21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Most heterosexuals have fornicated at some point in their lives. If they do not repent of these sins, they too will not inherit the kingdom of God.
FORNICA'TION, noun [Latin fornicatio.]
1. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman.
2. Adultery. Matthew 5:32.
3. Incest. 1 Corinthians 5:1.
4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 2 Chronicles 21:11, Revelation 19:2.
Being attracted to somebody of the same sex is not immoral. It's a temptation.
It's immoral to act on those temptations, assuming you believe the Bible is the Word of God.
If you don't believe the Bible is the Word of God, and that is your choice, who cares what a Bible believing Christian thinks?
To speak the points of the OP, it's worth reading on-
Galatians 5:24-26
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
So we should be loving one another and not provoking them, especially if we're puffing ourselves up in the process.
The second you think you're better than another sinner because you don't commit the sins they're guilty of is the second you need to humble yourself and repent of your sinful pride.
Fine, I would agree with all this. Sorry—are there some sins that are "OK" and others that are worse? Is there a "trying not to sin but failing" that's more noble than anything else? Did Jesus say, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," or no?
Sorry—are there some sins that are "OK" and others that are worse? Is there a "trying not to sin but failing" that's more noble than anything else? Did Jesus say, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," or no?
Not sure where these questions are coming from based on my post, but I'll answer them.
Are there some sins that are "OK" and others that are worse?
Acts 10:34-35
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
To God, sin is sin. Sin is transgression of the law.
Doesn't matter whether it's adultery or theft or a little white lie. It's all sin.
The Roman Catholics do differentiate and refer to some sins as mortal and some sins as venial, but that mostly had to do with how much you had to pay a priest for "forgiveness" in the form of indulgences.
Is there a "trying not to sin but failing" that's more noble than anything else?
If you try not to sin under your own power, you're probably going to fail miserably.
If somebody is on a 1500 calorie diet, what would be a more noble response if they gave into their temptations and ate 3000-5000 calories one day before reaching their goal weight?
Would quitting the diet altogether and gaining 30 lbs. over the course of the next year be more noble than admitting to themselves they made a mistake and getting back on track with 1500 calories the next day?
The "nobleness" comes from sinners admitting they've sinned, repenting of those sins and praying for forgiveness, and getting back up after they fall down, regardless of how many times they fail.
Proverbs 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
On that note, I feel it's worth noting the advice given to those tempted by sexual sins specifically, and again, this doesn't matter whether it's heterosexual or homosexual temptations -
Flee! Run away!
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Did Jesus say, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," or no?
That's what He said.
But here's an even more important question? When the accusers left, did Yeshua tell the woman to continue sinning?
John 8:10-12
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
You're right. The choice to repent of our sins and seek forgiveness is up to us, though.
Galatians 5:19-23
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Most heterosexuals have fornicated at some point in their lives. If they do not repent of these sins, they too will not inherit the kingdom of God.
FORNICA'TION, noun [Latin fornicatio.]
1. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman.
2. Adultery. Matthew 5:32.
3. Incest. 1 Corinthians 5:1.
4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 2 Chronicles 21:11, Revelation 19:2.
Being attracted to somebody of the same sex is not immoral. It's a temptation.
It's immoral to act on those temptations, assuming you believe the Bible is the Word of God.
If you don't believe the Bible is the Word of God, and that is your choice, who cares what a Bible believing Christian thinks?
To speak the points of the OP, it's worth reading on-
Galatians 5:24-26
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
So we should be loving one another and not provoking them, especially if we're puffing ourselves up in the process.
The second you think you're better than another sinner because you don't commit the sins they're guilty of is the second you need to humble yourself and repent of your sinful pride.
Fine, I would agree with all this. Sorry—are there some sins that are "OK" and others that are worse? Is there a "trying not to sin but failing" that's more noble than anything else? Did Jesus say, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," or no?
Not sure where these questions are coming from based on my post, but I'll answer them.
Acts 10:34-35
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
To God, sin is sin. Sin is transgression of the law.
Doesn't matter whether it's adultery or theft or a little white lie. It's all sin.
The Roman Catholics do differentiate and refer to some sins as mortal and some sins as venial, but that mostly had to do with how much you had to pay a priest for "forgiveness" in the form of indulgences.
If you try not to sin under your own power, you're probably going to fail miserably.
If somebody is on a 1500 calorie diet, what would be a more noble response if they gave into their temptations and ate 3000-5000 calories one day before reaching their goal weight?
Would quitting the diet altogether and gaining 30 lbs. over the course of the next year be more noble than admitting to themselves they made a mistake and getting back on track with 1500 calories the next day?
The "nobleness" comes from sinners admitting they've sinned, repenting of those sins and praying for forgiveness, and getting back up after they fall down, regardless of how many times they fail.
Proverbs 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
On that note, I feel it's worth noting the advice given to those tempted by sexual sins specifically, and again, this doesn't matter whether it's heterosexual or homosexual temptations -
Flee! Run away!
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
That's what He said.
But here's an even more important question? When the accusers left, did Yeshua tell the woman to continue sinning?
John 8:10-12
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.