Because there is such widespread disagreement on the subject of homosexuality, thanks to very active protests, challenges, finagling, lobbying, media blurbs & every other way that homosexuals can force acceptance of their lifestyle: a study of Scripture reveals much. Several Scriptures have been posted here but one of the most pointed in condemning homosexuality for what it truly is may be found in 1Corinthians 6:9;
"Know ye not that that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God?"
That's some sterling company indeed! We may see it also listing sub-groups within the words, as the sexual sins of fornication, adultery, effeminate; and sins of selfish dishonesty as the covetous, thieves, frauds & extortioners; and sins of habitual drunkeness as revilers; and sins of outright idolators worshipping idols or other gods. All are easy to translate except one, shied away from in many texts: effeminate.
First 'fornicators' covers anybody having sex outside of marriage. The homosexuals and sympathizers push very hard to abolish the moral concept of God, that marriage is between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation to carry on God's heritage of children. A sane mind, that's non-insane, knows that marriage of women to women and men to men is a ridiculous concept only invented to give validity to homosexual behavior.
Why? Because the basic purpose of marriage since the very beginning of mankind is that, "The two shall become one flesh." right? That one flesh isn't real complicated to figure out. A man and woman become one flesh in the only way physically possible: by having sexual intercourse which results in, guess what? Yep, 'one flesh', also known as 'children'! A child is 'one flesh' produced by 'two flesh'; pretty simple, huh?
Fornication is any sexual act of intercourse outside of marriage. Yes, many push it to the limits by practicing virtually every other sexual act before marriage other than actual intercourse, thinking it handily skirts God's intent. I think not. Most humans above the age of 5 have some idea of sexuality, and by 6-9 have heard about birds and bees.
But, what is 'effeminate'? It is the translation of a koine Greek word that I can't type because it takes special Greek letters and it describes a man taking on [e-fem-inate] or female characteristics. From Scripture, our best guide, we find: Amplified Bible says, 'nor those who participate in homosexuality'. ASV says, 'nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men'. Darby translation gives 'nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men'. Young's says, 'nor effeminate nor sodomites'. NASB & NASB E-Prime translate it as 'nor effeminate nor homosexuals'. ISV says, 'male prostitutes or homosexuals'. Get it?
Strongs gives it as: 3120 Malakos: of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite:-- effeminate, soft.
Thayers says: malakos , 1] soft, soft to the touch, 2] metaphorically in a bad sense, 2a] effeminate, 2a1] of a catamite, 2a2] of a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man, 2a3] of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness, 2a4] of a male prostitute. Part of Speech: adjective, Relation: of uncertain affinity.
Matthew Henry Commentary contains much insight:
"1 Corinthians 6:1-20 Cautions against going to law in heathen courts. (1-8) Sins which, if lived and died in, shut one out from the kingdom of God. (9-11) Our bodies, which are the members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Ghost, must not be defiled. (12-20)
Verses 1-8: Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels and disputes. In matters of great damage to ourselves or families, we may use lawful means to right ourselves, but Christians should be of a forgiving temper. Refer the matters in dispute, rather than go to law about them. They are trifles, and may easily be settled, if you first conquer your own spirits. Bear and forebear, and the men of least skill among you may end your quarrels. It is a shame that little quarrels should grow to such a head among Christians, that they cannot be determined by the brethren. The peace of a man's own mind, and the calm of his neighbourhood, are worth more than victory. Lawsuits could not take place among brethren, unless there were faults among them.
Verses 9-11: The Corinthians are warned against many great evils, of which they had formerly been guilty. There is much force in these inquiries, when we consider that they were addressed to a people puffed up with a fancy of their being above others in wisdom and knowledge. All unrighteousness is sin; all reigning sin, nay, every actual sin committed with design, and not repented of, shuts out of the kingdom of heaven.
Be not deceived. Men are very much inclined to flatter themselves that they may live in sin, yet die in Christ, and go to heaven. But we cannot hope to sow to the flesh, and reap everlasting life. They are reminded what a change the Gospel and the grace of God had made in them. The blood of Christ and the washing of regeneration can take away all guilt. Our justification is oweing to the suffering and merit of Christ, and our sanctification to the working of the Holy Spirit; but both go together. All who are made righteous in the sight of God are made holy by the grace of God.
Verses 12-20: Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, "All things are lawful for me". This dangerous conceit St. Paul opposes. There is a liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, in which we must stand fast. But surely a Christian would never put himself into the power of any bodily appetite. The body is for the Lord; is to be an instrument of righteousness to holiness, therefore is never to be made an instrument of sin. It is an honour to the body that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead; and it will be an honour to our bodies that they will be raised.
The hope of a resurrection to glory should keep Christians from dishonouring their bodies by fleshly lusts. And if the soul be united to Christ by faith, the whole man is become a member of His spiritual body. Other vices may be conquered in the fight, that are here cautioned against, only by flight. And vast multitudes are cut off by this vice in its various forms and consequences. Its effects fall not only directly upon the body, but often upon the mind. Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master's use. Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord's, by the strongest ties. May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are his."
The word is used 4 times in New Testament, at Matthew 11:8, Luke 7:25, 1Corinthians 6:9.
It is written many times that we will be guided by the Holy Spirit. However some sins are so obviously abominations that no real guidance is needed there. We don't have to be told not to cut off people's heads, microwave them & eat them. We don't have to be told not to have sex with 2 year olds. We need no guidance to not go to our neighbors house and beat all his children to death with a club.
We're also told that we are saved by Grace in Christ's finished work, freed from the Law of Sacrifices for sin. All who turn to Christ and repent of their sin and declare Him as their Lord will be saved. Now, that said: would you expect to see any souls in heaven who claimed themselves as being Christians, who also regularly, even daily did the things described in the previous paragraph?
We are instructed in the Gospels & Epistles to bring our bodies into submission to the Will of God, our Lord. Instead, the homosexual brings themselves into submission to their bodies! Their entire lifestyle & being revolves around lusts of the flesh and desires of the body. This becomes so pronounced that men affect women's speech, women affect men's, and then begin to try to transform themselves into another being. The women start to dress and act like truckers and construction workers, the men like cabaret queens and dancing girls! It has become so extraordinary now that there are many who have surgical operations and hormone injections to try to convert themselves to the opposite sex, as their bodies rule their minds, being, identity and sanity!
Can a person say, "Yes, this is quite normal."?? Up to the 1960's this 'normal' group at the very most accounted for less than 2% of the population!
So, In Father's Holy Scripture of the Word He has already announced His verdict on those who dare to wander there and partake: the death penalty.
