Truth Magazine

By Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.

No, I am not talking about a population explosion. I am not even talking about long lost cousins that surface when someone starts a rumor that we have come into some money.

I am talking about relatives as opposed to absolutes. It is near blasphemy to some brethren to confidently affirm a position to be the truth in the absolute sense of the word. Things considered settled in heaven (Psa. 119:89) are becoming fewer and fewer with many brethren. Why? Because someone has discovered new scriptural evidence that forces them to question or abandon long accepted positions of the past? No! But, because the positions do not seem to be “working” in this present age. I am afraid that some preachers, teachers and elders may be spending more time trying to adapt what the Bible says to situations they find rather than conform the situations they find to what the Bible says. Let me tell you it is a whole lot easier to become unsure of one’s position and/or change it than it is to change brethren and society. Maybe if we spent more time studying the Book and less time trying to “relate,” it would help.

So often, what do we find ourselves doing? We study the Bible and its message seems to be reasonably clear – until we go out into the “real world” influenced by Satan, trying to apply what we have learned, and it causes problems. Intelligent people present us with difficult questions relating to its application. (Brother John T. Lewis used to say, “The Bible was not designed to answer every fool question somebody might think up.”) Hence, the wisest course seems to be either modify the position or at least relegate it to the realm of “unsettled questions over which smart men and good brethren differ.” My brethren, it is just old-fashioned philosophical relativism that has found a new home.

The Bible was written that we might be sure about more things not less. Luke wrote of “things which are most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1). He even spoke of “infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). On Pentecost, Peter said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Paul warned Timothy that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them” (2 Tim. 3:13, 14). No matter what men might think or do, there was the absolute truth of the Scriptures that Timothy could depend on (vv. 15- 11). He was even to charge others to teach no other doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3).

The Scriptures came from the Absolute God and the truth in them is absolutely true for all time (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Pet. 1:16-21). That truth neither depends upon nor does it change with the individual, time, and circumstance. Any adjustments must be made to fit the Scriptures and not the Scriptures to fit the circumstances. While I have known few who would admit that they have altered their view of truth to fit circumstance, I am just as confident that the evidence is overwhelming that they have indeed done so. There is that ever present danger with all of us. We cannot allow the fact that some brethren have dogmatically affirmed positions that were not so and caused trouble over them to keep us from confidently affirming what we believe the Bible teaches on any subject; and refuse to modify it to fit the changing whims of society or brethren.

It is all too easy to allow some unpleasantness or difficulty with applying something that the Scriptures teach, something been held to be so by us for a long time – to cause us to ‘ ‘restudy” the matter and alter our views. Not that we have found any new evidence from God’s revelation that causes us to revise our thinking, but because our altered view will be easier to apply in the day-to-day world. Or that it answers more of the questions that people raise about the matter. Or that we find the consequences easier to live with. So, if a position has difficulties unacceptable to us, or raises questions too difficult for us to answer, or presents problems too unpleasant for us to accept; we reason that our view of the matter must not be right – no matter what the obvious and fair meaning of the words used by inspiration. It is not that some difficult passage seems to be in conflict with other Scripture and thus must be reexamined with the faith that truth does not conflict with itself, but it is a re-examination and consequent reshaping of views to better fit the circumstance. Bible truth is not of that nature. There are difficulties and questions associated with applying every Bible subject that I know. People can raise questions that I frankly do not know the answers to -but I still must not allow these difficulties and questions to cause me to abandon what the Bible says.

For years good people have presented cases (real and imagined) that make it difficult to apply what the Bible teaches about baptism. Questions about an honest and sincere boy who is killed in battle without having opportunity to be baptized. Or, some beloved and seemingly godly relative that never knew about Mark 16:16. And on and on. One may not know the answers to all those difficulties – but the Bible still says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved,” and one can still so affirm with confidence. Dare we try to change it to make it easier to answer those questions? If someone presents a scriptural evidence that the point of the passage has been missed then one must admit his misunderstanding and adjust his view and practice to fit the Scriptures – but not to ease the difficulty in applying it to some cases.

There are a lot of problems associated with consistently applying what the Bible teaches about church benevolence (saints only), whom to fellowship, local autonomy, withdrawing from every brother who walks disorderly, etc. If one changes his position on any of these things, he needs to be sure that this change is dictated by what the Bible says about them and not by a desire to find a way to make application less painful.

Sometimes brethren, in their sincere zeal to win more souls and to see the church grow, see that the narrowness of “our position” on certain subjects is a hindrance to their efforts; so they, just as sincerely look for some way to interpret the Scriptures so that the basis for fellowship can be broadened to include the nice people that they are interested in bringing into or keeping in the fold. It is not the purpose of these brethren to corrupt the church, but to see it grow and prosper. Nothing that the Scriptures say has altered the matter, but it is assumed that a position must not have been right because it excludes some of the nicest people in town.

Multiple marriages becomes a bigger and bigger problem everyday. The more we study the Bible with people, the more second, third, fourth, etc. marriages we find. People are constantly presenting us with cases that it would take a Solomon to unravel. The church is not getting and even sometimes losing some “good people” who cannot bring themselves to dissolve such marriages. But, we had better be careful that we do not begin to re-examine d4our position” about such marriages – and the churches’ obligation to not fellowship those in adultery – in light of the present circumstances. In fact, I am convinced that some are already doing so. Men who had no problem with teaching that only a person who has divorced another for the cause of fornication has the right to marry another, are being heard from that now take a broader view of the matter. What brought about their change? New scriptural evidence that shows that their old position is unscriptural? Hardly. Is it more likely that the price of insisting on the old position became more than they were willing to pay. To stay with that position would cause hardship for them or someone that they were concerned about. Or someone raised some “what if’s” of application that seemed too difficult to overcome. I am not saying these men are dishonest, but that it is just so easy to be deceived by the desire to apply the Bible in a way that would cause the least problems for themselves and the church.

Brethren, this is no minor problem. It cannot be placed over in that category of “things over which brethren have differed for years without causing problems.” It is more fundamental than that. If one who marries again, without having put his first partner away for the cause of fornication, is committing adultery – and he is, if we can depend on language at all to convey the truth (Matt. 19:9) – then he is placing himself among those (adulterers) that the Bible specifically says cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9, 10). He is in the class of the one singled out case of church discipline that we have in the New Testament (1 Cor. 5). John the Baptist’s refusal to look the other way, while Herod had a wife that it was not lawful for him to have, caused him to lose his life (Matt. 14). False teaching on fornication was the thing specifically mentioned as being allowed by the church at Thyatira that caused the Lord to condemn that church (Rev. 2:20, 2 1). No, it should not be considered another one of those things of “individual application” over which brethren may differ and still maintain full fellowship. It is a matter of fornication or adultery – a matter that the Bible specifically says left alone would leaven the whole lump (1 Cor. 5:6) and in the class with those with whom we are specifically forbidden to keep company (1 Cor. 5:11).

I do not want to sound like an alarmist, but I am afraid that this thing is much bigger than we might like to think. It is not something off out in some distant state, it is next door to all of us. Unless brethren who still believe what the Bible teaches on the matter maintain enough courage to stand up now and be counted and stop the mouths of those who would revise God’s marriage law (no matter how sincere their motives), they may find themselves in churches that will either be fellowshipping those the Bible specifically forbids and/or find themselves with a battle royal on their hands just to keep the church from being torn asunder, because those who present such loose views are often among the more popular and pleasing personalities among brethren. So, it is not easy to get brethren to deal as firmly with them as they should.

Brethren, if you do not know where the men of influence in the congregation where you worship stand on this matter, then you would do well to find out. If you can get no clear cut answers from then, then beware. Their position is probably relative to the circumstances. If they do stand for what the Bible teaches then hold up their hands in the matter. If they do not, then make every effort to expose them. It is not enough that they may not teach it from the pulpit or the church’s Bible classes. Such men do more harm in their private counseling than they ever do by public proclamation of their position. This may sound a bit hard and dogmatic to some, but until someone produces evidence that Matthew 19:9 does not mean just what it seems to say, then that is where we must take our stand. Judging from some things that I have heard lately, I predict that you will be hearing of more and more re-examining their positions on abortion, modesty and even the assembling of ourselves together. As the world becomes more humanistic and hedonistic in its outlook, brethren will find ways to relate the old Bible truth to the new circumstances. I have in recent months heard preachers publicly talk about what they used to think about some of these things, and that they now are not as certain as they once were about them. What precipitated their doubts and changes of views? Did someone present them with hard evidence that they had misread the passages that deal with such subjects? No sir! They found circumstances that made it hard for them to consistently apply the principles they had been teaching, so there must be something wrong with what they had taught for years!

Brethren, this is a real danger to us all. Let us not be so rigid that we will not review and/or revise any view that we might hold in the light of scriptural evidence. But let us make sure that the basis for our readjustment is the absolute truth of God and not relating our positions to the individual, time and circumstance.

Let us not be so dogmatic that we cannot be swayed by scriptural evidence, but let us not fall into the trap of leaving nearly everything open-ended and being able to affirm hardly anything with certainty. Yes sir, I am afraid my brethren are getting far too many relatives and not nearly enough absolutes.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 8, pp. 240-241, 247
April 18, 1985

On Sunday, 31 March 1985, sister Barbara (Bobby) C. Adams departed from this life, after suffering from cancer. Sister Adams was the beloved wife of our brother and fellow soldier, Connie Adams who is a well-known gospel preacher and editor of Searching the Scriptures, the largest subscription journal among faithful brethren.

Sister Adams was born 16 August 193 1; she died at the age of 53 years. She met brother Connie Adams while attending Florida College. They were married for thirty-five years. To this union, two sons were born. Their older son, Wilson Adams, preaches for the Wildercroft congregation in Riverdale, MD. Their younger son Martin is also a faithful Christian with a respected family. The influence of this godly mother over her children is seen in the kind of fives which her children lead.

Funeral services were conducted at 1:00 p.m. on April 2 in the building of the Expressway Church of Christ in Louisville, KY. The Adams’ had received a large host of friends the preceding day at the funeral home; the building was full on the day of the services. I counted brethren from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, Ohio, Florida, and Texas at the funeral; no doubt there were brethren from other states whom I missed. Their attendance speaks highly of the influence of brother and sister Adams and how much they are respected.

The congregation was led in singing “Standing On The Promises,” “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me,” and “Encamped Along The Hills Of Light” (also known as “Faith Is The Victory!”). Brother Weldon Warnock of Xenia, Ohio, a close personal friend, former classmate, and respected gospel preacher, eulogized sister Adams in his opening remarks. Then he quoted extensively from an article sister Adams had written entitled “The Blessings Of A Preacher’s Wife” (published originally 22 March 1973 in Truth Magazine and reprinted in March 1978 in Searching The Scriptures). The article demonstrated the fine spirit of this godly woman. Among the things which sister Adams wrote were the following:

A preacher is not always as well paid as some in this life. He does not have many fringe benefits which workers in plants or offices have. Few churches pay social security, health insurance premiums, or pension plans. Yet, I do not know of many churches that will deny a preacher an extra day off at a holiday season or fail to continue his salary during a long, drawn-out illness. Though your daughter may not always have the “most” in this life, you can rest assured that there are fringe benefits which few others will ever have.

What am I talking about? For one thing: friends. Yes, our friends . . . from Maine to California; Washington to Florida; in Canada, Norway and the Philippines. We would not trade these acquaintances for any amount of money on earth. These are people with whom we have worked through the years and who now have scattered around the country and the world. They include preachers, and yes, their wives. They include sons and daughters of preachers who have grown up and married in the past few years. Whole congregations are included. These are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and all of them are (or should be) striving toward the same goal – an eternal home in heaven. These friends are the finest people on earth.

(Few people realize the commitment of faith which a preacher’s wife makes in following her husband in his work as a gospel preacher. They endure the same sufferings as he does in every battle which is fought; they experience the loneliness of being separated from their loved ones and friends. As the years pass, I have developed more respect for these godly women, including my own wife, who have stood by and encouraged their husbands in the work of the Lord.)

Brother Warnock fought back his emotions on several occasions in describing sister Adams and her faith in God our Savior.

Following brother Warnock’s prayer, brother Dee Bowman of Houston, Texas spoke eloquently on the subject of death. He described how sometimes death suddenly snatches one from the midst of life, sometimes stalks one down as a hunted animal, and sometimes comes as a welcome guest to relieve one from his sufferings. In sister Adams’ case, her death brought relief from the suffering associated with her disease and its treatment.

He reminded us that all men must cross over from earth life to eternity. For the Christian, death is the gateway into eternal life with God and Christ. Inasmuch as sister Adams lived a life of faith, we have the confident assurance that her life is far better in heaven than continuing the sufferings in her fight against cancer.

After dismissing the congregation, the congregation moved to the Hebron Cemetery where her body was committed back to the earth. We look forward to the great resurrection morning when her body and spirit shall be reunited and we all enter the eternal bliss of heaven.

To brother Connie Adams and his family, we extend our sympathies. Only those who have also lost a companion of many years can know his grief. However, I know he will find comfort in the days which lie ahead in the knowledge of the life which sister Adams lived and in the assurance of heaven which the Bible promises to the faithful. May God be with you, my brother, as you continue to go with God.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 8, p. 22
April 18, 1985

By Ronny Milliner

The first eleven chapters of the book of Romans is Paul’s treatise on how both Jew and Gentile may be justified in the

same way “for there is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:11). The twelfth chapter begins the practical part of the book. Here is where Paul begins to make application of the facts previously taught. In this section of Scripture we find the Christian’s duty to (1) God (12:1); (2) the world (12:2); (3) the brethren (12:3-16); (4) his enemies (12:17-21); (5) the government (13:1-7); (6) his neighbor 4:34). He wants ears sacrificed to feet will be restrained from evil (Psa. (13:8-14); and (7) weak brethren (14:1-15:13).

The Toil Of The Sacrifice

Our basic duty to God is to sacrifice ourselves in His service. The action of this sacrifice is represented by the word “present” in Romans 12:1. The word literally means “to place beside or near” or “to set at hand.” We must make ourselves available to God. We must be near to Him, so we can readily be used in His cause. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8a). Every Christian must present himself as a present to God.

The Thing Of The Sacrifice

The thing or the object which is to be sacrificed is one’s body. All of the body must be presented to God. Presenting the body includes presenting the mind. We must have a mind set not on the flesh, but on the spirit (Rom. 8:7). We should be noble-minded like the Bereans in receiving the word (Acts 17:11). We are admonished to be of the same mind with our brethren (Rom. 15:5). And we must have the humility of mind like Jesus (Phil. 2:3-5).

Presenting the body to God as a sacrifice includes presenting the eyes. We must have eyes that look to God (Psa. 145:15). We need a clear eye, not a bad eye (Mt. 6:22-23). Our eyes need to see (Lk. 10:23), and be enlightened (Eph. 1:18). Eyes which are lustful are not being sacrificed to God (1 Jn. 2:16).

Presenting the body to God as a sacrifice includes presenting the eyars. God is not pleased with itching ears which desire tickling by men (2 Tim. 4:3-4). He wants ears sacrificed to Him which are quick to hear what He has to say (Jas. 1:19).

Presenting the body to God as a sacrifice includes presenting the mouth. Our mouths must be acceptable to God (Psa. 19:14). This type of mouth will be a mouth which is willing to confess (Rom. 10:9-10), which edifies (Eph. 4:29), which boldly preaches the gospel (Eph. 6:19), and which is seasoned with grace (Col. 4:16). The sacrificed mouth will bless and not curse (Jas. 3:10).

Presenting the body to God as a sacrifice includes presenting the hands. God wants hands that are clean (Psa. 24:4), and He desires hands which minister (Acts 20:34) and labor (Eph. 4:28). We also present our hands to God by lifting them up in prayer (1 Tim. 2:8).

Presenting the body to God as a sacrifice includes presenting the loins. Only loins which are girded with strength (Prov. 31:17) and truth (Eph. 6:14) can prove to be useful to God.

Presenting the body to God as a sacrifice includes presenting the feet. Feet used by God will visit the needy and distressed (Mt. 25:36) and will carry the message of the gospel wherever they go (Rom. 10:15). The feel will be restrained from evil (Psa. 119:101).

We may be selective in which organs and body parts we may wish to donate to others at our death, but God demands them all.

The Toehold To The Sacrifice

Notice the word “therefore” in this verse. The word connects the exhortation with the arguments and instruction that have preceded it. Thus what Paul said previously about all men being sinners, God’s grace, the gospel, Christ, justification, faith, etc. are reasons why we should sacrifice ourselves to God.

Paul also bases his urging on “the mercies of God.” Paul had spoken earlier in the book about God’s grace (Rom. 3:24; 5:20-21) and God’s love (Rom. 5:5-8; 8:35-39). He had just finished speaking about His mercy (Rom. 11:30-32). So, because of what God has so graciously, lovingly, and mercifully done for us, let us return our love and appreciation to Him by presenting our bodies in sacrifice to Him.

The Type Of The Sacrifice

Paul uses four phrases to describe the kind of sacrifice we are to offer to God. First, we are to offer “living” sacrifices to God. He no longer wants the offering of dead animals. Paul had exhorted earlier in the book, “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom. 6:13).

We must also offer up “holy” sacrifices to God. The Jews could not offer what was blemished to God (Deut. 15:21), and neither can we. We must avoid sin as the plague it is.

Our sacrifice which we offer will also have to be “acceptable to God.” We may not offer to God what we think He will be pleased with, but rather we must offer what He has said He will be pleased with. Many people fail at this point. They think they are pleasing God, but like Saul of Tarsus, they are not obeying His will.

Finally, this sacrifice we make to God is, Paul affirms, “your reasonable service.” The word translated “reasonable” means “rational; agreeable to reason.” It is the Greek word logikos from which we get our English word “logic.” The word translated “service” was used of the work of the priests in the tabernacle, and was also used of hired service. Here it refers to “the intelligent service of believers in presenting their bodies to God” (Vine, p. 349). Let no one tell you that the life of a Christian is not a rational way of life. The wise man Solomon, after pursuing a number of different avenues in search of the purpose of life, rationally concluded, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).

Conclusion

For what or whom are you sacrificing? Are you willing to “go out of your way” for God? Remember Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 8, pp. 238-239
April 18, 1985

By Tim Fleeman

In our day and age, we are hearing more about homosexuality than ever before in this country. My son brought home a book given to him at school and homosexuality was mentioned as one of the choices people make in sexuality. Nothing was said of it being sinful or wrong. Those living in this sin are demanding that their way of life be accepted as an alternate life style. Homosexuals are teaching our children in public schools and filling the pulpits in some religious organizations.

It is alarming to see many good people, even religious people, who will stand up and defend those who are living in this sin. In a discussion at work, the following statement was made on this subject: “You mean the Bible says something about homosexuality?” Evidently the religious leaders of our day have failed to proclaim the oracles of God on homosexuality. Does the Bible address this subject? The answer is yes!

Condemned In Both The Old And New Testaments

The first mention of homosexuality in the Old Testament is found in Genesis 19:1 -11. God sent two angels to Sodom to deliver Lot and his family out of the city before he destroyed it. Lot asked these angels to accept his hospitality and spend the night in his home (Gen. 19:1-3). Before they went to bed, men from every quarter of the city came to the door of Lot’s house. They called unto Lot, and said unto him, “Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them” (Gen. 19:5). The phrase, “That we may know them” means to have a sexual relationship with them (Gen. 4:1, 25; Matt. 1:25). Because of their wickedness, God destroyed these wicked cities (Gen. 19:23-29). God meted out vengeance on Sodom and Gomorrah because they committed fornication in seeking after strange flesh (Jude 7). Webster’s dictionary says that those who practice sodomy are called Sodomites.

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Lev. 18:22). Under the old law, homosexuals were put to death (Lev. 20:13). God did not tolerate the whore or the sodomite (Deut. 23:17-18).

Paul spoke of the lesbian and the homosexual in Romans 1:24-32. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Rom. 1:26-27). God’s judgment against men and women who practice this sin is that they are worthy of death (Rom. 1:32).

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, not adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). God here specifies four sexual sins that will keep one from inheriting the kingdom of God. W.E. Vine defines “effeminate” as a male who practices forms of lewdness and persons guilty of addiction to sins of the flesh, voluptuous. Thayer defines “effeminate” as a catamite, a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness. “Abusers of themselves with mankind” is defined as lying with a male (homosexuality).

Paul told Timothy that those who defile themselves with mankind (homosexuals) are acting contrary to sound doctrine (1 Tim. 1:8-11).

From this study we see that God has condemned homosexuality in both the law of Moses and the new Testament. Prior to the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly (2 Peter 2:6).

Are These People Harmless?

In most conversations concerning homosexuality, people hold the opinion that if they wish to engage in this sin, that it really is not anyone else’s business. Most feel that homosexuals are harmless and pose no threat to society. Bible example will show as this sin increases, crime, abuse, and violence will also increase.

When the men of Sodom came to Lot’s house, he refused to send the two angels out unto them. They pressed sore upon Lot and came near to break the door (Gen. 19:9). These men were determined and certainly not harmless.

In Judges 19 and 20, a Levite and his concubine went into the city of Gibeah to lodge all night. An old man showed them hospitality and invited them into his home to lodge (Judges 19:20-21). The homosexuals of the city compassed, the house and beat, at the door saying, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.” The old man offered them his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine, but they desired the Levite. Finally they accepted the concubine and they knew her and abused her all night until the morning and then let her go (Judges 19:24-25). The Levite later made this statement to the children of Israel: “And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced (raped), that she is dead” (Judges 20:5). The children of Israel were outraged by this sin and asked the tribe of Benjamin to deliver the homosexuals to them to be put to death. The children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren. They chose to protect these wicked men and give them sanctuary in the city. As a result, over 65,000 men were slain (Judges 20:149). It is alarming to see society, government, and churches condoning and protecting those who engage in homosexuality. These Bible examples demonstrate the violence and abuse that accompanies this sin. These people are not harmless. Homosexuality is running rampant in this country. Rest assured that abuse, property damage, crime, violence, rape, and murder will increase accordingly.

Homosexuality, A Sickness Or A Sin?

Some excuse the sin of homosexuality by saying it is just a sickness and these people cannot help themselves. We can read of several sicknesses in the Scriptures: palsy (Matt. 4:24), issue of blood or hemorrhage (Mk. 5:25), leprosy (Mk. 1:40-42). These, as well as many other sicknesses, are listed in the Scriptures. God has never referred to homosexuality as a sickness in His word. I know of no sickness mentioned in the Bible that would cause one to be damned in eternity. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, not a sickness.

How does God describe homosexuality in the Scriptures? To act wickedly (Gen. 19:7); iniquity (Gen. 19:15); abomination (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:17-18); wickedness and folly (Judges 19:23); lewdness (Judges 20:6); evil (Judges 20:13); vile (Judges 19:24); uncleanness (Rom. 1:24); vile affection (Rom. 1:26); against nature, unseemly, error (Rom. 1:26-27). Homosexuals have a reprobate mind and do things which are not becoming (Rom. 1:28); worthy of death (Rom. 1:32); unrighteous (I Cor. 6:9); shall not inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9- 10); contrary to sound doctrine (1 Tim. 1:8-10); ungodly, filthy, wicked, unlawful, unjust (2 Pet. 2:6-9).

Homosexuality is not described as a sickness in the Scriptures. God shows time and time again that it is a sin that will keep one out of heaven.

Can The Homosexual Be Saved?

The answer to this question is yes. Anyone can be saved that will comply with the law of God on salvation. Some of the Corinthians had been guilty of homosexuality but were saved from that sin. Paul said, “And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye, are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

Sin separates one from God (Isa. 59:2; 1 Pet. 3:12). Sin causes one to be dead spiritually (Eph. 2: 1). We have shown in this issue that homosexuality is a transgression of the law of God and thus a sin (1 John 3:4). Homosexuals need to be reconciled to God and obtain His forgiveness (Eph. 2:16; Acts 5:31).

How is one saved from sin? God sent Christ into the world to be a sacrifice for sin (Heb. 9:12, 22-28). Jesus tasted death for every man (Heb. 2:9). Jesus came to save us from our sins (Matt. 1:2 1). The Scriptures teach that faith in Christ

is necessary to salvation (John 3:14-17; 8:24). The homosexual must repent of his sin in order to be saved (Lk. 13:31; Acts 17:30). When one truly repents he will make the needed changes in his life. Paul instructed men to repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance (Acts 26:20). A homosexual could not continue to practice that sin and be pleasing to God. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Tim. 2:19). The sinner needs to confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33). One must be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptizedshall be saved” (Mk. 16:15-16).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 8, pp. 236-237
April 18, 1985