Subject: how can we minister to homosexuals |
Bible Note: Dear Brother Jeff, You asked, "I don't think they were different; do you think they were different?" (post #209514) and "...would you answer the question please?" (post #209615). Quoting Paul again: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV) They differ in ownership, forgiveness, purity, and divine judicial standing. All of those things have external manifestations. However, in the narrow context of this discussion, we are talking about their visible behavior. The saved person differs from the sexually immoral by living in sexual purity. The saved person differs from idolaters by worshiping and serving the One True God. The saved person differs from thieves by carefully and thoughtfully protecting rightful ownership. The saved person differs from adulterers by diligently maintaining the sanctity of marriage. The saved person differs from people who practice homosexuality by offering up their body unto the Lord as a living sacrifice. The saved person differs from the greedy by being content with God's provision. The saved person differs from drunkards by sober living. The saved person differs from revilers by loving and ministering grace to others. The saved person differs from the swindler by being honest and fair in his business dealings. In other words, the saved person stops committing the sins of sexual immorality, idolatry, thievery, adultery, practicing homosexuality, greed, drunkenness, reviling, swindlers. Saved people having ceased these activities is visible evidence of their redemption. Lost people continue these activities as evidence of their lack of redemption. You wrote, "Had you asked if the behavior differs NOW, for the one who ONCE practiced it (referring to the saved) then the answer would be yes. Their behavior is different. The unsaved is continuing in sin while the saved is no longer continuing in the sin." Which is exactly what I've been saying. If we tell the unsaved who is continuing in their sin that it is possible that they are now saved, then we have given them false assurance. We have judged according to Biblical standards. Your choice of words to this point could have been used by the lost to justify their continued lifestyles. I knew that isn't what you meant. We work together to be good stewards of God's truth, allowing no corrupt communication to arise from our keyboards, but such that edifies the reader. In Him, Doc |