Test All Things Pt. 2 – Homosexuality & Salvation

The latest interviews by Rick Warren, as shown in this article entitled “Rick Warren Uncertain if Homosexual Behavior is Sinful, Says ‘Gays’ Go to Heaven“, reveals the growing confusion over the issue of homosexuality, sin, and salvation. As stated in the article, Warren isn’t the only one spreading this confusion, but other mainstream Christian media personalities are guilty of promoting this confusion as well. This is because of their statement in the media that can lead many into asking, “Is homosexuality a sin?”, “Can practicing homosexuals inherit eternal life?”, and “Is it a sin to have same sex attractions?” These Christian media personalities, who claim to be ministers of the gospel of salvation, reveal their bad fruit by their poor affirmation of the gospel. Yet, there are others who affirm the truth on this controversial topic, as is also stated in the article.

To set the record straight concerning what the Bible has to say about these questions, the following Scriptures has been stated below.

Is homosexuality a sin?

Scripture describes homosexuality as uncleanness, vile affections, and an error of man’s, lustful, reprobate (immoral), minds, which God has handed mankind over to because of man’s refusal to acknowledge, and worship, the true God, whom they replaced with mere idols. Therefore, homosexuality is one of the judgments of God upon mankind for their sin of idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6). Therefore, if people are born homosexuals, it is only an affirmation of God’s judgment upon mankind, and it could in no way validate homosexual desires, because God is love, and love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1John 4:8 & 1Corinthians 13:6). Instead, people are born sinners, because “one man’s [who is Adam] disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). Furthermore, love does not tempt others to sin, in the name of love, because the act of true love is to “love God, and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” And Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments”, and Jesus’ command to mankind is to “Repent [turn from sin], and believe in the gospel”.

Romans 1

21    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.
22    Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23    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.
24    Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25    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.
26    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:
27    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.
28    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;

Can practicing homosexuals inherit eternal life?

Jesus’ command, to mankind, is to turn from sin, and to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which can save all sinners, who are willing to humble themselves before God, and confess their life-style as sinful, bringing their sinful deeds to the light of God’s truth, and turning away from their sins to believe, and obey, the gospel of Christ; while those who reject Christ remains in the darkness of their sin, which they love more than the truth of Christ’s sacrifice for their forgiveness, and freedom from sin, and God’s judgment (Mark  1:15, John 3:14-21).

1Corinthians 6

9    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,
10    nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11    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.

Hebrews 10

26    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27    But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28    He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29    Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30    For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31    It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Is it a sin to have same sex attractions?

Jesus reveals that those who look on some one with lustful desires is guilty of the sin of sexual immorality. Furthermore, Scripture teaches that the thoughts of a person reveals their true self, and God will not hear the prayers of one who’s heart is set on evil.

Matthew 5

27    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28    But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29    And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30    And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Proverbs 23

6    Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7    For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Psalm 66

18    If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Therefore, the only hope for mankind is the same hope that Jesus described to Nicodemus, saying “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7). Also, those who are born of God, by the preaching of the gospel, and by the Holy Spirit, may struggle with sinful thoughts, and desires, but they have God’s grace to free them from the bondage of sin, as they grow in their knowledge of the gospel, and their obedience to it, because the word of God is powerful, and it transforms their minds, and character, into the character, and mind, of Christ(Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:16-25).

John 8

12    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
23    And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
31    Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
34    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36    If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

2Corithinians 5

17    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18    And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19    To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20    Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 10

8    But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11    For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12    For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13    For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1John 1

6    If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1John 2

1    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3    And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4    He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Philippians 3

18    (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19    Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20    For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1John 5

18    We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19    And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21    Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.