without God intervening in our lives and giving us new natures. Even some Christians give in to homosexual acts, and we can clearly see from this passage above that God hates homosexual sins. He says that homosexual acts are unnatural and indecent and dishonor our bodies. They are driven by lusts, degrading passions. He also says that these erroneous acts lead to penalty. Again, God affirms in this passage that homosexual acts are worthy of death, and He discourages people from condoning them. Are homosexual acts sin? Yes!
I am not tempted homosexually, but I have had friends who were. My desire in writing this blog is to tell you why homosexual acts are sin, and how so very important it is to get free or to stay clear of them.
It is Not Wrong to Be Tempted
Some people claim that homosexuality is something someone is born with. That being so, the issue isn’t whether you have the tendency in that direction. The issue is: What do you do with the tendency in that direction?
There are also circumstantial reasons why people encounter this temptation. Some females give up on men because one or more men hurt or abused them. They feel another woman would understand them better. Some men may have been hurt by mothers or other women leading to this conclusion to abandon females. For various reasons, it is obvious some people feel this temptation. It is not wrong to be tempted by homosexual sins, as long as we don’t give in to them. Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us about Jesus,
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
We can conclude from the verses above that since Jesus was tempted in every way, He was also tempted homosexually. However, He didn’t give in and sin. He is our great High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He has “been there” in temptation and yet came out victorious! If you draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, you will find mercy for past sins, including homosexual ones, and will find grace to help you not continue to sin!
Homosexual Temptation Is Not Unusual and God Will Provide a Way of Escape
First Corinthians 10:13 gives us the awesome news: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” If you are tempted homosexually or in any other way, you are not alone and you are not a freak! God will not tempt you beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape so you can endure the trial victoriously without giving into sin. He will be with you every step of the way! Finding that way of escape may include getting away from the person who tempts you. I have had to do that myself in other areas of temptation.
Persisting in Homosexual Acts Disqualifies One from Ruling with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom
Are homosexual acts sin? Yes! We learn a very important reason not to practice homosexual sin in 1 Corinthians. I am not referring to someone who is struggling against it, but rather those who persist in it. First Corinthians 6:6-11 says:
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.
These verses warn us that we will not rule with Jesus in His Kingdom if we practice homosexual acts. God encourages us in these scriptures to be spiritually washed by the blood of Jesus to forgive us for our sins; to be sanctified, to be made clean from our sins, including homosexual ones; and to receive the justification from our sins in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God, the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t want us to practice homosexual sins because He wants us to inherit His Kingdom!
God Wants Us to Repent of Homosexual Acts So We Can Enter the New Jerusalem!
The beautiful city of the New Jerusalem on the new earth that God will create is described in Revelation 21 and 22. We learn as Jesus spoke in Revelation 21:7-8:
He that overcometh [sin] shall inherit all things; and I [Jesus] will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers [immoral people], and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
In Revelation 22:13, Jesus adds;
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Jesus did us a favor to let us know which sins would keep us out of the city of the New Jerusalem. It is not because He is condemning. He just wants us to be holy as He is holy. First Peter 1:13-16:
Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [lifestyle]; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
God Wants to Protect Us
There is another important reason God does not want us to commit homosexual sins, or any kind of fornication (sleeping around). It is because these sins can cause us to have AIDS and other venereal diseases. God wants to protect us from getting sick with these!
Children Need Both a Male and Female Parent, If Possible
We read in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 that the first family on earth was Adam and Eve, not “Adam and Steve” as someone pointed out. God made it so that children could not be born without a male and a female. The whole population of the world is dependent on both males and females!
Children need their fathers for leadership and self-esteem. While that is not always possible because of issues a father may have, children suffer without their fathers. I know this from personal experience. Growing up was very difficult without the leadership and approval of my father.
Children need their mothers. They can provide comfort and nurturing that comes more naturally to women. I realize this isn’t always possible, either. However, children will suffer without a good mother. My mother died later in life, and I miss her dearly! I was wishing I could seek her advice two days ago!
The awesome news is that God will meet these unmet needs for those who are not able to have one or both parents. However, God’s design for the family is ideally one man and one woman joined in marriage.
Summary
Are homosexual acts sin? Yes! They are an abomination to God. It is not wrong to be tempted, but we need to ask God to help us not to sin. He wants us to rule with Him in a future age; and He wants us to inherit the New Jerusalem, as well! God wants us to forsake sin, including homosexual sin, and seek God for forgiveness and deliverance. God loves us in our current condition. He also wants us to be holy as He is! First John 1:9 says the great news, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Tell God you are sorry for your sins, and ask Him to help you be delivered from them! He understands you perfectly and what it is to be tempted! He will deliver you because He loves you so much!
The issue in all of this, as in all things, is a heart that wants to please God. The willingness to place any issue we are dealing with into His hands for His wisdom and guidance is pleasing to Him. If we do so, He will make the way clear before us; and in His perfect timing, He will give us the victory and the assurance that we are in His will!