SESSION 11 READY WHEN HOMOSEXUALITY DEVASTATES 152 Session 11
The Point Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. The Passage Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 The Bible Meets Life One of the most divisive issues in our nation is homosexuality. People disagree over the rightness and wrongness of homosexuality and to what degree we should allow or endorse it. Churches even take differing positions on how to respond to homosexuals. The topic is moving into the home, and families are trying to come to terms with how to respond when a family member announces he or she is gay. The Bible is not silent on the subject and gives us direction on how to respond. The Setting Romans is Paul s most theological work. His focus is on the gospel as the power of God for salvation and righteousness. But before people will receive salvation, they must first recognize their sinfulness leaves them in need of salvation. These verses from Romans emphasize the sinfulness of all people. Paul s letter to the troubled church in Corinth reminds them of their personal sinfulness prior to the washing they received in Christ. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (see p. 152; Personal Study Guide [PSG], p. 152). DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 152): What were some of the most memorable rules in your family? GUIDE: Call attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 153). Point out that as kids we didn t always appreciate the rules our parents had for us. As mature adults we now understand the value of at least most of those rules. However, our culture continues to rebel against God s rules, especially when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. SAY: God s rules, given out of His love for us, have great value. The Bible gives us direction on how to respond to one of the most divisive issues in our nation: homosexuality. GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 153): Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15 153
THE POINT Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 1:18-23 10 minutes TIP: As with the previous session, acknowledge that this topic may be uncomfortable for some seniors. Urge the group to approach this study with a focus on the hope and new life all people can have in Christ when they turn to him in repentance and faith. Encourage members to have a spirit of love and concern as they consider how God would have them respond to friends and families who are devastated by homosexuality. SUMMARIZE: Refer to The Setting (leader guide, p. 153) to provide background for today s passages. READ: Invite a volunteer to read Romans 1:18-23. Romans 1:18-23 18 For God s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Our sin receives God s wrath because it is a rejection of God. Paul began his letter to the Romans by affirming his apostleship as a slave of Christ Jesus (v. 1). He provided a quick summary of how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament messianic promises as foretold by the prophets, descended from David, and resurrected from the dead (vv. 2-4). He recalled the church s task to take the gospel of Christ to the nations and that believers had come to know Him through that same sharing of the good news. He further reminded the Romans that they had been called and loved by God and 154 Session 11
had become His saints (vv. 5-7). Since God had called him to preach to all kinds of people, Paul eagerly anticipated preaching in Rome (vv. 8-15). After this cordial opening, Paul declared the thesis of his letter to the Romans, boldly stating he was not ashamed of the gospel because it is God s power for salvation to everyone who believes (v. 16). Paul explained that in addition to the gospel containing God s power for salvation, it is also the only revelation of how God s righteousness can be imparted to sinners. Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4, The righteous will live by faith (Rom. 1:17), to remind the Romans that a right standing with God has always been by faith. Paul then explained the sharp contrast between righteousness received by God s grace and unrighteousness people so willfully demonstrate apart from His saving power. Paul emphasized the lost person s problem he is under God s wrath! God s holy anger is an expression of His response to sin. Paul did not merely mean that sinful choices have horrible consequences. Because God is completely holy, He cannot ignore sin or be satisfied by a mere cause and effect system of morality. God s wrath has been revealed by God Himself in both the Old and New Testaments. In His great mercy, God revealed both His holy opposition to sin and the solution to appease His anger. The gospel declares that God sacrificed His own Son so His wrath might be removed from all who come to Christ by faith (1 Thess. 1:10). Godlessness and unrighteousness are more than descriptions of lost people s behavior. Because they are separated from God, lost people are godless and unrighteous, and God takes account of all their sin. Although the gospel clearly displays the remedy for lost sinners, most of them suppress the truth of God s existence and attitude toward sin that can be seen in nature. What can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. Paul explained that God s invisible attributes of eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen since the creation of the world. They have been understood through what He has made. Since all people can know there is a God by observing creation, they are without excuse. Even people who have never heard the gospel will be rightly condemned by God, SUMMARIZE: Stress that verse 18 points out that God s reaction to all sin is wrath holy anger. God is holy and cannot ignore sin of any kind. Unlike human anger, God s anger is not self-centered. God doesn t get angry because He doesn t get His way. God gets angry because sin always ends in destruction. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 155): Why is wrath a necessary element of God s character? GUIDE: Explain that sin is rebellion against God, but people do not rebel out of ignorance. Romans 1:19-20 clearly teaches that God has made Himself known. Direct attention to the image on PSG page 155. Invite the group to read together the image caption from Romans 1:20. His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. 155
THE POINT Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. SAY: According to the last part of verse 20, since all people can know God exists by observing creation, they have no excuse for not believing. GUIDE: Explain that Paul indicated although these people knew God (v. 21), they didn t have a relationship with Him. Their rejection of God s truth about Himself led to a path of rebellion. Call attention to what it looks like for a person to be on this path of rebellion by pointing to the bullet points on PSG page 156: futile (worthless thinking) moral insensitivity (darkened hearts) idol worship DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 156): How does the reality of a Creator influence our discussion of sexuality? (Alternate: Why is it nonsense to rebel against God?) because they have chosen to suppress the truth that has been revealed to them. Paul concluded that all people have known God to some degree (v. 21). Nevertheless, people who remained in their sins chose not to glorify Him as God or show gratitude to Him. Although countless lost people have observed the handiwork of God and been thoroughly impressed, their thinking has come from senseless minds that are darkened. Consequently, much of the thinking of people who don t know God is nonsense, such as the evolutionary theorist s idea that everything developed by chance. Down through the ages, people who reject the true God do so because they think they are wise. Paul declared such people to be fools who trade the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal beings. These idolaters exchange the uniquely awesome splendor of God for man-made replicas of common creatures! In the twenty-first century, we can observe that although people s idols are various and often technologically sophisticated, they are still embraced by the same darkened minds of those who embody godlessness and unrighteousness. Romans 1:24-27 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. 26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 156 Session 11
27 The males in the same way also left natural relations with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. KEY WORDS: Delivered them over (v. 24) God turned people over to the consequences of their sin. He loosed restrictions on those consequences so people felt the brunt of their actions. Homosexual sin is one example of our rebellion against God. God is not ambiguous in His response to man s rejection of Him and/or replacing Him with graven images (Ex. 20:3-4). In addition to passing eternal judgment on sin, He also addresses sin in our present world. Concerning people who persist in their rejection of God, Paul said God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to live according to the sins they loved, including sexual impurity. Consequently, their bodies are degraded among themselves. Delivered over shows that one way God pours out His wrath on sin is by removing His restraint and allowing sinners to reap the fruit of their spiritual rebellion. Consequently, God s wrath both responds to sin and opens the way for it to flourish as He allows hardened sinners to follow their godless desires (Ps. 81:11-12). God does not merely allow sin to take its course. He actively opens the way for people to indulge in sin and suffer its consequences so they might see their need for Him. Paul addressed one of the foundational errors of unbelievers: they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (Literally, the lie. Idolatry is not just one sin among many; it is the sin that causes people to worship something or someone that is not God.) Consequently, unbelievers have worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, whom Paul described as praised forever. Paul shared these words as a brief doxology. Although he had no one with him to provide the amen, he reminded the Romans that worship is the only proper response to God s glory. The sin of idolatry occurs as people rob God of His praise and give it to man-made images unworthy of worship. TRANSITION: Homosexual sin is one example of humanity s rebellion against God, and the consequences are extremely serious. STUDY THE BIBLE Romans 1:24-27 10 minutes READ: Read Romans 1:24-27. READ: Review the KEY WORDS (PSG, p. 157). GUIDE: Add further insight by calling attention to Digging Deeper (PSG, p. 157). Note these statements: By practicing the abnormal vices listed in verses 26-27, men and women actually degrade their own bodies. Our physical bodies were meant for better and more noble purposes. GUIDE: Point out that one way God pours out His wrath is by removing His restraint and allowing sinners to reap the devastating consequences of their spiritual rebellion. 157
THE POINT Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. SUMMARIZE: Paul reminded the Romans when the truth of God is exchanged for a lie, the sin of idolatry occurs. People rob God of His praise and give it to things unworthy of worship. GUIDE: Review the airport example (PSG, p. 158). Stress that it is the security agent s responsibility to protect passengers. In Romans 1, God points His finger at several sins and warns of the danger. Stress that God has established rules for our protection. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 158): How has our culture s view of homosexuality changed in your lifetime? Why? (Alternate: Why does this passage connect idolatry with sexual depravity?) TRANSITION: Those involved in homosexuality are not beyond God s grace. Paul explained the sexual impurity mentioned in verse 24. He reiterated that God delivered them over to what he summarily called degrading passions. Both males and females exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. Both genders choose to be inflamed in their lust for one another. Lust speaks of strong desire or longing. While the term sometimes expressed a positive sense, Paul used it here to speak of the burning lust of homosexuality. Paul seemed to place greater emphasis on men than women when he explained that males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error. He may have done this to show the horrendous consequences of leadership neglected. Instead of providing godly male leadership for their generation, they chose to follow the sinful and effeminate dictates of the flesh. Despite modern attempts to normalize homosexuality and even defend it biblically, Paul clearly condemned it as degrading, unnatural, lustful, and shameless sexual impurity. Under Old Testament law, homosexuality was condemned and punished with the death penalty (Lev. 18:22,29-30; 20:13). Far from merely enforcing a moral prohibition, the law served to support the creation design of people as male and female and the creation mandate to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth (Gen. 1:28). Homosexuals might attempt to mimic God s one flesh design, but their illegitimate claims are exposed in their impotent attempts at fruitfulness and multiplication. They cannot create a so-called family without at least implicitly affirming God s design for heterosexual relations between one man and one woman. By contrast, the Greco- Roman culture of Paul s day was rife with homosexuality, and some considered it superior to heterosexuality. Although the new covenant did not demand capital punishment for homosexuality, Paul reminded the Romans that God would hand down the appropriate penalty for such sexual error. While Paul did not give details as to the exact nature of the penalty, the Greek adjective gives the idea of that which is necessary as punishment. As with other sin, God not only allows people to experience the consequences of homosexuality, He actively punishes them for participating in it. 158 Session 11
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 Don t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God s kingdom. 11 And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. KEY WORDS: Sanctified (v. 11) When people come to faith in Christ, they are set apart by the Spirit to live in holiness before God. Without salvation, holiness is impossible. Justified (v. 11) Believers receive a new standing before God as sinners who have been declared righteous, not on their own but sharing in Christ s righteousness. All people can be made new in Christ. Paul asked a rhetorical question to segue from his discussion of the impropriety of lawsuits among Christians (1 Cor. 6:1-8) to the necessity of believers using their bodies to the glory of God. He addressed believers tendency to slide back into the sexual immorality of their pre-conversion days: Don t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God s kingdom? The answer was obviously affirmative, yet Paul needed to remind the church at Corinth no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God s kingdom. While the first group of sins includes homosexuality, it encompasses heterosexual sins as well. This list reflects Paul s declaration in Romans 1:18 that the wrath of God has been revealed from heaven against all forms of godlessness and unrighteousness. Including idolaters among sexual sins probably refers to the sexual immorality TIP: The Bible calls homosexuality a sin. Avoid debating why it is wrong or related issues (same-sex marriage, whether a person is born gay, or chooses to be gay). Focus on lovingly ministering to those struggling with the devastation of homosexuality. STUDY THE BIBLE 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 10 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. SUMMARIZE: In this passage, Paul told the Corinthian church that people who refused to repent from habitual sinful practices would not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Remind members of a similar verse from the previous session: Eph. 5:5.) GUIDE: Challenge group members to read silently the list of sinful actions in verses 9-10, considering the sins they may have been guilty of. 159
THE POINT Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. SUMMARIZE: The practice of homosexuality is only one of the issues named in verses 9 and 10. Point out that this list reflects Paul s declaration in Romans 1:18 that God s reaction to all sin is wrath. God equally condemns all the sins listed in this passage. We all need a Savior! READ: Read 1 Corinthians 6:11. Review the KEY WORDS (PSG, p. 159; see leader guide, p. 159). SUMMARIZE: Paul reminded the Corinthians that, although they were sinners, they were changed and made righteous before God the moment they placed their faith in Christ. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 161): Verse 11 reminds us there is hope for all in Christ. How do we reflect that hope to people impacted by homosexuality? (Alternate: What are the similarities and differences of the behaviors listed in verses 9-10?) connected to idol worship. Thieves and greedy people both want what other people have. Drunkards lose self-control because they indulge in and are controlled by alcohol consumption. Verbally abusive people wound and destroy people with words that come from hearts filled with hate. Swindlers cheat others through extortion, embezzlement, inferior products and services, deceptive promotions, and other creative ways to con people out of their money. No one who continually practices these sins will inherit (receive) God s kingdom. True followers of Christ have an inheritance that will not spoil or fade reserved in heaven for them as people protected by the power of God through faith (1 Pet. 1:4-5). Nevertheless, God s people ( His possession, 2:9) are still warned to abstain from fleshly desires that continue to war against their souls (v. 11). Paul reminded the Corinthians that some of them used to be involved in these sinful lifestyles when they were dead in their sins (Eph. 2:1). But draws a sharp contrast between the Corinthians former sinful lives and their new lives in Christ. Washed refers to the believer s regeneration, having been made alive in Christ. This word does not refer to baptism but to the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit by which we are born again and created in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10). Sanctified speaks of being set apart unto Christ for holy living. Justified describes the believer s new standing before God: declared righteous. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ encompasses all of the characteristics of the Son of God, not just His given name or title. Lord reveals His deity as both the Son of God and God the Son (Phil. 2:10-11). Jesus, His given earthly name, means Yahweh is salvation and points to why He took on flesh to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). Christ means anointed one, the title given to the promised Messiah who would deliver God s people. While God s people are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on their behalf, salvation is made effectual by the Spirit of our God. As the Spirit of truth (John 16:13-14), the Holy Spirit convicts lost people of their sins, opens their eyes to the truth of the gospel, and makes 160 Session 11
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ/ISTANBUL ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUM them alive unto Christ as they repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ. In the midst of today s culture war, we must stand firm on the Word of God and its teaching that practicing homosexuality and Christian discipleship cannot coexist in one s life. We must also stand against heterosexual sin and all forms of sin, and we must point the church and the world to 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. A white marble statue of Alexander the Great. The following excerpt is from the article, Hellenism s Lingering Influence (Win. 2013-14), which relates to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. While Paul used a key language component of Greek culture to communicate the gospel, he certainly humbled the Greeks by including them in the worldwide indictment of Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (HCSB). While we can thank the Greeks for many useful and enjoyable elements in our life today, we must nevertheless remember they stood arm-in-arm with the rest of the Gentiles who heartily practiced the 21 sins listed in Romans 1:26-32. Read Morality of First-Century Rome in the Fall 2014 issue. Previous articles, The Wrath of God (Win. 2013-14), and Understanding the Body in Ancient Cultures (Win. 2004-05), relate to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772. DO: Encourage volunteers to share their responses to the activity, Change Abounds (PSG, p. 161). Be willing to share your own responses. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS Jesus specializes in rescuing devastated people from their sins. All are invited to turn to Him to experience His love and to receive God s free gift of grace and forgiveness. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. 161
THE POINT Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Emphasize The Point: Share the hope and new life all can have in Christ. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 162; see text to the right). Acknowledge the difficulty some will have in studying this issue. Challenge each member to consider which application God may be urging him/her to complete this week. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Remind the group that God s rules and standards have not changed, but neither has His love. The church must stand for biblical truth, but it must also be a channel of His love to those who are struggling with the devastation of homosexuality. LIVE IT OUT So how will you respond to those who are homosexual? Perhaps such a person is in your family. Perhaps you have been devastated for years with this knowledge this secret. Ignoring it hasn t made it go away. Consider which application below God may be urging you to complete this week. > > Monitor your own heart and attitude this week. Ask the Holy Spirit to shine the light of conviction on any judgmental or unloving attitude you may have toward homosexuals. > > Work with your Bible study group. Make your church a safe, loving place not just for repentant adulterers, liars, and swindlers, but also for homosexuals who come through the doors. They may be seeking God s love and help to come out of one of the most harmful lifestyles of all. > > Build a relationship with someone you know who is homosexual. While we cannot condone the lifestyle, we can and should accept the person. Reach out to this individual by listening to him or her, pray for and with him or her, and lovingly share the truth of Jesus Christ. God s rules and standards have not changed, but neither has His love. Be a channel of His truth and love. PRAY: Thank God for the hope and new life we have been given in Christ. Ask Him for help and courage to reach out in love to others struggling with homosexual sin. 162 Session 11
My Thoughts My Group's Prayer Requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Manhood Restored In the past, the lack of true fatherhood was mainly discussed surrounding single-parent homes and divorce. But with the rise of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender parenting (LGBT), we see a broader crisis in parenting and fatherhood. In years past, this community desired an acknowledgment of their validity through legitimizing their relationships. But the effort is underway to expand this understanding so that a family can be redefined any way the particular members want it to be. It s another step toward culturally normalizing LGBT as a part of humanity s options. To continue reading this excerpt from Manhood Restored, visit BibleStudiesforLife. com/articles, and enter the article title in the search bar. Or use your smartphone to access the article directly by scanning the QR code. 163