Don’t Disagree With God

In last week’s post we noted that God has no “hierarchy” of sin when it comes to sexual sin. To judge “sexual sin” rightly is to agree with God that “Sexual Sin Is Sexual Sin Is Sexual Sin.” So, don’t make homosexual sin a bigger sin than God does! God’s holiness is repulsed by all sexual sin! We concluded that from the text of Paul’s letter to the Church of Corinth:  “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, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.  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.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

True Belief = A Changed Life

If you study the context, of Paul’s letter, you’ll see that he’s drawing a distinction between the “unrighteous” & the “righteous”; or, the “unbeliever” & the “believer”; or, the “unsaved” & the “saved.” And, he uses an individuals “lifestyle” or “manner of life” as evidence. One of his ongoing themes—in both letters to the Corinthians—is that true belief always produces a changed life! A genuine believer is NOT who they used to be—and, that includes their “human sexuality”! In v.11—in considering those who fail the test in v.9-10—he says to the Corinthian believers, “And some of you USED TO BE LIKE THIS…” Some of you USED to be caught up in the deadly lifestyles mentioned! There’s always a “before” and “after” for the believer— “before Christ” a life of habitual sin; and, “after Christ” there’s repentance and change.

God’s Spirit Delivers Victory

There is not one passage of Scripture anywhere that indicates that God has changed His mind about homosexual behavior! God has the right—as GOD—to declare “sin” to be whatever He determines it to be. He alone is the Divine Lawgiver. If He declared it sin to drive a pink car or to be a football fan than sin it would be! Are we clear on that?

Genuine faith comes to agree with God about the former lifestyle—including our sexuality! That’s NOT to say that overcoming the former sins will be easy! These sins may have become “addictive behaviors”; and, they require the support & encouragement of mature believers who “disciple” them in their faith! But, God’s indwelling Spirit can give them victory!

Come Back Next Week: We’ll get into Part III of “No Sexually Immoral”