Bible Study - Ministering (5) - Ready When Homosexuality Devastates - Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 - February 15, 2015

Bible Study - Ministering (5)  - Ready When Homosexuality Devastates – February 15, 2015

This is lesson (5) in our series entitled “Ready: Ministering Life to Those in Crisis.”

[For whatever reason the uppercase "h" and "a" print as  "H" and "A" but bold uppercase works "H" and "A".]

Our focal scripture is Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Share the hope and new life all can have in CHRIST. Don’t let a person’s lifestyle prevent you from sharing CHRIST when you are led by the Holy Spirit. When GOD says a certain lifestyle is wrong, just because everyone is doing it does not make it right. Neither does the government approving what GOD says is wrong makes it right. But the hope of all mankind is in the forgiveness of GOD through faith in CHRIST. The hope of eternal life for all is CHRIST.

CHRIST gave  HIS life for all sinners and HE loves all sinners but HE hates their sin. We tend to single out certain sins as worse than other sins but to GOD missing the mark is missing the mark. Missing the mark is the definition of sin. Every person needs salvation from sin and death because all humans miss HIS mark of perfection and of righteousness. That is why we all need a Savior to redeem us from sin and eternal death. That Savior is CHRIST.

Certain sins negatively impact and devastate more people and we tend to view those as more egregious sins.

Even those who are born-again Christians sin and must confess their sins in order to remain in fellowship with GOD and not block the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. All Christians are “under construction” through the process of “sanctification.” We will not reach perfection until we exit our earth suits and behold CHRIST face to face. Our flesh nature, in essence, is our thorn in the flesh.

The title of our lesson focuses upon homosexuals. Homosexuality is a lifestyle that GOD considers sin along with many other lifestyles. GOD created the male and the female for the purpose of replenishing the earth. That is GOD’S natural order and to defy that order is to reject GOD as creator.

Does that mean that those caught up in that lifestyle are doomed? NO! No more so than the other sins Paul lists such as: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.

These lifestyles block a person’s desire to seek a relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST. Their lifestyle is more important than living as GOD desires for them to live.

The important thing for all people to keep in mind is that GOD loves them and is always there to receive those who repent of their sins and ask CHRIST to forgive them and for CHRIST to come into their lives.

But when they remain in the lifestyles that GOD condemns, they live in darkness. They have chosen the gratification of the flesh over giving their lives to GOD. They will experience GOD’S wrath because they have rejected HIM.

Listed below are a few lifestyles GOD considers an abomination. But first, what is an abomination? It is defined as:

-         Anything greatly disliked or abhorred.

-         intense aversion or loathing; detestation: 

-         a vile, shameful, or detestable action, condition, habit

Leviticus 18:22-23:  ²² You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. ²³ And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 17:1 - English Standard Version (ESV)

 “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God. (Giving money earned illegally does not justify the sin.)

Deuteronomy 22:5 English Standard Version (ESV)

 “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.

These are a few of the issues today’s liberal society is attempting to tell people that living such lifestyles are okay but GOD is saying no they aren’t. When we have loved ones who are caught up in some of these lifestyles, we are often more lenient, understanding and minimize them. We must always keep in mind that we are not to lose sight of the need for us to love the person while hating the sin and pray for their deliverance and salvation. They could already be saved but out of fellowship with GOD.

Could there be physiological and/or psychological issues? Yes, we do not live in a perfect world and various things can impact the human brain. I am not qualified to get into that area. As we focus on these scriptures, we need to keep in mind that the pagan world offered the lure of perverted lifestyles as a way of pagan worship. Many Christians came out of that lifestyle of darkness to walk in the light of CHRIST. The lure for them to return to their old lifestyles was likely ever present but the more they walked in the light of GOD the more they could understand and see the darkness they were in. 

Perversions bring intense satisfaction to the flesh and they become addictive. These perversions lead those involved in them away from GOD because they know GOD does not approve, but they bring temporary pleasure. These lifestyles block the intimate relationship GOD desires for all people to have with HIM, which is an intimate, loving relationship through faith in CHRIST. This means anything that compromises our relationship with GOD is a barrier to this relationship.

Yet, all Christians either knowingly or inadvertently allow issues to come into their lives that compromise their relationship with GOD. When that happens, their eternal rewards are compromised, their complete obedience to the LORD is compromised and their Spiritual growth is stunted or stopped. Often, Christians do not realize how much they have compromised, that is why Christians must ask GOD to search their hearts and test them to see if there is any wickedness in them.

Salvation secures eternal life for all who place their faith in CHRIST. Obedience to living as GOD lead’s, guides and directs results in heavenly rewards and crowns, which will be revealed in heaven.

Are our churches a showcase for the saints or a hospital for sinners? We are all sinners, saved by grace. I contend there is hypocrisy in all of us.

Let’s read Romans 1:18-23:

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

GOD revealed Himself through creation and humans refused to acknowledge that HE did it. GOD made it very plain, uncomplicated and understandable to all humans that HE is the creator of all that is seen including them. They know the truth, yet they suppress the truth that HE is creator. They think they are smarter than GOD. They refuse to worship HIM. Instead they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.  

The unrighteous acts of GOD’S people suppress the truth and results in others being misled into worshipping false gods.

If we, who have placed our faith in CHRIST, cover it with unrighteous acts, we make mockery of GOD and we suppress the truth. We know the truth but when we do not live the truth, we prevent others from seeing and witnessing the truth in our lives.

All people through the ages have seen the handiwork of GOD. If the GODLY, who know GOD, do not live it and share it, then the ungodly are left to try to figure it out for themselves. We who know GOD and walk in the light must share the good news of CHRIST. When we who know the truth walk in darkness, we do a disservice to ourselves and to those in need of the gospel message of salvation through faith in CHRIST.

GOD holds the ungodly accountable because HE has revealed Himself through HIS handiwork. HE made every human a majestic work of art. HE made all that we can see. Creation reveals HIS majesty.

Paul wrote that all people are without excuse because GOD has revealed Himself but some people do not want to be accountable to a higher power so they fashion images of false gods to worship.

They will be judged by CHRIST but we who have the light of CHRIST through faith in HIM will not be judged as JESUS said in John 5:24:

24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

GOD allows the righteousness of CHRIST to be placed upon all who place their faith in HIM. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21:

19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Talk about Good News but receiving eternal life and not being judged that is GOOD NEWS!! Christians must not hide this Good News by living unrighteous lives. Christians are accountable to GOD and whereas disobedience will not rob them of their salvation, it will rob them of their eternal rewards. Once a person is born into the Kingdom of GOD he or she does not become unborn but they are subject to not obtaining the rewards GOD has planned for them. Read 1 Corinthians 3:9-11:

9 For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire. 16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

What are we building with each day? Are we building with materials that will glorify GOD or ourselves?

GOD revealed Himself to humans through HIS creation, order and the gift of life but humans rejected that reveal. As a result, GOD did not violate HIS plan to allow humans to have freewill and chose who they would serve as their master. They chose the flesh, its cravings and gratifications as we read in our next scripture.

Let’s read Romans 1:24-27:

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. • Amen.

From Idolatry to Depravity

 26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The males in the same way also left natural relations with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.

GOD made us with the freedom of choice but with choice comes responsibility. Many know the truth and once walked in the light of CHRIST but they allowed their flesh to rule their lives. They cohort with others who are unsaved but do not tell them about CHRIST because they have abandoned the truth of CHRIST for pleasing their flesh. How can they bring honor to CHRIST when they are doing the same things as the world is doing?

They serve the god of pleasure and perversions. They have abandoned the One True GOD but HE has not abandoned them. Those who once knew the truth can confess, repent, be cleansed by GOD and restored by GOD.

Paul addresses homosexuality but it is one sin among many that results in people, including Christians, who become entangled and result in an unrighteous lifestyle, as we read in our next scripture.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And some of you used to be like this. 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.

Paul was addressing the ungodly, those without CHRIST. Why hang with them because they have chosen a lifestyle contrary to the things of GOD. Thus, they care nothing about the Kingdom of GOD and will not inherit it. Their names will not be in the Lambs Book of Life unless they repent.

Their lifestyle may look enticing but don’t be fooled. They may appear to be living the grand life upon earth, which is temporary and coming closer to the end with each passing day but eternity is forever.

So do not be lured into this lifestyle because you know the truth and the truth will set you free from sin and its consequence, death. You have been washed in the shed blood of the LAMB, JESUS, sanctified, justified and given the Holy Spirit Who indwells, confirms and assures that you are GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of rebirth. So do not trade the temporary for the eternal rewards.

CHRIST gave HIS life for the worst of sinners because HE loved them; not their sin but them. Do we welcome all into our congregations who do not have the same lifestyle as we do but seek truth? Christians need GOD’S wisdom as they minister to a lost world with the truth, in love and not get caught up in what is politically correct. Truth does not change.

Instead of the world obeying what the Bible says, the world wants to change it to say what they want it to say. Rather than mankind having the desire to be made into the image of CHRIST, mankind wants to make GOD into its image.

GOD’S Word remains because it is truth. The Bible changes the person who reads and studies it. The Bible is the revelation of GOD on an ever ascending scale, culminating with CHRIST coming to earth, living a sinless life as a human, giving HIS sinless, perfect life, dying, being buried and raised by GOD from the dead on the third day. This was necessary for CHRIST to pay the penalty for sin in full and redeem all who will place their faith in HIM from sin and death. HE walked upon earth for 40 days and ascended into heaven, sat at the right hand of GOD, HIS Father and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to earth to indwell all who place their faith in CHRIST.  The Holy Spirit is GOD’S assurance, security deposit, and down payment to all who place their faith in CHRIST that they are HIS children and have eternal life.

So why let the temporary pleasures of sin rob you of the rewards GOD has for those who obediently serve HIM? Oh, but I am a _____ and the church people would not accept me. Forget the people who babble, CHRIST gave HIS life for you, don’t turn your back on HIM.

But if I accept CHRIST as my Savior or did sometime ago, I will have to give up my current lifestyle. You are correct, you will but the power of CHRIST and the Holy Spirit will give you strength to live for GOD.

What if I fall back into that lifestyle? Confess it as sin and stop doing it. Ask GOD to continue HIS work in you giving you a new mind and a new heart. It is a process. Do not get discouraged and ask trusted friends to help you through these times. Sins are addictions. Trust GOD to make good on HIS promises. I can assure you Satan will do all he can to stop you from dedicating or rededicating your life to CHRIST.

If you read and study HIS Word you will learn that GOD says what HE means and means what HE says. HIS chosen people in the Old Testament refused to take HIM seriously. Read HIS Word and see truth.

Salvation is a free gift from GOD. Confess your sins and ask CHRIST to forgive you, believing that HE died for you and place your faith in CHRIST. That is the beginning of your walk with HIM as you grow Spiritually through the process of sanctification. But some may say I have already done that, so confess, repent and allow GOD to cleanse, restore and complete HIS work that HE began in you. Blessings!!!