What is the Most Beautiful Concept in the Bible?
It’s the New Testament Greek word, χάρις (charis). In English, it’s the lovely word Grace.
People born with same-sex attraction — whether celibate or in same-sex relationships — are eternally saved the exact same way people with opposite-sex attraction are: by God’s Amazing Grace.
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines the Biblical concept of Grace as follows:
“Grace — favor or kindness shown without regard for the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is ‘merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth’ (Exodus 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience.”1
In a nutshell, grace is unmerited favor. We can never earn it. We will never deserve it — no matter how holy we are, or think we are.
Ephesians 2:4-9 (NKJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Please note the facts from Ephesians 2:4-9, underlined above:
- God is “rich in mercy.”
- God wants to save us “because of His great love.”
- God loved us “even when we were dead in trespasses.” (Cf. Romans 5:8)
- His grace is “exceedingly rich.”
- “His kindness toward us [is] in Christ Jesus.”
- We are saved “by grace…through faith.”
- It’s “not of yourselves.”
- “It is the GIFT (Greek: χάρισμα charisma – ‘free gift’) OF GOD.”
Not a Single Thing More!
One of the most popular hymns the world has ever known is “Amazing Grace.”
So, what’s so amazing about God’s mercy and grace?
Is it amazing or not? The attitudes and behaviors of many who sing the song would make one wonder.
God’s mercy and God’s grace have to do with what God doesn’t give us, and what God does give us, respectively.
What is God’s Mercy?
God’s mercy has to do with what He should give us, but He doesn’t. Because we “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) — in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds — we deserve judgment and condemnation. BUT, because of God’s MERCY, He doesn’t give us what we rightfully deserve.
ON THE OTHER HAND…
What is God’s Grace?
God’s grace has to do what He shouldn’t give us, but He does. We cannot help ourselves. As the old saying goes, “We cannot lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” Hard as we may try, no amount of effort on our part can possibly remove the sins that we daily commit in our thoughts, words, and deeds. This is where God’s GRACE comes in! By His excellent grace, He freely gives us the favor we do not deserve.
So do you see? God’s MERCY is when He withholds the consequences of sin that we should experience. His GRACE is when He doles out the favor that we do not deserve to experience.
So… Bible-Quoting Critics Beware!
You, like everyone else, have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
You, like everyone else, deserve the consequences of your sin.
And like everyone else, you do not deserve the favor of God.
And yet, because His only begotten Son paid the full price for your sins, He gave you His love, mercy, and grace by your simply asking for it!
You deserved divine judgement, but you didn’t get it, because of the MERCY of God.
You didn’t deserve favor, but God freely bestowed in upon you, because of the GRACE of God!
The Lord Jesus Christ gave you His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). He gives it to ALL who believe (Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:22).
“Therefore, you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.” Romans 2:1 (NKJV)
You have no right, therefore, to judge and condemn a person with same-sex attraction who believes that Jesus Christ is his or her personal Savior. You have no right whatsoever.
Jesus has spoken, now listen!
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37, NKJV).
What Then Has God Done?
He has “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:6-9)
So then, my sisters and brothers with same-sex attraction, don’t let the self-appointed gatekeepers of God’s Kingdom stand in your way! Come back to Jesus! Come BOLDLY before His throne of grace. Like the rest of us “sinners” in the world, you also will see “the exceeding riches of His grace!”
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16, NKJV).
If you understand the grace of God in Christ Jesus according to God’s Plan of Salvation laid out in Scripture, you will rest assured that, aside from faith in Christ’s finished work on the Cross, there is nothing — NO/THING — more required to gain God’s favor toward salvation.
Anyone who tells you anything different has no understanding of God’s simple Plan of Salvation. The street preacher with his bullhorn, his sign on a stick, his sandwich board, or his business cards listing “Who will go to Heaven” on one side, and “Who will go to Hell” on the other side, will not get to stand before God, pat himself on the back, and foolishly say, “What a good boy was I.”
- God will ask the “gay” and “straight” person the same question: “What in your heart did you do with My Son, Jesus?”
- The gay person who loved Jesus while on earth will say, “I loved Him because He first loved Me” (1 John 4:19).
- God will say, “Enter into the joy of your LORD.”
- The gay person will say, “But LORD, they told me…”
- God will say words to the effect, “You were covered with the same blood of My Son, Jesus, as they were.”
That is why we can confidently proclaim, there is grace4gays!
- Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary New and Enhanced Edition. p. 468. Ronald F. Youngblood, General Editor. Thomas Nelson Publishers (2014)