There’s no question about God’s word on homosexuality

The past three weeks have brought new urgency to a question many have been asking for some time, “Is the legalization of same-sex marriage now inevitable?” Over the last three weeks, Iowa’s state Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry. In Vermont, the state’s Legislature was able to override a veto from the governor in order to become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by legislative, rather than judicial means. This week Gov. David Patterson introduced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, comparing the effort to the fight for the abolition of slavery.

What does the Bible say on this issue? Thankfully, God’s word speaks directly to the issue of homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. It establishes the divine design (or institution) for proper human sexuality. It provides divine illustrations of God’s wrath against sexual sin. The Scriptures set forth divine instruction directly prohibiting homosexuality. Significantly, it also offers a divine invitation of redemption to any and all who will repent of their sin and embrace Jesus Christ in faith.

• The first point is the divine institution of marriage. The biblical case against homosexuality begins with the first two chapters of Genesis. On the sixth day of creation God established the divine institution of marriage. Genesis 1:27-28 read, “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.’” Genesis 2:24 underscores the divine plan for marriage.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

The nuclear family is central to the survival of society. Monogamous heterosexual marriage was always viewed as the divine norm from the outset of creation. Homosexual behavior is a confusion of sexual identity between men and women. Jesus underscored the importance of marriage in Matthew 19:4-6. Ephesians 5 teaches that when marriage is properly lived out (in the way God purposed it from creation), it not only brings great joy to the husband and wife but also serves as a picture of God’s love for his bride, the church.

• The second point is the divine illustration. God’s strong opposition to homosexual behavior is most graphically illustrated in his response to the despicable behavior of the men at Sodom. In Genesis 19:4-7 the inhabitants of Sodom demonstrated the extent of their lust. The savage mob, coming from every part of the city, was so consumed with sexual sin that even after being blinded, they continued to grope for the doorway (verses 10-11). God utterly destroyed them for their great iniquity (Genesis 18:20-33, 19:23-29).

The Sodomites were so wicked God destroyed the entire city burying it under fire and brimstone. Jude writes of “Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them” which “indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh” (Jude 7). 2 Peter 2:6 says, “…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example of those who afterward would live ungodly…”

Lot and his daughters were saved. Everyone else in Sodom and the surrounding cities was destroyed by incineration and asphyxiation. The word translated “destruction” speaks of complete overthrow and ruin.

• The third point is the divine instruction. The Mosaic Law is very clear. Leviticus 18:22 is straight forward and direct. “You (men) shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” The apostle Paul reiterates the prohibition of Leviticus in Romans 1:26-27. Homosexuals will be judged in the next life. They will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9). They also open themselves to grotesque physical consequences that come with homosexuality — including sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS and a much higher likelihood of criminal sexual violence.

• The fourth point is the divine invitation. A divine invitation has been extended to all sinners — including homosexuals. You can find freedom and forgiveness at the cross of Jesus. Those who sincerely repent from their sin and lovingly embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior will be forgiven and granted eternal life.

1 Corinthians 6:9 reads, “Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves… will inherit the kingdom of God.” This passage clearly condemns homosexuality as sin. Yet, it clearly emphasizes the divine invitation of salvation that extends to homosexuals and to all sinners. Verse 9 gives the bad news. Those who practice homosexuality are on a path toward hell. Verse 11 explains that those sinners can be saved and cleansed from their sin.

In order to emphasize the change that had taken place in their heart, Paul used the strongest Greek adversative particle three times in these verses. He said, “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified” (verse 11). What they had been before salvation no longer mattered. What mattered now was they had been set free from sin through faith in Christ. They were now “washed” meaning cleansed by the Holy Spirit. “Sanctified” means made inwardly holy through the blood of Jesus. “Justified” means declared righteous in Christ.

Homosexual unions violate the natural design of marriage as God’s holy institution that he established at creation. God’s attitude toward homosexual conduct is demonstrated at Sodom. Nevertheless, the gospel invitation extends to every sinner offering salvation, forgiveness and eternal life to all who will embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be reached at ehansen@biglakefaithbible.org.