HOMOSEX AND THE CHRISTIAN

The Making, and Breaking, of Homosexuality

Miles J. Stanford

"THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE"

Finally, let us assume that the pastor not only knows the scriptural truths that will liberate this lesbian, but also the truths that will establish her in the life that is Christ. Further, and absolutely essential, he knows how to apply them. Deeper truths but taught are usually mis-applied; when shared, there is correct application and timing.

1) Is she under Holy Spirit conviction of sin--not only the sin of her involvement in the abomination of homosex, but is she convicted of her innate sinfulness that produced such a condition? Spirit-fostered conviction and repentance are necessary for the first step to freedom. In the light of this, the pastor makes very sure to begin at the beginning, taking absolutely nothing for granted. (See chapter 24, The Complete Green Letters)

"I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned" (Job 42:6; Psalms 51:3,4).

2) Does she really want to be freed, not only from the sin but the source of her lesbianism; does she want her bent broken? Until that is the case, there is little or no hope of release. Does she know in her very heart that she cannot free herself, and is she convinced that only the Lord Jesus is to be depended upon? (See chapter 46, The Complete Green Letters)

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not. Oh, wretched man that I am Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord" (Romans 7:18,24,25).

3) What about her assurance of salvation and unconditional eternal security in the Lord Jesus Christ? Living in the sin that God especially abhors, walking in the flesh that He has condemned, and being out of fellowship with Him who is Love, guilt-ridden Christian homosexuals usually become unsure of the very foundations of their salvation. (See chapters 21 and 22, The Complete Green Letters)

"There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (Romans 8:1,31; II Timothy 1:12).

4) It is especially essential that she be sure of her acceptance before God, and that He accepts her not in herself but in the Lord Jesus. (See chapters 20 and 22, The Complete Green Letters)

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, through which He hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Christ Jesus) (Ephesians 1:6)

The pastor is reminded not to spoon-feed the counselee with these grand truths, allowing her simply to nod her head in passive acquiescence. She must be able to tell him, not he her. His responsibility is to make any necessary truth clear, and through patience and confident intercession wait upon the Holy Spirit's ministry in her mind and heart.

It may take a month or more for her to become well enough established in these foundational facts to move on into the growth truths. By this time the pastor will know whether or not she is sincere in pursuing deliverance from the old nature and establishment in the new. (See chapters 65 and 66, The Complete Green Letters)

"Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in its lusts. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:12,13).

5) When she is firmly founded upon the foundational facts, the marvelous scriptural key to deliverance from the reign of sin--and homosex in particular--can be shared. (From here on we will make reference to believers in general, not just our single counselee.)

As believers we have two natures: (a) The old nature--totally sinful and depraved--which we received from the first Adam when we were born physically; (b) The new nature--totally sinless and pure--which we received from the Last Adam when we were born spiritually.

It goes without saying that the sin of homosex can only have its source, its motivation, its response in the old sinful nature; certainly not in the holy and divine nature now indwelling us--the very life of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See chapters 29 and 30, The Complete Green Letters)

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; by which are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (II Peter 1:3,4).

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17).

6) The key to the good news concerning the two natures is: (a) We do not have to conquer and change the old sinful nature. It was positionally crucified and condemned at Calvary. When the Lord Jesus died unto sin on the Cross, each believer was identified with Him in that death. (b) When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead each believer was positionally resurrected with Him, and is seated together with Him at the right hand of God. (See chapter 24, The Complete Green Letters)

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed (rendered inoperative), that henceforth we should not serve sin." "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:5,6; Ephesians 2:6).

7) We can only count upon that which we are sure of. When the positional truths of our death in the Lord Jesus on the Cross, and our life in Him in the heavenlies are seen and understood, it is time to begin to reckon upon them--and not until. These two great facts are ours to count upon. (See chapters 42 and 45, The Complete Green Letters)

"Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through (in) Jesus Christ, our Lord" (Romans 6:11).

8) The two halves of reckoning in Romans 6:11 are to be kept in balance. (a) Believing that we died unto sin at the Cross, the Holy Spirit applies that positional crucifixion to the old nature within, thereby holding it in the place of death. (b) At the same time we count ourselves to be new creatures in Christ Jesus, and depend upon the Holy Spirit to minister Christ's life within and thus conform us to His image. Progressive death, progressive growth. (See chapter 36, The Complete Green Letters)

"For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (II Corinthians 4:11).

9) As the believer begins to walk in freedom from the dominion of the old nature by the Spirit's response to his reckoning, he is free to rest in his new position, abiding in the Lord Jesus at the right hand of God. He is learning to abide above. (See chapters 56 and 57, The Complete Green Letters)

"If ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).

10) Freedom from the power of the old man means freedom in the power of the the new man, "in Christ, who is our life" (Colossians 3:4). That blessed life has nothing whatsoever to do with the sin of homosex! The nature from which that abomination comes has been crucified; its power has been broken in the death of Christ. Now the believer is free to fellowship with the true Lover, the Lord Jesus Christ, and thereby grow and mature in Him. (See chapters 36 and 37, The Complete Green Letters)

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." "We all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (Galatians 2:20, ASV; II Corinthians 3:18)

COMMENCEMENT -- We have simply shared the barest of outlines here, not only because of the space limitations of this brief paper, but also because more complete details and explanation are given in our literature. Our spiritual growth literature was written for those who yearn to be free from the power of the old nature, and who are indeed hungry to grow in the new nature.

"The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus...make you perfect (mature), established, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 5: 10,11).

MJStanford

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(Materials by Miles J. Stanford are republished here under exclusive permission from the author.)