PAUL’S EIGHT-FOLD DESCRIPTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY (1)

Romans 1:18-32

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Homosexuality is “the state of being sexually attracted only to people of your own sex or gender.”

 

B.   The evolution of homosexuality in society.

1.    It began as a sin against God.

2.    It was classified as a mental illness that needed to be addressed and healed.

3.    It is still classified as a mental illness, but the treatment has changed.  Treatment now involves coming out of the closet and being accepted by family and society.

4.    Some see homosexuality simply as an alternate lifestyle. 

a.    There is no sin and no sickness associated with it.

b.    Homosexuality is normal, and those who oppose it are homophobic and bigoted.

c.    Homosexuality is to be taught and is to be accepted by all.

5.    NOTE:  About 3.8% of the population identifies within the LGBTQ+ community.

 

C.   Homosexuality is definitely a Bible topic addressed in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

 

D.   In this lesson, we will turn our attention to Romans 1:18-32.  The title of our lesson is:  “Paul’s Eight-Fold Description of Homosexuality.”

1.    Homosexuality is addressed in the middle of the text (Rom. 1:24, 26-27).

 

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves…For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:  for even the women did change the natural use in to that which is against nature:  and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

 

2.    Our discussion of the eight points will not be an exegesis of the text.  We will be looking the text in its entirety and pulling the points from the things that Paul wrote.

 

I.             DELINEATED AS EVIL

 

A.   The immediate context does not specifically say that homosexuality is sin.

 

B.   The text, however, does call homosexuality error (Rom. 1:27).

 

…the recompense of their error…

 

1.    Strong (4106):  fraudulence, a straying from orthodoxy or piety

2.    Thayer:  wandering, a straying about, one led astray from the right way, error, wrong opinion relative to morals which shows itself in a wrong way of acting

3.    Vine:  wandering, a forsaking of the right path

 

C.   Other words used to describe homosexuality:

1.    Ungodliness (Rom. 1:18):  impiety, wickedness, want of reverence toward God

2.    Unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18):  moral wrongfulness, a deed violating law and justice

3.    Uncleanness (Rom. 1:24):  impurity, the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living

4.    Unseemly (Rom. 1:27):  an undecency, an unseemly deed, that which is connected to shame

5.    Not convenient (Rom. 1:28):  that which is not fit or becoming

 

II.           DESIRE OF THE HEART

 

A.   If homosexuality is a sin, and it is.  Then, Satan entices the desires of a person’s heart in order to lead him into that sin (Jam. 1:14-15).

 

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, which it is finished, bringeth forth death.

 

B.   Let’s look at some of the terms found in Romans 1.

1.    “…through the lusts of their hearts…” (Rom. 1:24)

2.    Vile affections (Rom. 1:26)

a.    These are two words in the Greek language.

1)    Affections:

a)    Strong (3806):  A suffering, passion       :- (inordinate) affection, lust

b)    Thayer:  a feeling from which the mind suffers, affliction of the mind, emotion, passion,

c)    Vine:  to suffer, an affection of the mind, a passionate desire

2)    Vile:  indignity, disgrace, dishonor, shame, passions of dishonor

3.    Burned in their lust (Rom. 1:27)

4.    Reprobate mind (Rom. 1:28)

a.    These are two words in the Greek language

1)    Mind:  the mind, the intellect (this is the place wherein desire originate)

2)    Reprobate:

a)    Strong (96):  unapproved, rejected, worthless

b)    Thayer:  not standing the test, not approved, unfit, reprobate

c)    Vine:  a mind of which God cannot approve, and which must be rejected by Him

 

C.   When individuals are tempted toward homosexuality, Satan is attacking the passions and desires of the mind.

1.    These desires and passions for sexual pleasure are God-given.

2.    Satan, however, entices them toward those things that are disgraceful, dishonorable, shameful, and that are unapproved of God.

 

D.   LESSONS: 

1.    The temptation to homosexuality is not inherited. 

2.    Too, it is not a mental disorder. 

3.    It is a spiritual affliction that must be resisted just like the sexual desires between two teenagers who are dating, or, two co-workers that have feelings for one another.  James exhorts us to resist the devil (Jam. 4:7).

 

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

III.         DEPARTURE FROM THE NATURAL USE OF THE BODY

 

A.   Two times this is mentioned in the text.

1.    “…for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature” (Rom. 1:26).

2.    “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women…” (Rom. 1:27).

 

B.   God created man at the beginning of creation as male and female (Gen. 1:27).

 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

1.    When Adam named the animals he found that “there was not an helpmeet for him” (Gen. 2:20).

2.    Thus, God created the woman and brought her unto the man.  She was created to be a “help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18).

a.    The man and the woman have different reproductive systems.

b.    The man and the woman have compatible reproductive systems.

c.    The man and the woman have mutually desired reproductive systems.

d.    NOTE:  Everything fits properly, works properly, and enables the human race to reproduce. 

 

C.   Homosexuality goes against nature.

1.    Things do not fit properly.

2.    Things do not work properly.

3.    Those who engage in homosexual behavior will NEVER be able to reproduce.

 

IV.         DISHONOR THE BODY

 

A.   Romans 1:24b

 

…to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.

 

1.    Strong (818):  to render infamous, contempt, maltreat

2.    Thayer:  to dishonour, insult, treat with contempt

3.    Vine:  to dishonor, to treat shamefully, insult

 

B.   God created man’s body to function perfectly in the perfect environment that He created for man.

1.    The man’s body was created for a woman.

2.    The woman’s body was created for a man.

 

C.   When the human body is used incorrectly, it is being treated with contempt, insult, maltreatment, and shame.

1.    It is not just an “alternate lifestyle.”

2.    It is a lifestyle that is warped, perverted, and brings disgrace to man.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Scientists, doctors, psychologists, professors, and politicians are not God!

1.    They are not the creators of man.

2.    They are not the designers of man.

3.    They are not the governors of man.

 

B.   Sadly, Christians often move from thinking spiritually to thinking socially and politically on many issues, especially spiritual issues.

1.    This causes us to sympathize with sin.

2.    This causes us to become tolerant of sin.

3.    This causes us to rationalize and justify sin.

4.    This causes us to believe some of these issues involving sin are non-issues.

 

C.   If the Bible is truly our divine guide that provides all we need for life and godliness, then we MUST heed, uphold, proclaim, and defend what it says on every issue, even if goes against family, society, medical thinking, and politics. 

1.    Our minds must think like the Christ (Rom 12:2).

2.    Our behavior must conform to the gospel (Phil. 1:27).