Is Homosexuality A Sin?

Over the past couple of decades, homosexuality has certainly become an extremely controversial topic across our country and surprisingly, even within various denominational churches.  There have been a number of occasions where I have encountered other Christians who actually believe that God is okay with two people of the same sex being married and carrying on in a physical relationship.  But, how can this be?  How can a homosexual gay relationship be acceptable even among “born again” Christians?  Isn’t the Bible clear on this?  Doesn’t God make it clear in His Word that He is against this kind of relationship and that His original plan was that…

“…a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh?” (Genesis 2:24 NASB) 

This is not only an established truth in the Old Testament, it is also an established truth that Jesus Himself stated in Mark chapter 10, which says,

“But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment [concerning divorce].  But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.  FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,  AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”  Mark 10:5-9 (NASB)

Of course, we see in these verses that Jesus is referring to marriage and divorce.  But we can understand from this passage in Mark chapter 10 and the Old Testament reference in Genesis chapter 2 that the ideal and God's original plan is one man and one woman being joined together in marriage.

In this short editorial, I would like to establish what the Bible has to say about homosexual relationships and marriage.  I will attempt to give reasonable understanding based on the Bible on how God expects us to view homosexuality.

I know there are a number of people that are afraid to address this topic for fear that they will offend friends and relatives.  My intent with this article is not to offend or cast judgment on anyone, but to help everyone think and understand what the Bible says.  It must be understood that only God Himself is authorized to judge each and every one of us.  But my intent in this article is to explain and try to give clarity on what the Bible has to say, and what God Himself expects us to understand about homosexuality.  This article is not about my personal opinion on this since I will allow the Word of God to speak for itself.  If we clearly understand and are willing to be open to what the Bible says about this, then there will be no question in our minds as to whether or not homosexuality is a sin.

What I will attempt to do in the following pages is look at different verses of the Bible that give reference to homosexuality and try to explain their meaning.  To begin with, we will look at verses starting in the Old Testament.  Now I know some may say, “That’s Old Testament so it really doesn’t apply to us today.”  However, Jesus said this in Matthew chapter 5… 

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 (NASB)

What does that mean?  The Old Testament law serves as a guidepost for us in knowing what is right and what is wrong as far as sin.  In the Old Testament Law, it contains both moral laws and ceremonial laws.  Even though we no longer observe ceremonial laws such as the ones pertaining to dietary and sacrificial observances, yet however the moral laws do serve as a guidepost to how we should live and what God does or does not call sin.  So let’s look at some verses in the Old Testament that speak about homosexuality and see what they have to say. 

I want to begin with some verses in Genesis which was a period of time before the Mosaic Laws were given.  In Genesis chapter 19, we find the story of Lot and his family who were living in the city of Sodom.  The story goes where two angels sent from God, appearing as men, came to visit with Lot and his family.  Lot persuaded them to come and spend the night at his home, where he would give them lodging and a prepared feast.  That night before bed, a large crowd of men from the city came to the door of Lot’s house and asked where the men were that came to his house.  Then they further demanded that Lot bring them out to them so that they could have “relations” with them.  In the King James Version of the Bible, it uses the term “that we may know them.”  New International Version says, “that we can have sex with them.”  So it’s obvious that the intention of the crowd of men from the city wanted a homosexual encounter with these two men at Lot’s house.

Yet Lot pleaded with the crowd of men not to do such a wicked act.  Then as an alternative, Lot offered his two virgin daughters in their stead.  But the crowd of men were not interested with Lot’s offer and insisted that the two men come out to them.  Then the two angels grabbed Lot and pulled him inside and then they struck the crowd of men with blindness where they could not find the door of the house.

Now the reason these two angels were sent to Lot was to warn of God’s impending judgment on both Sodom and Gomorrah and to point out the great wickedness of sin that existed in both cities.  In fact, the wickedness was so great, that the outcry of it all reached to the very throne of Heaven.

So it’s obvious in this story how we can see and understand that homosexuality was one of the great sins that led to the destruction of both Sodom and Gomorrah by the hand of God Himself.

Next I want to bring attention to a few verses in the book of Leviticus that speak of homosexuality.  In Leviticus chapter 18, amongst the list of many sins and abominations mentioned, we find where it says…

“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”  Leviticus 18:22 (NASB) 

This verse is obviously speaking to men having or desiring a physical homosexual relationship.  But, what about the women?  What about lesbian relationships?  Where does the bible speak and address this?  I will cover this later in this article when we take a look at some of the New Testament references.

In Leviticus chapter 20, we find another reference also amongst the list of other sins, which says…

“If there is a man who lies with a male 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.”  Leviticus 20:13 (NASB)

So, in that day, as I’ll explain this in today’s terminology, if a man was found in bed with another man and having physical sexual relations, the punshment and consequence of that act was that they were both to be put to death.  This type of punishment that was required for this sexual act clearly indicates the seriousness of this type of sin.  Homosexual relationships in that day were not allowed and if any men were found in those types of relationships, they would be put to death.  This was a biblical mosaic moral law.

Yet I know there would be some that would continue to argue that this was Old Testament law and it doesn’t apply for us today.  But we need to understand that the moral laws of the Old Testament show us what sin is and what sin isn’t.  For example, let’s consider the 10 Commandments, which was also a part of the moral side of the Mosaic Law.  The Ten Commandments show us even today what is right and what is wrong.   Some of those are Idolatry, taking God’s name in vain, dishonoring our parents, murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, coveting what others have, etc., these are all sins and are seen and ruled as morally wrong.  

So again, I want us to understand that some of the things stated in the Old Testament go beyond the law and the temporal rule of the Mosaic Law.  They are what some would say, “universal” law which are not only in the Old Testament, but are also in the New Testament as well.  And by “universal,” we also mean that, not only is homosexuality wrong within the culture of the Jewish people of that day (along with sins of bestiality and child sacrifice), but in other cultures as well, whom the law was not given.  We read about this later on in the 20th chapter of Leviticus which says…

“You are therefore to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them, so that the land to which I am bringing you to live will not spew you out. Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them.”  Leviticus 20:22-23 (NASB)

So at this point, after seeing what the Old Testament has to say, I want to shift direction and take us through some of the scripture verses in the New Testament as they pertain to homosexuality.  To start with, let’s look at what is says in Mark chapter 10…

"But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.  FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,  AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  Mark 10:6-9 (NASB)

These are the words of Jesus spoken to some Pharisees who opportunity to questioned Him and put Him to the test in order to discredit Him.  It was a question of divorce and whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.  Now even though Jesus’ response was a remark about divorce, we can also read into it God’s original intent for marriage.  God made male and female for the reason that the two shall become one flesh.  That was the original intent in God’s plan for all of mankind.  So it is obviously clear that a man and woman are to be joined together and not man to man, or woman to woman.

In Romans chapter 1, starting in verse 16, we read where Paul was addressing the Romans concerning the gospel and righteousness, unbelief and consequences.  In verses 26 and 27 it reads…

“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.”  Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

Now it’s obvious that these two verses are speaking of lesbian and homosexual behavior.  Where it says “God gave them over to degrading passions” simply means that God backed off and just allowed them to follow after their corrupting obsession with sin.  In a similar way, we tell our children not to do certain things or they will suffer the consequences of their actions.  Yet after several attempts and warnings, sometimes they insist on doing what we as parents warn them not to do.  Then sometimes, when its appropriate, we just back off and allow them to go ahead with their insistent behavior, hoping they will learn a lesson.  It doesn’t mean we have changed our minds and have approved it, but rather in hope that, through the consequences of their actions, they will learn a lesson and listen next time.

So when it says that “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions,” it doesn’t mean that God finally gave in and allowed them to do it and was okay with it.  It means that God finally just gave up and let them proceed to do what He didn’t want them to do.  Even though God is longsuffering, there are limits to how long He will wait until we finally make a choice to repent and turn from our ways.

In Romans 1:28 it says,  ^“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,”  Here the word “depraved” is used while some translations use the word “reprobate.”  The Greek meaning of the word “reprobate” means “unapproved, rejected or castaway.”

It’s painful as a parent when you have to reach a point where you just have to allow your children to go down a path that they insist on taking, despite your repeated verbal expressed objections.  But when we insist on pursuing a sinful lifestyle, as painful as it is to God, He sometimes backs off and allows us to go down that path.  But His hope is that we will realize our immoral choice, turn from our wicked ways, and come back to Him.  So I hope that we can see in Romans 1:26-27 that it’s obvious that God does in fact object to a lesbian and homosexual lifestyle and that it is a sin in which He does not approve of.

And now let’s turn our attention to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.  In First Corinthians, chapter 6 it reads…

“Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  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.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)

Here we see a list of unrighteous acts that tell us that if we do them, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  The truth of the matter is, if you make these sins a practice and a lifestyle, then you condemn yourself and you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  This is a very clear message and there’s really no other way to interpret this.  The consequences of these actions are clear… no eternity with God.  Homosexuality is in this list.

Now a part of this message says, “Such WERE some of you.”  That’s a very important word expressed here… “were.”  The people that Paul was addressing WERE doing some of these things.  But at some point in their life, they became “washed,” “sanctified” and “justified” in “the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  Paul made it clear in those verses that the “unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”  That means those who are apart from God’s provision for the washing of our sins, sanctification and justification, are not going to inherit the Kingdom of God.  But thank the Lord God that He has made a way for man to be delivered from these stated sins (and all others) and to be saved and gain the inheritance of the Kingdom of God.

I want to pause and interject a thought here… if I was heading down a wrong path, blindly not seeing, knowing or understanding the consequences that were coming, convinced I’m doing all the right things, how much would I appreciate someone enlightening me to the truth and showing me the danger of what lies ahead? 

I want it to be clear that I didn’t write this article with a self righteous, judgmental condemning heart.  I wrote this in hope that I could make it plain and clear that God and His Word is against this sinful lifestyle of homosexuality and that making it a lifestyle has unfortunate consequences.  If you are living a homosexual  or lesbian lifestyle, please reconsider what you are doing, and give God a chance to bring you deliverance from this and become “washed,” “sanctified” and “justified” in “the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our Lord.”  Deliverance is real and God can change your heart to where you can follow right passions and live a more fulfilling life in Him.

Continuing on in First Corinthians chapter 7 it reads…

“But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.  The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”  1 Corinthians 7:2-3 (NASB)

Also, going back to Mark chapter 10 verse 7 (which is a verse that Jesus Himself quoted from Genesis 2 verse 24), it says…

“FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.”  Mark 10:7-8 (NASB) 

This is the ideal.  This was God’s original intent, that a man and a woman be joined together.  For a man to be married to a man, and a woman to be married to a woman goes against God’s original intent in all creation.  God’s original plan and intent is obvious in Genesis chapter one…

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."  Genesis 1:27-28 (NASB) 

God made us uniquely male and female for a reason, to multiply mankind and replenish the earth.  God’s original plan is not fulfilled with a homosexual and lesbian lifestyle.  Aside from multiplying and fulfilling the earth, a male and female relationship is a more fulfilling relationship, because it is God ordained.

And finally, let’s take a look at 1 Timothy chapter 1 which says…

“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”  1 Timothy 1:8-11 (NASB)

What I want to point out mainly in this verse is that homosexuality is mentioned here in the list of sins.  Sure there are many other sins that could have been in this list, but it’s clear that homosexuality is there in that list.  This book of 1 Timothy is Paul’s letter to Timothy pointing out misleading doctrine and unrighteous living that was going on in the church of that day.  Paul also reminds Timothy of God’s mercy and grace that there is salvation and deliverance through Jesus Christ.  So of all those sins that are mentioned in the list, there is salvation, mercy and grace in Jesus Christ.  So equally, my attention in this article is pointing out that homosexuality and lesbianism is a sin, but more so, I want to point out that there is salvation, mercy and grace to be delivered from this lifestyle if a person is willing.

And one final point I want to make that some have felt would give justification to the sins of homosexuality and lesbian lifestyle.  Some have argued that since Jesus didn’t mention homosexuality and same sex marriage, that it must be okay.  Well, there are really a lot of sins that Jesus didn’t mention either, such as pedophiles and other sins of fornication.  So just because Jesus didn’t mention it specifically during his ministry here on this earth, it doesn’t mean that those sins are okay.

So it is my prayer and hope that those who read through this article can see that I have given a fair assessment and consideration as to what the bible has to say about homosexuality.  What we need to understand is that when we read the Bible as a whole, we gain an understanding of the very nature and personality of God.  And from that, we can gain an understanding of clarity how God feels and even condemns certain aspects of sin.  In other words, when you draw close to God and understand His love and His very nature, it becomes obvious and apparent to us what is and is not sinful in the eyes of God.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope that it has helped you to gain and understand how the Bible and God Himself view the sin of homosexuality.  Please feel free to share this article with others.  Thank you and God bless!

This article has been written and presented by Roger Sanders, an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God
(C) 2017 Roger A. Sanders All Rights Reserved

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