Why Gay Is Not Okay

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
—Romans 8:1

As we approach the next political election, we have been looking at some of the politically incorrect beliefs that Christians can articulate in today’s world. These beliefs may not be popular, but they are rooted in the truth of God’s Word. This week and next week we will look at what is perhaps the most culturally explosive truth–that homosexuality is a perversion of God’s plan for human sexuality.

Now, I want to begin by admitting that many of us who teach what the Bible says, especially when it comes to homosexuality, have made some mistakes about this subject that I will try to avoid. The first mistake is using derogatory language or crude terminology to describe homosexuality. As we are going to discover this week, Jesus did condemn homosexuality. But one can hardly imagine Jesus being impolite, rude, or speaking to people in a demeaning way when He did so. There is no place for that kind of behavior.

Second, I think homosexual advocates are right in one way in that they have pointed out the hypocrisy of many Christians in their dealing with this subject. Why don’t Christians speak out against other kinds of sexual immorality besides homosexuality? There are many ways to pervert God’s plan for human sexuality. Adultery is a perversion of God’s plan for sexuality. Premarital sex is a perversion of God’s plan for sexuality. Unbiblical divorces and remarriages are a perversion of God’s plan for sexuality. God’s pattern is very clear: sex is reserved for a man and a woman in a marriage relationship. Christians need to be consistent by not just zeroing in on homosexuality but also speaking out about every kind of sexual immorality.

And the third mistake is to treat homosexuality as the unpardonable sin–to say that homosexuals can’t be forgiven and can’t go to heaven. There is no sin that is outside the grace of God. That is why Jesus Christ came to die, not just for the small sins or a particular list of sins. He came to die for all sins. And anyone who admits his or her sins and need for forgiveness, whether drunkards or liars or murderers or adulterers or homosexuals, anyone can find forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” But to receive God’s forgiveness, you must first of all admit that you have sinned. And that’s the problem with homosexuality. Nobody can receive God’s forgiveness for that sin–or any sin–unless they are willing to admit that they have violated God’s standard. Are you violating God’s standard in any of your relationships today?

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Why Gay Is Not Okay” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2008.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.