Homosexual Conduct

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
12/17/23 - General

Homosexual conduct is a hot topic in the time and place we live. Not only is this sin becoming increasingly common, but there is a strong push for all to approve of it.

As with any question of morality, God has the authority to determine what’s right and wrong. Instead of letting the world mold our thinking, we must transform our thinking to fit God’s will (Rom. 12:2).

Understanding God’s will regarding homosexual conduct begins by knowing the truth about gender. When Jesus was asked a question about divorce in Matthew 19, He responded by referencing God’s original design of gender and marriage. Notice verses 4-5: [Jesus] answered, “Haven’t you read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?’

God created exactly two genders: “male and female” (Gen. 1:27). He didn’t leave it to the man or the woman to decide what gender they’d like to be.

God created man and woman to be equal in importance. He didn’t create them to be identical. His design is for man and woman to perfectly complement one another.

This is connected to God’s design of marriage. God-approved marriage is between husband and wife. God never authorizes same-sex “marriages.”

Given this truth, homosexual conduct is sex outside of God-approved marriage. It is thus a form of fornication (see Strong G4202 & Thayer), and sin (Gal. 5:19-21).

Several Bible passages refer directly to this type of sin. The New Testament speaks both of women and men engaging in sexual acts with the same gender (Rom. 1:26-27).

These verses leave no doubt that such behavior is condemned by God (also see 1 Tim. 1:10 and Jude 7).

Perhaps the strongest rebuke of homosexual conduct is in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s kingdom.

Homosexual conduct is here listed among unrighteous acts that lead to eternal punishment, if not forgiven by God.

Following this, verse 11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” The words “such were” indicate that some who were once guilty of homosexual conduct no longer were. While some claim that this sin can’t be turned away from, God says otherwise. Those in a same-sex “marriage” can (and must) leave that relationship to be right with the Lord. Those practicing homosexual conduct can (and must) stop the behavior to be right with Him.

Perhaps the misunderstanding related to homosexuals’ ability to change stems from a failure to distinguish between temptation and sin. Hebrews 4:15 shows a vital difference between the two. The verse says that Christ was tempted like we are, but He didn’t sin. Some have stronger homosexual temptations than others, but this does not mean that some are forced to yield to temptation. God assures that no matter what temptation one faces, the “way of escape” is always available (1 Cor. 10:13). This is a comfort for those who want to please God rather than “excusing” their sin.

While Christians must stand firm on these truths, we must avoid hypocrisy. We must be consistent in identifying all sin as wrong. For instance, premarital sex should not be considered “less wrong” than homosexual acts. Sex outside of God-approved marriage is always sin.

We must also guard against hypocrisy by watching our motives. We must speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15), rather than haughtily or to “win” an argument.

Fear of hypocrisy must not discourage us from standing firm on the truth, though. We shouldn’t water down the truth or be ashamed of it. God doesn’t take back the truth merely because some try to discard it (Jer. 36:20-32).

May those guilty of homosexual conduct submit to God’s terms of forgiveness (including repentance), and may we all view and respond to this sin as God desires.