The current social climate can make someone think that Christians speak against the idea that God loves the homosexual.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
God loves the homosexual and there are very important reasons why and how.
Why God Loves the Homosexual
Because God loves everyone.
John 3:16 NASB
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
It doesn’t say that because God so loved the heterosexual, He gave Jesus up to death. It says the world, and that doesn’t differentiate who in that world He loves.
None is righteous, not even one.
Romans 3:23-24 NIV
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
The homosexual is a sinner, like the rest of us fallen sinners.
How God Loves the Homosexual
First off, John 3:16 (above) says whoever believes in Jesus, because of what He did for us on the Cross, has eternal life.
Simply, Jesus is the Son of God. He came to earth, lived a completely sinless life, gave Himself up to be killed in a horrifically violent way (crucifixion) in order to pay the penalty of each of our sins. Then He rose again on the third day. Just as He promised and just as the Old Testament had foretold. If we put our faith in Him, the Holy Spirit helps us to live for Him and in a manner He would be proud of.
Romans 10:9-13 NIV
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
What Society Says Vs. Reality
Christians, true Christians, do not hate homosexuals.
God loves the homosexual, so as children of God, we also love the homosexual.
1 John 4:8 NIV
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Love, however, does not mean agreeing on everything. And it certainly does not mean calling something good that God has already declared bad.
Living Out wrote an amazingly balanced article on what the Bible actually says about Homosexuality. The same-sex-attracted scholars there covered all the bases regarding the arguments FOR homosexuality in the Bible. If you really want to learn, open your mind and read it.
1 John 1:9 ESV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This is important. When we cling to our sins and refuse to acknowledge them AS sins, He can not forgive or cleanse us from those sins. When we cling to our sin, we compromise our testimony and the witness of His transforming power.
Society expects us, as Christians, to keep our mouths shut about things it decides to declare good. However God has called us to ‘save others by snatching them out of the fire’ (Jude 1:22-23). Our authority is not society, but God.
Those in society take the Bible and twist it just enough to mean what they want it to mean. They cry that even Jesus said let he who is without sin throw the first stone.
That is true, but when taken out of context, truth becomes a perversion.
Biblical Truth
John 8:10-11 ESV
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” [Emphasis mine]
There was a second part to His statement. Yes, He didn’t condemn the adulterous woman. Yes, He saved her life by convicting the conscience of everyone there.
However, He also gave her a direct command. I forgive your sin, go, and from now on sin no more.
1 John 1:8-9 ESV
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
James 1:25 HSCB
But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works–this person will be blessed in what he does.
Our eternal lives are not determined by our good works, however, living in unrepentant sin also has physical consequences this side of heaven.
Lastly, to my Fellow Christians
The verse below is a comfort to us. Why should the world recognize us, if they wouldn’t even recognize God’s very Son? God recognizes us. He sees us and He is with us, whether we are being persecuted in a third world country, or fighting to spread His word in a hostile societal climate.
1 John 3:1, 13-14 CSB
See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.
So, openly love the homosexuals in your life, like God loves the homosexual. But don’t imply or outright approve of the sin in their lives, whatever it may be.
James 5:19-20 CSB
My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
This is exactly why we love, not with approbation, but with positive reinforcement of Biblical truths that lead to hope, peace and life for any who believe.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Much love, from one sinner to another,
Tiffany
yes yes yes! Immediately subscribed!! Love everything about this.
Aww, thank you Jessie! So nice to ‘meet’ you! <3
Excellent, and truth-filled article.
Thank you, Kathy! <3
Very well done Tiffany!! God desires for all men to come to repentance. He sent his son not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved! why? because LOVE. And the most unloving thing we could do as Christians is to ignore sin and give someone a false assurance of safety and salvation. If we believe in a true eternity and a true heaven and true hell and true God, then we would be wicked to ignore their sin and not tell them the truth about how much God loves them and desires their repentance and trust in his Son Jesus Christ!
Amen, Jessica! We are on exactly the same page and it’s so heartbreaking for me to see ‘Christians’ doing that to their fellow man. This side of eternity is so short. Being comfortable in our sin now is going to have severe consequences in eternity. :'( God help us to see our sin and repent of it!