The Bible presents homosexuality as ungodly, unnatural sin — an abomination in God's sight, not an acceptable lifestyle.
The men of Sodom demanded to "know" Lot's visitors, and Les explains that is the biblical term for intimate relations. God's response was to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and Romans 1 likewise describes both women and men abandoning natural relations for homosexual lust.
Genesis 19:5 — Records the homosexual demand made on Lot's visitors, the act God judged at Sodom.
Romans 1:26-27 — Explicitly describes both female and male homosexuality as against nature and unseemly.
Romans 1:18 — Announces God's wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, the context for Paul's description.
Scripture first gives extended attention to homosexual practice in the account of Sodom. The men of the city surrounded Lot's house and said, "Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them" (Genesis 19:5). Lot knew exactly what they meant and pleaded with the crowd not to act wickedly. Then "the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24). Romans 1 continues the same picture. Paul begins by saying that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18). He then writes, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly" (Romans 1:26-27).
Les shows that Genesis 19 is the first scriptural account in which God deals with what He calls an abomination [Clip 1]. The men of Sodom were not merely inhospitable; their demand to "know" Lot's visitors was a demand for intimate relations, and the whole city had become wrapped up in this immoral lifestyle [Clip 0]. God's response, Les says, was an instantaneous destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He explains that this was not the full wrath of God per se but a disciplinary action making them an example: the reason God destroyed those cities was the homosexual lifestyle [Clip 5]. Romans 1 then carries the same truth forward, describing women who changed the natural use and men who burned in their lust one toward another [Clip 1]. Les says those who practice such things receive in themselves the recompense of their error — they reap what they sow [Clip 4]. Les does not make a separate list of offenders. He teaches that Christians should never stop abhorring evil and should not condone it, and that the Book itself reveals what God calls evil [Clip 3]. Even a person who would never commit a homosexual act can be just as guilty in his thought processes, because Jesus extended even the commandment against adultery to the heart [Clip 7].
Les calls the destruction "an instantaneous wiping out" of those wicked cities and "a disciplinary action" rather than the full wrath of the tribulation. He says God made them an example, and the world is never to forget that the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was the homosexual lifestyle [Clip 5].
Les points to Genesis 19 as the first scriptural account in which the men of Sodom were interested only in a sexual relationship with Lot's two male visitors. He says that is where the term "sodomy" comes from [Clip 4].
Romans 1 says God gave people up to vile affections: women exchanged the natural use for that which is against nature, and men "burned in their lust one toward another" [Clip 1]. Les connects this directly back to the Sodom account and says this is the first time Scripture deals with what God calls an abomination [Clip 1].
Les says that even the person who would never dream of entering a homosexual relationship can still be guilty mentally. He points out that Jesus extended the commandment against adultery to include even thinking it in the heart, so no one is clear of it [Clip 7].
Les says one of the failures of Christianity today is that it no longer shows hatred for evil; it rolls with it and condones it. He teaches that believers should never stop abhorring evil, but he does not need to point every sin out — if he gets people into the Book, they will see what God calls evil [Clip 3].
Sodom's Demand and Lot's Plea
Les explains that the Sodomites' cry to 'know' Lot's visitors was a demand for intimate relations, and that the whole city was wrapped up in this immoral lifestyle.
Romans 1 Calls It an Abomination
Les reads Romans 1:26-27 as the biblical description of women and men abandoning natural relations for homosexual lust, and he points back to Genesis 19 as the first time God calls such sin an abomination.
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality — Romans 1
And God's Word says that they're filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, in other words, I think that word means more than just plain immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, they'll argue over anything, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters. Isn't this awful? Like I said, I wouldn't dare tell anybody that this is what they are.
Abhorring Evil Without Condoning It
Les teaches that Christians must never cease abhorring evil and should not condone it; he believes teaching the Book is what lets people see what God calls evil.
Sodomy and the Recompense of Error
Les says the term 'sodomy' comes from the Sodomites' demand and that those who practice such things receive in themselves the recompense of their error — they reap what they sow.
Sodom and Gomorrah's Destruction as an Example
Les says God wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah instantly as an example, and the reason was the homosexual lifestyle; the world is never to forget that.
What the Bible Really Says About the Old Sin Nature
Scripture doesn't say it. Every Scripture verse I know concerning the wicked in their doom says forever and ever and ever for all eternity. Because it is an eternal, created thing from God. All right, so what's the dilemma? Every one of us now, as sons of Adam, are born with a body in which is dwelling this personality that is sin-bent, anti-God.
Thought-Sins Are Still Guilt
Les applies Jesus' teaching on adultery to the conscience: even a 'good person' who would never commit a homosexual act can be just as guilty in his thought processes.
Genesis 19:5: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
The men of Sodom demand to 'know' Lot's visitors, a phrase Les identifies as intimate relations.
Genesis 19:24: Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven:
God's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which Les says was because of the homosexual lifestyle.
Romans 1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Paul announces the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, the context for his description of homosexual lust.
Romans 1:26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Paul says women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.
Romans 1:27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Paul says men likewise burned in lust one toward another and received the recompense of their error.
Les says Genesis 19 is the first time Scripture deals with what God calls an abomination. He is not quoting a particular chapter in that clip, but he presents the Sodomites' demand as the first scriptural violation of that kind.
The biblical word 'know' is used for intimate relations. Les explains that the crowd wanted Lot's visitors for their lustful purposes, not merely for hospitality.
Les says God made them an example and that the reason was the homosexual lifestyle. He says the world is never to forget it.
Romans 1:26 says even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. Les calls this part of the 'vile affections' that God gives people up to when they reject Him.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Says About Sodom, Lot, and Judgment (Romans 1)