God's Wrath on Unrighteousness, Part III

"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error."

Romans 1:26-27

 

Because reprobate humanity has refused to worship and honor the one true God of the universe, He has allowed not only allowed, but foreordained their totally depraved natures to rule their lives. God, in His sovereignty, has seen fit that the unrighteous will pursue impurity until they die as a direct result of their sin.

A staple of an unregenerate society is their participation in and tolerance of homosexuality. Homosexuality is unnatural according to Scripture. It perverts the unity of the marital sexual relationship of a husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). Homosexuality is willing disobedience against God. The homosexual lifestyle is not only degrading to those involved in it, but more importantly it is degrading to God. As they continue to practice this debauchery, their sins keep adding up. Referring to this passage, John MacArthur writes, “Here the law of sowing and reaping takes effect, as Paul refers to the self-destructive nature of this sin, of which AIDS is one frightening evidence.”

The sanctity of marriage is an issue that Christians must continue to fight for. We may be labeled as intolerant bigots, but if we do not stand up for biblical marriage, who will? We must also speak out and condemn homosexuality, all the while calling for repentance and restoration to those seduced by this deadly lifestyle.

God's Plan For Marriage: One Man, One Woman, One Flesh

 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

The concept, definition, and status of marriage has been hotly debated and questioned for the last quarter century. But probably never has it gotten as much media airtime as it did last week during the oral arguments for California's Proposition 8, which eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Proposition 8 is being touted as a political issue by both sides. Proponents for the bill say that the individual states have the right to define marriage, while arguements against the bill say that it discriminates against same-sex couples, denying them the same legal rights that heterosexual couples have.

Photo by Brad Stone, New York Times

While the issue is deeply political, it is also strongly spiritual. From the beginning of time, God has defined marriage as the bond that exists between one man and one woman. God laid the framework for His definition of future marriages. The man is to leave his family, stemming a new family with his wife, becoming one flesh. This "one-flesh" bond does not mean that man and woman are equal, for there are obvious physical, emotional, and psychological differences. This one-flesh bond means that they are to become one in the eyes of God, a foreshadow to how His people would become one through the body of Christ.

The irony of this verse however, is that families did not exist yet. Adam and Eve had not yet had children. But God had given Adam the imperative command to "be fruitful and multiply" in 1:28. Not only was God laying the framework for future marriages, but also for future families as well. God desires that families consist of one father and one mother.

The political and social arguments for or against same-sex marriage are constantly changing. But God's definition of marriage is clear. For God, as well as for His people, marriage is the spiritual union between one man and one woman.