Forgiveness comes thru Repentance (answer to a question on homosexuality)
All Christians are sinners forgiven by God's grace
[divine, unearned favor], but living in a homosexual relationship constitutes
habitual and unrepentant sin. You are not submitting to God's will; He demands
your obedience to qualify for His favor.
What is Repentance:
1. To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed
to do; be contrite.
2. To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it:
repented of intemperate behavior.
3. To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for
one's sins.
If a person "repents" of a sin, biblically, it does not mean that that person
can go on committing that sin again and again with premeditation. If you know
you do not intend to quit doing the sin, then you have not obeyed God's
requirement. ...... you have not repented at all. Repentance requires a change
of heart (mind) about your future behavior. No change? No repentance. The result
is that you will reap eternal death; you have earned a spiritual death-sentence.
Yes, Jesus death on the cross will "cover" (wash away) your sin, BUT .....
He requires your obedience by your repentance to forgive you of past sins in
order to place you "in good standing" with Him!
No repentance? No forgiveness!
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but
is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance . KJV
The thought stated in this verse 9 of 2nd Peter, chapter 3, is worth repeating:
"... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance."
The Lord does not want you to perish, but He requires your obedience, which
includes your repentance, to avoid eternal damnation (the second death which
happens after the Great White Throne Judgment).
Here are verses that discuss what God thinks of us if we allow the "carnal" (the
flesh) man to rule our lives rather than following God's guidance presented in
the Bible (the spiritual):
Rom 8:1-8
8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the
law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin
in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. KJV
Additional reply:
Unrepentant homosexuality; What happens?
The following verses should remove any question of
what God thinks about homosexuality and an >>>>>unrepentant<<<<< life in it.
Rev 21:7-8
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
KJV
AND
Rev 21:27
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it [the Eternal City, New Jerusalem]
any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a
lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. KJV
Below, I offer a short study on this particular "abomination" of homosexuality.
============================================================
What is this that God calls an abomination? In the Old Testament (OT) partaking
of certain meats, idolatry, one who "useth divination" or "consulter of familiar
spirits" was referred to as an abomination (Lev 11; Deut 18:10-12).
Here God names homosexuality as an abomination:
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is
abomination
KJV
Here is His OT rule concerning this act:
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both
of them have committed an abomination : they shall surely be put to death; their
blood shall be upon them.
KJV
Here God also addresses women in this abomination:
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man,
neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination
unto the LORD thy God.
KJV
Now for a look at the New Testament:
Romans 1:20-32
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
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.
...
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;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
KJV
AND:
1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate
[catamite; A boy who has a sexual relationship with a man], nor abusers of
themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 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. KJV
Sin is about choices.
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things ..."
Rom 8:13
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify [conquer] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. KJV
Obey God or die (Lake of Fire, 2nd death). How could it be anymore clear than
that?
What About clergy who approve/participate in homosexuality?
1 Tim 3:1-7
3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a
good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of
good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a
brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all
gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the
church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of
the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil. KJV
j_b@holyscriptures.com