The following question was sent to me to be answered during the March 2020, 5th Sunday evening Question & Answer lesson. Due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation that began before that time, this question was not answered so I have chosen to answer the question in this month’s article. Question: “Homosexuality. Looking through Facebook I read something saying it being a sin may not be true.  So, instead of just pulling up my pant legs and jumping in, I decided to look it up.  Is this correct? Thank you.”

The questioner when asking the question inserted a link to a Wikipedia article they had referenced regarding this topic. One must recognize that there are articles on Wikipedia that are often written by those who are seeking to further their own agenda and are not written objectively. The only true source of what God thinks on a topic is to consult the Bible because that is God’s standard. So, we answer the question, “Is Homosexuality Sin”?

In Leviticus 18:22, 24, 26 we read, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination…Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you…Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations”. Leviticus 20:13 says, “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.” Also, Sodom and Gomorrah clearly indicates God in the Old Testament did not approve of homosexuality and it was (is) sin.

In the New Testament we read in Romans 1:26-27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed 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 unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.” (ASV) Paul is describing that homosexuality is contrary to the natural order (i.e. against nature) started at the Creation, one man and one woman. See Genesis 1:26.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul told the Corinthian Christians “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators (a broad word for all sexual sin – JDS), nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (i.e. passive homosexual partner – JDS), nor abusers of themselves with mankind (i.e. active homosexual partner – JDS), 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.” To not inherit the kingdom of God means to die lost. Notice though, that some of the Corinthians needed to make a change and did so (and such were some of you). They were not “born that way” regarding any of the sins listed in Paul’s “sample list”. When they obeyed the Gospel (i.e. wash, sanctified, justified) their sins were forgiven. See Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21.

The Lord has spoken, and He is clear that practicing homosexuality is sin, it is a choice. Nonetheless a person can choose to cease the practice of homosexuality (or any sin), obey the Gospel and be forgiven, and by remaining faithful, look forward to heaven someday, 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Turn from sinful lifestyles, turn to the Lord. We are praying for you.

-Jerry D. Sturgill

(An outstanding article on this topic can be found at Apologetics Press – http://apologeticspress.org, “An Investigation of the Biblical Evidence Against Homosexuality”)

When Joshua faced the daunting prospect of years of intense warfare in leading the children of Israel into the land of Canaan, God said to him:

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:7-9).

God would be with Joshua through the entire process and would make him victorious if he would be willing to go with God.

Of key importance to Joshua’s faithfulness to God was the Book of the Law. Joshua was to meditate on it day and night so that his thoughts would be shaped by God’s thoughts. Psalm 1:2 says of the righteous man, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Instead of viewing Bible study as drudgery, the righteous person views it as a delight. As Joshua’s predecessor, Moses, reminded Israel, God gave the law for their good (Deut. 6:24; 10:13). Psalm 19:7-11 tells of the benefits of God’s law; it restores the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. The law of Moses is still beneficial to us today; it produces comfort and hope (Rom. 15:4). When we realized how beneficial God’s word is to our souls, it will produce a desire to spend time with it; thus, we echo these sentiments: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97).

The New Testament portion of God’s word benefits us as well. Jesus said His words are “spirit” and “life” to those that hear them (Jn. 6:63). Faith comes from hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17; cf. Jn. 20:30-31). If we are to grow as children of God, we must desire the pure milk of God’s word (1 Pet. 2:2). As Paul had his final meeting in Miletus with the elders of the congregation of Ephesus, he said, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

Joshua was spiritually successful when he continued to meditate on God’s word, neither turning from it to the right or left. When faced with daunting prospects in our lives, we can be courageous and built up in faith knowing the Lord is always with us as we meditate daily upon His word: the Bible.

– Mark Day