“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
It takes an abundant amount of perverse imagination and hermeneutical gymnastics to try to use the Bible to defend homosexuality. Some have tried and have been unsuccessful every time.
The Bible writers—Old and New Testament alike—have consistently, clearly, and forcefully denounced this degenerate practice.
Though Jude only uses one sentence, he plainly states two somber, unchanging truths about this practice of vile passions.
Homosexuality is immoral. The Greek word porneia—which is the root of the verb used by Jude’s inspired quill—denotes all illicit sexual behavior. It includes all sexual expression which defiles the marriage bed—premarital sex, adultery, incest, bestiality, pedophilia, rape, and both persons involved in a homosexual liaison (see malakos—“homosexuals” in NKJV and arsenokoites—“sodomites” in 1 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV).
Homosexuality is unlawful. One way that Bible writers identify an unauthorized activity or person is with the word “strange”. The children of Israel were commanded to not offer strange sacrifices (Exodus 30:9). Nadab and Abihu—two sons of Aaron who were priests—were destroyed by fire from Jehovah because they used strange (KJV) or profane (NKJV) fire (i.e. fire which God had not authorized them to use (Leviticus 10:1-2). When counseling his precious offspring on how to live as a spiritual success in this world, Solomon frequently warned his beloved son of strange women—adulteresses—who would lead him into a path of ruin (cf. Proverbs 5:3, 20; 6:24; 7:5; 23:27 in KJV).
It makes absolutely no difference how many legislative bodies or judicial courts affirm it; homosexuality is unlawful in God’s eyes. Not only do homosexuals receive “in themselves the penalty of their error” (Romans 1:27) in this life, they will also suffer “the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7) in the life to come.
Immoral and unlawful.
Two somber, sobering, immutable Bible truths.
