The Gospel of Jesus Christ comes with a warning and a promise: The warning is “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God… neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals…” The promise is: “
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 (1 Cor 6:9-11).
In previous articles we talked about the sexual brokenness of humanity and the universal condition of original sin. Paul affirms that sexual sinfulness is common to all of us: “…we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind…” (Eph 2:3). We’ve also talked about how Jesus teaches us to offer grace and truth, to proclaim mercy and forgiveness to sinners, to offer life in the face of death. Sexual sins are sometimes the most difficult forgive because they tend to be the most grievous, shameful, and treacherous. Sexual immorality is a betrayal of our covenant with God and our covenant with each other. Even so, there is no sin beyond the reach of God’s forgiving and saving grace.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ restores the brokenness of the male/female relationship. The Law tutors us in the righteousness of God but is insufficient in the redemption of humanity. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means that the Holy Spirit is being poured out upon all flesh – male and female, slave and free. The good news is that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are God’s remedy for the curse of sin. In Christ and Spirit, “new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ and Spirit, “there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). This does not suggest that sexual identity, or gender, is fluid. Rather, the biological distinction of male and female are reaffirmed as co-equal partners in New Creation. The subjugation of female by male gives way to a marital relationship in which husbands and wives are to “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Eph 5:21). Just as Adam and Eve ruled together and served as priest together in the Garden; in New Creation male and female rule together, and serve as priests together.
How does the Gospel fix the sexual brokenness of humanity? Let’s talk about the way of salvation. First, we must understand the depths of original sin. The human mind is depraved. A depraved mind cannot acknowledge God, cannot understand the righteousness of God, cannot comprehend the wisdom of God. Original sin is not a choice; it is a state of being corresponding to death that humans are powerless to overcome. Therefore, salvation begins with God’s gracious initiative whereby the Holy Spirit moves to enlighten the darkened mind and heart of humanity and enables us to respond to God’s call to repentance. To repent means to turn, or change one’s mind. To repent is to say, “Yes” to God; to acknowledge God and to live in obedience to God. Therefore, to repent is to turn from a life of sexual immorality and embrace the sexual morality of God’s law.
Paul declares, “you were washed”. This is a reference to water baptism which signifies new birth and initial cleansing from sin. The preachers of the Old Testament insisted that sexual immorality defiles us, or makes us unclean. The unclean person cannot enter the presence of the Lord until they are first washed with the waters of purification (Numbers 19:17-19; Ezek 36:25). Water baptism is called the “washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5). Regeneration delivers us from the wages of sin – death. Water baptism signifies removing the filthy garments of sin and being clothed in white garments of righteousness. Therefore, water baptism signifies new birth, being raised from the death of sin, being cleansed so that we may enter the presence of the Lord.
You were justified. Original sin means that humans are fallen, living under the wrath of God. To use a popular advertising slogan, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” To be justified means to be set upright. It means that God pardons us of sin and gives to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ. In other words, God takes everything that was wrong about us and makes it right. For the first time in our lives the wisdom of God makes sense. The depraved mind is renewed and transformed. Justification is the remedy for the penalty of sin. No longer do we live under the wrath of God, but “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).
You were sanctified. Original sin means that humans are enslaved by the power of sin and no longer share the holiness of God. Sin reigns in our bodies so that we obey its lusts (Romans 6:12). Sanctification delivers us from the power of sin so that we can resist sin and present our bodies as instruments of righteousness. Sanctification means that God’s grace empowers us to choose holiness. Sanctification does not mean that we are delivered from the possibility of temptation. Sanctification does not mean that we are freed from the struggle with sin, or the corruption of sin. Just the opposite. Sinners don’t struggle with sin, they celebrate it. Only the sanctified struggle with sin. Being sanctified means that we recognize sin and resist temptation. Sexual temptation continues even after sanctification. That is true for the heterosexual, the homosexual, and the transsexual. But the sanctified person acknowledges the sinfulness of sexual immorality and pursues the holiness of God.
So then, is there an ultimate remedy for sexual brokenness; or do we despairingly cry out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). With Paul we exclaim, “There is no condemnation in Christ!” (Rom 8:1) because that which God has started in us God will complete. “…these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Romans 8:30). Glorification delivers us from the presence of sin. Only in glorification are we delivered from the corruption of original sin. In glorification we will be like Christ. Our corrupted bodies will be raised incorruptible; our dishonored bodies will be raised in glory; our weak bodies will be raised in power; and our natural bodies will be raised as Spirit-transformed bodies that will no longer be subject to sin and death! (1 Cor 15:42-44).
