Wk7- Pervsion of Gods design- Romans 1.26-27 (2)

People are taking what their hearts desires and radically destroying their bodies to make themselves into a gender God has not given themthey are purusing relationships with the same sex that are only designed for the opposite

they are purusing relationships with the same sex that are only designed for the opposite

What was the general understanding of homosexuality when you were growing up?

When I was in high school saying “that’s gay” became the ultimate taboo.

And as Christians, we stand against this culture so you might get the question:

Do you find me disgusting?

That is the question many homosexuals may ask of Christian.

Now we are in a time when homosexual marriages the law of the land and if you refuse to support them you will be sued.

*I read a recent report that even in the conservative texas, a majority of young people under 30 think that homosexuality is fine.

For years it was disgusting. There was no clear reason for it.…but the media has made them funny, then normal, now the

…but the media has made them funny, then normal, now the underDogs we all cheer forSo much so that an gay athlete coming out of the closest is considered the same thing as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

So much so that an gay athlete coming out of the closest is considered the same thing as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier.

That is the world you are facing, you will hear even Christians saying homosexuality is ok

-I know a friend who went to a Christian college, came back to her parents one week with a book in hand saying how she could marry another girl and still be a Christian.

Now it doesn’t even matter what the bible says anymore as young church goers read the bible passages and just say, “that’s wrong.” There is no way I can do that, so it must be wrong.

It really isn’t a biblical argument anymore, but they say, these people seem happy. It doesn’t hurt anyoneSo why not?

So why not?

So what the bible say you should believe?

And how should you respond to those who are homosexuals themselves?

Review

Been seeing that God made men and women in a certain way

Men and women are distinct, but equal in worth

The exchange of the designer leads to the exchange of the design

Prop: 3 truths to guide your interactions with homosexuality around you.

Body of sermon

Why homosexuality is sin (26-27)

Because they have rejected God

For this reason

Never forget context when you read passages likes this

Romans 1 teaches us that everyone inherently knows something about God but rejects it

Sin is ultimately wanting to be God instead of God

Exchange has been used to depict the trading of the great creator God for idols we can control in verse 23 and 25,

in verse 23 and 25,that results in the reversal of God created designs

that results in the reversal of God created designs

Thus God gives them over

The word was used of people being handed to the judge for trial, or to the executioner of sentencing.

God says you want to serve sin, go ahead, serve sin and let it be your master.

And these are dishonorable passions.

One dictionary defines passions as - the soul’s diseased condition out of which the various lusts spring

This word only appears 3 times in the NT

Colossians 3:5- Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

1 Thessalonians 4:5- not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God

This is a deeper word than lusts that we normally think of.

Flip to Matthew 5:27-29

Read ESV, NASB

HCSB But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

We usually think of lust as fantasies in our minds, but that is not how the bible uses it

Lust = strong desires

So in Luke 22:15- It says Jesus desired (or lusted) to eat Passover with them.*

*sounds weird right?

So Josh Harris defines lust- “

“Lust is craving sexually what God has forbidden”

Illus- Think of it this wayIf I see someone with

If I see someone with a really sweet rideThe moment

The moment I go from wow, that is a nice thing they have to a “I want it and I’m unhappy that I don’t have it, that’s lust.

Deut uses the same word in the greek translation

Deuteronomy 5:21- “ ‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

Therefore when someone desires someone who is not your spouse is lusting because they are not yours to have…its forbidden.

Ed Welch describes this-

The nature of sin is that people sin because they want to sin (James 1:13-15). It comes form our desires. No one goes into sin kicking and screaming. Homosexuality existed in biblical times because people enjoyed it; they were orientated toward it by their own hearts (Mark 7:21-23)

The homosexual has been given over to a heart that desires an evil thing that is forbidden to them

I can’t tell you exactly when that lust begins,

Look back at Mtthew 5, what does Jesus is adultery of the heart?

It is what we call a preposition of purpose. =with the goal of lust.

=with the goal of lust.

but a college friend of mine would describe it this way:My heterosexual friend looks at a good looking guy and desires to be him

My heterosexual friend looks at a good looking guy and desires to be him* I look at him and desire to be with him

* I look at him and desire to be with him

Both are wanting something other than God has not given them, both are lustful sin.

How would you tell someone that something they want is sinful, forbidden by God, and bad for them?

Trans: and this shows us the second issue,

Because it is against God’s created design

Common arguments against homosexual marriage:

its better for kids to a mom and a dad in the traditional sense

reproduction- what about the couple that can’t have kids?

one man and one woman is traditional- Slavery has been traditional too?

• All of these seem weak with a counter argument can be refuted and thus are dead ending

What we need instead is to remember that manhood and womanhood was made by a designer for a specific purpose of reflecting His image

So Paul describes what they exchanged

The natural, God made, relations with those that are not just different, but they are against God’s design.

Women in lesbian relationships are mentioned first, but there seems to be no particular reason.

They clearly are doing the same thing as the men in v 27 as the words “and the men likewise” indicates

Not only is it against creation it is a passionate act which they have a consuming desire for

You see this in homosexuals- becomes their identity.

You may say I’m a grandparent, a banker, single, married, or hopefully a Christian.

Too many their sexuality becomes a primary identity that consumes their lifestyle and action

Therefore, they are passionate about defending themselves like I would tell you why being is a geek is not a bad thing.

Yet, v27 clearly says this identiy is shameful or indicent and will result in penalty

Illus- Like two puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit but you cut and clip them to force them together.

They will distort the image and hurt the pieces themselves

Men and women are supposed to reflect the unity and diversity in the trinity

Its not just about having children

It is about not trying to reinvent God in our image insead of being in his

And romans 1 says all people know this

A common objection you may hear

Paul is just talking about those who are sinfully doing what is unnatural, but natural love between homosexual is ok

However, this is no where found in the context

Yes, these feelings may feel natural, but they are not what God intended

Welch- “Homosexuality is natural in the same way that anger or selfishness is natural. They are embedded in our humanness. Indeed, homosexuality is natural but only in the sense that is a natural expression of the sinful nature rather than some sort of morally neutral, god given constitution…. To use OT language, our sin can be “unintentional,” but that does not make us less responsible or it (Lev 5:14-19, Num 15:22-30)

Or Maybe you’ll hear, but Jesus didn’t say anything about homosexuality right?

No, but he didn’t say rape was wrong either

Instead, Matthew 19:4-6

What is Jesus affirming here?Jesus affirmed God created Adam and Eve to be joined together

Jesus affirmed God created Adam and Eve to be joined together

Jesus was a jewish man who affirmed the OT law again and again.

And its not just here that homosexuality is condemned, 3rd

Because it is against God’s word

It does not say a lot about it, but there is enough to make it clear

Write this chain in your bible so you can follow it if necessary

Genesis 19- the story of Sodom and Gomorrah

Leviticus 18:22, 20;13

Romans 1

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

1 Tim 1:8-10

People will say, “But do you eat Lobster? The bible forbids eating shell fish, but you eat Lobster, right?”

That is missing the story of the bible in Acts 10.

Jesus tells Peter, ““What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Or Mark 7;19- Jesus declared all foods clean.

We do not have to obey restrictions in the law for jews which have been revoked for us

Therefore, we can still say homosexuality is wrong, but we should never say they should be killed for it

Some excuses used in 1 Corinthians 6 is that the words homosexual should not really be translated this way

KJV- Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

But they spoke differently back then

There are two words which give the ESV “men who practice homosexuality”

One word refers to the passive one and another the active

And I don’t want to make a big deal about this, but in many homosexual relationships there is often one who acts like a husband and one who acts like a wife

This just reflects that even in sin we revert back to how we are created

Scripture is clear guys

John Street writes- “Though they accuse Bible-believing Christians of being homophobic, they themselves are theophobic (afraid of god). They are driven to rewrite what the Bible says about homosexuality because they fear what God says.”

Are there other objections you hear to the biblical teaching?

Trans: So, clearly homosexuality is a sin, but before we go to far, lets remember

Why homosexuality is just sin (28-31)

I mean that it is a disobedience against God like all other forms of rebellion and suppression.

v 28 continues on with other things that must not be done

V29-31 is a vice list

These are various sins against other people

And what is in middle right before v31?

Disobedient to parents

Ok…who can say they’ve disobeyed their parents? Raise your hand…

Raise your hand…

Now, don’t be tempted to just say, ok then, we all sin, and are all worthy of punishment before God

Yes, we all have sinful hearts, but this does not excuse us.

Ed Welch helps- “A person whose sinful heart is expressed in murder may have been influenced by unjust treatment, parents who allowed him to abuse his siblings, and Satan’s encouragement to kill. But none of these influences remove personal responsibility. The ultimate cause of sin is always the sinful heart.”

In fact there are all kinds of things we feel like doing that we don’t because we know it is wrong

Tim keller gave a great illustration of how our culture defines what sins we think are acceptable.

A few years ago a major Christian musician came out as a lesbian and sat across from a pastor asking, you sin too right, so how can you condemn me

Why do you think that might be wrong?

But see that is the thing… a Christian is not content in their sin, but are in a life of constantly repenting and turning from our sin…

Philippians 3:12–14- Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

yes, we fail, our hearts long for something we shouldn’t, we give in to temptation, but then we repent and run back to god

It is a very dangerous thing to say, well everyone sins…But it is equally dangerous to say, your sin is substantially worse than my sin… you could never be saved.

But it is equally dangerous to say, your sin is substantially worse than my sin… you could never be saved.

Trans: so, don’t freak out when you run across a homosexual, or someone you know goes this way, but rejoice in the gospel that can change anyone, and so #

How to help those caught in this sin (Romans 6:1-4)

You are going to run into these people, some will be friends, some will be enemies, some will be under your authority, some over…so how do you respond

Proverbs 18:13- If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shameSo first ask… what do you mean by being gay… don’t assume you are saying the same thing

So first ask… what do you mean by being gay… don’t assume you are saying the same thing

Don’t rush forward to agree with the label, but don’t deny everything they feel at first either.

Parents, any thoughts on how to do that with a kid who would struggle?

If they don’t claim to be a Christian then be honest and say, then I only have the same problem with you that I do with anyone who doesn’t serve my Jesus… I want to see you saved friend

*Don’t make it about their homosexuality, make it about the gospel that condemns all sin

Pastor Trevin Wax wrote, “Jesus’ radical view of sexuality shows all of us up as sexual sinners, and that’s why He came to die. Jesus died to save lustful, homo- and heterosexual sinners and transform our hearts and minds and behavior. Because He died for me, I owe Him my all. And as a follower of Jesus, I’m bound to what He says about sex and morality.”

But, if they want to change, offer them the hope that can be found in Christ.

Their identity must be formed in Christ- they are not a homosexual, they are “in christ” (Rom 8:1, Gal 3:26-29, Eph 1:1 , phil 1:1, 2 tim 1:1).

Romans 6 says we are raised to newness of life

You have died to your previous sin and been raised in Christ, so you can change

But also, if you are a Christian, you are not your own

1 Corinthians 6:19–20- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Christians do not get to choose your life… God saved you, God owns you, God knows what’s best.

Confession must include the heart as well the behavior of homosexuality

Matt 5:28- God’s view of the problem does not divide the internal from the external.

But 1 john 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive and cleanse us

Repentance must involves a complete renunciation of homosexual sin

We all sin, but we must cut off that sin that entangles us (Hebrews 12:1).

Do what it takes to get rid of temptation

This can be hard: but certain friends, places, activities, even technology must be removed

God’s original model for sexuality must be taught

Remember, it is not just enough to say it is wrong, show them that God designed proper husband and wife relationships to show him.

They are a broken puzzle, show them the correct one.

Christians need to show them what a healthy relationship between a husband and wife looks like

When need to show them what godly friendship between men with other men and women with other women looks like

How might we show them these things?

Your gender must be viewed as a matter of worship

Rom 12:1- present your bodies as a living sacrifice, you spiritual worship

Remember, Romans 1 is all about worship, so get them worshiping God.

For some it will seem unnatural, but it is worth it mark 10:28-30… Jesus says he offers for more and better things

Conclusion

Cohesion- So remember, it is a sin, but the gospel forgives sins like this, likes yours. So hold to what Christ says and receive his forgiveness

Let me read this testimony…pay attention to his story

I was a transsexual male, living in a kind of “hell on earth.” I felt I had a male body but a female soul, like a woman trapped in a man’s body. For several years my goal was sex change surgery, but eventually, through Jesus Christ, I changed. I discovered that I could only find who I was through and in Jesus. I am no longer the man I used to be, nor the woman I wanted to be, but I am now a new man in Christ.

Since junior high school and high school I had found myself sometimes being attracted to good-looking men. I did not find images of sexy women appealing at all, but I often fantasized about muscular men. And yet this was not a strong or major emotional drive. What I longed for was to have, as a woman, a relationship with a man.

When I went to college, I was glad to be able to avoid church and Christian groups altogether. Religion began to lose my interest as I got older. Why? I see now that my secret life as a woman had become my religion. It was the most important thing in my life. It really was the only thing that gave my life purpose

However, there was on my freshman hall a Christian guy who continually urged me to come to a local evangelical church and to the campus Christian fellowship. After three months of trying to duck him, I gave in and began attending.

I told them it was something that was in my past—over and done with. One of these friends, however, was difficult to fool. When he became aware that my cross-dressing was not a past problem, he became rather tough on me. Yet he still showed a lot of love and concern

Now, however, I was becoming aware of another feeling in me. It was a nagging thing, like a mosquito on a beautiful summer day, which kept biting me. It was my conscience that God was making stronger. It kept saying, “This is wrong, a mistake, to seek to be a woman.” I kept trying to ignore it.

I lay on the floor, trembling and crying, devastated and wanting to change. That night I repented and finally brought my problem to Jesus. In the past I had often wished I could stop the cross-dressing, and I had prayed to God to help me stop. But I was only trying to get help because I was so miserable. I did not want to serve God, or even to call what I was doing a sin. I simply was in pain, and I wanted God to give me help

I hardly knew what I was doing or why. I knew this: (1) That I was disobeying God, (2) that Jesus died to forgive my sins, (3) that by asking for forgiveness, Jesus’ blood could forgive my sins, and (4) that if I served God, His Holy Spirit would come in and begin to change my desires and bring peace to my life. These are all true, but I had so much to learn

I began to read the books of C. S. Lewis, a Christian writer. He had no sex or gender problem, but he spoke of how he had spent most of his life looking for a “joy” which always escaped him. Every vacation, every new job, every new friend—each time (he said) you thought that now, this would satisfy that emptiness. But soon, the vacation, or the job, or the hobby, though fun, never really delivered the goods.

I finally began to see that I really was not different from most everyone else in the world. Transsexuals often believe that their problems and sense of emptiness are worse than anyone else’s. But now I realized that the “joy” Lewis talked of, the “joy” that everyone was seeking but not finding, was the same “joy” that I was seeking in becoming a woman

Third, my biggest mistake was that I did not see my feeling of being “out of place in the world” as really a rebellion against my Creator. Yes, I know that I responded to the problems of my childhood by thinking “If I was a girl, everything would be all right.”

But it doesn’t work! We were not born to be women but men. And just being a man would not fulfill me—but being a Christian man.

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