How
can a gay person come to GOD? The answer
is exactly the same for a gay person as it is for ANYONE else . . . through the
redeeming work of GOD's grace made available through Jesus' death and
resurrection. Forget about
merit-salvation or self-sanctification.
This is called, "justification by faith plus nothing . . . and
sanctification by Holy Spirit (that's His job), not the Law.
If
one is authentically justified by GOD through Christ's finished work we would
not be concerned about sanctification because sanctification follows authentic
justification. It is all GOD's work and
it is all finished! If we preach/teach
any other "gospel" we are to be cursed (Galatians 1:8 & 9).
It
is amazing how preaching the "gospel of Jesus Christ" riles up the
"religious" folk who want to focus on external behavior. Even Paul was accused of preaching
"cheap grace" (Galatians 1:10).
To preach anything else is to question the authority and power of the
“gospel of Christ which is the power of GOD unto salvation to EVERYONE who
believes . . . .” (Romans 1:16). The “gospel
of Jesus Christ” will fully do its work in all who truly receive it . . . the
work of justification . . . sanctification . . . and glorification.
What
was it that Jesus declared “upon this rock I will build My church; and the
gates of Hades will not overpower it?”
Was it that Jesus is partly able to redeem? No!
Peter’s confession directed to Jesus was that, “You are THE CHRIST, the
Son of the living GOD.” (Matthew 16:15-18).
Satan is not afraid of the works of mankind but he trembles at the very
name of Jesus the Christ. It is upon
this truth that Jesus is building His Church because through the shed blood of
THE CHRIST and His resurrection are all who believe redeemed fully and
completely . . . plus NOTHING (Hebrews 10)!
Obviously,
if one “goes on sinning willfully” we might question whether or not that person
has experienced authentic justification (Hebrews 10:26). However, we must be cautious in our judgments
(The wheat and the tares -- Matthew 13:24-30).
Lost people can perform outwardly and appear to be believers. Our churches are full of such people. Also, being redeemed does not mean one
becomes perfect in behavior. None of us
can reach perfection this side of glory.
A more accurate measure of spiritual maturity is evidenced by Spiritual
fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). If one is
walking by the Spirit he/she will not “carry out the desire of the flesh”
(Galatians 5:16-17). Paul clearly shows
us that even for those of us who are in Christ there is spiritual warfare going
on (Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 7:15-25).
Paul
speaks an incredibly serious warning against trusting in something other than
Jesus alone for justification: “You have
been severed from Christ you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have
fallen from grace. For we through the
Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love” (Galatians
5:4-6).
GOD’s
grace (there is only one kind of grace . . . authentic biblical grace) has
NEVER motivated me to desire to act out in my flesh. Paul says it well: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free;
therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
(Galatians 5:1).
Yes,
I have a major problem with anyone who claims to know Jesus and continues
embracing a gay identity just as I have an equally major problem with anyone
who claims to know Jesus and continues embracing a prideful and self-righteous
spirit. So I would say to us all: “Let
us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised
is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good
deeds” (Hebrews 10:23-24).
