In our culture, the biggest problem and threat to the Gospel being preached to the homosexual community are the false beliefs that are perpetuated by both those within the community and those outside it. People within the homosexual community and outside of it often falsely belief that “they are not like us” and that “our sexuality is our identity.”
This is dangerous for us as we understand the message of forgiveness. This is dangerous for all the people throughout our country who come out to friends and family and falsely believe things about themselves and their identity that are simply contrary to what the Gospel proclaims. And I write this not to point out what those who struggle believe, but to primarily point out what many of us who don't struggle with this issue falsely believe.
The Two Biggest Lies People Falsely Believe
1. They are not like us.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. They are just like us.
In 1 Timothy 1:8-10, Paul describes the lawbreakers and the rebels:
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul makes another list.
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
But here is the point; we are all on these lists. Paul’s point in the list isn’t about calling out only homosexual behavior, but in calling out all of our sin. We are all the lawbreakers and the rebels. We are all guilty. And just for good measure, in case you don’t think you find yourself on the list, Paul even says “and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine.”
That means anything that go against right belief.
So even if you are arrogant enough to think you aren’t on the list, he still adds the kicker to make sure you’re still counted as:
Lawbreakers. Rebels. Ungodly. Sinful. Unholy. Irreligious. Wrongdoers.
This is why Paul says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Because the Scriptures description of human nature makes it clear that we are all broken. It is clear that we are all guilty of sin. And that brokennness expresses itself differently in each of our lives.
For some brokenness gets expressed in our sexual behavior.
For others that brokenness gets expressed in greed or gossip.
In others, it happens in drinking.
Homosexual behavior is not a worse sin, but a different one. It simply expresses the same brokenness that is true of all of us differently.
This means that anyone who believes that they are a sinner in need of a savior can with confidence trust the words of Psalms 103:11-12 when it says, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
When Ephesians says we are saved by grace through faith, that goes for all of us. We are all in the same boat. Our root problem is the same. And the grace we receive through faith is the same.
2. Our sexuality is our identity.
Sin is not our identity. It is not the identity of those who struggle with homosexual behavior, it is not the identity of those who support it, and it is not the identity of those who oppose it.
When your sin becomes your identity, you desperately need to hear the Gospel.
You are not what you do. You identity is not found in your own behavior, but is found in Christ who gave of himself on the cross. Your sin should be your identity, but because of the crucifixion your identity becomes that of a saint.
This is why 1 Corinthians 6 says, “That is what some of you were…” Because in Christ, no matter where you fall on that list, you are given a new identity in Christ. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, by faith your identity can be found in Christ. You are called a child of God because Jesus took on your brokenness and sin and made it his own.
You are not what you do.
You are not your sins.
You are not your relationships.
You are not your addictions.
You are not your sexual preferences.
You are not your career.
"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28
Your identity is not found in any of these things. By the grace of God, we can find our identity completely outside of ourselves and in Jesus.
Because it can be hard to capture this in a short blog post, I encourage you to listen to a recent sermon I did on the subject. Even that leaves a lot that could yet be discussed, but I feel it is helpful in getting a fuller picture.