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Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

CAN A HOMOSEXUAL BE SAVED?

Some one asks, "Can a homosexual be saved?" The answer is a simple YES. Jesus points out in Matthew 12:31-32, that only the sin against the Holy Spirit "shall not be forgiven neither in this world, nor in the world to come." However, if we ask, "Can a practicing homosexual be saved?" - we have a completely different answer. 

In order to have a common point of reference concerning salvation and being saved, let us remind ourselves of three basic facts Paul points our in Romans 1:16-18.
     1. The Gospel (i.e. the Christian religion) is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes.    Verse 16
     2. The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel.  Verse 17
     3. The need for the Gospel is because: the wrath of God is revealed from heaven (in the Gospel) against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

In other words, God "hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

In the first century A.D., Corinth was considered one of the most licentious cities in the entire Roman empire. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, deals with the same problems we seem to be struggling with today. First of all he asks, what we too should know, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" Paul then enumerates a list of sins that were common then and prevalent today, such as: fornication, idolatry, adultery, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, [Living Bible = homosexuals] thieving, covetous, drunkenness, reviling, and extortion. Lastly, Paul points out, "And such were some of you." Thus, we have Christians who had been practicing fornicators, homosexuals, and alcoholics. 

However, upon hearing the Gospel (Romans 10:17), they believed that Jesus was the risen Christ (Mark 16:15-16). Furthermore, they had repented of their sins (Acts 2:38) and confessed Jesus as their Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Finally they were baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins (Acts 22:16) and were added to those called out of the world to be Christians (Acts 2:47). In the words of Paul to the penitents, " 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 Corinthians 6:11). 
 
Dale Royal
Elk City, OK