What does the New Testament say about homosexuality? On the subject of homosexuality, does the New Testament agree with the Old Testament?
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The Bible is consistent through both Old and New Testaments in confirming that homosexuality is sin (
Genesis 19:1–13;
Leviticus 18:22;
20:13;
Romans 1:26–27;
1 Corinthians 6:9;
1 Timothy 1:10;
Jude 1:7). In this matter, the New Testament reinforces what the Old Testament had declared since the Law was given to Moses (
Leviticus 20:13). The difference between the Old and New Testaments is that the New Testament offers hope and restoration to those caught up in the sin of
homosexuality through the redeeming power of Jesus. It is the same hope that is offered to anyone who chooses to accept it (
John 1:12;
3:16–18).
God’s standards of holiness did not change with the coming of Jesus, because God does not change (
Malachi 3:6;
Hebrews 13:8). The New Testament is a continuing revelation of God’s interaction with humanity. God hated idolatry in the Old Testament (
Deuteronomy 5:8), and He still hates it in the New (
1 John 5:21). What was immoral in the Old Testament is still immoral in the New.
The New Testament says that homosexuality is a “shameful lust” (
Romans 1:26), a “shameful act,” an abandonment of “natural relations” (
Romans 1:27), a “wrongdoing” (
1 Corinthians 6:9), and “sexual immorality and perversion” (
Jude 1:7). Homosexuality carries a “due penalty” (
Romans 1:27), “is contrary to the sound doctrine” (
1 Timothy 1:10), and is listed among the sins that bar people from the kingdom of God (
1 Corinthians 6:9). Despite the attempts of some to downplay these verses, the Bible could not be clearer that homosexuality is a sin against God.
Homosexuality is not the cause of a society’s decline, but it is a symptom of it; it is the result of people making themselves the final authorities.
Romans 1 gives the natural digression of a society that has chosen idolatry and sinful pleasure instead of obedience to God. The downward spiral begins with denying that God has absolute authority over His creation (
Romans 1:21–23).