| 2004 Church of God of Forrest City |
| Prayer Requests: gethsemane@ churchofgodforrestcity.com Repentance: repent_now@ churchofgodforrestcity.com |
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| ST. JOHN 8:11 |
| HOMOSEXUALITY |
| Although there is no such thing as “big” sins or “little” sins, when homosexuality is addressed in the bible, it is accompanied by major consequences regarding God’s wrath. In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, the men of Sodom who compassed Lot’s house were “both old and young, all the people from every quarter.” (Genesis 19:4) They demanded to see the men (the two angels) who were in Lot’s house because they wanted to “know them.” The term “know them” did not mean learn their names and find out about their family background. This is evident by Lot’s response: “I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.” (Genesis 19:7-8) The angels pulled Lot back in the house and smote the men with blindness. Their final punishment was to be destroyed in the fire and brimstone that rained upon those left in Sodom and Gomorrah.
There are several things to learn from this incident in Sodom and Gomorrah. First, the men covered all age levels. It is the same today in regard to those who are committing the sin of homosexuality. Second, the term “know them” obviously referred to a sexual encounter since Lot counters their request with an offer of his two daughters who have not “known man.” Lot refers to their desire as that which was “wicked[edly].” Finally, their punishment was physical blindness. The temporary punishment today is “spiritual” blindness. Many people, including homosexuals, tolerate the very thing that the Word of God strongly condemns. More and more organizations which claim to represent God (man-made religions) are tolerating homosexuality even to the extent of having homosexual leaders in the congregation or the denomination, and performing same-sex unions. This author uses the term “same-sex unions” because the Word of God only uses the words “marriage” or “married” to refer to the joining together of “man” and “woman.” Read the following scriptures and note how the terms “marriage” and/or “marry” clearly involve a man and a woman, him and her, or husband and wife. In reading these scriptures, please note that the Greek word used in the New Testament for “husband” is “aner.” It means “A MAN.” Likewise, the Greek word used in the New Testament for “wife” is “gune.” It means “A WOMAN.” Genesis 38:8; Exodus 21:10; Deuteronomy 25:5; Psalm 78:63; Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:9-10; Matthew 22: 23-30; Mark 10:10-12, Luke 16:18; Acts 5:7-10; Romans 7:2-3; I Corinthians 7:35-40; Galatians 4:27; Ephesians 5:22-23; I Timothy 3:2; I Timothy 5:14; Titus 1:6; Revelation 19:7-8; Revelation 21:2. There are more scriptures than these that convey the same message about marriage involving a male and a female. THE WORD OF GOD WILL NEVER SUPPORT SAME-SEX UNIONS AND IT WILL NEVER CALL SUCH UNIONS “MARRIAGE.” The next example of God’s position against homosexuality is clearly stated in Romans 1:26-27. “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: 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. 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.” The Greek word for “reprobate” is “adokinos,” and it means “rejected, worthless, castaway.” In addition, this scripture refers to women changing the “natural use” and men “leaving the natural use of the woman.” II Timothy 3:1-5 provides examples of the “perilous times” that will come in the “last days.” Among the sins listed for the last days is “without natural affection.” Therefore, this chapter confirms the sinfulness of homosexuality that is addressed in Romans 1:26-27. Does two men lusting toward one another or two women lusting toward one another sound like a relationship that meets God’s approval? ABSOLUTELY NOT! America, and the rest of the world, is beginning to look just like Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction. WHAT WOULD JESUS TOLERATE, AND WHAT DO YOU TOLERATE? Homosexuality is not a sickness, it is sin. They way to be delivered from it is to accept the love and power of God, through his Son, Jesus Christ. REPENT, and the blood of Jesus Christ will set you free from all sins – including homosexuality. |
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