The Sands of Sodom - Romans 1:26-27

Over to the Corinthian church is powerfully revealing words, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God to not be deceived, and I read the list earlier fornicators, idolaters, homosexuals, the swimmers, such were some of you.

He writes to the church. Not such are some of you, but such were some called on to say, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the spirit of our God that there is forgiveness from sin available in Jesus and we as believers have been washed clean, but much of the world lives in bondage to sin. How does it make you feel when you learn that someone lied to you.

We don't like being deceived but sin is a deceiver promises one thing and delivers another the deception of sin can appear in both our culture and in our churches so we need to be careful today on wisdom for the heart.

We've come to a passage that deals with a culturally controversial issue. Homosexuality, we need to understand what God's word says about this issue. So stay with us as Steven David takes us to God's word with this important lesson. Ultimately, when a society rejects dogs order of nature. Nature first finds equality with mankind and ultimately sovereignty over mankind. Secondly, there was the unbridled defilement of one another for personal pleasure. Another consequence was defilement a human beings become objects to be manipulated and mistreated and abused. We treat animals like human beings.

We treat human beings than like animals.

Whether it is for physical pleasure or material pleasure work graft and corruption are commonplace in order to mistreated close the deal along. Of course with sexual immorality, which is nothing more than people seeking the use other people's bodies to meet their own selfish desire, but the sands of the desert.

Do not stop there within any culture that is abandoned God for our study today we have the third consequence and it is the abandonment of nature's order within human relationships. Paul goes on to say, under the inspiring influence of the Spirit of God. For this reason, verse 26, God gave them over to degrading passions. For their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural and in the same way. Also, the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their persons the due penalty of their error. Don't miss the connection when the God of nature is abandoned the order of nature is abandoned. The passage that I have just read. He was become in our culture.

Perhaps one of the most controversial passages in the entire Bible and undoubtably the most politically incorrect, since we seek to uphold political correctness all skip paragraph and move forward. No, we do not. Although it is not easy at times to preach the truth. This culture desperately needs to hear the truth. There is not only chaos in our culture over this issue.

There is, unfortunately, and here's where I want to have as impetus to to deliver this message.

There is confusion in the church.

I expect society to do a society does expect evil men to do what evil men do evil women to do what evil women do whatever the forms may take their lost and in need of the Savior. What troubles me is that it has basically infiltrated the thinking of the church and it is our role as a church to uphold the truth of Scripture and defendant on my staff sent me.

I'd already herded and he sent me the AP news about the Presbyterian Church USA just voted to overturn the ban on allowing active homosexuals and lesbians into the ministry so the sixth largest Protestant denomination is now voted overwhelmingly to ordain active homosexuals to the role of clergy.

It has been creeping in word for some time. One of the first official documents to embrace homosexuality was the religious friends report towards a quicker view of sex, which seems ironic to me. 1963. It included the statements quote one should know more.

Deplore homosexuality than left-handed.

And surely it is the nature and quality of a relationship that matters and others. Let's beg the issue, but simply talk about whether there is love. If we can prove there is love that it must be all right. In 1979, the Methodists came on board with their division of social responsibility gave a report called a Christian understanding of human sexuality. That obviously wasn't a biblical understanding but a Christian. They said, quote homosexual activities are not intrinsically wrong.

For homosexual men and women in permanent relationships characterized by love can be an appropriate and Christian way of expressing their sexuality. Then in 1999. Only recently, the biblical recorder which is North Carolina's Baptist paper simply told how the University of Richmond, a Baptist affiliated university had lifted its ban on sexual orientation, one trustee who went on record name Clint Hopkins, a retired Baptist pastor voted for this new policy stating quote Jesus never made sexual habits. An issue with his followers. We want to be as much like Jesus as possible.

We do remember when the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus. They seem to care about her sexual activity.

He said no and send what not going to send some more but go and sin no more, and I was going stop adulterating Clint Hopkins.

This retired Southern Baptist pastor went on, say it isn't proper for us to give too much attention to sex and deciding who's in and out of the kingdom and was Paul improper in spending so much time on the road under the influence of the spirit of God.

Do not be deceived for screening six not attend neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor feminine.

That is the man playing the female role in homosexual activity, nor homosexuals, nor thieves nor the coverages, nor drunkards, nor of Eilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God, for out of the six lifestyles he mentioned had something to do with sexual relation again to Timothy Road for some men straying from these things have turned aside the fruitless discussion wanting to be teachers of the law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they may confident assertion. We know that the laws good. Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious for the ungodly and sinners for the unholy and profane for those who kill their fathers or mothers for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurer's and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching says there are some stray from this truth and they have all of these discussions and says, in effect, they are immoral men to the Ephesians, Paul made sexuality and evidence of salvation. He went as far to say that it proves in effect whether or not you are in or out of the kingdom and he is insane.

You can be forgiven of any sin he is saying that you cannot remain unrepentant and at the same time say that Christ embraces you and simply covers his eyes and says that's okay there deceived people in the church involved in sexual immorality, I believe, probably in this auditorium here today listening to me speak deceived. He writes to them, do not let immorality or any impurity be named among you race to the Ephesian church. For this you know with certainty that no immoral or impure person, that is, those who practice impurity those who practice immorality has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God led no one deceive you with empty word.

In other words, the Clint Hopkins and the committee is in the mainline Protestant denominations are simply he would say, deceived, and in the process of deceiving other by condoning immorality. How anyone can say that the Bible doesn't address issues of sexuality is beyond me. If they do, the author of Hebrews said very plainly let marriage be held in honor among all and let the marriage bed be undefiled, but fornicators talk, sort of a broad categorical term for sexual immorality. The word tornado which gives us our work pornography for fornicators and he throws in adulterers God will judge God is most intolerant of sin that must be forgiven.

In spite of that one religious authors written quote sexuality as we understand it today is not addressed in the Bible on those verses. I just read it as a modern concept in this field, we must look to the ongoing revelation of science and of newly emerging voices of experience that summarizes the confusion that exists within the church, God's revelation is simply set aside it. It isn't relevant it's out of date. It really doesn't address issues of modern sexual relationships and it does repeatedly.

In spite of that one author John McNeil wrote the Scriptures are limited biblical judgments against homosexuality are not relevant to today's debate, Marty Neeson and adds Paul's arguments were simply based on Jewish moral codes. In fact, Paul may have needed sexual therapy himself was Paul out of date was up, all under some sort of naïve impression of sexuality, including homosexuality, was he was he uninformed was is this a modern issue no anybody studies history will no, far from it. Paul was surrounded by sexual immorality will form.

He lived in a day when homosexual love was by some philosophers treated as the highest form of love bisexuality within the Roman Empire was considered the norm and the straight heterosexual relationships were considered prudish and fearful. Many highborn Greeks maintain male concubines along with their wives and Ron was in a different effect 14 of the first 15 Roman emperors were homosexual fact, the Emperor who was living during the time of Paul's writing to the believers in Rome. His name was what Nero Nero was already infamous for his open marriage to a man in his private baths with young boys. Susan, the modern concept isn't unique to the 20th or 21st century. Paul was surrounded by it, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He condemned it, and every other sinful activity outside of marriage. Now what I want to do with that as my introduction is just raise a number of issues that you will hear by the way have a couple of books here with me and I have read through a number of resources. Of these are two excellent ones. This one simply called homosexuality by James B. The young, this one by John Stott called same-sex partnerships and excellent treatment.

If you would like to dig a little further and understand some of the issues little better as relates to biblical texts. Let me just very briefly address some of the arguments as we seek to protect the church from the confusion emanating from our unbelieving society but one argument is this.

The Bible doesn't condemn homosexuality. Only homosexuals who act selfishly.

They stayed in the words of one the men of Sodom were not punished. In the Old Testament for their homosexuality. But there in hospitality was good. I can look at the record.

Turn to Genesis chapter 19 verse one. This of course is the well-known story of the doom of Sodom. The city's name. It gives us the name or sexual activity between homosexual men. Genesis 19 one. Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening is a lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. You may remember. Prior to this, of course, Sodom is going to be destroyed and these angels are sent to rescue a lot when lap saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground and he said now behold my Lord please turn aside of your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet, then you may rise early and go on your way. They said however no, but we shall spend the night of the square that is out of the open marketplace that he urged them strongly so they turn beside him and entered his house and he prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate before they lay down the men of the city. The men of Sodom, surrounded the house. Both young and old, all the people from every quarter and they call the lot and said to him, where the men who came to you tonight. Bring them out to us that we may know them. NASB says have relations with woodlot went out to them at the doorway and shut the door behind them and said please my brothers do not act wickedly double hole. I have two daughters who have not had relations with man.

Please let me bring them out to you and do to them whatever you like. Only do nothing to these men. Inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof, but they said stand aside. Furthermore, they said this one referring the lot came in as an outsider and already he is acting like a judge. Now we will treat you worse than them so they pressed hard against lot and came near to break the door but the men reached out their hands and brought lot into the house with them and shut the door and they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway. This wasn't in hospitality. It was unrestrained lust and perversion. In fact, these men so craved to sodomize the Angels that even after they were blinded there lust continued to drive them not to find the doctor about to find the doorway they would prefer to remain blind. One homosexual author says in his book, there is no reason to believe that sexual relations was any part of this picture you read it at face value and he says there's nothing in her related to sexual activity. He says the word for know God died verse five bring them out, that we may know them has nothing to do any other than anything other than getting acquainted with one get to know them.

The trouble is the very same word yet appears in verse eight where you were lot says let me bring my daughters out. They have never known a man same word yet the by the way, I wonder if those girls ever recovered the New Testament book of Jude provides additional commentary to back up this interpretation of it being sexual immorality. Jude writes just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them since day in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality not gross in hospitality but gross immorality and went after flesh. Strange flesh, are exhibited as an example and undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Another argument is this a homosexual was born that way and cannot change.

This of course is a key issue in the debate because if you can't change that it is in the choice and then it is sin simply can't help it, man or woman. By the way, from a very early age will have a propensity toward sin.

Maybe this sin effect. Paul indicates where the writer of Hebrews does when he refers to our struggle as that the settings sin that so easily in tangles us. He seems to imply that all of us are tempted in a variety of different ways that seeks to ensnare and entangle lesson.

This could be one of those temptations, the person is no more born homosexual than he is an adult or rapist or pornographer or polygamist person chooses to rape chooses to lie chooses to marry more than one woman chooses to commit adultery. All sin is a choice. However, in a way, this argument is true when it says they were born that way.

There's a sense of truth in that in that we are all born sinners. Are we not, we all are born with a struggle for sinful urges and temptation and none of us can change that's true, none of us can change unless the redemptive power of Christ invades her life sweeps out the sand of the desert. We submit to the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. The Bible never refers to homosexuality is a sickness or genetic issue.

It always refers to it as sin and let me tell you why that's goodness wonderfulness because some sicknesses cannot be cured. Some genetic issues will never be resolved, but sin is a QR sin as a remedy. When we confess first John 19 are sin to him that her excuses not are justifications that are sin, then he is faithful just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church is powerfully revealing words, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived, and I read the list earlier fornicators, idolaters, homosexuals, thieves, swimmers, such were some of you. He writes to the church in court. Not such are some of you, but such were some of you, you don't design a church or any one of these particular sin.

You confess them.

They have developed an entire network of homosexual churches. Can you imagine doing that with any number of these lists of sins listed here. Can you imagine a church designed for swindlers.

We can understand the language of the swimmer can imagine taking offering and that church never make it to the front will what happened to them.

Paul said such were some of you pulled it on to say, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the spirit of our God Bible is a gentleman never tells us to accept each other's behavior when it violates Scripture.

In fact, it tells us to hold each other accountable to confess and repent of the sin and experience of forgiveness and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Another prevalent statement is this one. Jesus never uttered one word against homosexuality. So he is against it. The first part of that statement again is true. Jesus Christ never uttered one word against homosexuality, but he also never uttered one word against rape, incest, beastie reality, pedophilia are we to suppose he would approve of the Jesus Christ does not promise you freedom in sin. He promises you freedom from sin. He accepts homosexual comes to him in repentance and confession of sin.

Just as he accepts any center. The rapist agreed E the gossip, the arrogant, but he doesn't then say now that I've accepted you go back into that lifestyle and continue now.

He says go and sin no more. Another argument is this a homosexual.

Simply doing what comes naturally. Thus, it could be considered an alternative lifestyle that he attempted to go back to Romans one is to take that passage and turn it around in such a way that you have Paul condemning only those who are not naturally homosexual. For them it would be unnatural and they are the ones condemned, that's clever exegesis, but it ignores the meaning of the words Paul in fact in this paragraph goes to the order of nature, and he says that females a literal translation would be females abandon natural inclination that males abandoned the order of nature and they burned in their lust toward one another, which is unnatural or literally against the very order of nature, not against their nature posting is against the order of nature. You look at that paragraph and you see the phrase as degrading passions. Verse 26 exchange the natural function that which is unnatural. Verse 27 men abandoned the natural function that is according to the order of nature and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving due penalty of their error. You ignore the creator of nature, and you violate the order of nature and may sit down to this particular table of consequence. Now, the community would go on and say within the homosexual world that their behavior is biologically alluring to them. It comes naturally to them. Thus there merely going along with her nature. Let me address at just a little bit further does the Lord ever say to heterosexual men since lusting after women comes naturally to you. Go ahead. Does he ever say to any body since coveting comes naturally to you, that is okay.

I understand no should a man be allowed to rate simply because it is biologically alluring them aren't adulterers and adulteresses, and fornicators doing what is biologically tempting to them. None of the more force ladies and gentlemen, I want to listen to this statement is not original, and is very profound.

If you don't get anything else get this all sin comes naturally.

It comes by way of our fallen nature.

Every one of us have wicked desperately wicked heart profited in noise left to ourselves and our natural urges and temptations we are guilty and capable of being guilty of every Sen. heaven, we do not determine what is acceptable by what comes naturally to us. In fact, when society follows that logic and it infiltrates the church and the church buys into that deception. The desert sands simply sweep in with greater force and more incredible speed doesn't matter what you like or find natural Paul said in Ephesians 2, you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of evil children of wrath, even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, that is, even when we were consumed by our evil died for us and loved us and made us alive by faith with Christ. For by grace you have been saved. The church ladies and gentlemen is not supposed to condone evil nature but to condemn it and reveal its evil expose its need for redemption and then point people to the eternal remedy which is Jesus Christ alone. Let me give you three principles that emerge from our study in the series thus far.

Number one when God's word is rejected, the depravity in a person's life can be unbelievable. We are surrounded by, and it is tragic when we see it operating in our society because of its destruction.

San Francisco coroner estimated at 10% of the city's homicides are related sadomasochistic sexual relations among homosexuals. Bob Greene stated this in the Chicago Tribune, 1981, of course, I wouldn't be quoted in the paper today. The city government of San Francisco conducted at taxpayers expense workshops to teach homosexuals how to avoid serious bodily harm while engaging in this form of sex, although by definition both sadism and masochism are destructive. The very purpose of both deviations is to inflict pain on heart sadism on others and masochism on one's self illustrates the second principle is this when God's design for relationships is refused destruction of a person's life would be inevitable. There is the utter loss of personal identity and self worth unfulfilled desire that simply craves for more unmitigated guilt and anger deep anger terrible personal destruction, disease, loss of personal dignity, loss of healthy relationship. Ladies and gentlemen here to warn you that is in the greatest temporary greatest losses found in the warning of Paul. Those who refuse to repent of their immorality and infidelity pulses will not inherit the kingdom of heaven must give the bad news about immorality. There is the good news of redemption good news that the sands of the desert are repelled by the spirit of God. The wasteland can be replaced by the way, since dignity purpose forgiveness, fellowship with you, to this book and accepting. More importantly, its author, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You've not accepted God's offer given us from sin.

Today is the day the message you just heard from Stephen Davey is called the sands of Sodom. The comes from his series entitled the banquet table of consequences. We have one more lesson to go in this series and that will be tomorrow.

If you tuned in late, or if you want to hear this lesson again.

It's posted to our website wisdom online.org. You'll also find it on our smart phone app. By the way, when you download and open our app. Be sure and fill out the form to request our monthly magazine heart to heart. The July magazine will have some help articles on friendship and in August we deal with end time prophecy. Plus, there's a daily devotional for you to use again fill out that form on our app or call us at 86 648 Bible. Be sure and join us tomorrow for the conclusion to this series here on wisdom for the heart