In our quest for truth,
today we challenge a societal norm. Does the message of the Bible align with the current rise
and acceptance of the LGBTQ community? Or does it contradict it? Join me as we open the Word
of God and study the scriptures. But before we do that, let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you for thank you with all of our hearts
for the message of scripture. It is like a light on the road ahead. It pierces the darkness. It reveals to us your divine truths. Guide us as we study. Open our hearts to understand your word
on this very vital and important subject. Enable me to present it with love,
kindness and compassion, but with the clarity
of truth in your word. In Christ's name, Amen. The wise man that ever lived other than Jesus, Solomon,
said this in the Book of Ecclesiastes. We find it in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
and Verse 7. The last part of that verse, he says, There's a time to keep
silence and a time to speak. And that verse has been echoing in my head, a time to keep
silence and a time to speak. Why have I chosen to speak
about this subject now? There are some specific reasons for that. First, I'm concerned. Concerned about the direction
that our society is going in. Concerned about how that direction
impacts the church I love. I'm concerned about the next generation. I'm concerned about young adults who are imbibing a message that may not
align and does not align with Scripture. I'm concerned about children whose minds are being saturated with
information regarding LGBTQ community. You see, I'm concerned. And so it's out of that concern, out of that care,
out of that love that I speak today. Now, there are certain things that have led me to this conclusion
that it's time to speak now. Let me give you some examples of that. Here are just a few recent incidents that have motivated me to address
this issue of human sexuality. First, on July 3, 2023,
the New York Post reported that at the recent
New York Drag Queens March, activists chanted,
and here are their words, We're here, we're queer, and we're
coming for your children. This seemed outrageous to me. It's shocking, but it's not surprising. In recent years, such blunt, outrageous
rhetoric has become commonplace. Two years ago, the San Francisco Gay Men's Ch chorus
released a YouTube video in which 81 of its members sing a song
with the refrain, Will convert your children
happens bit by bit, quietly and subtly. You'll barely notice it. Have you followed at all some of the debates that are taking place
in public schools today where young children between
four and eight years old are required to receive and to read books on transgender LGBTQ relationships and being introduced to sexual
fantasies at a very young age. Children are learning about gay marriage,
preferred pronouns, and gender identity, thanks to these children's books that are
intentionally placed in our schools to indoctrinate our children
in a non biblical agenda. Now, here's just one example of that. It's a book called I Am Jazz. Now, I'm going to quote for the book. I have a girl brain, but a boy body,
the book I Am Jazz says. This is called transgender,
and I was born that way. Now, that's fascinating and here's why. In a recent study, 65 to 94 % of children who claim a gender other
than their biological birth. In other words, here's a girl that has gender dysphoria,
and she claims that she's a boy. She claims that she has a girl's body,
but she's really a boy. 65 % to 94 % of them,
later in life, as they get into their mid or late teens,
at that point, they recognize that they're a girl in a girl's body
or a boy in a boy's body. They go back to their biological sex. Now, if they were born that way,
in other words, if they were born transgender, that
certainly shouldn't be happening, right? Now, I am jazz. This book is a book of 32 pages. It was published in 2014. It was placed in many of America's public schools to target kids
four to eight years old. It received a number of awards, including the American Library Association
Rainboe Project Book List Award in 2015. It was one of the first books to influence
children for the LGBTQ plus lifestyle. Now, if you do a Google for I am jazz,
and you look for other books, you're going to find scores and scores
of books targeted at children to change the mindset of these children
toward their LGBTQ attitudes. Jared Eckert, who's a research
assistant for the Heritage Foundation. Now, the Heritage Foundation
is a prominent foundation in the United States that tries
to preserve American values. Eckford is one of their key researchers. And this is what he said. Children are being increasingly targeted
with sexual content in schools under the guise of comprehensive
sexuality education or inclusivity. Beyond the sexual messages of the books being inappropriate for children,
there are mental health concerns involved. Now, listen to what Eckford says about what the research shows regarding
these mental health concerns. He says, Research shows that early exposure
to sexual content is linked to poor mental health, risky sexual behavior, and even
pornography addiction in adulthood. So he said there are three major problems. One, poor mental health. Two, risky sexual behavior. And three, pornography addiction. Now, even if kids don't fully understand
what they're seeing or hearing at such a young age,
they still are being influenced and impacted by that information
in very significant ways. By including or promoting books like these
in the classroom, schools are, according to Eckart,
harming, not helping their children. One of the things that I've been taking
a look at is what is the master strategy of some of the leaders in the LGBTQ
community to influence America? How do you change the culture of America? What kinds of things do you
do to accomplish that goal? Marshall Kirk and Hearstin Pill,
LGBTQ advocate kids, wrote an article entitled
The Overhauling of Straight America. And I was fascinated as I read that. This is what they said. They talk about their master strategy for changing American attitudes
on the LGBTQ plus lifestyle. And they say, where we talk is important. The average American household
watches over seven hours of TV daily. These hours open up a gateway into the private world of straits through
which a tropey and horse might be passed. So here's what they're doing. They're trying to influence
the public conversation. And the idea is talk about, talk about,
talk about this alternative lifestyle every place you get, can,
and particularly influence the media. Because the more you influence the media, the more you can change the mindset
of individuals. And they go on to say, so far,
gay Hollywood has provided our best covert weapon in the
battle to desensitize the mainstream. Bit by bit, over the past 10 years, gay characters and gay themes have been
introduced into TV programs and films. On the whole, the impact
has been encouraging. Well, it's encouraging if you want to influence and change
the values of America. Have you noticed
the large number of characters on television now that identify
with this alternative LGBTQ lifestyle? They are really significant. So when I took a look at how this lifestyle and
the promotives of it were trying to change the thinking of mainstream America
and how they were attempting in every way to influence media,
to have their voice heard, I felt that a voice
from the Word of God should speak. I felt that we should allow God's Word
to influence our thinking when there is a coordinated,
concise effort to transform our culture, impact our children,
desensitize our consciousness. Really, it's time to speak up. When mass media is saturated with anti biblical programming with the specific
purpose of influencing our thoughts regarding the LGBTQ plus lifestyle,
it's time to speak up. When books promoting this lifestyle
are introduced into our schools to influence our children at a very
young age, one can't be silent. It's time to speak up. When major retailers promote a pride agenda targeting
our families, it's time to speak up. When culture is impacting Christian young
people and seeping into our churches and our educational institutions,
it's time to speak up. So we ask the question, what does
the Bible teach about sexuality? What does the Bible teach
about same sex marriages? Are some people born with
same sex propensities? Are some people physically boys
but psychologically girls? Is change possible? What is the Christian response? Well, first, let me tell you what
the Christian response is not. As Christians, we condemn all
violence against any human being. Not only is it inappropriate,
but it's a violation of God's moral law. You remember that in Romans 5, verse 8, Scripture talks about Jesus, and the
Apostle Paul is talking about Christ. He says,
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Christ died in behalf of all humanity. Every single one of us
have a fallen human nature. Every single one of us have drives or
propensities toward evil. So as a Christian,
you and I cannot have any superiority over another person and look at them with hate
because of their actions. Because every single one of us have drives
or propensities that may not be in harmony with God's will, and they are
not in harmony with God's will. Every single one of us,
as Jeremiah says in Chapter 17, Verse 9, has a heart that is deceitful above
all things and desperately wicked. So in Scripture, the Bible says, All have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. But Christ, according to Romans 5 8 that we just read, in his divine love,
in his grace and mercy, Jesus left the glories of heaven and tabernacled
in human flesh and came here and faced every temptation that we would ever face
and was victorious over the evil one. So there is no place for hate. If Jesus loved even his enemies, who we were when we were sinners,
we can reach out in love to all humanity. We can reach out to love to others who may
not live the lifestyle that we as Christians believe is
in harmony with God's Word. Each one of us need God's grace. As Christians, we're saved by grace
and have nothing to boast about. We rest in his love. Here's another aspect of that, though. In the Christian ethic, we respect
others' freedom of choice. The Christian ethic calls
us to love, not hate. Love, not hate, love, not hate, love accepts another, even if it does not
necessarily agree with their lifestyle. We cannot, as Christians, based on the teachings of Scripture, we're
going to go into that quite deeply today. As Christians, we cannot affirm a lifestyle that's
not in harmony with Scripture. But we can accept the fact that people
are free to make their own choices. They are free to live the life
that they so choose to live. But that does not mean that we
condone that lifestyle. It's important in this discussion
to separate our compassion for others from their behavior or actions that are
not in harmony with the will of God. The purpose of the Church is to transform culture,
not to be transformed by culture. The purpose of the Church is to change the culture,
not to be changed by the culture. The purpose of the Church is to shape the
culture, not to be shaped by the culture. The Bible is very clear
on the transforming power of the Grace of God through believers
to transform culture. We find that in Romans
chapter 12, verse 2. Romans, the 12th chapter, the second verse,
Do not be conformed to this world. I like the way Philip's
translation translates that. It says, Don't let this world
squeeze you into its mold. And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed how? By the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and
acceptable in the perfect will of God. So Paul says,
Don't be conformed by the culture of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Paul invites us to go out
and change the culture. He invites us to go out and to be
lights in this world of darkness. In fact, it's exactly what Paul
talks about in Philippians 2. Talks about our being a light
in a world of darkness. Look, Philippians 2, verse 15,
That you may become blameless and harmless, the children of God
without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom
you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life so that I
may rejoice in the day of Christ. Now, notice the Apostle Paul says, Romans
12, don't be conformed to this world. Be an agent of transformation. Secondly, he says in Philippians 2,
Your lights in a world of darkness. Lights in a world of darkness. If we walk in the light as Jesus is in the
light, we walk in the truth of His Word. Because remember what it says in Psalm 119, 105,thy word is a lamp under my feet,
and what, a light under my path. So it's the Word of God that enables us to distinguish between truth
and the lies of Satan. Love tells the truth. We can't say we love another
individual and lie to them. According to John 8, verse 44, Satan is the father of lies,
and no lie is of the truth. For 1 John 2, verse 21,
love rejoices in truth. 1 Corinthians 13, verse 6. So the most loving thing that we can do
is share the truth of God's Word. And as we share the truth of God's Word, the truth of God's Word presents
in all of its beauty human sexuality. And the truth of God's Word warns us clearly against
deviation from that original plan. So let's pursue what Scripture
says about human sexuality. Let's take our Bibles and go back
to Genesis, the first chapter. Genesis 1. And in Genesis 1, we find the very basis
of understanding all human sexuality. In Genesis 1, verse 27, we read, and let's go back
and read verse 26 and 27. Then the Lord, then God said, verse 26, Let us make man in our image
according to our likeness. Let him have domin over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air,
and over cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth. Now, verse 27 is a key verse. So God created man in his own image. In the image of God,
he created him male and female. He created them. Then God blessed them, verse 28, And God said to them, Be fruitful and
multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Have domin over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every
living thing that moves upon the earth. Now, notice there, in in the
27th verse, it says God created man. In the Book of Genesis, in Genesis 1, there are two words for create
in the Hebrew language. One word is the word Assa. Now, Assa is used multiple times. It can be used for what God does, but it
also can be used for what man does. When you Assa something or you make it, you typically make it
out of something else. Burra is another case, though. The word Burra has to do with the divine,
sovereign act of God. It is when God Burras, God creates something out
of something that didn't exist. He is the one who shapes,
who fashions, who makes. It is a divine, sovereign act. So it is something that only God can do
in a divine, sovereign act. God created male and female. According to Scripture,
He did this for two reasons. First, did you notice the text? God created male and female in his image. It is male and female together in the one
flesh experience that reveals the magnificence of God's
image, the breath of his image, the depth of his image,
and it reveals his magnificent love. 1 John 1, 8 says God is love. That love is most fully manifest when a male and a female created
in the image of God enter into the one flesh experience,
giving themselves to one another in self sacrificial love like
Christ did for the for us. So the first reason that God created male and female, two distinct separate sexes,
is to reveal the image of God in the perfection of the love
they have one for the other. The second reason is he says, be fruitful and multiply, and that is to
propagate or to replenish the human race. Male to male sexual relationships and female to female sexual relationships
are a natural and they're a violation of the divine order that God gave
in the Book of Genesis. Now, Jesus affirms that marriage
is between one man and one woman. We find that in Matthew,
the 19th chapter, verses 4 to 6. Jesus says, And He answered and said
to them, Have you not read that he who made them at the beginning
made the male and female? Again, Jesus refers back to creation, which is the bedrock, which is
the foundation for all human sexuality. He said, For this reason,
a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall be one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined
together, let not man separate. So again, we find Jesus
affirming the creation story of male and female human relationships
united in marriage. This is a barak. It is something that God has
done in his divine sovereignty. Now, the promoters of same sex marriage
proposed something entirely different. They proposed the union between two men
or two women. This denies the clear biological, physiological, psychological,
and differences between men and women which find their union or their
complementary in marriage. It denies the reality
of husband and wife coming together and from that sacred union of self
sacrificial love producing children. Genetically, men and women are different. Now, throughout the Bible, this idea of deviation from God's plan is
highlighted on one hand, and on the other hand, the concept of true
faithfulness between a husband and wife are highlighted, and they're in contrast,
and they're in collision. You find this in Genesis
the 19th chapter as well. Genesis 19 tells the story of Lot. And as it does, it tells the story
of the destruction of Sodom and Gamorah. Homosexuality played a part in the
destruction of Sodom and Gamorah. Now, I recognize well that there are some
people that say, well, Sodom and Gamorah were destroyed
because they were inhospitable. That's partially true. Sodom and Gamorah were destroyed because there was rape and incest,
and that is also partially true. Sodom and Gamorah were destroyed,
some say, because they're injustice. That's true. But they were also destroyed. You can't leave out homosexual. You can't pick and choose. Ines pitable?
Yes. Filled with secular Godliness
and materialism? Certainly.
Incest and rape? Definitely.
But you cannot leave out the idea that they were destroyed
because of a deviation from God's plan. I like what Martin Luther says. Luther, in a book written by a plus
titled What Luther Says. He's commenting on Genesis 19. Let me quote from Luther,
this is what he says, The vice of the Sodomites is
an unparalleled anormity. It departs from the natural passion and desire
planted into nature by God according to which the male has
a passionate desire for the female. Sodomy, or it could be said homosexual, craves what is entirely
contrary to nature. So when Luther is talking about
the destruction of Sodomy and Gamora, he speaks about homosexual
male with male burning with passion, one for the other in the
context of Genesis 19. Throughout the Bible, we have clarity that God's created male and female
in a loving relationship. Scripture is clear. You see, there are many people that look
to society, look to culture, look at what's happening around them
to shape their values. But yet the Scripture is clear
in shaping our values. In the Book of Leviticus, God is outlining principles
of life for his people. And as you turn to Leviticus the 18th chapter, you have what some people
are calling the purity code. Leviticus, the 18th chapter. And we're going to look there
at Leviticus 18. Now, this purity code also deals with moral and ethical standards,
not simply the ceremonial law. And I'll show you that shortly. It speaks of adultery, idolatry,
sexual depravity, n the context. Leviticus 18, verse 20, Moreover,
you shall not lie carnal ly with your neighbor's wife
to defile yourself with her. Now, what commandment is that? You shall not lie carnal ly
with your neighbor's wife. It's a seventh commandment
on adultery, right? So you have a commandment there. I don't think anybody is going
to argue that that's ceremonial law. Verse 21, You shall not let any of your descendants pass through
the fire to Moloch. What commandment is that? First and second, Thou shalt not
have any other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any
grave an image, image to Moloch. Nor shall you profane the name
of the Lord your God. So here you have the first commandment,
the second commandment, you have the fourth commandment,
you have the seventh commandment. Then it says, verse 22, You shall not lie with
male as with a woman. It's an abomination. Now, notice who is an abomination for? Both men. So here are two men that are united together and it says, You shall not
lie with a male as with a woman. It's an abomination. Now, was this this simply a purity code? Well, I've already shown that you have
the commandments mentioned in those verses, so it couldn't possibly
be simply a purity or a holiness code. It includes that. But you have moral and ethical
standards there as well. Dr. Echihart Mueller wrote a book called
Homosexuality Scripture in the Church. Dr.
Mueller was for many, many years, one of the assistant directors
of the biblical Research Institute at the General Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists. He wrote a book called
Homosexuality Scripture and the Church, which takes a look at each
of these passages in the Bible. And I want to read to you what he said. He says about Leviticus,
he said, It's true that in the immediate or larger context, we find terms referring
to purity, holiness, and idolatry. Still, the question must be asked whether
or not these references limit the warning against homosexuality
to specific situations only. This restriction is clearly not the case. First, these two texts describe
and condemn male homosexual activity. No exceptions are mentioned. Obviously, they're opposed
to any homosexual activity. However, it's very likely
that they included lesbianism. Here you have a reputed scholar
from the biblical research institute, a Seventh-day evangelist,
that talks very clearly that this Prohibition against male with male
in the Scripture in Leviticus 18 is far more than simply a holiness code
for an ancient people in the ceremony law, but it has to do as well
with the moral Ten Commandment Law. The Holiness Code, indeed, is not
simply something for an ancient people. It's bedrock principles help us to define
the truth about human sexuality. Now, what about the idea that some people
believe they were born with a gay gene? How do you deal with that? There are many people that say, Look,
this is the way God created us. This is the way that God made us. We are just made this way and we have
genetic predispositions toward this. Some people are heterosexual, some people are homosexual,
some people are transgender. It's all the way we were made. There's a fascinating article
in a magazine called Nature on the research that was done
by researchers at Harvard and MIT. And the title of the article
was No Gay Gene. After studying over 400,000 people, the researchers concluded that there is
no such thing as a single gay gene. Now, they did say that there may be a combination of genes that can contribute
to homosexuality or to lesbianism. But they also go on to say,
which I found very fascinating, that that may be true in about
8 to 25 % of the people. They say 8 to 25 % of the people with homosexual tendencies may have these
desires because of a combination of genes. The other factors could
be environmental factors. There could be certain things
that happened in the early childhood. There could be social factors
that contribute to it as well. So let's assume, though,
let's make the assumption that some people are born with a tendency toward
lesbianism, tendency toward homosexuality. I should also point out, though, that there's been some fascinating
studies on identical twins. Now, if you have identical twins, you would expect them to have the same
genetic disposition, wouldn't you? But yet, how do you account for the fact that some of these identical twins,
very small percentage, may lean toward LGBTQ tendencies,
and others of them do not. If they're genetically the same,
you'd expect that they both would. But that's not the research. What it indicates is it just doesn't. But let's assume,
let's just for the purpose of assumption, assume that some people are born
with tendencies or propensities for opposite sex male to male
or female to female sexual relationships. Does that necessarily
make these tendencies God's will? Let's suppose here's a man that's born with a passion
for sexual desires for women. Let's suppose he has really difficult
time controlling those sexual desires. Does that mean that those
tendencies are God's will? What about a person born with a propensity toward alcoholism or drugs because
of some genetic predisposition? Is that in harmony with God's will? See, merely because somebody is born
with a propensity toward something. The truth of the matter is, remember what David said,
In sin, my mother conceives me. All of us have brokenness in our lives. All of us have fall in human natures. All of us have propensities toward evil. We have propensities that are
not in harmony with God's will. Every single one of us. Some of those propensities in some people for a lot of unknown reasons,
and I want to state here very clearly that we do not understand all
of the reasons for LGBTQ religion. We don't understand that they're complex. You may get some genetic reasons, you may get some social reasons,
some environmental reasons. It's a very complicated,
complex situation. And again, I want to emphasize,
we reach out and love to all human beings. We accept human beings, but as Christians based on the Word
of God, we cannot accept their behavior. But let's go back. What about these propensities? As the result of our brokenness of our world due to sin, as I've mentioned,
each one of us have these propensities. But let me tell you something,
there is incredibly good news. There is good news for every propensity
that any human being may have. Look at 2 Corinthians 5. 2 Corinthians 5. Here is the incredible good news. We're going to look at 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 17, Therefore, if anyone
is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. All things have become new. If we're in Christ, we are new creations. The Jesus that spoke and worlds
came into existence. The Christ that spoke and earth was
carpeted with living green and flowers blossomed and fruit trees gave
forth their luscious fruits. The Jesus that spoke and created sun,
moon and stars. If any man is in Christ,
he is a new creation. Jesus power can make us new. Where sin doth abound, whatever that sin
is, grace doth much more abound. Jesus, in his grace,
in his power can make us new. There is hope. There's hope for the young person that has sexual desires and has
expressed them outside of marriage. There is hope for the man who has committed adultery and
has had passions that he can't control. There is hope for individuals
who have LGBTQ relationships. There is hope.
And that hope is in Jesus Christ. That hope is in the power of Christ. That hope is in the grace of Christ. Christ's grace forgives us when we fall, but Christ's grace enters
into our life and changes us. It makes us new creations in Jesus. In fact, the Apostle Paul talks about the power, the incredible power
of grace in 1 Corinthians 6. Here, Paul talks about the incredible
power of God's divine grace. 1 Corinthians, you're
looking there at 6, verse 9. He first gives this warning
and then he gives us such hope. 1 Corinthians 6, verse 9, Do you not know that the unrighteous
will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do you not do not be deceived?
Fornicators. Fornicators, those that have sexual relationships
outside of the sacred bond of marriage. Fornicators, a husband, an adulter,
leaves his wife and goes out and has these relationships with other women who are not
his wife, young people living together. Fornicators, idolaters, adulters, homosexuals, or sodomites,
nor thieves, nor covedists, nor drunken, nor revilers, nor extortioners
will inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you. Such were some of you? He speaks to the church at Corinth, a church that lived in a godless,
immoral society. He says, Such were some of you. You were fornicators. You were idolaters. You were thieves.
You were covetous. You were drunkards. You were deviating from God's plan. Homosexuality is homosexual, so sodomy,
such as homosexual as a sodomite. Such were some of you.
But you were washed. What does it mean you were washed? You walked through the water of baptism. You were cleansed by the Grace of Christ.
You confessed. You repented.
God changed you. You were washed. You were sanctified. What does sanctified mean? It means you're made holy. It means you're set apart for God. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name
of Jesus and by the spirit of our God. Here is the incredible good news. Whatever tendencies
we have inherited or cultivated because of the brokenness of our lives,
whoever we are, straight or gay, whoever we are,
the Grace of Christ can transform us. Ellen White makes a marvelous statement in the book
Ministry of Healing on this very point. Ministry of Healing, page 175, 176. Those who put their trust in Christ,
where do they put their trust? Where's their trust?
In Christ, are not to be enslaved by any hereditary or cultivated
habit or tendency. Instead of being held in bondage to the lower nature, they are
to rule every appetite and passion. God has not left us to battle
with evil in our own finite strength. Whatever may be our inherited or
cultivated tendencies to wrong, we can overcome through the power
that he is ready to impart. Now, notice that statement. What hope. There is no passion,
whether it's inherited or cultivated, that Jesus Christ cannot give
us strength to overcome. Whatever may be our inherited or
cultivated tendencies to wrong, we can overcome through the power
that he's ready to impart. Listen to this one. Desire of Age is page 671. Here is hope. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all notice underline all
circle at all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil and to impress
his own character on the church. Here's another statement,
Adventist Home, page 206. The converting power of God to can
transform inherited and cultivated tendencies for the religion
of Jesus is uplifting. The power of God can transform inherited and cultivated tendencies
because there is power in the Gospel. There is strength in Christ. The Bible is clear that LGBTQ tendencies
are not in harmony with God's will. When Paul goes through the Book of Romans, he lists the lostness
of humanity early on in Romans. In Romans 1, Paul talks about
the fact the gentiles are lost. In Romans 2, he talks about
the fact the Jews are lost. In Romans 3, all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. But there is salvation in Christ. Justification by faith, Romans 4 to 6. Romans 7, Paul goes through
this great struggle. But in Romans 8, he finds there's
no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Sin no longer
controls him and no longer controls us because we are not
dominated by it any longer. We are free in Jesus. In the context of the plan of salvation, in Romans 1, the Apostle Paul does address
this whole concept of human sexuality. Romans 1, now remember, this is in the context
of the Book of Romans that is exalting the cross of Christ,
that is exalting justification by faith, that is exalting the power of the gospel
to transform life. So that's what this is in the context of. Paul must set out to show
the supremacy of Christ. He must set out the lostness of humanity. In chapter 1, he deals with the lostness and the vileness and the wickedness
of the gentile world. In Romans 2, he points out that the Jews,
although they have the oracles of God, although they have the prophets of God,
they've disobeyed them. He points out that all humanity is lost. He must do that in the early chapters to come to the need for our salvation
and justification by faith. Here in Romans 1, Paul is cataloging
the sins of the gentile world. In Romans 1, verse 26 and onward, he says, For this reason,
God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural
use for what is against nature. Likewise, also men,
leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust for one another,
men with men, committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty
of the error of which was due. Now, notice he talks about men
leaving the natural use of women. Where does he get that expression,
the natural use of women? Well, if you go back to verse 25, and earlier in the chapter,
he's talking about creation. So the natural use in the order of creation is
a male and a female becoming married. But he says they change
the natural use of nature. This is unnatural according to Paul. Look what he says here in verse 25, Which changed the truth of God for a lie
and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator
who's blessed forever. So at creation, God creates by a divine
sovereign act male and female. I was interested too in how this was commented on in
the Andrews University Study Bible. The Andrews University Study Bible has comments on each of these
passages in Scripture. In Romans 1, verse 26 and 27, in the Andrews University Study Bible was
put together by a group of scholars from Andrews University who are
specialists in Old and New Testament. I wondered, how did they
comment on Romans 1 26 and 27? It says, These verses condemn homosexual
activities. Unnatural sexuality, however,
goes beyond homosexual behaviors. We pointed that out. The New Testament sanctions only the monogamous marriage
between male and female. It condemns all other forms of sexual activity, whether
homosexual or heterosexual. The And the University Bible makes it very plain that these verses are dealing with
homosexual male to male relationships. There's a new Bible commentary that has come out as well
that I would really recommend. It's the Andrews Bible commentary. It's a summary, and there's one volume in the Old Testament,
one volume in the New Testament. And again, the scholars from
Andrews University put this together. I was interested in what
they said about Romans 1. And let me just read to you from Andrews University Bible study
commentary put together by some of the leading scholars in the
Seventh Avene Church on New Testament. So I'm just reading their comment. Same gender, sexual conduct became Paul's
prime evidence of gentile sinfulness. Unlike many in the Greek and Roman world who condoned and even praised same gender
sexual conduct, Jews, with one voice, considered such conduct to be against
the natural order in God's will. Any suggestion that Paul, if writing today, would have tempered his
words when confronted with a loving, monogamous, and faithful same sex couple,
or with evidence of homosexual orientation as a genetic predisposition,
listen to this, is groundless. The Levitical laws against same gender
sexual conduct with one male taking the role of the female
confirmed his position. Paul's indictment in Romans 1,
includes women engaged in unnatural same gender sexual conduct,
which was well known among the Greeks. The focus of Paul's condemnation is
on same gender sexual conduct itself. Such conduct is the result of our sinful nature,
which is always subject to temptation, whether momentary or chronic,
and is always remedied by reliance on faith in Christ to resist
and overcome evil. What power there is in the Gospel
of Christ to transform us. And that's really Paul's point in the Book of Romans, that through
the Grace of Christ, we can be forgiven. Through the power of Christ,
we can be changed. We can be made over again. You can go through Scripture and see this contrast between biblical values
and the values of of our culture that are trying to shape us, trying to mold us,
trying to transform us. The biblical position on marriage
and same sex relationships is clear. God has created males and females
to experience intimacy in a monogamous relationship at the sacred
confines of marriage. Any sexual intimacy outside of marriage
is a violation of the law of God. Homosexual relations are unnatural, sinful, and out of harmony with the law
of creation and the moral law of God. Now, I've been asked,
has the Seventh-day Adventist Church officially made a statement based
on these biblical concepts, principles, and truths that you've been
going over today, Pastor Finley. Why doesn't the Adventist Church,
somebody says, make a public statement? Well, the good news is they have. The Adventist Church has been a strong
advocate for a positive loving relationships within the context
of marriage throughout its history. It's been clear that sexual relationships
outside of marriage, marriage as defined by the Bible,
are a violation of God's will. I want to read you some excerpts from the Church's recent
reaffirmation statement. Recently, the Seventh Avenue Church
published a reaffirmation statement. Let me read you a few excerpts to leave no doubt in your mind where the
Advantage Church stands on this issue. We affirm without hesitation our long standing position as expressed
in the Church's fundamental beliefs. Marriage was divinely established in Eden
and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between man
and woman in a loving companionship. God instituted marriage, a covenant based union of two genders,
male and female, physically, emotionally, and spiritually,
spoken of in Scripture as one flesh. The monogamous union in marriage of a man and woman
is the only morally appropriate focus of genital or related
intimate sexual expression. Any lowering of this high view is to that
extent a lowering of the heavenly ideal. Then the statement goes on
to describe the fact that homosexuality is really a manifestation of the disturbance
and brokenness of human nature. Let me read that part
of the statement to you. Homosexuality is a manifestation
of the disturbance and brokenness in human inclinations and relations caused
by the entrance of sin in our world. While everyone is subject to a fallen human nature,
we also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement
of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony
with the principles of God's Word. Then this important aspect of the statement that I really want
to emphasize, we hold that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation,
are loved by God. We do not condone singling out any group
for scorn or diversion, let alone abuse. Still, God's word transcends time and culture and does
not permit a homosexual lifestyle. The Bible's opposition to same sex union marriage anchored in God's
plan at creation. So the Bible's opposition to these same sex unions or marriage
is anchored in God's plan when? At creation. We found that in Genesis 1. It's in divine legislation. We found that in Leviticus
and in 1 Corinthians. And it is explicitly,
marriage is explicitly confirmed as a permanent monogamous and heterosethe
sexual relationship by God. So the Seventh-day Adventist Church
has been very, very clear on this. We should, though, make a distinction
between LGBTQ orientation and action. Each one of us, because of the brokenness of sin, have
certain passions, desires, orientations. But by the Grace of God,
we can choose not to act upon them. So having the orientation
does not justify the action. I may have a predisposition because of the brokenness of sin to more
easily get angry than somebody else. But by the Grace of God, I can be changed. So because somebody has a predisposition for that, somebody may have a passion
because of genetics, because of social environment, because of things
that are happening in youth. They may have a passion for sexuality
outside of marriage, a male for a female. But because they have those passions and drives does not mean
that they act upon them. They make a positive choice for the Grace
of God to change their life. The same thing is true
with LGBTQ relationships. And LGBTQ orientation or
tendencies or desires. The orientation may be part of our beings,
but God's grace is greater. How then do we relate? How then do we relate? What are some things that we can take away from the biblical principles
regarding human sexuality? I think there are at least five
things, and here they are. First, God has created all
human beings in his image. Through the fall and brokenness of sin, we all have tendencies
and propensities toward evil. That's one take away. Second, God calls us to love, not hate. The Christian ethic calls us to be compassionate and respectful and
accepting of one another. Three, to love doesn't mean we approve a
lifestyle out of harmony with God's will. The most loving thing we can do is to share the amazing grace of Christ
that forgives our past, transforms our present,
and gives us hope for the future. Four, the LGBTQ plus lifestyle is not in harmony
with the Bible, and according to Scripture,
deviates from God's will and his sin. Five, through the Grace of God, all of us can experience
new life in Christ. Jesus invites us to reach out to everyone around us. Broken, fallen in sin,
to reach out as brothers and sisters in Christ in loving tones,
to share the truths of God's Word in kindness and compassion,
recognizing that if any man or woman are in Christ,
they are new creatures, recognizing that the grace of God,
the power of God is greater than any sin. There is no sin that God's grace cannot deliver us from by his grace
and through his power. Let us embrace and love one another
and love one another enough to share the truth of God's Word,
to pray together, to share the divine truths of Scripture
together, and to watch the new creation take place in every
single one of our lives. Let's pray. Father in heaven, how we thank you
that there is light on the road ahead. How we thank you for the
word of the living God. How we thank you for Jesus Christ. How we thank you that through your power and by your grace,
our lives can be transformed and changed. We thank you that Jesus is stronger than any inherited or cultivated
propensity towards you. And that through Christ,
who overcomes every temptation, who overcame every temptation of Satan,
we too can be overcomebers. And we praise you for that
in Jesus' name, Amen.
