We live in a culture that for many, denies absolute standards and promotes selfish fulfillment at the expense of relational integrity and internal peace. As believers, we must navigate purity in a world that no longer values sexual integrity. Last week we briefly looked at God’s definition of marriage, sexual ethics within marriage, and sexual practices for singles. This lesson will address homosexual practices and God’s purpose for His sexual standards.
Biblical Teaching on Sexuality
Natural vs. unnatural sexuality- Romans 1:21-27; (NIV)
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
This passage is part of a larger conversation about what happens to a culture when it turns its back on the truth.
- People become confused- vs. 21. Human thinking becomes “futile” and doomed to self-deception because they do not take into account the reality of God. They trade in truth for self-fulfillment. Confused thinking leads to a distorted life. Humans become distorted and disabled in all their intellectual, emotional, and physical dimensions. Life doesn’t work for them anymore.
- They try to compensate through “worldly wisdom”- vs. 22. They develop a distorted self-image which results in an inability to recognize truth. They become fools. People begin to create “imitation gods” that serve their selfish needs- vs. 23. Therefore, God gives them over…
- They willingly embrace idolatry- vs. 24-25. Paul mentions sexual immorality and idolatry together in this section. This may be because sexual immorality was a common practice in the worship to their gods. It could also be that the biggest idol of all may be the idol of self, especially when it is displayed through sexual immorality. Paul’s point is simple- the first fruit of a culture that has abandoned God is rampant idolatry and sexual immorality. Believers in Jesus Christ who support homosexual marriage claim that Paul is condemning homosexual prostitution that occurred in the idol worship of the pagan temples; Paul never addressed the monogamous sexual relationship of a homosexual couple.
- They willingly reject that which is natural- vs. 26-27. They exchanged heterosexual relations for homosexual relations. There is no evidence that Paul is still addressing the worship practices in pagan temples. Listen to God’s Word on this issue- shameful, unnatural, and perversion. That is strong language!
- Let’s address the argument that homosexuals are born that way. Brain science has shown that the scans of homosexuals are different than the scans of heterosexuals, therefore they must be born that way. They are also different from alcoholics, child molesters, and serial killers. We have also learned that the ruts in our brains that cause these differences are based on what we believe. This is known as information highways in our brains. We now know that when we change what we believe, we can change the ruts (dendrites) in our brains and develop new thinking patterns. These dendrites increase in number and form new connections in our brains. These connections are called neural pathways. The Bible teaches that we are all born with a natural bent toward particular sins (anger, jealousy, lust, alcoholism, violence, homosexuality). Our predispositions can never be an excuse for disobedience.
The power of salvation- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- In these verses, Paul reminds us that we are all sinners, and no one among us will ever earn our way back into the presence of God. Look at the list. Look at how many words in the list have to do with sexual sin. There are two specific words that have to do with homosexuality- male prostitutes (that has to do with cult worship) and homosexual offenders (those who practice homosexuality). Theologians who promote the homosexual agenda claim that this does not address the homosexual couple who is living in monogamy.
- Look at the power of the gospel! And this is what some of you were! But God has washed away your sin, justified you in Christ, and is sanctifying you (or, for some of you, wants to begin the process of sanctification and set you free) through the power of Holy Spirit. This includes homosexuals.
The consequences of sexual sin- 1 Corinthians 6:13-20
13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.
- The body is not meant for sexual immorality. It is meant for the Lord. He bought us and now owns our bodies. Our bodies house the Holy Spirit of God. That is our primary motive for sexual purity. When we have sex with another person, we become one with them, soul, to soul. It is called a soul tie. Sexual sin is a very unique sin. Why is this such a big deal to God? Because he is our protector.
- No sin can hurt others the way sexual immorality can. Sexual abuse as children, rape, affairs, casual sex, cheating with another person, and homosexual relationships. God wants to protect us from ourselves, so He provides guidelines for our own safety. You have probably seen how sexual sin causes pain in this world?
Confession
Heavenly Father, I stand on your Word, and confess that my mind is dominated by Your Word and that as your temple, I obey the leading and directions given by Holy Spirit! I stand strong in my mind by studying my Bible and filling my mind with God’s thoughts. When the enemy comes against me with worldly thoughts, those which are opposed to the Word of God, I cast them down by speaking out loud God’s revealed truth from His Word.
I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!
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Peter Henneberry, EMIC Groups Pastor |
