We love first.

What does God’s Word have to say about sexuality, about homosexuality, or what we hear about so much today – transgender? Well, what does that mean? And does God have anything to say about that? Well, of course He does. We’ll find from God’s Word that God is not ambiguous when it comes to the way that He created our bodies to function sexually. Perhaps an equally more pressing question could be this: What should be, what must be, the Christian response to somebody in sexual sin—sexual sin of any kind—whether that’s adultery, pornography, or homosexuality? What is the “Jesus-like” response? This is so important that we get this.

Why am I talking to you about this? Because I love you. I care about you. I want you to be equipped with knowing what God’s Word has to say about it, about some issues that are so prevalent in our culture today. Also, I want to equip you. I want us to be able to respond the way that Jesus does, to people that are in sin.

What does that look like? What is that Jesus response? I see it clearly from God’s Word and it’s simple and powerful. I would say three things:

1. Love first.

That’s what Jesus did. The Gospels are clear that Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Why didn’t Jesus come to condemn? Because we were already condemned. Everybody has sinned and everybody needs a savior. And outside of faith in Christ, we’re all under the wrath of God, facing nothing but impending judgment—again, outside of putting our faith in Christ. So, Jesus didn’t come to condemn people that were already condemned. He came to save them.

Scriptures say God so loved the world that He gave His Son. We must follow the example of Jesus and love first. You know, you can love somebody without condoning their behavior. Jesus did, and we must. We must follow the example of Jesus.

Here’s the thing: You can’t love somebody deeply when you’re too busy judging them. So, let’s not be like some. It grieves my heart that some that have named the name of Christ would be so quick to condemn somebody. That’s not what Jesus did. And we must follow His example.

I think it would be dangerous to say to love people, but never speak the truth about what God’s Word has to say about something, and some people are doing this. There have been entire denominations that have apologized for speaking what God’s Word has to say about sexuality. Listen, friend, we will never do that. We have to speak what God’s Word says.

2. Be truth tellers.

We have to speak the truth of God’s Word. I think it’s imperative, especially in this day, when so much of the truth of God’s Word is being twisted, if not entirely thrown out. We have to be truth tellers. Where do we get truth from? From the Bible. Now, this is important to pause right here and recognize that the Bible is not a prophet’s idea. The Bible is not some apostle’s personal opinion about an issue. Rather, the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. This is the foundation of Christianity, the Bible.

And I’ve heard some say, “We have to upgrade the Bible to fit the way current culture looks.” I say, we never do that. We never try and upgrade the Bible. Instead, the Holy Spirit upgrades and updates our lives so our lives can line up with what the Bible says.

What is the Christian response? We see it clearly in John chapter eight. There were some religious leaders who threw this woman that had been caught in the act of adultery, a sexual sin, right in front of Jesus and said, “Hey, the law says to condemn her. What do you say?” And Jesus said, “Whoever’s without sin, go ahead, stone her. You throw the first stone.” Then, one by one, they all walked away from the oldest to the youngest. And then Jesus said these words, “Where are all of your accusers?” He said, “They’re not here to condemn you.” And then He said this as our example, “And neither do I. I’m not here to condemn you. Go and sin no more.” He didn’t say, “Hey, I love you. I’m not going to condemn you, so keep on sinning.” No. The truth is there are some things that are sin and the call, the command, is to stop sinning.

The command is to stop sinning, so let’s love first. Then let us speak the truth of God’s Word that actually calls people out of sin for their benefit. Do you know what God’s Word has to say about sexuality? Together, let’s look at just a couple verses right now.

Genesis 1:27 says God made them male and female. Later, Jesus affirms this in Matthew Chapter 19:4, as He was speaking about marriage. He said, “Haven’t you read the Scriptures? Where it tells us that God made them male and female, He created them.” What does this tell us? This tells us that our sexuality is determined not by how we feel on the inside, but rather how God made us. God made a man a male and a woman a female, and that’s what determines our sexuality.

Scriptures go on to tell us in 1 Corinthians 6 that those who indulge in sin are not going to inherit God’s kingdom. Like, who are those people? Those involved in sexual sins, those involved in male prostitution, homosexuality, adultery, greedy people, those who are cheating others. They’re not going to inherit God’s kingdom. Then Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said this, “such were some of you.” That’s what you used to be like. You used to be greedy. You used to cheat people, you used to be adulterous, you used to be homosexual. But no longer, because now you’ve been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit of God.

What does that mean? That means that when you place your faith in Christ, that’s what you used to be like. But now, thanks to the blood of Jesus and the power of God’s Spirit, He’s changed you into an entirely different person. This is the Gospel, and it is God’s Word. We must speak the truth. So, will you join me in loving people first? Let’s not be like some that would be quick to condemn, but let’s follow the example of Jesus and love first. Then secondly, let’s always be truth tellers, especially in a day when God’s Word is being so distorted. Let’s stand and speak the truth of God’s Word.

3. Point others to know Jesus as Lord.

Will you join me in helping get people on a journey to knowing Jesus as Lord? Jesus as Savior? He saves us from our sin. He also is King, Lord. What does that mean? It means that as King, He reigns and rules over every area of our life—including our sex lives.

Here’s the thing: Jesus died for you. He was tortured, crucified, buried. Three days later, He rose from the dead. Why? So that He might reign as King over all of your life, every area of your life. He has the last say.

Friend, I hope you’ve been encouraged. Love first, just like Jesus, to know the truth and speak the truth of God’s Word, and to help get people on a journey to know Jesus as Lord—King—over every area of their lives.

I know these are difficult times and I’m praying for you. The Scriptures tell us that Lot’s soul was troubled—vexed deeply—by the sin he saw around him. For some of you, it’s not so much the sin you see off in the distance as much as in those you know well—your family, close friends—you see sin in their lives that you know will ultimately destroy them and it troubles your heart. I’m praying for you now:

I pray that God strengthen your heart, your inner man. I pray that the power of the Holy Spirit—the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead—would surround you to strengthen and comfort you. I pray that God would pour out His love into your life so much so, that when people you love deeply look into your eyes, they see the love of God in your eyes. And when they hear your voice even as you’re speaking the truth, they hear the love of God in your voice. Know this, friend, God sees you, and the people you love so deeply, God loves them even more. He sees you and He’s with you.

God bless you. I love you.

Pastor Kevin

Scripture References

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Haven’t you read the Scriptures? Jesus replied. They record that from the beginning God made them male and female.

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

A woman must not put on men’s clothing, and a man must not wear woman’s clothing. Anyone who does this is detestable in the sight of the Lord your God.

And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire to serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.  24 So, God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.

26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

We Want to Pray with You!

If you identify as a transgender/homosexual, or have family who are transgender/homosexual, we want you to know God loves you, and He loves your family! Just as Jesus didn’t come to condemn, but to save and call people out of sin for their benefit, we also love you and would love the opportunity to be on this journey with you, to pray with you, and express God’s kindness.

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