Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:21-24 “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Marriage, Homosexuality and The Bible

Genesis 2:21-24 “So, the Lord God caused I. BIBLE TEACHING ON MARRIAGE Genesis 2:21-24 “So, the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘women’ for she was taken out of man. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator make them male and female, and said, ‘for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? ‘ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

HOMOSEXUALITY Old Testament: II. BIBLE TEACHING ON THE PRACTICE OF “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” Leviticus 18:22 “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” Lev. 20:13

New Testament: “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty of their perversion…. Although they knew God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:24-27, 32

“Do you not know that the wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God “Do you not know that the wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders not 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.” I Corinthians 6:9-11 “ We know that the law is good if a man uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for good men but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.” I Timothy 1:8-11

III. BACKWARD BIBLE STUDY (TO TRY TO AVOID THE CLEAR BIBLE TEACHING) A. Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18) B. David and Jonathon (II Samuel 1:25-26)

IT BE WRONG?” IV. “GOD MADE ME THIS WAY, HOW CAN A. God forbids the behavior, not the desire 1. ALL singles must choose to be celibate 2. One sins only when he yields to the desire.

Based on a false assumption—God does not “make them that way.” 1. Not His intent or design (Genesis 1:27) (“male and female he created them”) 2. It is a result of a fallen world a. “God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity” (Rom 1:24) b. “God gave them over to shameful lusts” (Rom 1:26)

Based on a non-Christian world view 1. Non-Christian world-view = “find pleasure” 2. Christian world-view = “honor God” 3. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Romans 8:5

1. “I LOVE YOU” VI. FIVE THINGS JESUS WOULD SAY: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 2. “I UNDERSTAND REJECTION” “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” Isaiah 53:3 3. “I ALSO WAS TEMPTED” “…he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18

4. “I WANT MORE FOR YOU” “…wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:4 5. “I WILL BE THERE FOR YOU—TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS” “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” I Pet 5:7

Jesus loves us too much to let us stay in our sin Jesus loves us too much to let us stay in our sin. He offers three things we all desperately need: 1. He offers his blood to forgive us 2. He offers his word to guide us 3. He offers his Spirit to give us strength to overcome and live a new life in Christ