Can a person be a Christian and be a lesbian or gay?
Let’s start by reading 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” The Lord knows who is saved. We don’t always know that. Sometimes a person may seem to be saved, with the ability to say the right things and quote the right scriptures, but is not saved. Sometimes a person may not give the appearance of a believer, but truly has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But, the Lord knows the hearts of everyone, and He alone knows definitely whether someone is saved or not.
We know from scripture that homosexual behavior is sin, even an abomination. Leviticus 18:22 says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (NKJV) The word ‘abomination’ here literally means ‘morally disgusting’. We also read in Leviticus 20:13, “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…” (NKJV) Both of these verses are, of course, from the Old Testament. It seems that some people think that since it is not in the New Testament, then it doesn’t apply to us today.
So, let’s see what the New Testament has to say about homosexuality. Romans 1:26-27 tells us, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into 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 recompence of their error which was meet.” Because of their rejection of the Word of God, the Lord gave some over to vile, or disgraceful, affections. One of the characteristics of these vile affections is that “the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another”. May we all be convinced by the Word of God. Homosexuality is sin.
Will the Lord forgive and save a homosexual? He absolutely will. The Lord Jesus said in John 6:37, “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. The Lord does not turn down or turn away anyone who comes to Him for salvation.
What if one claims to be saved but is living a homosexual lifestyle, can he truly be saved and go to Heaven? Perhaps this person is truly saved, but sometimes gives into this temptation. Perhaps this person is trying desperately to give up this lifestyle, but slips back into it. Perhaps this person has been falsely taught (as many teach today) that there is nothing wrong with a homosexual lifestyle and continues in it. What about this person? As I said earlier, “the Lord knoweth them that are His.” The Lord knows that person’s heart and only He knows for sure if that person is truly saved. However, to all those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their savior, let us not forget the second part of 2 Timothy 2:19 which says, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” How vital it is to the believer to seek to live a life that is pleasing and honorable to the Lord. If scripture teaches that something is sin, then it is sin and needs to be departed from.
We can counsel a homosexual that his lifestyle is sinful. However, even if we could convince a homosexual that his lifestyle is wrong, and that person stops that behavior, that doesn’t mean he will go to heaven. It is only through faith in the Lord Jesus that a person can be saved. Speaking of the Lord Jesus, we read in Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (162.1)