Don't believe it

Matt. 5:17-19

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

There it was again, the same lie, this time on Facebook from a "friend" who should know better. Proudly displayed on a meme, with a picture of Jesus teaching, were the words: "Jesus never said anything about homosexuality." Really? How about the part that is quoted above? The commandments of God about sexual relations have never changed, for they are part of the moral law. Clearly written are the words, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination (Leviticus 18:22)." Arguing that the same book forbids eating unclean food is not an argument at all, for the Kosher laws are not part of the two tables, the moral law. This why the laws concerning sexual morality are repeated in the New Testament, in this case, we find (in addition to the oft quoted Romans 1:26, 27 in a context of warning) a relevant passage in I Corinthians 6:9-11.

"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,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 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."

It is not only the word translated "effeminate" - μαλακός  (malakos) - that identifies the specific sinful practice, but also the word translated "fornicators" - πόρνος (pornos) from the word πορνεύω (pornea), always translated “fornication.” For, although the word "fornication" is understood these days to refer to sexual relations of a male and a female outside of marriage, the actual word means much more. It means any and every kind of sexual transgression, including but not limited to adultery, homosexual acts, sexual child abuse, sexual relations with animals, etc. Jesus never said anything approving about pornea, but instead only as sin, with strong words of warning.

"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man (Matthew 15:15-20)."

All sin is serious enough for Jesus to have taken up His cross of death, not to approve of sins, not to change the moral law, but to atone so that we may be forgiven all of our sins and enter into eternal life. Jesus came to save His people from their sins, not to make the world safe for pornea.