Homosexuality, Adultery & Other Sexual Sins

COMMENTARY

This compilation of scripture showing the way God views sexual immorality may give some the license to come down hard on others. For indeed, God does come down hard on evil. In the face of increasing wickedness, it is important for the Christian to stand up against any encroachment of evil. It has been appropriately stated, "Nothing will so assure the triumph of evil, as the silence and inaction of good men." (Edmund Spencer?)

The thought came to me recently that Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as Gibeah, were probably not wicked towns from the day they were founded.  But the wicked demanded more rights and protection for their lifestyles, and these were granted, perhaps with the silence or inaction of good men.  Gradually, the righteous could no longer dwell in these cities or were also deceived into or became complacent about these abominable lifestyles. Finally, the entire cities were sucked into depravity and were destroyed by God's intervention. We are drawing closer to the time when God will again intervene into the world's affair because of its corruptions. (See Revelation for the Wise for a detailed look at the events of the end.)

However, let us remember Jesus words in Luke 6:41, 42.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

The sins of immorality are easily distinguished and thus are easy to condemn. Sins of attitude, that of complacency, indifference, self-sufficiency and pride, are much harder to distinguish, but nevertheless, all lead to eternal condemnation. Jesus said,

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich [or self-sufficient] man to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:25)

and to the lukewarm Christians at the church of Laodicea,

"You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." (Rev. 3:17, 18)

Jesus said to [the Pharisees],

"I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matt. 21:31, 32)

If we truly love God, we will respond in love to his directives,

"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)
"He who does not love me will not obey my teaching." (John 14:24)
"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." (1John 5:3)
"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands." (2John 6)

Let us remember the two greatest commands, to love God and to love our neighbors. And how does one love God and his neighbor? This is answered in the above quotes and are further delineated in the great Ten (see Exodus 20).

    • To put God first and foremost in our lives,
    • To have no idolatrous gods in whatever shape or form,
    • To honor God, by not misusing his name,
    • To honor God's memorial of creation by keeping the seventh day of the week, His Sabbath, holy.
    • To honor our parents,
    • To not murder wantonly or even hate,
    • To not commit any form of sexual immorality,
    • To not take anything, tangible or intangible, that is not ours
    • To not bear false witness about or to someone,
    • To not desire or covet what belongs to someone else.

    "Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD." (Lev. 18:5)

    "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:28)

and finally, the events at the end of the world will call for

"patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." (Rev. 14:12)

Yes, Jesus loves us and all those who commit sin. But He loved us so much that he came to save us from our sins, not in our sins. Jesus declares to each one of us, even as to the woman caught in adultery,

"Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)

Let us not be so active fighting one sort of evil that we forget to clean our own houses.

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