What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality? | Corinthians

Devotional

Day 1: The Clarity of God's Word on Sin

The Bible speaks with absolute clarity on matters of sin, leaving no room for confusion or reinterpretation based on cultural trends. It distinguishes between momentary failures and a lifestyle that actively rejects God's design. His Word is not a list of suggestions but a revelation of His holy character and His good design for human flourishing. We can be confident that His commands are always right and true, intended for our ultimate good and His glory. [03:53]

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life have you been tempted to question or explain away the clear teaching of Scripture, and what is one practical step you can take to align your beliefs and actions with God's Word?

Day 2: Discerning the World's Deception

There is a deliberate and strategic agenda at work in the world aimed at desensitizing people to sin and silencing biblical truth. This agenda uses media and social pressure to manipulate emotions and create conflict within believers. Recognizing this spiritual warfare is the first step toward standing firm. Understanding the enemy's tactics helps to guard our hearts against confusion and empowers us to respond with truth and grace. [08:36]

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)

Reflection: Where have you recently felt social or emotional pressure to compromise a biblical truth, and how can you prayerfully prepare to hold fast to God's Word in that area?

Day 3: Loving Others Without Compromising Truth

Genuine love for someone is never demonstrated by celebrating what God calls sin. True compassion means caring enough to speak the truth that leads to freedom, while consistently showing kindness and warmth. This balance avoids both harsh condemnation and compromising acceptance. It is God’s kindness, coupled with His truth, that leads us to repentance and transformation. [29:32]

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. (Ephesians 4:15 ESV)

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life where you have been tempted to either compromise truth for the sake of peace or to uphold truth without love? How can you pursue a more Christlike balance of both this week?

Day 4: The Promise of Victory Over Temptation

No temptation is a permanent identity or an insurmountable force for a believer. Temptation is a common human experience, but God promises a way of escape and the power to endure it. Our hope is not in our own willpower but in God's faithfulness to provide a path through it. Victory is found in fixing our thoughts on what is true and honorable, replacing temptation with worship. [39:35]

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)

Reflection: What specific temptation do you need to bring before God today, asking Him to reveal the way of escape He has faithfully provided?

Day 5: Our New Identity in Christ

A believer's fundamental identity is not found in their past struggles, present temptations, or sin. Through faith in Jesus, we are washed, sanctified, and justified. The old self is gone; the new has come. We are now children of God, defined by our relationship with our Savior. This new identity in Christ is the source of our power to live a life that honors Him. [42:33]

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

Reflection: Which part of your "old self" do you most need to remember has been put to death in Christ, and how can you actively live out your new identity in Him today?

Sermon Summary

First Corinthians 6:9–11 confronts persistent sexual sin and calls for decisive holiness. The passage distinguishes occasional failures from a determined lifestyle that rejects Jesus as Lord, warning that those who embrace sexual immorality will not inherit God’s kingdom. The cultural moment that normalizes same-sex practice came through an intentional persuasion campaign—desensitization, public shaming of dissenters, and psychological conversion by media—designed to make homosexual behavior seem ordinary and to paint opposition as hateful. Scripture repeatedly names same-sex intercourse as contrary to God’s design (Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, 1 Timothy, Jude), and the biblical pattern for human sexuality affirms a one-man, one-woman marital union as God’s ordering from the beginning.

Translation and vocabulary do not erase the Bible’s teaching: original Greek terms describe active and passive participants in homosexual acts, and translations over centuries aim to clarify, not invent, the meaning. Jesus’ teachings about marriage and sexual morality anchor the Old Testament witness, and passages that diagnose humanity’s exchange of truth for idols explain same-sex practice as one expression of deeper idolatry and self-worship. Common modern claims—“the Bible is silent,” “God made me this way,” or “all sins are the same”—receive careful rebuttal: biblical authors treat some sins with particular severity, biological predisposition would not alter God’s moral order, and spiritual transformation remains possible through repentance and new identity in Christ.

Practical pastoral counsel emphasizes relentless kindness without surrendering truth: maintain warmth and relationship, refuse ceremonial endorsement of behaviors God rejects (for example, not participating in same-sex wedding rites), keep praying, and press for repentance and renewal. Temptation does not mean defeat; Scripture promises a way out and calls for active thought renewal—replacing fleeting temptations with what is honorable and pure. The historic testimony of the church includes those who once lived in sexual sin but were washed, sanctified, and made new. The work of God brings real change: old patterns can die, and a new identity in Christ can replace former bondage.

Key Takeaways

1. Homosexuality is always considered sin The biblical witness treats same-sex practice as a persistent moral choice, not a minor lapse. Scripture identifies specific acts and patterns as contrary to God’s created order and ties them to a deeper spiritual rebellion. Recognizing the seriousness of the sin matters because it shapes pastoral care, repentance, and the call to holiness. Christians must hold truth lovingly while calling for repentance and transformation. [03:53]
2. Planned agenda shaped cultural acceptance A deliberate persuasion campaign used desensitization, social pressure, and media conversion to normalize homosexuality. Understanding tactics behind cultural shifts reduces confusion and helps believers resist emotional manipulation. Discernment exposes the movement’s strategy to depict opponents as hateful while portraying the practice as virtuous. Awareness restores courage to stand on biblical truth without personal ugliness. [06:57]
3. Love does not excuse sinful behavior True compassion keeps relationship and kindness while refusing to affirm what God forbids. Loving someone with a sin problem means speaking truth that leads to freedom, not celebrating chains. Maintaining boundaries—refusing ceremonial endorsement and persistently praying—protects witness and honors God. Sacrificial love confronts, prays, and pursues restoration. [29:32]
4. Identity is in Christ alone Personal worth arises from being a new creation, not from present temptations or past failures. The gospel changes trajectories: those formerly enslaved by sexual sin can experience cleansing, sanctification, and justification. Hope rests on God’s power to transform desires, not human will alone. Firm identity in Christ empowers steady repentance and growth. [41:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:02] - Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9–11
[01:42] - Defining “do wrong”
[02:21] - Cultural confusion on behaviors
[03:53] - Clear statement on homosexuality
[06:57] - After the Ball: strategy exposed
[09:42] - Media tactics and phases
[13:25] - Propaganda’s effect on Christians
[14:11] - Biblical texts addressing the issue
[29:32] - How to love without affirming
[41:47] - Transformation: “some were once like that”
[43:21] - Invitation and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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.

Observation questions

What specific behaviors does this passage list as preventing someone from inheriting the kingdom of God?
What three things does the passage say happened to those who "were once like that"?
According to the sermon, what was the three-phase strategy described in the book After the Ball to change public perception? [06:57]
What did Jesus say in Matthew 19 that reinforces God's design for marriage and sexuality? [20:53]

Interpretation questions

The passage says "such were some of you." What does this imply about the possibility of change and transformation for a person living in the sins listed?
The strategy from After the Ball involved desensitization, jamming, and conversion. How might understanding this planned psychological attack help a believer navigate feelings of confusion or social pressure on this issue? [08:36]
The idea that "all sins are the same" is a common response to this topic. How does the sermon use Scripture to argue that some sins carry a greater weight or are a result of a deeper spiritual problem? [22:43]
What is the difference between showing kindness to someone struggling with sin and compromising the truth? What specific example was given of a boundary a believer should not cross? [30:33]

Application questions

When you hear the accusation of being a "bigot" for holding to biblical truth, how can remembering that this is a deliberate strategy help you respond with courage and grace rather than fear or shame? [07:59]
True compassion keeps a relationship kind while refusing to affirm what God forbids. What is a practical way to show warmth and love to a friend or family member living in sin without endorsing their lifestyle? [29:32]
Temptation does not mean defeat; Scripture promises a way out. When a tempting thought enters your mind, what is the practical step described for overcoming it instead of dwelling on it? [39:35]
Personal worth arises from being a new creation in Christ, not from present temptations or past failures. How can reminding yourself that "you were washed, sanctified, and justified" change the way you talk about your own identity or struggle with sin? [41:47]
How can praying for "a true miracle" and "breakthrough" for someone you love become a regular discipline, especially when change seems impossible? [32:01]
In a culture that often celebrates what God calls sin, what is one way you can actively "fix your thoughts" on what is true, honorable, and pure to guard your heart and mind? [40:04]

Sermon Clips

21s

“The devil seeks to convince us that it's not possible, but nothing is impossible for God. He doesn't make us sin, but he does make us new creations in Christ Jesus. We can die to our old selves. That's what we see in the baptisms that are happening today. The old me is dead. The new me is alive in Christ. I'm not who I used to be.”

23s

“Then three, I'm gonna keep praying for you. I'm gonna love you. I'm gonna show kindness and warmth. I'm not gonna compromise on the truth. I'm gonna keep praying for you. Keep praying. Keep this is what you do if you're a parent. If you have a family member who's struggling with you keep praying for that kid. It seems impossible that they might change, but nothing is impossible with God.”

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What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality? | Corinthians | Ryan Visconti