Message for 10/23/2022 "The Biblical Sexual Ethic Part 2" by Fred Goodwin.

*All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.*

2 Samuel 14:14 - All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

Leviticus 18:6-30 - “You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the Lord. 7 “Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her. 8 “Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father. 9 “Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else’s. 10 “Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for this would violate yourself. 11 “Do not have sexual relations with your stepsister, the daughter of any of your father’s wives, for she is your sister. 12 “Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister, for she is your father’s close relative. 13 “Do not have sexual relations with your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s close relative. 14 “Do not violate your uncle, your father’s brother, by having sexual relations with his wife, for she is your aunt. 15 “Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, so you must not have sexual relations with her. 16 “Do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife, for this would violate your brother. 17 “Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act. 18 “While your wife is living, do not marry her sister and have sexual relations with her, for they would be rivals. 19 “Do not have sexual relations with a woman during her period of menstrual impurity. 20 “Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife. 21 “Do not permit any of your children to be offered as a sacrifice to Molech, for you must not bring shame on the name of your God. I am the Lord. 22 “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin. 23 “A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act. 24 “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. 25 Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out. 26 You must obey all my decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you. 27 “All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled. 28 So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now. 29 Whoever commits any of these detestable sins will be cut off from the community of Israel. 30 So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.”

Romans 1:21-27 - Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

What if I’m a Christian and I also identify as being bisexual, gay or non-heterosexual? Can you be a gay Christian?

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB - But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Galatians 5:17a NIV - For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

John 3:3 - Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 - This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

John 3:6 - Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

Matthew 4:19 - Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Resources For Those Who Struggle with Same Sex Attraction:

Uprooted Heart

Fearless Identity

Overcome Ministries

Freedom March

Changed Movement

Support Outlets (For Parents and those with SSA):

Faith Hope Love Support Group

Restored Hope Network

His Wonderful Works (Local to Ga)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4YNKUrH3vbf5zG91XHdPBc?si=mNwZzg8HSzOcQOhuCNZOAA