WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.280 And this is the beginning of a conversation, not the end. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:11.099 And I'm aware as we come to a topic like this, there are all sorts of thoughts and hopes and desires. 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:13.960 People have different questions and they want different things. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:23.460 Some people would love to have sort of a Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro, you know, takedown about how the liberals are so bad. 00:00:23.460 --> 00:00:29.580 And we could leave that just feeling so good about the fact that the church is conservative on social issues. 00:00:30.899 --> 00:00:38.079 Some of you are coming and you remember that you have friends and family members that are part of the LGBTQ plus community. 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:41.740 And you have questions about how can I interact with them and engage them? 00:00:41.780 --> 00:00:43.780 What do I say when I talk about these things? 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:52.159 I had a seminary professor who reminded us any time we discuss this topic, we are talking about someone's relative or someone's friend. 00:00:53.900 --> 00:00:58.500 Some people are coming to this topic and you're actually experiencing same-sex attraction of some sort. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:00.140 And they're unsure maybe what to do with it. 00:01:01.700 --> 00:01:02.960 There's questions people ask. 00:01:03.060 --> 00:01:05.000 Hey, can someone change their attraction? 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:05.939 And if so, how? 00:01:06.960 --> 00:01:11.019 Maybe you're coming this morning and you already know that you disagree with what I'm going to say. 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:15.060 And so you're just waiting to see how badly I mess it up this morning. 00:01:17.479 --> 00:01:20.500 I mention all of that today to set some expectations. 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:22.840 We're not going to address all of that this morning. 00:01:23.679 --> 00:01:28.179 In fact, I imagine many of you, if not all of you, are going to be a little bit disappointed. 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:37.580 We're going to do one thing and one thing only, which is to lay out Paul's specific point in this specific passage. 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:41.720 Among pastors, there's this phrase we use that says, 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:46.240 the point of the passage is the point of the sermon. 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:50.219 And Paul is not making every point here. 00:01:50.340 --> 00:01:54.240 He is saying one thing and really one thing only. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.500 And it's this, I'll tell you at the very beginning before we even pray. 00:01:57.640 --> 00:01:59.719 Paul's point is very simple and it's this. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:07.500 Homosexuality is against God the Creator's design for this world. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:09.780 That's Paul's point. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:10.959 There's a Creator. 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:12.560 He's made the world. 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:14.120 He has a design. 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:19.120 His design is for one man and one woman in marriage. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:27.659 If you're wildly offended this morning, I certainly hope it is not by me and my imperfections, but by the Word of God. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:30.099 And it's for that reason that I invite you to turn now. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:31.560 We're in Romans chapter 1. 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:34.060 We're going to start with verse 24. 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:37.700 You can turn with me in your Bible. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:39.400 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:40.099 --> 00:02:41.480 You can turn on your worship guide. 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:42.680 Turn in your worship guide. 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:45.740 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:54.480 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold, sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:58.120 And so that's why we read it now, starting at verse 24. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:19.540 Verse 26. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:47.620 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:53.560 Father, our Father in heaven, we do thank you that you have created this world. 00:03:54.259 --> 00:03:55.879 We thank you that it's not an accident. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:56.840 It's not random. 00:03:57.020 --> 00:03:57.759 It's not chaotic. 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:02.599 But that you have given it an order and a design and an intention. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:08.259 And even more than that, we thank you that you haven't left us to figure that out on our own. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:11.960 But instead, you've spoken clearly to us in your Word. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:14.840 And we ask that you would do that very thing this morning. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:21.280 That you would help us as we come to a passage that is challenging in our time and our place. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:24.439 That you'd help us to see and understand. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:27.660 You give us great clarity and wisdom. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:30.420 You would do what we're not able to do by ourselves. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:33.420 Which is to hear clearly from you in your Word. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:37.180 To see and obey and respond in praise to you. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:40.639 We ask all of these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:41.420 Amen. 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:49.939 As I imagine most of you, if not all of you know, as we come to June, 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:54.939 every year we have sort of this secular calendar of secular holidays. 00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:56.480 And June is not just a holiday. 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:59.180 It's an entire month called Pride Month. 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:04.420 Which is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ plus community. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:07.939 Now back in June of 2017, 00:05:08.780 --> 00:05:15.340 a Royal Dutch Airlines decided that they wanted to make their support of that community clear as possible. 00:05:15.520 --> 00:05:18.520 And so they wanted to have a great advertising campaign around it. 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:22.540 And they posted an image on Twitter that is now famous. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:24.180 We might say infamous. 00:05:25.280 --> 00:05:26.759 And the picture is very simple. 00:05:27.280 --> 00:05:31.180 It has three different seatbelts on it in a row from top to bottom. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:35.439 The first seatbelt at the very top has two buckles. 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:40.819 The second seatbelt in the middle has two latches. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:47.360 And then the third seatbelt at the very bottom has one buckle and one latch. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.060 And with that image, they said this in their tweet. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:55.040 It doesn't matter who you click with. 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.259 Happy Pride Amsterdam. 00:05:58.259 --> 00:06:01.019 And if you want to see the image I'm talking about, 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:02.680 all you have to do is Google the phrase, 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.120 it doesn't matter who you click with. 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:07.599 Now as you think about that, 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:09.480 what is the problem with that image? 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.779 It in fact matters a whole lot who you click with. 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:18.360 Even more than that, 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:21.480 only one of those seatbelts actually works. 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:22.560 Right? 00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:24.180 Only the seatbelt at the bottom. 00:06:24.180 --> 00:06:26.379 It turns out for a seatbelt to work, 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:29.139 you need one buckle and one latch. 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:30.840 Who would have guessed? 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:31.220 Right? 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:39.040 And so this became infamous because this tweet was trolled all over the internet. 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:39.980 Right? 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:42.639 All the comments under it and the retweets were saying, 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:46.280 look, this actually, this is backfiring. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:46.600 Right? 00:06:46.819 --> 00:06:48.460 If I'm on an airline, 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:51.180 which of those three seatbelts do I want to choose? 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:54.459 One and only one. 00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:54.740 Right? 00:06:54.900 --> 00:07:00.259 There's only one way to use a seatbelt where it actually works. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:01.139 Right? 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:04.759 Only the seatbelt that has this complementarity to it, 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:09.980 only one of them is actually going to be able to close and save you. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.720 And so to state the obvious, 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:17.139 a seatbelt needs one buckle and one latch. 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:18.720 Why? 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:24.700 Because that's the way it's designed. 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:27.820 There is a creator. 00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:29.860 The seatbelt has a creator, right? 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:34.360 He's designed the seatbelt to work in a certain way. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:39.060 That is Paul's very basic point in this passage. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.020 You can look with me at verse 26. 00:07:41.340 --> 00:07:41.700 He says, 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:43.979 God gave them up to dishonorable passions, 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:47.219 for their women exchanged natural relations 00:07:47.219 --> 00:07:51.039 for those that are contrary to nature. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.000 And then he makes the same point, 00:07:53.159 --> 00:07:54.579 verse 27, about men. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:59.620 And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women. 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:02.699 What does Paul mean here by contrary to nature? 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:05.019 What does he mean by giving up natural relations? 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:07.480 When Paul uses this word nature, 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:08.300 he's saying this, 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:11.400 there is a design to the universe. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:15.939 There is a way that the universe has been created, 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:17.319 has been designed to work. 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:19.259 It is not arbitrary. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:22.860 God, when he made this world, 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:23.980 had a plan. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.379 He has an intention. 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:28.740 There is, in fact, an owner's manual. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:31.079 This is not some random structure 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:34.180 that we get to come to as a blank slate 00:08:34.180 --> 00:08:36.879 and try to figure out how it works. 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:39.620 And so one of the major points is this, 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:40.419 that Paul is making. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:45.299 God has created men and women 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:49.100 to complement each other sexually. 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:53.320 We could say it another way. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:58.660 Sex between a man and a woman 00:08:58.660 --> 00:09:05.860 is the only sex that honors the intention of the creator. 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.420 And in 2024, we might take that a step further. 00:09:10.540 --> 00:09:14.140 We might say sex between a biological man 00:09:14.140 --> 00:09:16.240 and a biological woman, 00:09:16.780 --> 00:09:22.420 the only sex that honors the intention of the creator. 00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:24.179 I'm gonna invite you to look with me 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:25.679 on the back of your worship guide, 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:27.439 which lays out this same point. 00:09:28.599 --> 00:09:31.699 The mandate for sexual relations in scripture 00:09:31.699 --> 00:09:35.899 is tied to the design of the body. 00:09:37.099 --> 00:09:38.559 The body has a purpose to it. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:39.219 It has a creation. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.519 The logic and good of marriage 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.019 is tied to the design of those bodies. 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:49.819 Male and female bodies are designed for one another 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:56.780 in a reciprocal, complementary, and life-giving way. 00:09:58.540 --> 00:10:03.120 Same-sex sexual activity signals a misuse of the body 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:08.040 since homosexual acts thwart or work against 00:10:08.040 --> 00:10:12.379 the natural purpose of sexual design, 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.560 which is another way of saying there's a creator, 00:10:17.060 --> 00:10:18.220 he has a creation. 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:23.220 He has made it to work in a specific way. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:27.980 Now, Paul doesn't say it here in this passage, 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:30.259 but he makes it clear in other parts of scripture, 00:10:30.660 --> 00:10:33.320 it's not just that this is for a man and a woman, 00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:37.620 it's for a man and a woman who are married to each other. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:40.500 We talked about this before, 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.560 I think at least in our Sunday school at the end of 2022. 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:47.479 Remember the ethicist David Jones says that this is the reason 00:10:47.479 --> 00:10:50.119 because sex is a life-uniting act, 00:10:50.859 --> 00:10:55.039 and so it must be accompanied with a life-uniting intention. 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:58.299 The act and the intention go together. 00:10:58.419 --> 00:11:00.579 That's why it's reserved for marriage. 00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:03.219 And so again, you can see this, 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:05.979 this is on page seven of your worship guide. 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:11.279 When human beings engage in homosexual activity, 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:15.620 they enact an outward and visible sign 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:19.080 of an inward and spiritual reality, 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:23.600 the rejection of the creator's design. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:28.680 And so really we're repeating the same point 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:30.560 over and over at this point, 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:33.000 which is that God is the creator of this world. 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:36.500 It is God, not us, 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.759 who determine how this world is supposed to function. 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:43.460 It is God, not us, 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:49.120 who determine what is the right and wrong use of our bodies. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:55.500 This brings up another point that goes back to last week. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:00.379 If you were with us as we looked at verses 18 through 23, 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:02.220 one of Paul's points is that 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:04.820 there is this burning clarity in creation, 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:09.500 that creation just screams about God and his ways. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.200 It should be obvious to us 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:17.220 that men and women are designed by God to go together, right? 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:19.480 So how did Dutch airlines, 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:24.940 how did they not think that this image was gonna backfire, right? 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:29.980 Is it not obvious two of those seatbelts don't work? 00:12:30.920 --> 00:12:33.040 Well, just think about what we saw last week. 00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:35.100 Verse 18, very beginning, 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:38.600 we were told the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:42.019 against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:47.439 who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:51.699 In other words, it should be obvious. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.259 In fact, it is obvious. 00:12:56.319 --> 00:12:58.539 We just suppress it. 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:02.579 God has made it clear in creation. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.819 And so again, if you have your Bible with you, 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:06.259 you can see this is from last week. 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:07.419 Verse 22, 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:09.839 claiming to be wise, 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:12.019 they became fools. 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:18.379 They were so caught up in this worship of the creation, 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.839 not the creator, 00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:23.599 they missed a very elementary, 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:25.319 a very basic mistake, right? 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:28.099 They should have known in advance 00:13:28.099 --> 00:13:32.339 this was going to be retweeted over and over. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:38.139 As we think about this argument, 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.780 God is the great creator. 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.720 He's given us his intention for the world. 00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:43.480 I wanna say a couple things. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:46.280 First, to Christians and then to non-Christians. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.320 If you're a Christian, 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.019 remember what we looked at in verse six. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.980 Paul says, 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:55.540 you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.660 We talked about the fact that if we belong to Jesus Christ 00:13:59.660 --> 00:14:00.980 and not to ourselves, 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:05.060 he is the one who tells us how we work in this world. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:09.019 He's the one who tells us how we're supposed to use our bodies 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:11.060 and what we're not supposed to do with him. 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:13.779 And so if you belong to the creator, 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:16.960 it is a logical step to say, 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:21.320 you behave in the way that honors his creation. 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:24.440 If you belong to the creator, 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:29.340 you behave in a way that honors his creation. 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:33.100 And it turns out that God is the creator, 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.940 cares a lot about what he's made. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:38.240 Right? 00:14:38.280 --> 00:14:39.379 Imagine that if you're an artist 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:41.519 and you create this great work of art 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:43.960 and someone comes up before it 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:46.120 and they just splatter new paint all over it. 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:49.120 How's that artist gonna feel? 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.460 Oh, that's great. 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.620 I'm glad they did what they wanted. 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:56.659 No, you've taken my creation 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:59.740 and you have misused it and abused it. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:02.600 Part of what we believe as Christians 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:06.840 is that this world and the creation in it really matter. 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:13.019 We honor the world in the way that God has made it. 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.960 It's God's creation. 00:15:16.160 --> 00:15:16.740 It's not ours. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:19.580 His intention, not ours. 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:23.100 We use it in the way he says. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:28.500 So first I wanna tell you that. 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.399 God's the creator. 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:31.139 Second thing I'll tell you is this. 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:34.040 Look with me on page eight of your worship guide. 00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:37.379 It is widely accepted today 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:41.040 that if a person senses a disjunction 00:15:41.040 --> 00:15:44.740 between biological sex and sexual desire, 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.800 the only proper course of action 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:51.539 is to accept their psychological state 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:53.639 as their true authentic self. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.259 But why? 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.659 Why assume that feelings 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:01.799 are more important than the body? 00:16:03.719 --> 00:16:04.899 And the quote is saying this. 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:06.539 Hey, look, you might have two things 00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:07.319 that don't match up. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.759 Your sexual desire and your body, 00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:10.319 they may not correspond to each other. 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:14.379 Why would you choose your feelings over your body? 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.779 That's an assumption you've made, right? 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:18.720 If you assume, well, of course, 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:20.419 my feelings are what matter most, 00:16:20.439 --> 00:16:21.639 you need to ask the question why. 00:16:22.699 --> 00:16:23.759 Why did that win? 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.100 Why didn't you say, 00:16:26.339 --> 00:16:28.959 oh, my desires must be wrong 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:30.259 and my body must be right? 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.939 I'm just gonna lay that question out there. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.039 There are books and volumes written 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:37.959 about how in our culture we got to a place 00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:40.240 where we decided that feelings 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.620 are more important than biology. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.240 And so I'll just leave you with that. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:47.840 Why is it that the feelings win? 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:50.960 Why isn't it that the body wins? 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:53.159 And I'll just tell you again, 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:54.740 the reason in the Christian worldview 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.180 that the body wins 00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:58.560 is because God is the creator 00:16:58.560 --> 00:17:00.220 of heaven and earth. 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:06.680 Body trumps feelings, not vice versa. 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.839 We trust God the creator 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:12.720 regardless of how we feel. 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.059 You can feel very strongly 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:21.779 that a seatbelt with two latches 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.579 will keep you safe. 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:26.059 You can feel that as strongly as you want. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.899 That doesn't make it real. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:32.259 If you're in a plane crash, 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:34.299 that is not the seatbelt 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.939 that's gonna keep you safe. 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:38.519 It only works 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:40.840 when it's used the way it's designed. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:44.039 It's only safe 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:48.080 when it's used the way it's designed. 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:52.140 I told you I was gonna have something 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:53.880 for Christians and for non-Christians. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.380 If you're not a Christian, 00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:57.059 what I just said to you 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.080 might not make sense at all. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.900 We actually have to back up a step. 00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:03.080 The statement I just made 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:04.220 doesn't make any sense 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:05.500 unless there is in fact 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.799 a creator of heaven and earth. 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.460 And so you might say, 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.839 man, that's great, Matthew, 00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:11.179 that you think there's a designer 00:18:11.179 --> 00:18:12.039 and a creator. 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.500 I actually don't think that. 00:18:14.439 --> 00:18:15.599 And so I do think 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.759 my body's a blank slate 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.759 and I can do with it 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.139 whatever they want. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.460 Paul's point here 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:23.659 actually rises or falls 00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:26.179 based on whether that is true. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.939 His argument here, 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.779 his discussion of homosexuality 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.539 actually flows out of, 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:33.799 it's underneath his claim 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.940 about God as the creator. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.539 And so look with me now 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.379 at verse 25. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.519 He says, 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:41.319 they exchanged the truth 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.639 about God for a lie 00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:44.680 and worshiped and served 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.420 the creature 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.779 rather than the creator. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.440 Logically, that's what comes first. 00:18:49.659 --> 00:18:51.099 That's the important point. 00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.740 Notice that word exchange. 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.859 It's gonna show up, 00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:54.559 I believe, 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.599 in the very next verse, 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.319 verse 26. 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.180 For this reason, 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.059 God gave them up 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.220 to dishonorable passions 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.519 for their women 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:04.440 exchanged natural relations 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:06.000 for those that are contrary 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.319 to nature. 00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.159 These two, 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.440 it's not an accident 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.859 that Paul uses 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:13.179 the word exchange twice. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.679 He's telling us, 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.980 hey, there's a logic to this. 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:17.200 There's one exchange 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.339 that happens first, 00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:20.339 then there's another exchange 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:21.480 that flows out of that. 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:23.079 The real fundamental 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.059 foundational problem 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:26.079 is that they've exchanged 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.419 the creator for the creation. 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.580 Now, guess what happens 00:19:29.580 --> 00:19:30.480 as a result of that? 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.920 Many bad things happen. 00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.700 One of them is this. 00:19:35.560 --> 00:19:36.800 And so Paul's argument 00:19:36.800 --> 00:19:38.039 rises or falls, 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.820 it succeeds or fails 00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:41.460 based on whether he's right. 00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:44.019 Is there actually 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.240 a creator to this world? 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.420 If it's not, 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.500 if there's no creator, 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.160 everything I've just said to you, 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:49.880 you can throw away. 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:51.440 Right? 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.900 That's the actual question. 00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:55.400 Did God make man? 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:57.820 And so if you're not a Christian, 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:59.000 ultimately our disagreement 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.420 probably isn't about sexuality 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.320 fundamentally. 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.160 Our disagreement's 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.860 actually a disagreement 00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:05.640 about God. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.480 Has God made the world? 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.360 And so we have to back up. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.120 We actually have to answer 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.160 that question first. 00:20:14.860 --> 00:20:16.400 Now, I'm not gonna unpack 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.540 all of that for you. 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.759 You know, there are also books 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.480 and books that have been 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.340 written about this. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.620 I wanna put a rock in your shoe. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.180 Think about this. 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:27.299 The fact 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.799 that there is 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.140 a man and a woman 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:32.019 that come together 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.820 to reproduce 00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:34.799 is the sign, 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.779 one sign, 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.560 that there is a creator. 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.880 And the reason for that 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.340 is this. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.500 In her book, 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.500 Love Thy Body, 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.620 Nancy Piercy points out 00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:45.420 that evolution, 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.820 macroevolution, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.140 actually can't explain 00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:48.700 why we have 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.220 what she calls 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.640 sexual dimorphism, 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.580 which is the idea 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:53.100 that we have 00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:54.240 sexual reproduction, 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.599 not asexual reproduction. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.259 She puts it this way. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.279 Sexual dimorphism 00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.740 cannot be explained 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.339 by any current 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:03.539 Darwinian theories. 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.460 Why did sex evolve 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.319 in the first place? 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.740 It is far more efficient 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.799 for an organism 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.700 to reproduce 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:12.000 asexually 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.019 simply by dividing 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.299 and making a copy 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:15.900 of itself. 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.259 Evolution can't explain 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.779 why we don't 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.900 reproduce asexually. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:24.700 She goes on to say, 00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.980 hey, let's imagine 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.040 that evolution 00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:28.060 did produce that. 00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:29.180 How would you have 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.400 intervening stages 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.720 between asexual 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.740 and sexual reproduction? 00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:35.460 You'd have to leap, right? 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.400 You have to go immediately 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.440 from one to the other. 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.000 If you don't, 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.300 whatever that species is 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:41.160 is going to immediately 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.759 die out. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.680 And so this is their, 00:21:43.800 --> 00:21:44.460 that's why 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.400 this is a question 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.240 we don't have 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.860 an answer to. 00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.460 This is her conclusion. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:51.360 It is far more plausible 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:53.519 that sexual reproduction 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.620 is a product 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:56.279 of intelligent design 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:58.740 that natural processes 00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:00.480 were guided by a goal 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.779 or a purpose. 00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:05.740 The simple fact 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:09.180 that a man and a woman 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.559 have to come together 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.140 to reproduce 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:13.019 is a sign 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.680 that God has created 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.720 this world. 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:19.319 In fact, 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.900 there's no other 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.880 plausible explanation. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.880 This again 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.279 goes back to last week. 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:24.600 Remember, 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.180 verses 18 through 20, 00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:27.059 Paul says, 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:27.339 look, 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.539 what is in creation 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.160 about God 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.059 is clear. 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.720 It's obvious. 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:36.019 Those who don't see it, 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.880 verse 18, 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.500 suppress the truth. 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:45.700 I'm just going to summarize 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.319 for one minute. 00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:46.819 We've been talking 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.559 about a lot of things. 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.359 Here's the two big points 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.720 I've made, 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.740 really three big points. 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.019 Point one, 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.880 God's the creator. 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.720 He has a design 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.480 to his creation. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:59.420 If you are a Christian, 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.940 remember that you belong 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.779 to the creator. 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.460 Your body 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.579 has priority 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.579 over your feelings. 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:11.319 point three, 00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:13.039 if you are not 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.539 a Christian, 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.299 remember, 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.199 sexual reproduction 00:23:17.199 --> 00:23:19.199 points to a creator 00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:20.960 with a design. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.139 If there's a designer, 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.379 it really matters 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:27.019 what he says. 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:28.699 Okay? 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.879 That's where we're at 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:30.319 at this point. 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.240 I have a few more things 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.699 to tell you. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.699 You may be thinking 00:23:34.699 --> 00:23:35.199 about this 00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:35.619 and wonder, 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:35.899 like, 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.559 why of all the issues, 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.819 how did Paul get there? 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:40.740 Like, 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.679 we're talking about 00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:42.339 the gospel 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.779 and we're talking about, 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.039 you know, 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:44.599 in it, 00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:45.539 the righteousness of God 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.779 is revealed from faith, 00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:47.659 for faith, 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.779 and then suddenly 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.639 it feels like we took 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:50.679 this super abrupt 00:23:50.679 --> 00:23:51.379 left turn. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.220 Like, 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.500 suddenly, 00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.679 without any warning, 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.759 Paul is suddenly 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:56.460 talking about homosexuality. 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.379 To understand 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.740 why Paul is doing that, 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.460 we have to remember 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.139 the big picture 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:01.839 of what's happening 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.240 in Romans. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.579 So I told you 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.279 last week, 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.759 Romans chapter one, 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.220 starting at verse 18, 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.740 which we started 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.339 last week, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.339 all the way 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.279 through chapter three 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:12.160 is making one big point. 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.779 The one big point 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.620 that's being made 00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:16.160 in those three chapters 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.519 is summarized 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.140 in Romans chapter three, 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.920 verse 23. 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.759 Paul says, 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.220 for all have sinned 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.400 and fall short 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.220 of the glory 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.259 of God. 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.740 So what you cannot do 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:31.380 as you walk away 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:32.160 from this passage 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.920 is say this. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.500 Oh, 00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:33.740 okay, 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.019 great, 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.839 I'm not gay. 00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.879 So it's all good. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.279 I don't have anything 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.980 to worry about. 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.619 I'm glad Paul spoke 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.779 to those people out there. 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.660 I don't need to worry 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.299 about anything 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.319 in here. 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.500 No, 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.779 Paul is presenting 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.240 this as one 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.160 illustration 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:52.460 of what is true 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.859 of all humanity. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.279 Right? 00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:56.940 He's saying, 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.200 look, 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.180 everyone 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.759 has replaced 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.319 the creator 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.139 with the creation. 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.680 and as I'm preaching 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.240 this to you, 00:25:03.280 --> 00:25:04.440 as I'm making this point, 00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:04.740 I, 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.100 Paul, 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.960 want to give you 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.660 the most potent 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.700 illustration I can. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:11.080 In case you missed it, 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.700 think about this. 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.520 This is the clearest, 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.980 most graphic example 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.800 I can give you, 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.640 the most visual 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:19.240 illustration I can provide 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.020 of how it's true 00:25:21.020 --> 00:25:21.720 that humanity 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.740 has confused 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.820 these things. 00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.800 And so why does Paul 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:26.980 pick homosexuality 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.720 of all the things 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.480 he could talk about? 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.920 Because it's so clear. 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:33.640 he's trying 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.600 to drive 00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:35.280 his point 00:25:35.280 --> 00:25:35.980 home. 00:25:37.020 --> 00:25:38.080 We might say 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:39.080 it's as clear 00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:41.740 as the fact 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.640 that a seatbelt 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.840 with two buckles 00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.600 won't protect you. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.640 John Calvin 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.880 says it's possible 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.300 for us 00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:49.860 to become 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:51.080 blind 00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:53.040 at noonday. 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.740 That is, 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.540 the most obvious 00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:56.100 things 00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:57.280 we can't see. 00:25:58.280 --> 00:25:59.259 I say all that 00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.980 to say this. 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.980 you may not 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.799 express 00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:03.180 yourself sexually 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:04.099 in this way. 00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:07.559 You have still 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.319 replaced 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.400 the creator 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.700 with the creation. 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.440 Paul is using 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.120 this as an 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.519 illustration 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.839 to drive home 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.900 what is true 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.500 of all humanity. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.259 If you doubt that, 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:21.759 look ahead 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.380 for next week. 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.259 Verses 28 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.980 through 32, 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.360 Paul then goes 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:25.960 on to provide 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.620 a bunch of other 00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.299 things that people 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.779 do when they 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.599 replace the creator 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.319 with the creation. 00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.419 I'll give you 00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:30.819 a little bit 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.399 of a sampler. 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.599 Here's the list. 00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:33.740 This is verse 29. 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.599 Envy, 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:34.980 murder, 00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:35.480 strife, 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.019 deceit, 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.939 maliciousness, 00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:37.879 gossips, 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:38.699 slanderers, 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.480 haters of God, 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:39.980 insolent, 00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.359 haughty, 00:26:40.439 --> 00:26:40.819 boastful. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.619 Have you ever 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.179 gossiped? 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.619 Paul says 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.500 you've exchanged 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.139 the creator 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.259 for the creation. 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.559 And so the point 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.159 of this passage 00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:54.959 is not 00:26:54.959 --> 00:26:56.799 homosexuals are bad, 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:58.000 heterosexuals are great. 00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.439 No, 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.439 the point is this. 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.919 All people 00:27:01.919 --> 00:27:03.459 have given up 00:27:03.459 --> 00:27:04.019 the worship 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.359 of the one true God. 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:08.579 And so the solution, 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:10.319 the hope of our generation 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:13.819 is not that the LGBTQ plus 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.679 movement would go away. 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.159 The solution, 00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:19.099 the hope of our generation 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.339 is that the people 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.099 in this world 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:21.839 would return 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.879 to the worship 00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:24.459 of the one true God, 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:26.019 the creator 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.899 of heaven 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.679 and earth. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:30.000 that's the solution. 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.759 That's the problem 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.360 that Paul 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:33.279 is illustrating 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.480 for us here. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.440 Yes, 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.019 homosexuality 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.660 is one way 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.279 of turning away. 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.759 It's one way 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.360 of replacing 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.440 the creator 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.180 with the creation. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.480 Paul's bringing it 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.519 as this illustration 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.140 to show us 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:46.680 how clear 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.740 and obvious it is. 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.640 And then he's going 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.180 to go on 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.900 in the next verses, 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.920 28 through 32. 00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:51.759 He's going to apply 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.400 it to us. 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.060 For chapter 2, 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.879 he's going to say, 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.980 you have no excuse, 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.539 oh man, 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.539 every one of you 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:58.960 who judges. 00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:02.019 Now most of what 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.599 I've shared with you 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.019 this morning, 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.279 many traditional religions 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.179 would agree with. 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.679 Islam and Judaism 00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:09.619 would agree 00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:11.559 on much of the 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.679 Christian sexual ethic. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.220 Christianity is different 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.700 for this. 00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:18.899 Paul is explaining 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:20.419 that all the world 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.859 deserves God's judgment. 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:24.099 He brings up 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:25.000 homosexuality 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.299 as one example 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.439 of all the world 00:28:27.439 --> 00:28:28.899 deserving God's judgment. 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.019 And what does the rest 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.779 of the book of Romans 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.519 go on to say? 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.699 God could have left us 00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:35.139 in sin. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.359 What did he do? 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:39.059 He pursued us. 00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:41.819 God comes 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.899 in the book of Genesis 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.699 at the very beginning 00:28:43.699 --> 00:28:44.579 and he sees 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.419 how corrupt 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:46.699 mankind is 00:28:46.699 --> 00:28:47.299 and what does he say? 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.579 This is so bad, 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.619 I'm going to destroy 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.059 the earth. 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:53.299 And he comes back 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.439 to Genesis chapter 9 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.279 and what does he say? 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.559 I'll never destroy 00:28:57.559 --> 00:28:58.039 the earth 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.500 with a flood again. 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:02.099 I'm going to preserve 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:03.019 this world 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:05.000 despite its rebellion. 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.579 I'm going to bring 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.219 salvation 00:29:08.219 --> 00:29:09.339 instead 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:10.859 of judgment. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.039 Why will he not 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.859 destroy the earth? 00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:16.639 Because he will destroy 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:18.579 his own son. 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:22.240 to people 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.199 who worship 00:29:23.199 --> 00:29:23.899 the creation 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:24.439 rather than 00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:24.919 the creator. 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.519 People 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.659 like you 00:29:26.659 --> 00:29:27.759 and me. 00:29:29.199 --> 00:29:30.079 1 Corinthians 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.819 chapter 6 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.480 verse 11 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.460 Paul is talking 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.279 about all sorts 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:33.799 of sins. 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.699 One of them 00:29:34.699 --> 00:29:35.419 includes 00:29:35.419 --> 00:29:36.939 homosexuality 00:29:36.939 --> 00:29:38.419 and he says this 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.680 and such 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.200 were some 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:40.580 of you 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:42.019 but you 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.660 were washed 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.779 you were 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.480 sanctified 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.960 you were justified 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.500 in the name 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.160 of the Lord 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.000 Jesus Christ 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.420 and by the spirit 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.580 of our God. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.960 Now if you know 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.300 grammar 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:56.460 you know that 00:29:56.460 --> 00:29:57.160 you were washed 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.120 you were sanctified 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.920 you were justified 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:00.320 are passive verbs. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.680 He doesn't say 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.720 you washed yourself 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:05.279 you sanctified yourself 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.160 you saved yourself. 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.060 No. 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.400 God 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.279 pursued 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.100 you. 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.779 He destroyed 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.140 the world 00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.940 once with a flood. 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.540 We justly 00:30:18.540 --> 00:30:18.920 deserve 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:19.519 that he would 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.100 do it again. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:22.920 Instead 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.100 he saves 00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.779 the world 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:26.100 by his grace. 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.340 It's the gospel. 00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:31.820 It's the good news. 00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:32.779 It's the good news 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.320 for people 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:34.340 out there 00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:34.920 and it's the good news 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.580 for people in here. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.160 For everyone 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.800 who has faith 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.799 and trust 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.379 and belief 00:30:38.379 --> 00:30:39.519 in Jesus Christ. 00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:40.919 And so that's why 00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:41.940 we're going to sing together. 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.159 What patience 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.559 would wait 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.599 as we constantly roam 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.960 what father 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.519 so tender 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.399 is calling us home. 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:50.899 He welcomes 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.559 the weakest 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:53.259 the vilest 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.839 the poor 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:56.059 our sins 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.539 they are many 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:58.099 his mercy 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.119 is more. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.379 Let's pray. 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.619 Our father 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:03.980 in heaven 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.500 we do 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:04.519 we do 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.620 thank you 00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.079 that you 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.500 remind us 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.120 of what's true 00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:08.860 in this world 00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:10.400 that you haven't 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.380 left us alone 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:12.640 as orphans 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:13.640 in a merciless universe 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.180 but instead 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.819 you've shown us 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.339 the way to go. 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.799 We ask that you'd 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.579 remind us 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:19.160 you challenge us 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:19.860 with our rebellion 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:21.519 and you'd encourage us 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.339 with our hope 00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:22.960 and our faith 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.460 in Christ 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.900 that you would grow 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:26.039 our love for him. 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.120 We thank you 00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:28.099 that we don't have to worry 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:28.559 this morning 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.700 about whether we've earned 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.819 or deserve these things 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:32.539 instead we simply ask 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:32.819 for them 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.559 in the mighty name 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.399 of Jesus Christ. 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.039 Amen.