June 1st marks the beginning of another “pride month.” Pride month began after the Stonewall riots, a gay liberation movement of 1969. The riots began after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in lower Manhattan.
The homosexual agenda is being aggressively promoted all across our country. Politicians at all levels, large corporations, sports teams, the entertainment industry and the majority of the media have all been involved. It is especially disheartening to see the efforts being made to teach young children that homosexuality is an acceptable behavior. Those who favor this lifestyle expect others to accept it and are very intolerant of those who do not.
There are those who would teach that a person should simply “follow his heart” in determining what is acceptable and what is not. But the heart is often deceitful. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12. God’s Word is the only standard of right and wrong that has any real value. “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:16.
From reading God’s Word, we know that God has never tolerated homosexual behavior. The law of Moses stated, “And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall surely be upon them” Lev. 20:13. We do not live under the law of Moses today and God does NOT desire that homosexuals be put to death. However, there is nothing in the scriptures that would indicate homosexuality is less of an abomination to God today than it has ever been.
Long before anyone celebrated pride month, the men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relations with Lot’s guests. These men were described as wicked and guilty of a grievous sin. Genesis 18:20ff.
Peter later wrote that the events at Sodom, particularly God’s judgment upon the evil doers, serve as an example today for those who choose to live a similarly ungodly life. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” II Peter 2:6.
The apostle Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:18-32.
The scriptures describe homosexuality as unnatural and unseemly. Not only are those who engage in this lifestyle guilty of sin, those who give their approval to this lifestyle are guilty as well. Romans 1:32.
To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, “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.” I Corinthians 6:9-11.
There were some in the church at Corinth who had previously been homosexuals. Notice Paul’s words, “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.” Notice Paul’s use of the past tense – “And such were some of you.” It is possible for a homosexual to change.
Paul went on to say that, because of the cleansing power of Christ’s blood, they had been washed from their sin. They had been sanctified, or set apart, from the world and its ungodly behavior. They had been justified and had their sins forgiven.
Thankfully, there is hope for the homosexual if he/she will turn from his/her sin and turn to God for forgiveness. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
If you are a homosexual, you need to know that the scriptures teach a homosexual will not, unless he/she repents and turns from his/her sinful behavior, enjoy a home in heaven. The Bible is pretty clear about that. “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.” Jude 7.
If you are a homosexual, you also need to know that, while God will not accept you in your sin, he loves you in spite of your sin. He loves you so much he was willing to die for you, serving as the only sacrifice that could ever take away your sin. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
You CAN change! You CAN be saved from your sin if you will believe the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ – believe that Jesus died for you, was buried, rose from the grave and ascended to heaven. I Corinthians 15:1-8. You can be saved from your sin if you will repent of your sin (Acts 17:30), confess your faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:8-10), and be baptized, or immersed in water, in order to have your sin washed away (Acts 2:38).
There is hope!
Saved by the Gospel 