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BY TONY HOSS
Last week we saw that the Law of Moses, according to Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, condemns homosexuality. But what does the New Testament teach concerning this most important topic? Does the New Testament concur with the Old or is God forbearing of homosexuality under the Law of Christ?
One of the most used arguments in favor of homosexuality is that Christians are no longer under the Law of Moses. They continue to explain that since we are no longer under the Law of Moses, then we are not amenable to that law. They also boast that we are not subject to any condemnation found under the Law. There is no doubt that we no longer live under the Law of Moses according to (Colossians 2:14-17) and many other verses in the New Testament. The argument is true but they fail to take into consideration some important facts. First, while we are not under the Old Law, we are to regard the things written in the Old Testament as examples for the New Testament age, and second, the New Testament also denounces homosexuality.
Paul said, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). To the Church at Corinth Paul explained that the things that happened to those under the Old Law were examples that were given for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). Other writers of the New Testament concur with the Apostle Paul, Jude said, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 1:7). The Apostle Peter also agreed with his counterparts when he said, “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly” 2 Peter 2:6. In his letter to the Roman Christians Paul said, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” Romans 1:26-27. To the Church at Corinth Paul wrote, “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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” With such warnings against homosexuality, humanity should take care to hear, learn, and obey what God’s Word says.
It is obvious that the Word of God, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, condemn homosexual activity of all kinds. To the Church at Thessalonica Paul said, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22). God in His Word has called homosexuality evil, in fact, the Bible in no way speaks of homosexuality in a favorable way. If it is not spoken of as a good thing it then must be a bad thing and thus it is a thing that we simply cannot hold fast to. The truth is that this activity falls into the sphere of things we should abstain from.
As we consider what the Bible has said there is no hope for the practicing homosexual. It is a marvelous thing that God loves every person that has ever lived. He loves the heterosexual and the homosexual alike. The truth is, He loves the person (homosexual) but not the sin. For His love of mankind God has offered His grace, He has offered forgiveness of sin. This means that there is hope for every sinner including the homosexual.
As with all sin, those guilty of homosexuality must repent of their sins and obey the Lord (Matt. 3:2; Acts 3:19). Any sinner regardless of the sin that is willing to repent can be saved from their sins. Some say that God made them the way they are, but this does not agree with the teachings of the Bible. In fact, Paul said, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Yes, some were practicing homosexuals and had repented of their sinful past and were striving to serve the one true and living God. God’s mercy is available to all who will seek Him and His way.
(Tony Hoss is minister of the Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)