Transformed – teen devotion – June 9, 2019
Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. 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
LGBTQ
The trouble with googling an issue is that you can find a lot of wrong answers that sound right. This is true when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. If you want to find arguments showing why God is for homosexuality, you can. The thing is, these arguments are not biblical. Sure, they may even reference Scripture, but they do so unfairly. They do so out of context.
If you want a divine answer about what God says about homosexuality, the passage for our consideration is absolutely clear and an easy reference. There are plenty others, but this is excellent for at least two reasons:
First, the English is very clear in this translation and practically all others. Even in the ancient Greek, the biblical word used to express homosexuality as sin covers all its forms.
Second, homosexuality is grouped together with other sins that we are all guilty of. Notice that Paul doesn’t suggest that homosexuality is a greater sin which automatically condemns a soul to hell. Not even close. In fact, at the close of this passage, Paul notes that those who have committed sins of homosexuality but believe in Jesus are washed clean in baptism, just like any other Christian and any other sin.
Remember 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 for these two important reasons. Memorize it. All sin is sin before God. But all sin was also forgiven at the cross. Since we have been washed clean, let us leave our lives of sin and have compassion on all others embracing sin, whether homosexuality or anything else.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, even as we live in a culture that does not care about your word, help us to take your Word at face value. Help us to never pervert your words to justify sinful behavior. Help us also see that all sin is equal, and it has all been washed away by your grace in baptism. Amen.
This devotion is part two of five devotions on the topic of LGBTQ. Be sure to come back for more insight from God’s Word on how to address this issue.
