The Bible describes God’s perfect design for human sexuality at the beginning of the creation of this world. “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:27-28). God created two genders, then He married them and blessed them. God expected this union to be heterosexual, equal, permanent and exclusive. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Their union was to include emotional as well as physical intimacy. “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). The man and his wife were completely loyal to each other and comfortable with each other, both in an emotional and a physical sense. This was God’s perfect design for human sexuality.
But since that time, Satan has tried to pervert this design in every possible way. One of those ways is through the practice of homosexuality. The practice of homosexuality is not new. The Apostle Paul spoke about people who were determined to continue Satan’s distortion of God’s design for human sexuality.
"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 1:26-27, NIV).
The Bible is quite clear that the practice of homosexuality is a sin. "Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin" (Leviticus 18:22, TLB). Many scholars have tried to interpret the Bible in ways that allow for homosexuality, but no one can study the original text and find anything but God saying He does not want this for His people. God wants something better. He wants a sexual wholeness for them such as the one He gave Adam and Eve in the beginning.
However, it is important to note that, the Bible does not condemn a person for having same-sex attraction. Same-sex attraction may manifest itself uninvited in a person’s life or may occur as an outgrowth of past traumas the person has experienced. Unfortunately, this article does not have the space to delve into the origins of same-sex attractions. It is sufficient to note that they are the result of living in this sinful world and that they cannot lead to the relationships that God desires for His people. The Bible clearly shows that homosexual behaviors are against God's original plan for human relationships. God knows that any relationships outside of His plan will only bring tragedy and heartache to His children. He wants something better for His beloved children. He wants them to enjoy harmonious, loving relationships that last a lifetime and that demonstrate to the world an example of God’s incredible love.
Even some “Christians” may say that homosexuality is the worst sin possible, but the Bible says all sin leads to death. There is not one sin that is more deserving of guilt than another. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23, NKJV).
Any sin separates us from God. The prophets of the Old Testament were constantly warning God’s people to steer clear of idolatry and sexual sins. Even pride, greed, laziness, and neglect of the needy are enough to separate one from God. The city of Sodom was famously destroyed for its sexual sins, including homosexuality, but the prophet Ezekiel makes clear that Sodom had other sins as well. “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49, NKJV).
However, the Bible does single out sexual sins as especially offensive to the person who commits them. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
But still, God plays no favorites. He calls ALL sinners to repentance. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Jesus promises all sinners complete restoration in Him.
God asks for a change of heart and a change in behavior. Paul speaks of the price of following one’s own desires, but then he offers incredible hope!
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NKJV).
God offers forgiveness, renewal, and restoration. He offers a whole new life in Him! He knows that you can one day look back on your life and see how you used to be and how, by God’s grace, you are completely different now. Jesus can make that change happen!
God gives help to those who want to resist temptation and become more than conquerors in Him. "But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren't anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it, for He has promised this and will do what He says. He will show you how to escape temptation's power so that you can bear up patiently against it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, TLB).
The weakest, the most struggling soul, may live, and find hope and sufficiency in God. "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice" (Isaiah 42:3, NIV). No matter how weak you may seem, even as weak as a candle about to be extinguished, He can give you hope and bring you back to life in Him.
Remember the last verse of 1 Corintians 6, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11, NKJV). According to this verse, such sins already exist in the past. By the blood of Christ, the people who before committed these sins are already washed and cleansed by His power. God created us and then, when we became entangled with sin, paid our ransom with the price of the death of His own Son. He knows what we can become if we accept His sacrifice for us, if He washes us and cleanses us by the power of His name.
1) First, acknowledge your sin. "Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night" (Psalm 51:2-4, TLB). This may be the hardest part. Today’s culture tries to say that you can choose your own sexual orientation, that it is you right to do so, and that no one has the right to tell you differently. In reality, our orientation should not be toward sex or any kind of sexuality, but instead toward the God who created us. God wants us to orient our lives toward Him, trusting Him with our future happiness. Trusting God with your sexual future may be the scariest thing you have ever done. But choosing Him over everything else is also the most freeing thing you will ever do. Know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).
2)Second, ask forgiveness for your sin. It’s a request Jesus always answers with, “Yes.”
"Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. And after You have punished me, give me back my joy again. Don't keep looking at my sins—erase them from Your sight. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don't toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You" (Psalm 51:7-12, TLB).
3) Third, believe that God has indeed forgiven you and believe that He takes your guilt.
"What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record. There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night Your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess them to the Lord.' And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does. You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory” (Psalm 32:1-6, TLB).
4) Fourth, believe that God has a plan for your life, and that He truly cares for your wellbeing!
"‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV. You may not see now how your future will work out, but God has a wonderful future planned for you, better than you can imagine. Trust that in His perfect timing, He will work His plan out for you. That may mean being single, or it may mean getting married. Either way, He knows your needs and your desires. He will give you what you need to live a happy, productive life for Him. Trust Him to give you something better than you could have ever imagined for yourself.
5) Fifth, believe that God calls you to live a life of holiness through the power of His name and through His victory on the cross. Jesus does not ask you to be straight or gay, but rather calls you to live a life of holiness through Him. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). God saves you by His grace. You have nothing to do with the saving. Jesus completed it when He chose to die for you on the cross. All you have to do is have faith in the success of what He already did. Now, Jesus asks you to walk in the light. And because of His victory, you can “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8).
Below are some more incredible verses about victory in Jesus! We encourage you to look them up and underline them in your digital or physical Bible.
Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:1; Romans 6:11; Romans 8:37; 2 Cor 5:17; 2 Cor 12:9; Phil 4:13; James 1:12; Hebrews 2:18; 1 John 4:4; Revelation 12:11.
Read a brief biography of Wayne Blakely, who lived an openly gay lifestyle until God conveyed His truth and love to Wayne. (visit: http://knowhislove.org)
For more information about how salvation works see: