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NASB | Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened. |
Bible Question: In light of what the Bible says about homosexuality, can a homosexual be a follower of Christ and continue to engage in homosexual acts? Please cite Scripture and give reasons for your answer. Thanks. --Hank |
Bible Answer: Greetings Hank: I have taken the liberty of re-phrasing your question and then I have posted a response written by Kalos for you to consider. Question: In light of what the Bible says about sin, can a sinner be a follower of Christ and continue to engage in sin? Kalos' post: If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a sin that does not [lead to] death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and [God] will give him life [yes, He will grant life to all those whose sin is not one leading to death]. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. (1 John 5:16 Amplified New Testament) *sin not leading to death* (NASB). "Believers can sin to the point where physical death results as the judgment of God (compare 1 Cor 11:30). The Greek reads *sin*, not *a sin*, in vv. 16 and 17" (p. 1885, Ryrie Study Bible, Moody, 1976, 1978). the *sin leading to death.* "Such a sin could be any premeditated and unconfessed sin that causes the Lord to determine to end a believer's life. It is not one particular sin like homosexuality or lying, but whatever sin is the final one in the tolerance of God. Failure to repent of and forsake sin may eventually lead to physical death as a judgment of God (Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor 5:5; 11:30)" (p. 1974, MacArthur Study Bible, Word 1997). What is God's purpose in such a judgment? 1 Cor 5:5 (Amplified New Testament) You are to deliver this man over to Satan for physical discipline . . . that [his] spirit may [yet] be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Mommapbs writes: Romans 6 and 7 provide much insight into this question and your question has prompted me to want to study this portion of Scripture in detail, during which I pray that God will conform my thinking to His. Here is where I currently am in my thinking. (If I am in error, I believe the Lord will correct me in His way and in His timing.) God's grace is greater than any sin. I am thankful that He forgives and forgives and forgives as daily I continue to fall into sin. I praise God for His patience with us for He desires all to come to repentance! 2 Peter 3:9(I believe that repentance is the operative word here) DO I WANT to be rebellious? NO! Like Paul (Acts 7) I could exclaim that I want to do one thing and yet find myself yeilding to my sin nature so that I don't what I want (to honor God) . . . wretched woman that I am! I believe that Paul experienced the same wrestling match with sin that we do today and he was a believer too. I believe that God monitors our response to the activity of sin in our lives and He disciplines us accordingly. I believe that one who refuses to respond to the presence of sin - "change the way you think and act" has either quenched the Spirit or does not possess the Spirit at all. Because we don't know the heart of another and the victories( or lack thereof)over sin that they have had, I'm hesitant to judge the eternal state of another based upon their conduct - to do so would send many professing Christians straight to hell! Judge not lest we be judged in the same manner. God calls us to be holy and He is the One who makes us so,("being changed into his likeness" 2 Corinthians 3:18) if we are but willing - yielding to the Spirit Rebellion is an often subtle but serious thing to God. Daily we are drawn into the pattern of thinking of the world when we (usually unknowingly)believe the lies of the devil about ourselves as evidenced in our relationships with others. The notion that someone who fails to measure up to a standard and must be punished, denies the finished work of Christ, yet how often do we criticize and reject one another based upon personal failure? Just yesterday I asked if there was a difference between believing IN God and believing God. THIS is at the heart of the matter in my opinion. For many claim to know about God (a "follower of Christ" could be no different from a follower of Buddah) but they do not believe Him. (They remain in their sin) Yet in the case of the true believer, I believe that we are all sinners, saved by Grace . . . the process of our transformation is a work of God that we choose to participate in. Although there are MANY instances of miraculous deliverence from sin, more often I believe that one's increasing Godliness is progressive. All is to glorify God and to demonstrate His power. In my opinion, one who refuses to participate in the will of God for his/her life is in rebellion and as Kalos noted, therefore in sin that leads to death - the Spirit has been quenched. So my answer is a qualified yes. Eugene Peterson offered a powerful prayer that I too would make: "Lord, you have called me what I am not yet, but what by your grace I am becoming. I would honor the name by which I am honored . . ." mommapbs PS: I really would appreciate reading your comments to this post. |