A few comments….
First of all, the three interpretations are very, very accurate and I commend whomever researched them. Thankfully, they chose the first, as that is the only truth.
Secondly, my concern is with: “We rejoice with the many gay, lesbian and same-sex attracted men and women in our churches who love Jesus and are quietly committed to following him on this path…..) Once one becomes a Christian, they are new in Christ – the old has gone and the new has come. As one would no longer call a murder a murderer Christian, so the same with the immorality sins. Either they are Christian, or they are whatever immorality they choose. I cannot see being both, as light has no relationship with darkness.
That said, unless they have repented of their sexual sin, they have not chosen Christ. Unrepentant sinners are not Christian. Now, that said, we all fall back, but we repent. If one is identifying with their sexuality instead of Christ, one can hardly call them a Christian.
1 John 3: 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
As long as we allow them to identify as their sin, that is where their focus will be
(edit)
Marriage: 1 Corinthians 7 – Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
Respectfully;
Hi Sandi, I agree with your comment regarding same-sex-attracted people in churches: one cannot be a “new creation” in Christ and continue to identify as same-sex-attracted. Many churches are trying to adopt a biblical view of marriage and sexuality when they have already accepted unregenerate gays and lesbians into membership. I suspect the view that such people are Christians who are valiantly struggling against immoral impulses derives primarily from a common misinterpretation of Romans 7 (a passage that actually describes a person who is not in Christ). To me it is a sure sign that something is wrong spiritually. One cannot be a follower of Christ and cherish immoral yearnings.
Praise the Lord for His word.
1 John 3: 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
A few comments….
First of all, the three interpretations are very, very accurate and I commend whomever researched them. Thankfully, they chose the first, as that is the only truth.
Secondly, my concern is with: “We rejoice with the many gay, lesbian and same-sex attracted men and women in our churches who love Jesus and are quietly committed to following him on this path…..) Once one becomes a Christian, they are new in Christ – the old has gone and the new has come. As one would no longer call a murder a murderer Christian, so the same with the immorality sins. Either they are Christian, or they are whatever immorality they choose. I cannot see being both, as light has no relationship with darkness.
That said, unless they have repented of their sexual sin, they have not chosen Christ. Unrepentant sinners are not Christian. Now, that said, we all fall back, but we repent. If one is identifying with their sexuality instead of Christ, one can hardly call them a Christian.
1 John 3: 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
As long as we allow them to identify as their sin, that is where their focus will be
(edit)
Marriage: 1 Corinthians 7 – Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
Respectfully;
Hi Sandi, I agree with your comment regarding same-sex-attracted people in churches: one cannot be a “new creation” in Christ and continue to identify as same-sex-attracted. Many churches are trying to adopt a biblical view of marriage and sexuality when they have already accepted unregenerate gays and lesbians into membership. I suspect the view that such people are Christians who are valiantly struggling against immoral impulses derives primarily from a common misinterpretation of Romans 7 (a passage that actually describes a person who is not in Christ). To me it is a sure sign that something is wrong spiritually. One cannot be a follower of Christ and cherish immoral yearnings.
Praise the Lord for His word.
1 John 3: 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
Thank you Sandi.