The Bible states that homosexuality of any kind is wrong and so in the eyes of God, it is a sin. This goes for men and women; gays and lesbians. Does this mean that homosexuals cannot enter the kingdom of heaven? No.
Leviticus 18:22 – Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
Leviticus 20:13 – If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.
Romans 1:26-27 – For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Is Homosexuality A Greater Sin Than Hate, Greed Or Adultery?
The Bible is very clear about homosexuality and does not leave any room for misinterpretation. However, we must understand that greed and hate of any kind is just as sinful and wrong as homosexuality. God does not see any difference between these types of sins.
James 2:10 – For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Jesus also spoke about how all these types of sins are the same:
Luke 13:1-5 – Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
These scriptures clearly show that all these sins, greed, hate, adultery, etc., are equal in the eyes of God.
There is a difference in sins, but this pertains to transgressions, iniquity and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. It is important to understand this because blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable/unpardonable sin.
Matthew 12:31 – And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Mark 3:28-30 – Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
Luke 12:10 – And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
To ‘blaspheme the Holy Spirit’ means to twist the teachings of Jesus. To make what is wrong, right through manipulation and compromise, to suit yourself.
Hebrews 10:26-29 – If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Trampling on the son of God underfoot means to reject his teachings by compromising them with exceptions due to our lack of faith.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit means to twist and compromise the words and teachings of Jesus so that what is right, is twisted to be wrong. By doing this, you are calling the Holy Spirit a liar and rejecting the teachings of Jesus. This is an unforgivable sin which cannot be forgiven in this age or the next.
This is how we deliberately keep on sinning; by adding exceptions and justifications to the teachings of Jesus or by annulling scripture(s) that does not suit our own purposes.
Deuteronomy 4:2 – Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
Deuteronomy 12:32 – See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
Joshua 1:7 – Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Proverbs 30:6 – Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
Revelation 22:18-19 – I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
The word of God stands forever and never changes.
Psalm 119:89 – Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
1 Peter 1:24-25 – All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
We must not take away from the teachings of Jesus to suit ourselves.
Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Mark 13:31 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Luke 21:33 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
We annul scriptures and add exceptions so that we can continue sinning without guilt rather than asking for forgiveness and confessing our sin to God.
1 John 1:8-10 – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
We must admit our sin instead of covering it up with justifications and compromise, so that we may appear innocent and sinless. Once we twist the truth and change right from wrong within our understanding, there is no coming back from this.
Hebrews 6:4-8 – It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
By rejecting the teachings of Jesus in this way, we are having the exact same attitude as the Jewish people who rejected Jesus as the Messiah and crucified him. Rejecting his words are the same as denying him.
Mark 8:38 – If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Luke 9:26 – Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Matthew 10:33 – but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Luke 12:9 – But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.
2 Timothy 2:12 – if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
Isaiah 59:13 – rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.
As long as we do not twist the truth to suit our actions, we will not be guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. When you do something that is against the word and commandments of God; instead of justifying it and covering it up to appear innocent, we should cry out to God in repentance, admitting our sin and asking Him for forgiveness, which we are sure to receive.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 28:13 – Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Psalm 32:5 – Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
As our Creator, God knows that none of us will ever be perfect in action.
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:10 – As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;”
Ecclesiastes 7:20 – Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
1 Kings 8:46 – When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to their enemies, who take them captive to their own lands, far away or near;
2 Chronicles 6:36 – When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near
We can, however, be perfect in philosophy, meaning our standards of right and wrong, by adopting the teachings and interpretation of Jesus. Of course, we will always fall short in some way or another in action, but we must acknowledge our shortcomings, instead of ‘lowering the bar’ to cover up and justify our sin. We must not confuse what is right and wrong so that we can justify our sin and attempt to appear innocent before God. This would be an unpardonable sin – not the action we committed. The only unforgivable sin is an unconfessed sin, a justified sin is unforgivable.
So then, we must not twist the fact that in the eyes of God, homosexuality is wrong, but so is greed. By greed, I mean anyone who does not accept the statement that we must give up all. As long as we fall short and do not twist this teaching of Jesus’, and we ask for forgiveness, God is sure to forgive us. No matter how many times we commit the sin, God is faithful to forgive us everytime we ask.
If God expects us to forgive others 7 times 77, how much more will He forgive us if we ask? The point is that we must repent and ask for forgiveness or else forgiveness is not given.
Luke 17:3-4 – “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
So as many times as we sin and repent, the key word being ‘repent’, God will forgive us. This is repeated in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 18:21-22 – Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Immediately after this statement, Jesus presents a parable that proves God forgives us the same way He has asked us to forgive others:
Matthew 18:23-35 – Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
If we twist any of Jesus’ teachings and say it doesn’t apply to us, or that Jesus only meant this for certain people and not everyone, then we are now guilty of an eternal sin. This is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. We are essentially trampling on the Son of God and declaring his teachings as lies.
My point is that it is tempting as heterosexual men to state that homosexuality is a greater sin than adultery or other forms of fornicatiion due to the appalling nature of this act. And we would not be the first to feel this way as many in the Old Testament before the time of Jesus, shared the same sentiment.
Two examples can be found in the Old Testament:
Judges 19 – In those days Israel had no king.
Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. 2 But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3 her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents’ home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4 His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there.
5 On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself with something to eat; then you can go.” 6 So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman’s father said, “Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.” 7 And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8 On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!” So the two of them ate together.
9 Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” 10 But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
11 When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Come, let’s stop at this city of the Jebusites and spend the night.”
12 His master replied, “No. We won’t go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13 He added, “Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah and spend the night in one of those places.” 14 So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin. 15 There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them in for the night.
16 That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17 When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”
18 He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord. No one has taken me in for the night. 19 We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”
20 “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21 So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.
22 While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.”
23 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing. 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
Even in biblical times, people made the mistake of thinking that homosexuality was a greater sin than others. Throughout this whole story, God never states His position on this matter. The Levite and the old man have made the mistake in thinking that these wicked men would be better off raping another man’s wife (which would have been the sin of adultery) instead of raping a man (the sin of homosexuality).
A concubine is still another man’s wife. Other translations say:
Judges 19:1 – Contemporary English Version – Before kings ruled Israel, a Levite was living deep in the hill country of the Ephraim tribe. He married a woman from Bethlehem in Judah,
Douay-Rheims Bible – There was a certain Levite, who dwelt on the side of mount Ephraim, who took a wife of Bethlehem Judah:
Literal Standard Version – And it comes to pass in those days, when there is no king in Israel, that there is a man, a Levite, a sojourner in the sides of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he takes a wife for himself, a concubine, out of Beth-Lehem-Judah;
New Heart English Bible – It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took for himself a secondary wife from Bethlehem Judah.
Young’s Literal Translation – And it cometh to pass, in those days, when there is no king in Israel, that there is a man a Levite, a sojourner in the sides of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he taketh to him a wife, a concubine, out of Beth-Lehem-Judah;
No matter what the translation, we can see that the Levite is referred to as her husband.
Judges 19:3 – Then her husband set out and went after her to speak gently to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. And she brought him into her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him.
The woman’s father is also referred to as the Levite’s father in law.
Judges 19:4 – New King James Version – Now his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, detained him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there.
New International Version – His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking, and sleeping there.
But in the eyes of God, raping another man’s wife (adultery) or raping another man (homosexual act) are equally as appalling and sinful. In His word, God states that adultery is wrong.
Deuteronomy 5:18 – “You shall not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:14 – You shall not commit adultery
Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
In the Bible, God also states homosexuality is wrong.
Leviticus 18:22 – You must not have sexual intercourse with a man as you would with a woman; it is a detestable practice.
Leviticus 20:13 – If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Both adultery and homosexuality are equally as sinful in the eyes of God.
James 2:10-11 – For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
The people in those days made the same mistake as we are today, in thinking that homosexuality is worse than other sins.
Continued….Judges 19:25 – But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.
29 When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel. 30 Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!”
We see the same scenario in Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot. Instead of allowing the wicked men of Sodom to have homosexual relations with his guests, Lot offers another man’s wife (his daughters) which would be adultery.
Genesis 19:1-11 – The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”
“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
3 But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”
Even though Lot’s daughters are virgins, the Bible states that they were both betrothed. So in the eyes of God, they were already considered another man’s wife.
Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were [betrothed, and legally promised] to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he appeared to be joking.
So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
Both of Lot’s daughters were betrothed to be married, making them another man’s wife.
Deuteronomy 22:22-24 – If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. 23 If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, 24 you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.
A virgin pledged to be married is considered to be another man’s wife, and the same punishment is given as would be to a married couple.
Once again, with no word from God but rather only the opinion of Lot, we can see that even as far back as the book of Genesis, the belief was held that homosexuality is worse than adultery. Without knowledge of the fact that in God’s eyes, all sins are equal, we could also tend to think that a homosexual raping is worse than a heterosexual raping involving another man’s wife. Clearly, this is not the case in the eyes of God. This may be true if the woman is not married.
Continued Genesis 19:9 – -“Get out of our way,” they replied. “This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. 10 But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. 11 Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.
The Blasphemy Of Gay Pride
When it comes to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the same concept can be applied to homosexuality. With God, there are never double standards. The sin lies within the homosexual who believes that there is nothing wrong with being a homossexual, in spite of God speaking against it. This is essentially gay pride; to believe you have done nothing wrong. It is the same as if a murderer was proud to be a killer. If a homosexual twists the truth in stating that there is nothing wrong with being homosexual, then this would be an unpardonable/unforgivable sin.
Psalm 36:1-4 BSB – There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin. 3The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing. 4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.
NET Translation – An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God, 2for he is too proud to recognize and give up his sin. 3The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right. 4He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.
Suppose a homosexual knows it is wrong and tries not to practise homosexuality. Every so often, however, he transgresses but then he repents and asks for forgiveness each time. Will he be forgiven by God? Yes! The same rule of repentance and forgiveness of sins applies here. If the homosexual confesses and admits his/her sin to God without twisting right from wrong, and asks for forgiveness, then God is faithful and just to forgive that person, every time.
There are numerous scriptures that may seem contrary to what I have stated, and so I would like to address them:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
This scripture is explaining a whole list of people who will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If we took this scripture to mean that anyone who has ever done any of these things cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, then we would all be guilty and none of us would be able to enter heaven. Anyone who has been divorced or remarried would be considered sexually immoral in God’s eyes. Whoever has changed the characteristics of God (such as you must give up all), is one who practices idolatry. Those who have worldly wealth because they did not give up all or sell their possessions to help the poor are idol worshippers in the eyes of God. Any form of greed or even being angry at someone because they didn’t pay you what was owed is considered greedy in God’s eyes. Correcting someone regarding their understanding of the word of God (when you yourself have twisted the word to accommodate yourself), is considered a reviler.
It is safe to say that we have all at some point or another been guilty of these things. But as long as we know when we are doing wrong, admit our sin and ask God for forgiveness, He will forgive us no matter how many times we commit the sin.
Unforgiveness comes when we twist the outlook of God so that we can appear innocent before Him, thus, making us unrepentant. The key to salvation and forgiveness is not to cover up our sin. Instead, we must admit and confess our sins to God.
Proverbs 28:13 – Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Psalm 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
The Meaning Of ‘Practicing’ Homosexuality
In the case of homosexuality, the same rules apply. If a homosexual transgresses and commits a homosexual act, but then acknowledges their sin before God, they will be forgiven. Keep in mind, the scripture uses the word ‘practice’ in reference to homosexuality. This means that anyone who commits a homosexual act and justifies it in philosophy (ie. gay pride), so that they can continue in their sin without admission or guilt, is the one who is ‘practicing’ homosexuality.
1 John 3:4 – Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1 John 3:8-10 – Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
This does not apply to a homosexual who knows it is wrong and tries not to practice homosexuality. When he/she falls short, they admit their sin/transgression and are forgiven by God. In summary, a homosexual who admits it is wrong as per God’s commandments, may still fall short due to temptation and commit the act, but repent and ask God for forgiveness. This person can enter the kingdom of Heaven.
1 John 5:16-17 – If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
As we can see, John is explaining the difference between the sins of iniquity and transgression. A sin that is covered up and justified through exceptions and compromise, cannot be forgiven. This is because no admission of guilt was admitted or confessed before God, and so the sin still remains. This is a sin leading to death.
A confessed sin on the other hand, is a transgression. This is a sin that has been acknowledged and confessed to God. Even though it is still wrongdoing, this sin will not lead to death because the sinner admitted their guilt to God and so, it will be forgiven and remembered no more!
The same concept goes for the following scriptures:
Galatians 5:19-21 – The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelations 21:8 – But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Colossians 3:5-6 – Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Jude 1:7 – In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
1 Timothy 1:9-10 – We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.
Maintaining Love For Homosexuals
We must not hate homosexuals or despise the brother/sister who knows it is wrong yet transgresses. Otherwise, we prohibit ourselves from entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
James 4:11 – Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
By judging a brother or sister who knows their sin is wrong, we are judging the very system of forgiveness and grace that God has created.
If a homosexual knows that practicing homosexuality is against God’s word and that it is a sin, this makes that person a ‘brother’ or sister. We must not judge their transgressions, as this is only between that person and God. Our duty is not to hate our brother/sister.
1 John 4:20-21 – Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 John 3:14-15 – We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Matthew 5:21-22 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
1 John 2:9 – Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
1 John 2:11 – But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
Does this mean that we should not tell a homosexual that they are sinning? If the individual knows it is wrong but transgresses, then this sin is a transgression. The matter remains between that person and God. As Christians, we are only to deal with the homosexual who believes they are not doing anything wrong or against God’s word. They are proud to be gay and they believe that there is nothing to be ashamed of, repent from or ask for forgiveness from God.
Galatians 6:1 – Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
When Paul says “lest you be tempted”, this does not mean that we will be tempted to become a homosexual. Paul means to say that there remains a moment in every situation, when we are tempted to convert a forgivable transgression into unpardonable blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. We can become tired of feeling wrong and thus begin to justify and cover up our sin in our philosophical hearts. Denying one’s sin is what tempts us, not the individual’s sin in terms of action.
This practise of justifying our sins is what is tempting, rather than identifying our sin and asking God for forgiveness.
If we come across someone who is at this point in their spiritual journey, we are to assist them simply by confirming what the word of God says about their particular situation. The goal is to make sure the person understands they are sinning and that the only solution is to admit their sin to God and receive forgiveness. The actual decision of how they wish to proceed is up to them.
James 5:19-20 – My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Psalm 141:5 – Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
Or perhaps the individual refuses to acknowledge the truth. Instead, they remain unrepentant and insist on twisting the word of God to state that homosexuality is not a sin. Then this is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit; a sin leading to death. This is the philosophies of gay pride.
Hebrews 10:26 – If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.
FLEEING IMMORALITY
1 Corinthians 6:18 – Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
The only sin that is considered immoral, and that we should be fleeing from, is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Every other sin can be forgiven.
1 Corinthians 6:18 means to ‘flee’ from twisting the word of God and confusing what is right and wrong. Doing this is a sin called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This is the only sin that cannot be forgiven.
Matthew 12:31 – And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Mark 3:28-29 – Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
Luke 12:10 – And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
This is what Paul means by ‘fleeing immorality’. Once you twist right and wrong through compromise and manipulation of God’s word, how will you ever straighten this out?
1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
All other sins are committed outside the spiritual body, meaning you commit the sin knowing what you have done is wrong so that you can repent and ask God for forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We must be able to recognize the sins we commit in order to admit them to God and ask Him for forgiveness, and then receive forgiveness for them. Anyone who twists and compromises the word of God, sins against his own spiritual body/conscience and blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. This is because the person will never ask for forgiveness for their sins due to manipulating right from wrong and covering up their sin, to make what was wrong, right in their own mind. They no longer can recognize when they sin.
1 Corinthians 6:19 – Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
The body in this context is a spiritual body, not a physical one.
1 Corinthians 15:39-40 – Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.
Paul also refers to the spiritual body as the inner man or inner being:
2 Corinthians 4:16 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Ephesians 3:16 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Paul is speaking of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit as a sin against your spiritual body where you twist and manipulate the teachings of Jesus, to suit yourself.
1 Corinthians 6:15-17 – 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.
It may seem that Paul is speaking sexually in these verses, but he is not. Paul states that by having the Holy Spirit, our spirit is part of the body of Christ. And even though we have the Holy Spirit, we still maintain our own spirit, although it is dead (meaning spiritually repentant and in submission to God).
Romans 8:16 – The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:14 – For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Paul then speaks of uniting our body with a prostitute. He does not mean sexually, since he says in verse 17:
1 Corinthians 6:17 – But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Paul is urging us not to spiritually unite and agree with individuals who are blasphemers. He refers to them as ‘prostitutes’. Blasphemers are those who twist the word of God due to following themselves as a god or making money into their god, etc. They do this by leaning on their own understanding and not God’s through the teachings of Jesus. By following their example, you become one in flesh, spiritually connected with a prostitute (blasphemer).
Many times, God refers to Israel, Samaria, Judah & Jerusalem as prostitutes when they followed others and not God, but he meant spiritually and not literally:
Ezekiel 23:1-21 – The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. 3 They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms handled. 4 Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
5 “Oholah played the whore while she was mine, and she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors 6 clothed in purple, governors and commanders, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7 She bestowed her whoring upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them, and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone after whom she lusted. 8 She did not give up her whoring that she had begun in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her virgin bosom and poured out their whoring lust upon her. 9 Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted. 10 These uncovered her nakedness; they seized her sons and her daughters; and as for her, they killed her with the sword; and she became a byword among women, when judgment had been executed on her.
11 “Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that of her sister. 12 She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and commanders, warriors clothed in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. 13 And I saw that she was defiled; they both took the same way. 14 But she carried her whoring further. She saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion, 15 wearing belts on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them having the appearance of officers, a likeness of Babylonians whose native land was Chaldea. 16 When she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoring lust. And after she was defiled by them, she turned from them in disgust. 18 When she carried on her whoring so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned in disgust from her sister. 19 Yet she increased her whoring, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt 20 and lusted after her lovers there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose issue was like that of horses. 21 Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom and pressed your young breasts.”
Ezekiel 16:14-20 – And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.
15 “‘But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his. 16 You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places, where you carried on your prostitution. You went to him, and he possessed your beauty. 17 You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them. 18 And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense before them. 19 Also the food I provided for you—the flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat—you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord.
20 “‘And you took your sons and daughters whom you bore to me and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough?
So as we can see, God is not a respecter of men. One sin is the same as any other. There is no difference between homosexuality and divorce, hate and murder. What God is concerned about is whether you are brave enough to admit when you have sinned, every time. Do you acknowledge that divorce, murder, hate, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism etc. is all wrong and equally sinful in the eyes of God? Do you have the courage to admit that you will continue to be a sinner until the day you die, and every time you do sin, without twisting right from wrong in order to remove your guilt, will you confess your sin to God and ask for forgiveness? This is the criteria if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
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