Randolph
Protestant Reformed Church

truth and right is the Bible, which is God’s Word.

Applied to social issues, this means that neither the majority opinion, nor the declaration of the courts, nor the plea of those who think they are wronged, must sway us to do or think that which is contrary to Scripture. Even the opinions of other Christians, if contrary to Scripture, mean nothing.

Christians who take this to heart will note that in the Bible, God declares the homosexual act to be sin. Already to Israel in the Old Testament He did so: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).

The church is prone to forget or deny this prohibition. So it is repeated in the New Testament: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Not only does this verse include homosexuality by implication in the terms “fornicators” and “adulterers,” but it refers explicitly to them in the terms “effeminate” and “abusers of themselves with mankind.” The first term refers to the male who plays the part of the female, the receiver, and the second term refers to the male who plays the part of the male, the one who is being sexually gratified.

Are Christians today being deceived? Are we forgetting what God says about who will, or will not, inherit His kingdom? He is the King! He has the right to determine who may enter!

Do not misunderstand. The apostle is not saying that none who have committed homosexual acts will ever go to heaven. All who go to heaven will have sinned in this life! Rather, Paul is teaching that God brings sinners into His kingdom by changing us, by causing us to turn from our sins. For he says in verse 11: “And such were some of you: 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.” Before hearing and believing the gospel, some Christians in Corinth engaged in homosexual activity. But God changed them! He justified them - forgave their sins in the blood of Christ. And He washed and sanctified them - turned them from their sins, and renewed them to obey His law.

By grace, God saves even homosexuals!

So the gospel of salvation in Christ is to be proclaimed to homosexuals as well as to every other sinner. The call of the gospel is: repent, learn to hate your sin, and find that Jesus Christ died to save sinners such as we are! The warning of the gospel is that those who will not repent and believe, but will persist in their sin, will not inherit God’s kingdom. The promise of the gospel is that those who turn will be given a place in that kingdom - a place that none of us deserve!

Second, Christians must not forget that homo-sexuality is part of the broader issue of sexuality. Many Christians today are unable to take a proper stand regarding homosexuality, because they do not understand God’s will regarding sexuality.

God’s will is that sexual activity take place only within the bond of marriage. Sexual activity before marriage, or outside of marriage, is “fornication,” which we must “flee” (I Corinthians 6:18).

God’s will is that marriage be a bond between one man and one woman. He created Adam, and then Eve, as a pattern for all to follow.

God’s will is that a married man and woman find their sexual fulfillment exclusively with each other. There may be no third parties. Mutual faithfulness is required - in thought, in word, and in deed.

If Christians want to show themselves serious in their stand against homosexuality, they must also take a firm stand against all premarital sex, whether “protected” or not; against divorce, which happens so casually today; against the remarriage of divorced people, which Jesus calls “adultery” in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 (how unpopular He would be today, if He lived among us!); against all demeaning of God’s good gift of sex, by the entertainment industry - I have in mind not only hard pornography, but even the frequent nudity in movies and on television.

For not only impenitent homosexuals, but also impenitent adulterers and fornicators will not inherit God’s kingdom (I Cor. 6:9-10)! These must also repent and be changed! Homosexual activity is fundamentally the same sin as the rest of these; all are a misuse of God’s good gift of sex, and a disregard for His will regarding sexuality.

Are we willing to be consistent? Are we willing to live every aspect of our life, God’s way?

If not, we are not really Christians. For the Christian loves Jesus; and Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23).

If so, let us repent of our own sexual sins. Let us find forgiveness for them in Jesus’ blood. Let us live God’s will regarding sexuality.  Only then will we be ready to call others to do the same

Pastor Douglas Kuiper

LECTURE: You are invited to a Reformation lecture to be held in our church on October 27, 7:30 pm. Prof. Ronald Cammenga, from the Protestant Reformed Seminary, will speak on The Heart of the Reformation: Justification by Faith Alone.

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.  Leviticus 20:13

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane . . . for them that defile themselves with mankind . . .   I Timothy 1:8-10

But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matthew 5:32

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. I Corinthians 6:18

If you have any questions regarding this mailing or our church, please mail a note to the church address, call Pastor Kuiper at 920-326-5642, or email him at pastor@randolphprc.org.

Information about the Protestant Reformed Churches of America can be obtained online at www.prca.org

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour every Sunday morning at 8:00 on WFDL, 1170AM (after the news), and at 11:00 on WRRD, 540AM.

Visitors are always welcome at our worship services, every Sunday at 9:30 am & 2:00 pm.