Key points: Same-sex attraction is a form of temptation. Though any temptation is not sinful in itself, it always calls for caution. SSA stands for same-sex-attracted or same-sex attraction . It is, quite simply, attraction to members of the same sex. It can be experienced as physical attraction, emotional attraction, mental attraction, or a combination of these. Some SSA individuals may feel attracted to their same sex only along one of these dimensions, for example: physic

Key points: Same-sex sexual acts are unequivocally condemned in the Old Testament. Aspects of the Old Testament purity code that establish sexual morality are still in effect today. The Old Testament contains extensive instructions regarding all forms of purity. While not all of these instructions are in effect today, it is widely accepted that we are still expected to follow those relating to sexual purity. At the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), apostles Peter, James, and Jo

Key points: Jesus upheld a sexual ethic that excludes same-sex marriage. Paul condemned same-sex sexual acts unconditionally. The Greek words referring to those who commit same-sex sexual acts had a clear meaning that was understood by early believers. The New Testament contains several unequivocal condemnations of same-sex sexual acts. All of these are found in the epistles. The gospels do not contain direct mentions of same-sex sexual acts, but Jesus Himself offers a sweepi

Key points : Jesus was tempted but did not sin, revealing that temptation and sin are different things. The presence of temptation, even persistent temptation, in a person's life does not by itself indicate ongoing rebellion against God. Christians who experience same-sex temptation but make it a practice to refuse to act on it are growing in purity before God. In the first article, we looked at reasons not to confuse temptation with sin, even though the two are closely conne

Key points: People do not normally choose to feel same-sex attraction. If same-sex attraction is somehow genetic, this does not release a person from biblical standards of sexual purity. The same is true of a person's upbringing. Same-sex attraction is not bestowed by God and should therefore not be considered a gift from God. Rather, SSA is a symptom of the fallenness of Creation. Where does same-sex attraction (SSA) come from? Is it a choice people make, like choosing one f

Key points: Who we are goes hand in hand with whose we are. If we are children of God, we must believe what He says about us. Satan attacks our identity—including the identity of Christians—because our identity is what shows that we belong to God. Repenting from sin and following Christ requires a change in self-perception that matches the way God sees us. Some of the most important—and controversial—claims of the Bible are about our identity before God. Our identity as chi

Key point: In Isaiah 56, God offers a special blessing to those who keep themselves sexually pure for His sake. You might not expect to find a message for people who experience same-sex attraction in the Book of Isaiah. It is actually a word of assurance for eunuchs, which Jesus also referred to in his teaching about marriage (Matthew 19: 11–12). Eunuchs—those who do not experience "normal" sexuality for whatever reason—are told by God that they may expect a special blessing