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NASB | Romans 1:27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:27 and in the same way also the men turned away from the natural function of the woman and were consumed with their desire toward one another, men with men committing shameful acts and in return receiving in their own bodies the inevitable and appropriate penalty for their wrongdoing. |
Bible Question: I've been told before that homosexuality and masterbation is a sin but I have never been told where in the bible this can be found. does anyone know? and what is your own personal view on this subject? |
Bible Answer: I think there's an even more telling passage: "... since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.... Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.... Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." (Romans 1:20-27) Homosexual behavior is presented by Paul as the most grevious example of turning away from God and his will. One of God's "invisible qualities" is his wholeness - the blending of what we see in humans as male and female qualities. This is illustrated in Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Later we see God's intent that "... a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 1:19). Without going into detail, I think it is safe to say that human anatomy makes God's plan for human sexuality completely obvious. Further, I think the becoming "one flesh" that occurs between a (married) man and a woman reflects the image in which God made us. Two people of the same gender becoming "one flesh" present a distorted image - it is a lie. Paul isn't saying that homosexuality is the worst sin. He's saying that God's design is obvious. To turn away from what God clearly designed our bodies to do can't be blamed on ignorance. It requires willful and intentional rebellion. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |