New Testament Teaching
We’ve already established (in the previous article in this series) that the Law of Moses condemned homosexuality (Lev. 18:22; 20:13), but what about the New Testament? Is there any leniency under the Law of Christ?
What does the New Testament say about the homosexual?
Those in favor of homosexual relations (who know the difference between the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ) might argue that we are no longer under the Law of Moses, therefore, any command against homosexuality from that Law is not applicable today. It is true that we are no longer under the Law of Moses (Matt. 5:17-18; Lk. 24:44; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14-17; 2 Cor. 3:1-18; etc.), rather, we are under Christ’s law (1 Cor. 9:21), however, such an argument overlooks two important facts: (1) that those things written in the Old Testament are examples for the New Testament age, and (2) the New Testament also denounces homosexuality.
Regarding the Old Testament Paul said, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,…” (Rom. 15:4). “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition,…” (1 Cor. 10:11). (Also read 1 Cor.10:5-8). With specific reference to our topic, Jude says, “as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Additionally, Peter said, “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (2 Pet. 2:6).
In addition to these warnings, consider what Paul said in Romans 1:26-27: “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Let the Scriptural evidence show that in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament (the entire Bible) homosexuality is regarded as sin. Paul said, “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22). In this series of articles we have put homosexuality to the test (running it through the filter of God’s word). What we find is that nowhere in Scripture does the Bible speak approvingly of homosexuality (rather, it has been denounced with every consideration of it); thus it does not fall into the “hold fast what is good” category. Friends, the only category left for it to fall into is the one referencing “evil” – which we are to “abstain from.”
Considering these biblical facts, is there no hope for the homosexual? Of course there is hope! As with all sin, those guilty of it must repent of their sins and obey the Lord (Acts 3:19). All who are willing to do so shall be saved. Paul indicated that some of the Corinthian Christians were previously homosexual (among other things – 1 Cor. 6:9-11), saying, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Friends, let us thank God for His abundant mercy and unwavering love (Lam. 3:22-24; Ezek. 18:
21-23, 30-32; 2 Pet. 3:9).