Do you think a practicing homosexual will inherit a place in GOD's eternal kingdom?

Question

Romans 1:
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.


1 Corinthians 6:9
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

Answer 1

I couldn't care less... I like warm weather... Let me burn in hell!!

Answer 2

Here are my views as a gay guy who is at school at a Christian college, with studies in Old Testament:
Romans 1:24-25 - Discusses nothing about homosexuality. It simply discusses sexual immorality. There is obviously a problem with sex among homosexuals, but this is only the stereotype. I want to become married, or united (w/e) to a partner before having sex. How that will work out is still to be seen.

R 1:26-27 - This is very straight forward; I would like to point out, however, that this book, although divine, was still written by a human. Just because God influenced Paul to write it, it doesn't mean he followed his exact convictions to do so. Paul could be as much a homophobe as the next guy, or even you. It is still a historical document.

1 Cor. 6:9 - I believe you're not an offender just because you're a homosexual, or because you want to be happy in fulfilling that desire. I think you're an offender if you degrade yourself with sex, much the same way any straight person can do.

There is my soap box. I hope it gives you insight to my views and what a 'biblically learned', 19 year old gay guy thinks.

I encourage you to email me with your arguments. (I'm surprised you didn't use Leviticus 18:22, for which I have my own arguments.) Long story short: yes, i do believe a practicing homosexual can inherit a place; is it likely among main stream homosexuality? No.

Answer 3

Yes... mainly because the verses you quoted have been misinterpretted.

I Corinthians 6:9

King James Version:

9...Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [malakoi], nor abusers of themselves with mankind [arsenokoitai], 10 Nor thieves..., shall inherit the kingdom of God.

New International Version

9...Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes [malakoi] nor homosexual offenders [arsenokoitai] 10 nor thieves...will inherit the kingdom of God.

Revised Standard Version--1952 edition:

9...Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals [malakoi and arsenokoitai], 10 nor thieves..., will inherit the kingdom of God.

Revised Standard Version--1971 edition:

9...Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts [malakoi and arsenokoitai], 10 nor thieves..., will inherit the kingdom of God.


A comparison of how the two Greek words are translated in the different versions shows that translations often, unfortunately, become the interpretations of the translators. In I Cor. 6:9 Paul lists the types of persons who will be excluded from the kingdom of God and for some he uses the Greek words malakoi and arsenokoitai. KJ translates the first "effeminate," a word that has no necessary connection with homosexuals. The NIV translates the first "male prostitutes" and the second, "homosexual offenders". The RSV in its first edition of 1952 translated both words by the single term, "homosexuals". In the revised RSV of 1971, the translation "homosexuals" is discarded and the two Greek words are translated as "sexual perverts"; obviously the translators had concluded the earlier translation was not supportable.

Malakoi literally means "soft" and is translated that way by both KJ and RSV in Matt. 11:8 and Luke 7:25. When it is used in moral contexts in Greek writings it has the meaning of morally weak; a related word, malakia, when used in moral contexts, means dissolute and occasionally refers to sexual activity but never to homosexual acts. There are at least five Greek words that specifically mean people who practice same-gender sex. Unquestionably, if Paul had meant such people, he would not have used a word that is never used to mean that in Greek writings when he had other words that were clear in that meaning. He must have meant what the word commonly means in moral contexts, "morally weak." There is no justification, most scholars agree, for translating it "homosexuals."

Arsenokoitai, is not found in any extant Greek writings until the second century when it apparently means "pederast", a corrupter of boys, and the sixth century when it is used for husbands practicing anal intercourse with their wives. Again, if Paul meant people practicing same-gender sex, why didn't he use one of the common words? Some scholars think probably the second century use might come closest to Paul's intention. If so, there is no justification for translating the word as "homosexuals." Other scholars see a connection with Greek words used to refer to same-gender sex in Leviticus. If so, it is speaking of heterosexuals given to such lust they turn to such acts.

Richard Hays tells us, "I Corinthians 6:9-11 states no rule to govern the conduct of Christians."B-7

One commentator has another reason for rejecting the NIV and original RSV translations, "homosexuals." Today it could mean that a person who is homosexual in orientation even though "of irreproachable morals, is automatically branded as unrighteous and excluded from the kingdom of God, just as if he were the most depraved of sexual perverts."B-8

So I Cor. 6:9 says nothing about homosexuality with the possible exception of condemnable pederasty.

Answer 4

God knows what is in our hearts. I trust His judgment, not blow-hard Paul (who never heard Christ preach and never really grasped the nature of His ministry).

Besides, life is for the living. What a terrible existence to blow off worldly pleasures in the hope of some "eternal reward." The only reason the message of a better life in Heaven has any appeal is when day-to-day life on Earth is hell, such as a life of slavery or abject poverty, or in those days, under the heel of the Roman boot.

Give me a honey to snuggle with, and I'll take my chances with the Great Beyond.

Answer 5

Matthew 9:
16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

The same story in Mark 10:
17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

The Ten Commandments never said anything about homosexuality and never, in all of his teachings did Christ ever say anything about it either. These letters you quote from were written by a very biased man with some rather extreme views. His name was Paul. He was not the Son of God. I put my faith in Christ, and I encourage you, as a Christian, to do the same.

Romans 2:
1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

1 Samuel 24:
12May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.

Notice that it is the LORD who will judge, not you. And he will avenge your wrongful judgement of me and all gay people. May God bless you and forgive you for your ignorance, and may he enlighten you to his everlasting love, which knows no boundaries.

Answer 6

If you believe in a strict following of both the Old and New Testaments, then homosexuality is a sin. But don't forget that blending fibers for fabric (cotton and polyester, anyone?) and eating shrimp are equally sinful.

Perhaps the Bible is a record of the beliefs, myths, concerns, and rules of a much older culture. Perhaps we know better now.

Answer 7

None of us knows what happens when we die. But the most likely thing is that the energy in our body simply passes into another form. The whole idea of an "afterlife" is ridiculous.

Rather than worrying about whether or not homosexuals will "inherit a place in god's kingdom", you should worry about wasting so much time in life believing in something that has no basis in reality. Life is short.

Answer 8

If a by "practicing homosexual" is meant a person who is openly approving of homosexuality and is engaged in it, can this person be saved? Yes and no. Yes because any sinner has the potential of becoming saved. On the other hand, if the person is professing to be a Christian yet is unrepentantly practicing homosexuality, then it would appear that he would not be saved. 1 John 2:4 says, "The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." So, a homosexual can be saved, but once saved, the Spirit of God will move that person to repent of the sin of homosexuality. If a person continues to unrepentantly practice homosexuality, promoting it, etc., then that person would not be demonstrating evidence of regeneration.
But then again, a person could become saved, still fall into homosexuality, be convicted by the Spirit of the sin, all the while be seeking to break free from it. So technically, in this last sense, he could be saved and be a homosexual -- not as a life style, but as in struggling against his sin which sometimes can get the best of him. It would be like a drug addict becoming a Christian and still being hooked on drugs. He would struggle against and still have the desire to participate in it.
I would say that a person who has professed Christ and is struggling against sin is demonstrating evidence of regeneration. Remember, many people who become Christians still struggle with many of their old sins. Even Paul struggled, "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish," (Rom. 7:19). We are not perfect and we must remember to be gracious to others, especially when they are stuck in an old sin, want to repent of it, and are trying to have victory over it. This is when grace is need, not law. But, of course, we are never to encourage or excuse a person's sin. We must pray for them to attain full victory.
Now, some Christians will state that once you become saved, you should automatically have victory over all your sins. This is an unfortunate burden they place on many Christians because "perfection" becomes the standard for measuring whether or not they are Christians. This can cause people to doubt their salvation. While it is true that we have victory in many areas when we become saved, it is also true that we still struggle with many of our old sins. Of course, it is never okay for us to go ahead and sin (Rom. 6:1-2). We must always struggle for holiness. But the fact is, like Paul, we sometimes do the things we don't want to do and don't do what we should. It is our struggle against sin that demonstrates that we are regenerate since we are seeking to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).
Finally, it is no dead people who struggle for life. Only those who are alive struggle. Likewise, the dead in sin, the unregenerate do not struggle against their sins. Christians do.

Answer 9

Hey, why don't you stop reading the letters written by Paul the Apostle, who never even MET Jesus, and start reading what Jesus said? Like, say, Matthew 7:3? "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Mind your own business. Leave judgement to God.

Answer 10

this is a questin too many ask in my view.

theres a lot of things we do that will not get us into heaven, but we dont stop doign those things. maybe people should analyze other actions before they stomp on the doors of homosexuals. its a life that you do not choose...and if you do not choose it then hwo can you be ridiculed for it and 'punished' by god, this supposed loving creator?

Answer 11

Um, excuse me....you need to NOT refer to the LETTERS of a ''preacher'' but rather the words of the SON OF GOD!!!!

You need to focus on John 3:16. For God so love the world that he gave is only son, and who ever believes in him will NOT die, but live life eternally.

Jesus is the key, not our deeds......