Why Christians are embracing their LGBT neighbors

[yeshua'sbride]

Hi I posted a little about my life many moons ago. Update since I came to CHRIST I have overcome many sins (quit smoking 4 packs a day, drinking 30 pack a day plus hard liquor been on the floor looking for any little white thing to put on a screen to smoke with the cocaine had sex with anything breathing totaled several cars/trucks got dui, am still single, do not date nor let that door even move open, you see I am a saved changed Christian . I was born male changed the body 10 years ago to female, now no money to change back I live my life as best as I can as a male but the name and body still female. ALL my co-workers know my sorrow and regret. The places I shop all know my past and present. I can't change what I have done only what I do everyday since coming to the LORD. I use everyday to thank and give praise and to WITNESS. You see when I was little my mother wanted a daughter, my father wanted a Marine as he was. Gee can you say confused. Lots more to my life but suffice it to say GOD helps everyday in my struggles to overcome this world. I know many transsexuals they lost jobs housing family's. Choice ?? I believe that satin and his henchmen are behind most if not all this(loss of words). Until I came on my hands and feet and bowed to my lord asked for forgiveness I never would have been able to break free from those chains. Yet because of the whole Armour of GOD I keep fighting everyday. I know one day GOD will fix the body I broke. Love to all. Grace and only grace, not by works, yet I wish/want to serve I do works because I LOVE HIM. I do not condone that past lifestyle by anyone. That is the choice- come to HIM and he shall set U free.
.

This is one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[Evoo327]

Hi I posted a little about my life many moons ago. Update since I came to CHRIST I have overcome many sins (quit smoking 4 packs a day, drinking 30 pack a day plus hard liquor been on the floor looking for any little white thing to put on a screen to smoke with the cocaine had sex with anything breathing totaled several cars/trucks got dui, am still single, do not date nor let that door even move open, you see I am a saved changed Christian . I was born male changed the body 10 years ago to female, now no money to change back I live my life as best as I can as a male but the name and body still female. ALL my co-workers know my sorrow and regret. The places I shop all know my past and present. I can't change what I have done only what I do everyday since coming to the LORD. I use everyday to thank and give praise and to WITNESS. You see when I was little my mother wanted a daughter, my father wanted a Marine as he was. Gee can you say confused. Lots more to my life but suffice it to say GOD helps everyday in my struggles to overcome this world. I know many transsexuals they lost jobs housing family's. Choice ?? I believe that satin and his henchmen are behind most if not all this(loss of words). Until I came on my hands and feet and bowed to my lord asked for forgiveness I never would have been able to break free from those chains. Yet because of the whole Armour of GOD I keep fighting everyday. I know one day GOD will fix the body I broke. Love to all. Grace and only grace, not by works, yet I wish/want to serve I do works because I LOVE HIM. I do not condone that past lifestyle by anyone. That is the choice- come to HIM and he shall set U free.
.

WOW-- how truly inspiring! I praise God for you!

[Carrie Grace]

Hi I posted a little about my life many moons ago. Update since I came to CHRIST I have overcome many sins (quit smoking 4 packs a day, drinking 30 pack a day plus hard liquor been on the floor looking for any little white thing to put on a screen to smoke with the cocaine had sex with anything breathing totaled several cars/trucks got dui, am still single, do not date nor let that door even move open, you see I am a saved changed Christian . I was born male changed the body 10 years ago to female, now no money to change back I live my life as best as I can as a male but the name and body still female. ALL my co-workers know my sorrow and regret. The places I shop all know my past and present. I can't change what I have done only what I do everyday since coming to the LORD. I use everyday to thank and give praise and to WITNESS. You see when I was little my mother wanted a daughter, my father wanted a Marine as he was. Gee can you say confused. Lots more to my life but suffice it to say GOD helps everyday in my struggles to overcome this world. I know many transsexuals they lost jobs housing family's. Choice ?? I believe that satin and his henchmen are behind most if not all this(loss of words). Until I came on my hands and feet and bowed to my lord asked for forgiveness I never would have been able to break free from those chains. Yet because of the whole Armour of GOD I keep fighting everyday. I know one day GOD will fix the body I broke. Love to all. Grace and only grace, not by works, yet I wish/want to serve I do works because I LOVE HIM. I do not condone that past lifestyle by anyone. That is the choice- come to HIM and he shall set U free.
.

I am so moved and humbled by this. Someday soon your perfect, glorified body will be in the arms of our Lord Jesus. What a moment that will be! Thank you for sharing your testimony--God is so merciful and loving. It is stories such as yours that smack me upside the head and remind me of how BIG our God is and just how blessed I am to be part of His family. God bless you, brother!

[kissimmeeman]

One needs to repent of one's sin in order to make the changes necessary to please the Lord. Repentance does not mean saying, "I repent, buuuut I'm going to keep being gay, lesbian. How is that true repentance? It is not! Sure we are all sinners and will be for the rest of our time on this planet yet to continue in the lifestyle and saying you've repented just doesn't work.

As long as it is clear that they are saved just as every other sin is saved; by grace through faith, not through stopping a particular sin. Paul goes on in Romans to explain how each and everyone of us is filthy and unrighteous without Christ, right after Romans 1, we have Romans 2 (with no break between them in the original) Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

There are saved "homosexuals" just as there are saved "gluttons" and "adulterers" and "liars" etc.... Salvation first, sanctification second. Salvation is affected by God, and so is Sanctification. Our "job" is to yield and to trust. Our job as far as others, is to teach about sin, and then about Jesus' power to save, and to remove us our from under the curse of the law, which is what removes the labels that we all deserve. We call sin, sin, and we call grace, grace, and teach about Salvation, and the walk and process of sanctification, making the difference between the two clear.


One needs to repent of one's sin in order to make the changes necessary to please the Lord. Repentance does not mean saying, "I repent, buuuut I'm going to keep being gay, lesbian. How is that true repentance? It is not! Sure we are all sinners and will be for the rest of our time on this planet yet to continue in the lifestyle and saying you've repented just doesn't work.

Those that say homosexual acts are not sinful are wrong. Those that teach that God hates homosexuals, or that homosexuals cannot be saved, are wrong. We have a God that while we were yet sinners, He died for us, to give us the only way of removing the stain of sin, and getting us out from under the law so there is no more condemnation against us. I continually stand amazed at that fact. It is never ever a justification to flaunt sin, or to sin so that grace will abound.

[cm4Jesus]

My BIL is gay and has a live in BF.... I love by BIL he would do anything for anyone and is just an outstanding person, but i do not condone his lifestyle. He knows that I am very involved in my church and that I have strong biblical beliefs, but I am guilty of not coming out and telling him that I do not believe in his lifestyle, I am afraid of the family war it will cause, but there is a tugging at my heart for me to speak to them about this issues.
But here is my question, according to the bible it is a sin to be gay, but we are all sinners, so will gay people not make it into heaven? The way I see being gay is it is like an alcoholic addiction some can overcome it and some are just not able to kick the addiction but they truly love the Lord....I mean my sin in life that I struggle with every day is gossip, while I have asked the Lord for guidance and He has provided it for I keep my tongue quiet a majority of the time but I wll occassionaly give in to that temptation, do I feel that will keep me out of Heaven, no I dont because I know that Jesus died for my sins, and I know the He sent his one an only Son for me, does any of this make sense?

This post hits close to home for me as well. My BIL is also gay. Recently he called me to work on his computer. He arrived to drop it off with his live in bf. After I had time to look at the computer I gave him a call. During our conversation he outright asked me what I thought of his being gay. I'm not sure what I told him was enough or not but I did try. I told him that he was committing a sin, that the bible teaches us that this is an abomination. However we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, and that only through Jesus can we find forgiveness and salvation. He said, so do you think there will be any gay people in heaven? This one kind of took me by surprise. I told him that I did feel that it was possible, only because we are all sinners, and there will be a variety of us sinners up there. I went on to tell him how he needed to accept Jesus as Lord and savior, that he should repent of his sins. That only through the blood and sacrifice of our Lord, can we find forgiveness and salvation of our sins.

He went on to say, don't you think I've tried to change? I said of course, I'm sure you did. Which I know to be true, as he has had a few girlfriends over the years, but they were mostly buddies or friends you can say. He said I guess I'm going to go to hell then... I told him it was not too late. He said, yeah but I've tried to change and I can't. At which point I told him the most important thing for him was to repent, ask the Lord for forgiveness, and accept Jesus for his salvation. That the Lord will work in his life, and help him change. That where we are weak the Lord is strong. Cry out to the Lord for mercy and ask Him to help you. As we ended our conversation, he thanked me for talking to him and said I gave him a lot to think about. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is Michael.

I do not accept or approve of the gay lifestyle. I think the worst thing we can do as Christians would be to lie to them just to make them feel better. If a blind person was going to step out into on going traffic, we would never question grabbing that person by the arm and yanking them back to safety. I see this as the same thing. We see someone that may be headed to hell, and its our responsibility to tell them the truth in love. Of course its up to them what they do with the truth after that. We can still pray for them. Praise God, He is so loving and forgiving to us all. Without Him, we would have no hope.

[forgiven_sinner]

Thank GOD for all the kind things people have said in response to my post. Knowing first hand this sin let me expand. Gay does not =transsexual different beasts. But when I am speaking/witnessing I tell people you are attracted to certain types of people you prefer blond-brown-red-black haired -tall-short-skinny-heavy set-young-what ever is your individual likes... All perversions are deep rooted like's/wants; Me personally to prevent any chance of backsliding I NEVER allow the chance of dating of getting close to anyone i stay celibate(works for me). Those people I talk with in lifestyles of sin I advise to do the same- don't date don't let that door even move. It's hard but the reward is great. Look at child predators they can't change their attraction to kids is so intense they can't break it. Gay's must remain celibate. That's my opinion.

[EarsToHear]

Gay's must remain celibate.

Homosexuals are not alone in that. So must all single heterosexuals, including divorcees, the widowed and even some married folks who have seriously ill spouses. Many here on the board are living a celibate life.

[Kliska]

One needs to repent of one's sin in order to make the changes necessary to please the Lord. Repentance does not mean saying, "I repent, buuuut I'm going to keep being gay, lesbian. How is that true repentance? It is not! Sure we are all sinners and will be for the rest of our time on this planet yet to continue in the lifestyle and saying you've repented just doesn't work.

Biblical repentance is changing one's mind about God, and turning towards Him. God also repented and never sinned; how can that be? Again, it is a change of mind, a mental turning from everything else, not just sin, to God. We cannot please the Lord by action, but only by trusting, which is faith. If we had to repent of every single sin, in list fashion and then never repeat that sin, we'd never make it, because there are things we are not even aware of that is sin and we cannot stop committing sinful actions til we are changed in the twinkling of an eye. It isn't the single sins that we repent from, it is a fundamental admission that we are sinners and can't do anything righteous, and then calling out to God to save us. I know for a fact that there were things I did not realize about myself as a child when I was saved, as far as sin goes. That didn't make me any less saved when, as a little one, I turned to God and told Him I was a sinner, and He was the only one Who could save me.

[Evoo327]

Biblical repentance is changing one's mind about God, and turning towards Him. God also repented and never sinned; how can that be? Again, it is a change of mind, a mental turning from everything else, not just sin, to God. We cannot please the Lord by action, but only by trusting, which is faith. If we had to repent of every single sin, in list fashion and then never repeat that sin, we'd never make it, because there are things we are not even aware of that is sin and we cannot stop committing sinful actions til we are changed in the twinkling of an eye. It isn't the single sins that we repent from, it is a fundamental admission that we are sinners and can't do anything righteous, and then calling out to God to save us. I know for a fact that there were things I did not realize about myself as a child when I was saved, as far as sin goes. That didn't make me any less saved when, as a little one, I turned to God and told Him I was a sinner, and He was the only one Who could save me.

Wow, no one ever explained that to me before. It brings a whole new level of peace to me.

[yeshua'sbride]

Biblical repentance is changing one's mind about God, and turning towards Him. God also repented and never sinned; how can that be? Again, it is a change of mind, a mental turning from everything else, not just sin, to God. We cannot please the Lord by action, but only by trusting, which is faith. If we had to repent of every single sin, in list fashion and then never repeat that sin, we'd never make it, because there are things we are not even aware of that is sin and we cannot stop committing sinful actions til we are changed in the twinkling of an eye. It isn't the single sins that we repent from, it is a fundamental admission that we are sinners and can't do anything righteous, and then calling out to God to save us. I know for a fact that there were things I did not realize about myself as a child when I was saved, as far as sin goes. That didn't make me any less saved when, as a little one, I turned to God and told Him I was a sinner, and He was the only one Who could save me.

Thank you so much, Kliska.

This whole post, especially the part I bolded, is the clearest, most easily understood definition of repentance I have ever seen.

I pray the Lord will use this post to touch many people with such profound truth.

[Knightwatch]

For those of us who identify as LGBT, church was a place of fear and secrets. We had to figure out how to hide ourselves or how to find a more welcoming community.

Basically they want a community that embaces their sin. So alcoholics/wife beaters/pornographers should start their own denominations also, so they are surrounded with "like minds".

[carol1948]

Biblical repentance is changing one's mind about God, and turning towards Him. God also repented and never sinned; how can that be? Again, it is a change of mind, a mental turning from everything else, not just sin, to God. We cannot please the Lord by action, but only by trusting, which is faith. If we had to repent of every single sin, in list fashion and then never repeat that sin, we'd never make it, because there are things we are not even aware of that is sin and we cannot stop committing sinful actions til we are changed in the twinkling of an eye. It isn't the single sins that we repent from, it is a fundamental admission that we are sinners and can't do anything righteous, and then calling out to God to save us. I know for a fact that there were things I did not realize about myself as a child when I was saved, as far as sin goes. That didn't make me any less saved when, as a little one, I turned to God and told Him I was a sinner, and He was the only one Who could save me.

I hope disagreement is allowed here, because I don't completely agree with Kliska's statements. 1) I believe we can please the Lord by our actions because it is our actions that demonstrate our faith. 2) Of course we cannot specifically repent of a sin we are not aware that we committed; however, IMO we must confess and repent of every specific sin once God makes us aware of it either by His written Word or by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Hopefully, I misinterpreted your post because it seemed your position is that we aren't to be concerned about our day-to-day choices as we are sinners by nature anyway. In the Psalms we pray O Lord, keep me from presumptous (some translations say 'habitual', others say 'willful') sins. May they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Ps 19:13) And Ps 139...Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. In the NT Paul absolutely rejected the teaching that because we are forgiven we can just keep sinning.

We are all sinners and some of us struggle with willful/habitual sins all our lives. The reason we struggle is because we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and do turn away from the sin(s). It's the struggle that serves to strengthen us in spirit and faith. As I see this present-day LGBT agenda it is to convince society including biblically illiterate Christians that it's okay to sin (homosexuality) because....????
A person who is homosexual can be saved and the Lord will work in his life to change him. If, however, the person refuses to be changed then IMO one can only wonder about his profession of making Jesus the Lord of his life. IMO if the Holy Spirit is indwelling the person, he cannot continue in his sin without being convicted. That's not to say he won't stumble, but confession and repentence must follow, and the struggle goes on. The best news of all of course is that the victory has already been won, and one day all of us will be completely free from all our struggles with every type of sin.

[OnceWasLost]

I hope disagreement is allowed here, because I don't completely agree with Kliska's statements. 1) I believe we can please the Lord by our actions because it is our actions that demonstrate our faith. 2) Of course we cannot specifically repent of a sin we are not aware that we committed; however, IMO we must confess and repent of every specific sin once God makes us aware of it either by His written Word or by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Hopefully, I misinterpreted your post because it seemed your position is that we aren't to be concerned about our day-to-day choices as we are sinners by nature anyway. In the Psalms we pray O Lord, keep me from presumptous (some translations say 'habitual', others say 'willful') sins. May they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Ps 19:13) And Ps 139...Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. In the NT Paul absolutely rejected the teaching that because we are forgiven we can just keep sinning.

We are all sinners and some of us struggle with willful/habitual sins all our lives. The reason we struggle is because we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and do turn away from the sin(s). It's the struggle that serves to strengthen us in spirit and faith. As I see this present-day LGBT agenda it is to convince society including biblically illiterate Christians that it's okay to sin (homosexuality) because....????
A person who is homosexual can be saved and the Lord will work in his life to change him. If, however, the person refuses to be changed then IMO one can only wonder about his profession of making Jesus the Lord of his life. IMO if the Holy Spirit is indwelling the person, he cannot continue in his sin without being convicted. That's not to say he won't stumble, but confession and repentence must follow, and the struggle goes on. The best news of all of course is that the victory has already been won, and one day all of us will be completely free from all our struggles with every type of sin.

It absolutely depends on who the author of the "works" is. If it is us, the flesh, God has no interest in it. The world may see it as good, but it never hits God's radar.

Romans 8

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal (fleshly, human) mind is enmity (at war and having hatred) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[Kliska]

1) I believe we can please the Lord by our actions because it is our actions that demonstrate our faith.

As OWL has pointed out in effect; it isn't our actions that please the Lord, it is our faith. Our own righteousness is as filthy rags to God; notice that it isn't our bad deeds that are rags, but rather our righteousness. The only true righteousness springs from God, in the life of a believer, it springs from the Holy Spirit. We yield to Him, rather than it springing out of anything of ourselves.

2) Of course we cannot specifically repent of a sin we are not aware that we committed; however, IMO we must confess and repent of every specific sin once God makes us aware of it either by His written Word or by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

I would contend that is impossible. Not the bit about the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I would agree with that. But, we are to face the fact that whatsoever is not of faith is sin. I personally believe it is missing the main point of scripture in regards to sin to think that it is the singular sinful acts that we are to acknowledge alone; rather it is our fundamental state and inability to change or wipe out that state that we are to acknowledge. The problem, at its foundation, isn't what we do, rather it is who we are and our fundamental inability to do anything about it. We are incapable of saving ourselves, incapable of righteous action, incapable of cleaning ourselves up; that is why we so desperately need God.

Hopefully, I misinterpreted your post because it seemed your position is that we aren't to be concerned about our day-to-day choices as we are sinners by nature anyway. In the Psalms we pray O Lord, keep me from presumptous (some translations say 'habitual', others say 'willful') sins. May they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Ps 19:13) And Ps 139...Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. In the NT Paul absolutely rejected the teaching that because we are forgiven we can just keep sinning.

Paul had to teach against the idea that we should sin so that grace can abound, because it is an "accurate" teaching; Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. It is not a morally right teaching, but the fact is that we are free from the law and it no longer applies to believers because we have received Christ's righteousness by faithing on Him. In this age of grace the profound fact is that we cannot sin IF we have placed our faith in Christ. And, the realization of that fact should not bring about a life of hedonism, or sinful acts, but rather a profound awe and a deeply personal relationship with God, a falling on our face in humility and a full realization that God did not just save us from individual sin, but from our very selves, and that no one human is any better than any other, except Jesus Who is perfect. That teaching, the gospel, brings humility and a profound profound sense of peace with God.

After salvation, God is the one that works on us, and we are expected to yield. If we don't, we face the consequences here on earth and lose rewards in heaven, but our salvation is secured, not by our righteous acts, but by Jesus' own righteousness.

We are all sinners and some of us struggle with willful/habitual sins all our lives. The reason we struggle is because we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and do turn away from the sin(s). It's the struggle that serves to strengthen us in spirit and faith. As I see this present-day LGBT agenda it is to convince society including biblically illiterate Christians that it's okay to sin (homosexuality) because....????

I would argue that the problem isn't presented that it is ok to sin by that community, but rather that it isn't a sin to begin with and that there are fundamentally "good people" in that community. That is a lack of teaching of the true gospel; they aren't good people, there is no such thing. Since we are all guilty we are all on the same level, and that is what God wants us to see; we are all headed to the same place if we don't put our faith in Jesus and HIS righteousness. That is why is it important for them to admit that they, and all other humans, are sinners who can't clean themselves up.

A person who is homosexual can be saved and the Lord will work in his life to change him. If, however, the person refuses to be changed then IMO one can only wonder about his profession of making Jesus the Lord of his life. IMO if the Holy Spirit is indwelling the person, he cannot continue in his sin without being convicted. That's not to say he won't stumble, but confession and repentence must follow, and the struggle goes on. The best news of all of course is that the victory has already been won, and one day all of us will be completely free from all our struggles with every type of sin.

Paul called himself the chief of all sinners; present tense. He said he did those things he did not want to do and what he desired to do, what he knew was right, he did not do. Why? Because this flesh is still corrupt. That doesn't give us a right to embrace sinful acts, but it is clear that we will indeed keep sinning; again, not a good thing, it is just a fact. The good news of the gospel is that sin cannot ever get in between God and a believer ever again. It can't happen. So, there are such things as carnal Christians; ask the Corinthians. That is NOT license to sin, but it is a fact that is startling in its truth, and the proper response is realization of just what we owe God... everything.

Wow, no one ever explained that to me before. It brings a whole new level of peace to me.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Thank you so much, Kliska.

This whole post, especially the part I bolded, is the clearest, most easily understood definition of repentance I have ever seen.

I pray the Lord will use this post to touch many people with such profound truth.

Sometimes the peace we have with God through Christ is neglected from the pulpit, but it plays a huge role. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

To the thread; as always, with Paul I have to underscore; the freedom we have in Christ is not a license to sin, but for us to respond with trust and love and listen to the One who saved us, for He knows what is best for us in this life. The response to grace is faith, and faith is trust, and trust includes listening to what God has to say and then yielding the Spirit. Jesus brought and bought us believers peace... we shouldn't respond to that peace by abusing the freedom, but with that awe and love inspired by a very personal relationship with God, thanking Him always for His grace that we all need.

[iSong6:3]

Biblical repentance is changing one's mind about God, and turning towards Him. God also repented and never sinned; how can that be? Again, it is a change of mind, a mental turning from everything else, not just sin, to God. We cannot please the Lord by action, but only by trusting, which is faith. If we had to repent of every single sin, in list fashion and then never repeat that sin, we'd never make it, because there are things we are not even aware of that is sin and we cannot stop committing sinful actions til we are changed in the twinkling of an eye. It isn't the single sins that we repent from, it is a fundamental admission that we are sinners and can't do anything righteous, and then calling out to God to save us. I know for a fact that there were things I did not realize about myself as a child when I was saved, as far as sin goes. That didn't make me any less saved when, as a little one, I turned to God and told Him I was a sinner, and He was the only one Who could save me.

Wow, no one ever explained that to me before. It brings a whole new level of peace to me.

Thank you so much, Kliska.

This whole post, especially the part I bolded, is the clearest, most easily understood definition of repentance I have ever seen.

I pray the Lord will use this post to touch many people with such profound truth.

It is awesome, isn't it?

Salvific repentance is not Lordship Salvation (not referring to either of you but for the readers), it's a change of mind/direction, from going away from God to turning to Him, agreeing that we are sinful sinners and we need Him as Savior.

[kissimmeeman]

We are not talking about sins that we didn't realize were sins, things in our lives that just happened to slide by without us knowing it, or any other points missed along our life. We are talking about an issue that the Bible states that if you do this you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is an abomination to the Lord. I'm thinking one better repent and change as soon as possible from such a grievance. Truly no one can please the Lord I never said that and I actually said the opposite. Churches, religious groups or any other religious organizations that sweep this issue under the rug and simply accept every single person as they are wouldn't be much of a church now would it? The purpose is to change people from their wicked ways not accept them and smile. Paul stated in the Bible that if there are those within the church that are dealing in these types of sexual immorality that they need to be removed and NOW! That doesn't scream acceptance to me. You can whitewash it all you want but I pray that those dealing in the perversions of sexual immorality will change like yesterday!! Don't accept it because of this PC world help people to the Lord to repent and change and not just accept them showing your tolerance of the abomination. They have to know that it is a sin and not a "Wonderful lifestyle" that Obama, the Federal Courts, or the States have said is OK.

Biblical repentance is changing one's mind about God, and turning towards Him. God also repented and never sinned; how can that be? Again, it is a change of mind, a mental turning from everything else, not just sin, to God. We cannot please the Lord by action, but only by trusting, which is faith. If we had to repent of every single sin, in list fashion and then never repeat that sin, we'd never make it, because there are things we are not even aware of that is sin and we cannot stop committing sinful actions til we are changed in the twinkling of an eye. It isn't the single sins that we repent from, it is a fundamental admission that we are sinners and can't do anything righteous, and then calling out to God to save us. I know for a fact that there were things I did not realize about myself as a child when I was saved, as far as sin goes. That didn't make me any less saved when, as a little one, I turned to God and told Him I was a sinner, and He was the only one Who could save me.

[Kliska]

We are not talking about sins that we didn't realize were sins, things in our lives that just happened to slide by without us knowing it, or any other points missed along our life. We are talking about an issue that the Bible states that if you do this you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is an abomination to the Lord. I'm thinking one better repent and change as soon as possible from such a grievance.

Have you read all the sins listed in the scripture as abominations? Everyone is an abomination to the Lord, outside of Christ, according to the scripture. How do you wipe that out? Not by works, but by faithing in Christ, His sacrifice, and His righteousness. That is how salvation comes, period, by grace through faith. If there were certain things we had to stop doing on our own prior to salvation, that would be a work, and that is adding to the gospel message a burden that is not there.

Truly no one can please the Lord I never said that and I actually said the opposite. Churches, religious groups or any other religious organizations that sweep this issue under the rug and simply accept every single person as they are wouldn't be much of a church now would it? The purpose is to change people from their wicked ways not accept them and smile. Paul stated in the Bible that if there are those within the church that are dealing in these types of sexual immorality that they need to be removed and NOW! That doesn't scream acceptance to me. You can whitewash it all you want but I pray that those dealing in the perversions of sexual immorality will change like yesterday!! Don't accept it because of this PC world help people to the Lord to repent and change and not just accept them showing your tolerance of the abomination. They have to know that it is a sin and not a "Wonderful lifestyle" that Obama, the Federal Courts, or the States have said is OK.

Read Paul again; when he said not to associate with them, it had nothing to do with salvation, but rather the health of the rest of the sheep under his guidance, and his hope that a split would change the person's actions. He repeats several times that he judges no man, and that every thing is permissible. Rather, what he judges is the state of his flock, and he does not let sinful acts remain in the flock that could cause others to stumble, so if you are in charge of a flock, you can do that as well if you feel lead of the Holy Spirit to. He says nothing of salvation, in fact, he continuously calls sinning carnal Christians "brethren" (see Corinthians).

No one here is talking about winking at sin. What is being discussed is that we are all on a level playing field; we are ALL abominations that cannot do righteous deeds, which is the whole entire point of the gospel "good news." Jesus has done all the work for us and it is His righteousness that matters, and we are to trust HIS righteousness no matter if we are liars, cheaters, gluttons, gossips, prideful, adulterers, murderers, etc... etc... those labels can only be wiped out if the law is removed from us, since we are ALL guilty. It is the same for all humans. We must call sin, sin so that we all see our need for Christ. Further, it is not by our own power that we are sanctified, but rather by the Holy Spirit. There is no boasting in ourselves in Christ; it is only by Him that we are saved, and only by Him that we are sanctified. Sanctification is a life long process, and some will progress farther in this life then others.

Where there is no law to hold us up to, there is no sin. The only way out from the law is in Christ. That is not a license to sin once we get there, rather, it allows the Holy Spirit in, and gives us peace with God, so that we can really start having a relationship with God, and He does the changing. We do the yielding. If we don't, we will suffer more in this life, and we will lose rewards in the next. Bottom line, for homosexuals (BTW, anytime anyone breaks one bit of the law, they are counted guilty of all it, so we are ALL homosexuals in that respect) and everyone other type of sinner out there, is; have they placed all their faith on Christ for salvation. Yes or No. They need that for eternal life, for the Holy Spirit, for peace, etc... then, finally, there is room for God to start working on whatever aspect of their lives that needs changed, cleansed, and overpowered, just as with all of us.

[Steve53]

We are not talking about sins ....I'm thinking one better repent and change as soon as possible from such a grievance.

Sin is precisely what we're talking about. Aren't all truly born again Christians saved sinners? It matters not what one's sins are. All sins are "such a grievance" before God. Without Christ the sins of this world don't seem to weigh as much. With Christ, the weight of our sin is a burden we cannot carry lightly. The unrepentant "lifestyle" sinner seeks to assuage the guilty feelings the Holy Spirit places upon their hearts by seeking acceptance in the secular world. As if that can somehow drown out the still small voice.... To them, I say, 'good luck with that'. The Lord will not stop the sanctification process He starts when one becomes a Christian. True happiness will elude the "lifestyle" sinner this side of Heaven as long as they remain willfully blind and ignorant of that which God has clearly declared to be sinful.

[TaliaKirana]

kissimmeeman, be careful with the blanket condemnations. It's possible for even a believer to get tempted into terrible sin, even homosexuality. It happened to me. A reaction like yours may have kept me running from God and the Church till the day I died. (In fact, fear of such a terrible reaction is why I've never shared with anybody I know in real life... I'm scared of being disowned, shunned and totally alone.) I knew it wasn't right, but I was a mess because I'd been sexually abused by a female friend and my feelings were very confused for a long time. I hope you never know the hopeless feeling of feeling you've fallen so badly you must have lost your salvation. That girl shattered a lot of my trust in people and I've never completely recovered. Thankfully, God rescues those who are His even from the deepest pits and sharpest thorns!

[Stacey]

I don't think churches should condone any type of homosexuality. I do have a few friends that are gay and openly gay. I have told them both I love them but do not agree nor do I think being gay is ok. And I have told them why. But with that being said I refuse to cast judgement on them since it isn't my place. I can and do talk to one now the other is in Seattle and I've lost touch. But one I do talk to and I prattle him he is a fantastic guy who has lived a rough life who is so lost and has no true idea of how real God cam be because he is so caught up in his Indian heritage which I have noticed is very common in Oklahoma. In fact so common that when I was pregnant with daughter number two some Indian guy prayed a creek blessing over my baby. I immediately felt nauseous. Sometimes tho the best way is to still love them and show them Gods love thru u and prayer. Lots of prayer