In response to Canada’s recent law (1-8-2022) making Conversion Therapy illegal. This sermon seeks to examine the church’s response to such laws and to take a look at Biblical sexual morality as well as where the church must stand in such times.
Conversion Is The Mission
1 Timothy 1:8-15
January 16, 2021
If you were here with us last week,
We announced why this morning we are taking a break
From our study of 1 John for this week.
We received a request from our brothers in Canada
On Jan. 8, Bill C-4 in Canada was signed into law which will criminalize
“causing another person to undergo conversion therapy; promoting or advertising conversion therapy.”
• If a person in Canada is convicted of practicing conversion therapy they can be sentenced with up to 5 years in prison.
• And anyone who knowingly promotes or advertises conversion therapy can be sentenced up to 2 years.
First I should start with I suppose: “What is Conversion Therapy?”
Wikipedia defines it like this:
“Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual or their gender identity from transgender to cisgender using psychological, physical, or spiritual interventions.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_therapy
WebMD defines it as:
“Conversion therapy is any emotional or physical therapy used to “cure” or “repair” a person’s attraction to the same sex, or their gender identity and expression.”
https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/what-is-conversion-therapy
It is a broad and wide open term that refers to any way in which
Someone tries to influence a gay person to stop being gay.
AND NOTABLE ON THE LIST
Is using “spiritual interventions” to seek to influence a person.
What does it look like if a church uses conversion therapy you ask?
Here is WebMD’s explanation of conversion therapy in a faith-based setting.
“In some religious practices, homosexuality and other forms of gender expression and identity are sometimes viewed as “evil.” Conversion therapy is sometimes performed by clergy or other spiritual advisers. It may include using anti-gay slurs and prayers. In severe cases, it could also include beating, shackling, food deprivation, and even exorcism.”
(ibid)
The main argument against conversion therapy is that it is said to
Produce lower self-esteem and even suicidal tendencies on those who have been subjected to it.
And based upon such findings the Canadian government put into effect
Last Saturday a Law against conversion therapy.
The signing of this bill into Law has caused a group of Canadian pastors
To unite today to preach on Biblical Sexual Morality
And they have asked their brothers in the United States to do the same.
SO HERE WE ARE.
I obviously have many thoughts on the issue,
But that is a dangerous way for anyone to approach any issue.
SO THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO APPEAL TO SCRIPTURE
And see if we can wrap our minds around this issue
And what is true and where the church should stand on such things.
We are looking at 1 Timothy 1:8-15
For a brief background you must understand the flow of the conversation.
• The apostle Paul had founded the church at Ephesus,
• But his missionary zeal to take the gospel to places that had not heard it now caused Paul to move on.
• In his stead he left Timothy at the church with this instruction.
1 Timothy 1:3-7 “As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.”
So there was an issue at Ephesus.
• There were men there who wanted to be teachers of God’s Law
• But they had no clue what the purpose of God’s Law actually was.
Paul says they were obsessed with non-essential things like “myths and endless genealogies”
And they did not understand “the goal of our instruction” which is “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
They were bad teachers who missed the point of the Law.
Paul said “they do not understand wither what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.”
They preach it, but they don’t understand it.
THAT IS THE BACKDROP.
Starting in verse 8 is Paul’s correction.
Verse 8 gives us the direction we need.
(8) “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully.”
THAT IS TO SAY God’s Law is a good thing,
But it has to be used the right way and for the correct purpose.
What do you mean Paul?
Well, he gives you an example of HOW TO USE IT WRONG.
(9) “realizing the fact that the law is not made for a righteous person,”
I hope you understand that.
The Law is NOT for righteous people.
If people are good and righteous and holy and obedient then they don’t need the law.
• They don’t post speed limit signs for safe drivers.
• They don’t hire police officers for lawful people.
God did not send His Law for righteous people.
Righteous people need no law.
Do you understand that?
(Incidentally, this is one of the reasons our culture has started to push for the abolishment of police officers in some places. It correlates to this naïve belief that people are basically good and don’t need it)
But God’s Law isn’t there for righteous people.
SO WHY DID GOD SEND HIS LAW?
And Paul tells you: (9b-11) “but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”
So the Law isn’t for righteous men, but who is it for?
The Law is for sinners.
What do you mean sinners?
“lawless, rebellious, ungodly, unholy, profane”
Like what?
• “those who kill their fathers or mothers”
• “murderers and immoral men”
• “homosexuals”
• “kidnappers”
• “liars and perjurers”
And honestly “whatever else is contrary to sound teaching”
So God’s Law is here for the purpose of
Exposing and condemning unrighteous men.
And therefore to use the Law “lawfully” would be to apply it to sinners.
This is how God’s Law is intended to be used.
God gave His Law that it might be used to confront sinners who are “lawless, rebellious, unholy and profane.”
This is the purpose of God’s Law.
Romans 7:9-11 “I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”
• Paul said I used to think I was doing good until I read the Law and it exposed my sin and condemned me.
That is what the Law does.
NOW, FOR OUR PURPOSES OF THIS MORNING
You cannot help but notice on the list
Paul includes the specific sin of HOMOSEXUALITY.
You could say:
• “Well he lists a lot of other sins on that list too.”
• “Why aren’t we having a Sunday regarding Biblical Morality against murder or lying or perjury or kidnapping or one of those other sins?”
• “Why have we felt the need to single out homosexuality?”
And that’s a fair question.
IT IS A MISTAKE
To assume that homosexuality is the only sin the world should be warned about or that the church should be concerned with.
AND IT IS A FAIR ASSESSMENT
To see that part of the problem with the culture today is that perhaps the church has been unequally concerned about some sins over others.
IT IS NOT OK
For the church to be concerned only about homosexuality and not about lying or greed or any other sin.
So why would we participate in such a Sunday to focus primarily on Biblical Sexual Morality?
I want to read you a quote from Martin Luther
which I think gives clarity here.
“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is more flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
-Martin Luther
(sited in: MacArthur, John; The Truth War, Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception; [Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN; 2007] pg. 26)
The reason we are standing today to give clarity
Regarding Biblical Sexual Morality is because at this moment this is
“that little point which the world and the devil are at [the] moment attacking”
We didn’t pick the battlefield, it has been picked for us.
When a government makes a law that tells the church
There are some sins which cannot be addressed
The church must stand at this point.
While sins like lying or perjury or drunkenness or murder or kidnapping or gossip are certainly sins that invoke the wrath of God,
Those are not currently the sins which the culture is fighting to condone.
Today the battle ground is the issue of conversion therapy
And whether or not the church can or should
Call a person in homosexual sin to repentance and salvation.
That is THE ISSUE OF THE DAY and that is where we stand.
Paul wrote:
Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
You must understand that.
• This is a spiritual battle.
• It is being waged against the devil.
• It is a war for truth and ultimately for the souls of men.
Satan today (who is the god of this world)
Has used secular and sinful governments which he influences
To seek to trap men in their sin and ultimate condemnation.
THE CHURCH IS CALLED TO OPPOSE SUCH EFFORTS
And to STAND against the devil and his schemes.
So this morning we address the issue of Biblical Sexual Morality.
Homosexuality is not the only sin, but make not mistake, it is a sin.
Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 2:21-25 “So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
Leviticus 18:22 “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.”
In the New Testament it is addressed again:
Romans 1:26-27 “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”
Now some have argued that Jesus never addressed homosexuality,
BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.
In Matthew 5 and in Matthew 19 Jesus addressed marriage.
Matthew 19:4-6 “And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Jesus clearly appealed to Scripture to indicate that
• Humanity is created “male and female”
• That “a man shall…be joined to his wife”
• And that “what God has joined together, let no man separate”
Which indicates that marriage is created by God according to His design
And humanity doesn’t get the privilege of redefining it.
We also read in the New Testament
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS THIS MORNING.
Homosexuality is clearly a sin.
Homosexuality clearly misses the mark of God’s design and intent.
I know the argument which is to say, “But I was born this way”
And look, I get that explanation and don’t totally disagree with it.
• I was born with a temper
• I was born with a propensity for lust
• I was born with a tongue that likes to gossip
POINT? I was born fallen, in sin, thanks to my father Adam.
It’s not that God created me to be sinful,
It’s that in Adam I am fallen.
But God sent His Son Jesus into the world
So that I might be saved from my sin
And restored to the image for which I was created.
AND THIS IS TRUE FOR THOSE IN HOMOSEXUALITY TOO.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
Some of you may have a more personal dealing with this issue than others.
And people have been confused with
What to do when they have a son or daughter or grandchild
Who begins to express these types of feelings.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
YOU DO THE SAME THING THAT YOU DO
WITH ALL SINFUL BEHAVIOR THAT YOUR CHILD WAS BORN WITH.
You confront it with the truth of God’s word
So that they are aware of their sin
And then you lead them to Jesus who alone can save them from it.
You convert them.
• Not just from gay to straight, but from sin to righteousness.
• From the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
• From death to life.
• From being an enemy of God to being a child of God.
That is what you do for all sin,
But today it is important to note that
HOMOSEXUALITY IS ON THAT LIST.
IT IS A SIN.
• And it is a sin in which Satan is heavily fighting today.
• It is a sin which Satan is trying to get the world to quit calling a sin.
• It is a sin which Satan would have you believe you don’t need to be saved from.
BUT IT IS A SIN
• It incurs the wrath of God.
• It incurs the judgment of God.
• It will send men and women to hell.
BUT…
IT IS A SIN FROM WHICH JESUS SAVES.
We read it in 1 Corinthians 6 where Paul listed homosexuality as a sin.
But notice what Paul said at the end of that passage.
1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
IT IS A SIN FROM WHICH JESUS CAN SAVE.
So let’s go back to 1 Timothy 1 for a moment.
After Paul outlined the true purpose or use of the Law Paul continues now with his ministry.
(12-14) “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”
This is fascinating.
Because Paul just outlined that God sent His Law for the purpose of confronting sinners.
And then Paul says something pretty peculiar.
He says that GOD USED HIM to proclaim that truth to the world.
Why is that strange?
Because Paul was a sinner.
“a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor”
And God used that sinful man to proclaim the truth?
Yes
HOW?
Paul says, “I was shown mercy”
SO NOW WE GET ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT.
God is certainly holy and righteous
And He has sent His Law to expose and condemn men in their sin.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME GOD IS MERCIFUL TO SINNERS.
In fact, Paul sums up his message like this.
(15) “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
As I prayed and pondered how to address this issue this morning,
This was the phrase that resonated in my mind.
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”
Certainly those in homosexuality must be taught that they are sinners.
The church cannot dodge this.
But what a blessing to know that
Jesus is the in the business of saving sinners!
LET ME FURTHER CLARIFY THEN OUR MANDATE HERE.
It has been title “Conversion Therapy”
And it is being called something terrible.
And granted we are not for beatings or hypnosis or shackling or food depravation as WebMD implied.
But can I remind you that conversion is absolutely the name of the game.
Acts 15:3 “Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.”
Twice in Scripture we actually have a Christian referred to as “a convert”
Romans 16:5 “also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.”
1 Timothy 3:6 “and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.”
Other times Jesus Himself calls for people to be “converted”
Matthew 18:3 “and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
John 12:40 “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM.”
I just point that out to you as a reminder that
We are in the conversion business.
JUST BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS DECIDED
That those in sin do not need to be converted
DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE IN THE CHURCH GO ALONG.
JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS
And He came to save them out of their sin.
Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Luke 9:56 “for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went on to another village.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
In 1 John we read:
1 John 4:14 “We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”
Acts 3:26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
Jesus came to save sinners from their sin.
He came to convert them.
He came to transfer them
From the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
And His mission has become our mission.
John 20:21 “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
So just to make sure we are clear on that,
This is very much A HILL ON WHICH TO DIE for the church.
Our world may move in and out of fascination with various sins.
• They may practice some…
• They may love some…
• They may approve some…
• They may enforce some…
• They may make it illegal to confront some…
But none of that is our concern.
Our concern is to be the church
Which Jesus sent out into the world
To confront sin with God’s Law
And to call men to salvation through Jesus Christ.
That is our mission and our calling.
And today there is not hotter battlefield than the issue of homosexuality.
SO AGAIN WE STATE IT PLAINLY.
Homosexuality is a sin.
• It is contrary to the Devine design.
• God created men and women; male and female.
• He ordained marriage to be between 1 man and 1 woman.
Through this union God ordained a plan to PROPAGATE the world.
For he told them to “be fruitful and multiply”
Homosexuality obviously corrupts and distorts that plan.
Marriage between 1 man and 1 woman is also meant by God to be an ILLUSTRATION through which He demonstrates Christ’s relationship with the church.
It is a testimony of salvation and submission.
Homosexuality also corrupts and distorts that testimony.
Homosexuality is also specifically addressed and forbidden in Scripture as a sin before God.
• It falls into the category of those things which miss the mark.
THEREFORE
Those who are involved in homosexuality
And those who approve it
Are required to repent of their sin and to place their faith in Jesus that they might be forgiven, cleansed, and saved for all eternity.
That is our message and that has not changed.
Today, we stand with and commend the pastors in Canada who,
Despite threat of civil punishment,
Have chosen to stand for the mission of the church.
And though our immediate consequence is not as severe as theirs, we gladly stand with them knowing that Jesus Christ is the only Savior this world will ever know.
We cannot retreat here.
And to that I would like to make ONE FINAL POINT.
We have talked a lot recently about submission to the governing authorities.
• We studied Ecclesiastes and we saw several examples of what is clearly required of us.
• We are not out to lead a revolt against the government.
• We are not out to start some civil war.
But this represents an area where we cannot comply.
• As those Hebrew boys, we refuse to bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s statue.
• As Daniel, we continue in prayer though the king forbids it.
As the apostles:
Acts 4:19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
And here again we appeal to THE EXAMPLE of our Lord.
Luke 13:31-32 “Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’”
And there we are reminded that
Our Lord had a mission
Over which the governing authorities had no say.
No man could derail His ministry.
NO, He did not start a revolt.
NO, He did not call for a war.
1 Peter 2:23 “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”
Jesus DIDN’T try to overthrow anyone.
And yet, He recognized a fox when He saw one.
He knew the will of Herod to be contrary to the will of God.
And so Jesus ignored the fury of Herod
That He might fulfill His ministry and His mission.
And there we find the example for the church.
This morning I simply want to encourage you to
UNDERSTAND YOUR CALLING AND BE FAITHFUL TO IT.
• We do not hate homosexuals.
• We do not long for the condemnation of homosexuals.
• We long for homosexuals to be saved just as we do for all sinners.
Our message to them is the same as it is to all those in sin.
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
• We would echo to them the words of our Lord when He told the woman caught in adultery, “I do not condemn you either, go and sin no more.”
And we will commit to preach the message of the gospel
With the hope that it will convert all sinners from darkness to light.
THIS IS OUR MISSION.
And this morning that extends to any here today who are still in sin.
You may or may not struggle with homosexuality.
It is a sin, but it is not the only sin that will send a man to hell.
If you are to be granted fellowship with the Father
You must be cleansed of all sin, and that only happens through Jesus.
This morning I appeal to you also to repent of your sin and trust in Christ.
