Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 12 ) Stan Crowley But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15 NKJV)

 Yes.  Available are a series of three sermons in 2004 on homosexuality and how to treat homosexuals and a condensed version of two sermons in Is homosexuality a sin? 2

3 Homosexuality was a sin under the Law of Moses  Leviticus 20 (Lev 20:13 NKJV) 'If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.  Leviticus 18 (Lev 18:22-23 NKJV) 'You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. …

4 Homosexuality is a sin under the Law of Christ  Romans 1 (Rom 1:26 NKJV) 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 the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, …

5  I Timothy 1:9-10 Among the “ungodly” and “profane” are … (1 Tim 1:9-10 NKJV) … fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, The Greek word translated “sodomite” is a composite of the Greek words for men and couch, which indicates the type of activity involved. Homosexuality is a sin under the Law of Christ

6  I Corinthians 6 (1 Cor 6:9 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals [effeminate, KJV], nor sodomites, … will inherit … The word translated “homosexuals” refers to the “passive partner”; Lexicons define it as a “catamite”—a boy kept by a man who practices homosexuality. The word translated “sodomites” refers to the partner who takes the “active role.” Homosexuality is a sin under the Law of Christ

 The approved translations for public use in this congregation are: King James Version American Standard Version (1901) New King James Version  The trustworthiness of these translations is based on the Greek text used and the approach to translation.  The NIV is not a reliable “version.” 41. What are examples of reliable Bible translations? 7

8  The NIV teaches that a person is sinful at birth; in fact, it teach that a person is sinful from the time he is conceived.  NIV text: (Psa 51:5 NIV) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  NKJV and ASV text: (Psa 51:5 NKJV/ASV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.  The text says that a person was conceived by a sinful act, not that the person was guilty at conception. The NIV teaches original sin

9  A man is responsible only for his sins. (Ezek 18:20 NKJV) “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (Rom 5:12 NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned; The Bible: man is responsible only for his sins.

10  A man is responsible only for his sins. (2 Cor 5:10 NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. The NIV opposes sound doctrine. The Bible: man is responsible only for his sins.

11  NIV text: (Rom 7:18 NIV) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  NKJV text: (Rom 7:18 NKJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. The NIV teaches that a person inherently has a sinful nature.

12  The NIV translates sarx (which means “flesh”) as: “flesh” when referring to Jesus (John 1:14), but inconsistently translates the same word as “sinful nature” in many passages referring to man. The NIV teaches that a person inherently has a sinful nature.

13  Man was created in the image of God. (Gen 1:27 NKJV) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Man was created “upright.” (Eccl 7:29 NKJV) Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.” The NIV opposes sound doctrine. The Bible: man was not created with a predisposition to sin.

14  NIV text: (Rom 1:17 NIV) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, …  NKJV text: (Rom 1:17 NKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith (from faith unto faith, ASV); … The NIV teaches that salvation is by “faith only.”

15  Faith alone will not save! (James 2:24 NKJV) You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  Repentance is also necessary. (2 Cor 7:10 ASV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, …  Confession is also necessary. (Rom 10:10 ASV) … with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Baptism is also necessary. (Acts 2:38 ASV) … Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; … The Bible: salvation requires more than “faith only.”

16  In fact, the NIV teaches that a person is saved before they believe!  NIV text: (Eph 1:13 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. …  NKJV text: (Eph 1:13 NKJV) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; … The NIV teaches that salvation is by “faith only.”

17  A person is not “included in Christ” the moment he hears the gospel.  The only way to get “into Christ” is baptism: (Rom 6:3 NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Gal 3:27 NKJV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The NIV opposes sound doctrine. The Bible: salvation requires more than “faith only.”

18  NIV text: (1 Cor 2:14 NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  NKJV text: (1 Cor 2:14 NKJV) But the natural man (KJV, NKJV, ASV) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, … [psuchikos = worldly-minded] NIV teaches a direct influence of the H.S. The NIV teaches an indwelling Spirit is required to understand.

19  The Scriptures distinguish between the man controlled by his carnal side and the man controlled by his spiritual side. (Rom 8:6 NKJV) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  God’s message can be understood by all. (Rom 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (1 Th 5:27 NKJV) I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. (Eph 3:4 NKJV) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), The NIV opposes sound doctrine. The Bible: the Bible can be understood by all.

20  NIV text: (John 3:16 NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  NKJV text: (John 3:16 NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should {subjunctive tense, sjc} not perish but have everlasting life. The NIV teaches salvation cannot be lost (as well as salvation at the point of belief alone). The NIV teaches that salvation cannot be lost.

21  Many verses teach that Christians can be lost: (I Corinthians 8:11 NKJV) And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (James 5:19-20 NKJV) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death … (I Corinthians 15:1-2 NKJV) … the gospel … by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. The NIV opposes sound doctrine. The Bible: Christians can be lost.

22  The NIV has no place in our pulpit or our classroom.  It should be used with great caution even for personal study.  It should never be recommended (because of its readability, popularity, or any other factor) to those who are not Christians or those who are new Christians. The NIV is not a reliable “version.”