When one studies through the Bible and investigates all that God has to say about the topic of homosexuality and same-sex marriage, the careful student will find that, without exception, every mention of homosexuality in Scripture is a prohibition or condemnation from God. That is not intended to be unkind in any way, but it is merely to state the reality of “what God says” about this subject. And, what God says is the only thing that matters.
The marvelous nature of God is that He is a God of love. We must not define “God of love” to mean that He overlooks or sanctions that which He has identified as sinful in His Word. That’s not love. “God of love” means that God lovingly tells us what is sinful and then offers us hope to escape the sin.
God’s gospel has the power to transform one’s life and lifestyle completely. The key is to open one’s heart and let the gospel enter and have free reign. “…The gospel of Christ… is the power of God to salvation…” (Rom. 1:16). It will transform one into the image of Christ, if given the chance (2 Cor. 3:18). The power of the gospel is not in the person who receives it but in the God who gave it.
God’s mercy offers the opportunity to repent and change one’s direction in life. In the New Testament, repentance is not only a command (Acts 17:30), but it is presented as a gift from God (Acts 5:31; 11:18). Repentance is not easy, but with God’s help, it can be done (cf. 2 Cor. 12:21).
God’s grace provides a way of escape from temptation. Temptation to sin, including homosexual activity, may never leave a person, but through the grace of God, a Christian can overcome every temptation (1 Cor. 10:13; 1 John 5:4). To successfully overcome temptation, we must pray for strength against it (Matt. 6:13; 26:41) and flee from those situations and stimuli that Satan throws in our path (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:11-13).
God’s power can change your identity from what you “were” to what you “are.” Addressing some Christians who used to be homosexuals, Paul said, “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 now you are “the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor. 6:11, 19).
God’s love offers the blessing of the inheritance of His kingdom to everyone who loves Him and yields their lives to Him and His will (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 18-20; Rom. 6:1-23). He truly is a God of love! His love truly wants what is best for us!
May God help us to be a loving people, who love God, who love truth, who love people and who love helping others to walk in paths of righteousness!