I was chatting with a friend last night who asked me how one who sincerely believes he is born gay might come to repent of his sin. In essence, her question was: If being gay feels natural to him, why would he believe it's wrong, abnormal or believe there's a need to change?
With the aid of the Holy Spirit, I simply responded, "He must first hear the Gospel, and then he must acknowledge that he's even in sin." I went on to explain that he would have to come to HATE his sin in light of knowing what God says about it. He has to be utterly tired of his sin and desperately desire to change, not merely because someone said 'being gay in a sin' but also because he knows and accepts in his heart that what they said is true. Simply put, one comes to repent of his sins if he 1) knows the truth, 2) acknowledges the truth, and 3) accepts the truth. Then, he should call on Jesus Christ to help him change. And Jesus Christ, being faithful, will do just that.
By the way, this applies to anyone, not only those in the LGBT community. When I was struggling with fornication, I knew the truth enough to feel bad about my activities. But it wasn't until I HATED my sin that I surrendered to the truth. God calls all mankind to repent (Acts 17:30). But only those who sincerely recognize the need will do so. After all, Jesus said only those who "hear His voice" will follow Him (John 10:27-30). Jesus came to call those who KNOW they are sick and need a Healer (Luke 5:31-32). Many know the truth and they might even acknowledge it. But those who are perishing won't accept it because they can't or won't see the need. They don't believe they NEED to be healed. This is why legalizing "same-sex marriage" and affirming other sins in our society is so damning - both for those who practice sin and those who condone it. Condoning sin impedes one's ability to come to hate their sin that they would repent and turn to Jesus Christ for deliverance. Instead of progressing from knowing truth ----> acknowledging truth ----> accepting truth, they fall into a delusion and regress away from the truth. Instead they reject truth -----> ignore truth ------> can no longer even hear or tolerate the truth. Or, as God's Word makes clear and simple, "they exchange the truth of God for a lie". Therefore, God gives them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:25-28). He sends them a strong delusion that they have no choice but to do what they'd been pushing to do, which is to believe and practice a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Once at this state, they truly do see their sin as "normal" and there is nothing they can do to see things otherwise.
This little chat with my friend inspired me to write the following #truthgram to further expound on the concepts of "natural" and "normal" as they relate to sin. It is an early morning musing, but I believe there may be a few nuggets in here. I pray God allows His truth in it to leap off the page. May it reach those who need it, and I pray it bears fruit.
"Many will acknowledge that "we're all sinners" but that doesn't require a given individual to do much. It's a generic revelation. It's surface-level. Of course "we're all sinners". Of course "nobody's perfect." But do you understand what that means for YOU?
Old tweet, timeless lesson. (Image: @Veritéetfeu, Twitter)
Sin is separation from God (Isaiah 59:2). When God made man in HIS image, it means He made us with HIS SPIRIT for God is SPIRIT (John 4:24). Being a good Father He created an entire world for us to enjoy that we would glorify Him. He gave us dominion in the earth. That we would enjoy this realm He created just for us, He gave us bodies. We see, hear, touch, smell and taste that we use those NATURAL senses to enjoy NATURE, His creation.
But we were created ULTIMATELY to see, hear and LIVE in the spirit. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden they DID "surely die" because they died SPIRITUALLY (first). God had breathed HIS SPIRIT, which is LIFE, into mankind. Yet they chose to SEPARATE from God when they chose their own way rather than to walk in His. That separation caused immediate death to their communion with Him and eventual death to relating with nature. The dead can no longer see, hear, touch, smell or taste. Those dead in the spirit cannot see, hear or LIVE with God.
Those dead in the spirit can have everything they desire in the natural. They may even believe their sin is "natural" and, as such, "normal". Such whose existence is only tied to the natural prove themselves to be merely natural men. This is why "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corin 2:14). And because they're merely natural beings, they cannot receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they be BORN AGAIN. Christ came to call us back to God...back to SPIRITUAL communion with HIM (John 4:23-24) But we can't do that if we love our sins... if we love existing solely in the natural..if we love being separated from Him.
But one who HATES his sin is blessed. He recognizes something in him is missing. He is craving his God! So he will repent (turn away) from sin that he can return to Him." ~ Via Instagram @Veriteetfeu, 11/30/17